what do you pros consider the best portrait lens?

what do you pros consider the best portrait lens???
just getting into portraits and I am using my 70-200mm f/4L

Well, there is no "best" but there are a bunch that are a lot better than a 70-200 f/4. The f/4 is a great lens, but if you really want to separate the subject from the background you might want shallower depth of field. 70-200 2.8 II is great, 85 1.2 is great, 135 2 is great, 100 2 is agreat, 85 1.8 is great, etc.

focus.pocus wrote in post #13550446
what do you pros consider the best portrait lens???
just getting into portraits and I am using my 70-200mm f/4L

Here you go - I knew you will and was ready to help
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1113368

focus.pocus wrote in post #13550446
what do you pros consider the best portrait lens???
just getting into portraits and I am using my 70-200mm f/4L

My most-used portrait lens is my 70-200 f2.8...usually used at f5.6 or smaller. I probably earn 90 percent of my portrait income with that one lens. Does that make it my "best" lens for portraiture?

most gear junkies feel quite satisfied with themselves with the 70-200LmkII becuase it cost a lot, zoom flex, and is sharp with great bokeh at the long end.

but if you want to know what REAL pro's shoot with - most will say 85mm-135mm range of primes.

My lens that takes the "best" images optically?

Sigma 85mm 1.4

My most versatile portrait lens?

Sigma 70-200 2.8 OS

My best portrait lens for close quarters confined spaces?

Canon 24-70mm (on 5d2).


As you can see, not one lens fits all scenarios.

I agree. The 135 is really affordable given what it can do and it such a great lens. The biggest question is your body. On ff I love the 135, but on 1.3 I found it too long an went with 85l. I admit I had the 1.8 and it was awesome too, but that damn front element on the 85L kept taunting me until I bought it. The 85L is an awesome lens.

m.shalaby wrote in post #13550598
this is a forum full of gear junkies.

most gear junkies feel quite satisfied with themselves with the 70-200LmkII becuase it cost a lot, zoom flex, and is sharp with great bokeh at the long end.

but if you want to know what REAL pro's shoot with - most will say 85mm-135mm range of primes.

m.shalaby wrote in post #13550598
this is a forum full of gear junkies.

most gear junkies feel quite satisfied with themselves with the 70-200LmkII becuase it cost a lot, zoom flex, and is sharp with great bokeh at the long end.

but if you want to know what REAL pro's shoot with - most will say 85mm-135mm range of primes.

You're joking, right?

70-200 2.8, 135L, and 85L.

70-200 is what I'll reach for first, if I have the space. There is NO substitute for the spacial compression you get at longer focal lengths.

joe

RDKirk wrote in post #13550645
You're joking, right?

...talks a lot of crap, just ignore.

70-200F4 is great lens for portraits in studio and outdoors with good light or flash.
If you like to try portraits under golden hour lights look at fast primes.
35, 50 and 85mm to compliment your 70-200.

focus.pocus wrote in post #13550446
what do you pros consider the best portrait lens???
just getting into portraits and I am using my 70-200mm f/4L

The 70-200/4 is one of the best. The faster f/2.8 IS II version gives that one extra stop, but it is a lot heavier and a lot more expensive. In this range (70mm to 200mm) you shouldn't need super fast lenses all that much as the DOF will be quite thin on human subjects at this kind of framing.

A lot of people will probably suggest various primes, and these are fine, but any one prime will struggle to be as versatile for all kinds of portraits. The 85mm primes are wonderful for full length portraits but too short for headshots. The 200mm primes are wonderful for headshots but inconvenient to work with for full length portraits.

I personally like to start with a 70-200 zoom, and if I were adding from here I would go with a fast 50mm prime, and then maybe a fast 35mm prime. I find I much more need a very fast aperture for portraits on the wide end, because this is where I am shooting with very loose framing and the DOF become ratehr more than I need.

There are not too many times I will ever really need faster than f/2.8 in the range of 70-200mm for human subjects.

first, there are a lot of types of portraiture ... i use:

200L IS for headshots or long range full body shots (events)
100L IS for half body - shoulder up (tight places)
35L for environmental portraiture

in the studio where everything is stopped down, i use the 70-200 f/4 L IS

edit: and i'm not a pro as well

i'm not a "pro", but i like the 85 1.2L - it works really well on one of the FF bodies.

I agree with what skater911 said.

On a FF body I love my 135 2.0L, it is my favorite lens. On my 7D I like my 85 1.8. I also love my 100mm 2.8L macro on any body- the color and contrast are more rich (IS is a plus also). But if I could only have one, I would go with the 135 every time.