Can I get a lens recommendation. Renting one for the weekend.

I am going to begin building my portfolio this weekend, (have several shoots lined up), and I want to rent a lens to complement what I already have.

Gear I own

• 40D
  
• 50mm 1.8
  
• Tamron 17-50mm 2.8
  
• 580EX II
  

• 85mm 1.2L
  
• 70-200mm 2.8L IS
  
• 24mm 1.4L II
  
• 70-200 2.8L Non IS
  

hmm. For family portrait on crop you will be crouded with the 85L. I love mine but on a crop I always enjoyed the 24L... as it is razor sharp and gives you a good 35mm feel which is nice for multiple ppl. For a single model shoot you could give the 85L a shot but you will need space. Just MHO

What's wrong with the 50 1.8? It gives you effective 85mm and I have some great shots with it from back in the day.

Also.... Lens won't make excellent photography (helps) but I would invest in more strobes and some triggers

You are obviously lacking longer FL, >50mm, so I'd suggest renting the lens you can actually afford now (70-200). It's very nice for portraits or anything else requiring longer reach.

Rent the 70-200 f/2.8 IS II.

Then try it at 85, 100, 135 and 200.

See which - if any - of those settings that appeal to you most. Maybe you'll end up buying one of the primes represented by those lengths.

Why rent the non-IS 70-200? The price difference can't be all that great. Turn off the IS if you want to get a feeling for that lens in a non-IS version that you might later purchase.

But for most of the keeper shots, keep the IS on. It's a wonderful lens.

jerbear00 wrote in post #14956239
What's wrong with the 50 1.8? It gives you effective 85mm and I have some great shots with it from back in the day.

Mine gives inconsistent results. About 70% of my shots with it are a little soft and OOF even at 4.0 to 8.0, which is supposed to be its sharpest apertures. I kind of want to see if the 24mm or the 85mm will give consistently sharper shots; however, I will not be buying either of these soon.

The whole point of of renting one of the lenses is to get some sharp and shallow DoF shots for my initial portfolio. That's kind of why I'm leaning towards the 24 or 85 even though I won't be buying either anytime soon. Once I start getting some clients, if they say, "I want something similar to what I see on your website," I can then use something I own, and they'd probably not notice much difference between what I rented, and what I own. I plan on doing infant, seniors, and family to start, so I doubt they'll know the difference from 1.4 to 2.8.

01Ryan10 wrote in post #14956596
Mine gives inconsistent results. About 70% of my shots with it are a little soft and OOF even at 4.0 to 8.0, which is supposed to be its sharpest apertures. I kind of want to see if the 24mm or the 85mm will give consistently sharper shots; however, I will not be buying either of these soon.

Hmmm soft at F/8.0 sounds like a bad copy or perhaps the focus tolerances are way off in relation to your body.

How are you focusing this? Are you using the center-point only and aiming at an eye?

01Ryan10 wrote in post #14956596
Mine gives inconsistent results. About 70% of my shots with it are a little soft and OOF even at 4.0 to 8.0, which is supposed to be its sharpest apertures. I kind of want to see if the 24mm or the 85mm will give consistently sharper shots; however, I will not be buying either of these soon.

The whole point of of renting one of the lenses is to get some sharp and shallow DoF shots for my initial portfolio. That's kind of why I'm leaning towards the 24 or 85 even though I won't be buying either anytime soon. Once I start getting some clients, if they say, "I want something similar to what I see on your website," I can then use something I own, and they'd probably not notice much difference between what I rented, and what I own. I plan on doing infant, seniors, and family to start, so I doubt they'll know the difference from 1.4 to 2.8.

Good portraiture is about light and creativity...save the rental money and buy the 70-200 and/or 85mm f1.8. Either/both will serve you well for while yet.

SoCalTiger wrote in post #14958318
How are you focusing this? Are you using the center-point only and aiming at an eye?

Yes. I should say, that when I look at the picture at 20% of it's size, you can almost not notice the soft or blurriness, it's only when I view it at ~80% or greater.

I decided to go with the 70-200 because one of my shoots involves my brother in some action shots wearing his Karate gi and swinging his weapons around. The other two shoots are primarily outdoor portrait stuff.


I'm excited to find out that if I grab the lens today after 3pm, I don't have to return it until Monday before 11AM. I'm stoked. 2.5 day rental for the price of one day, ($40).

Did you get version II. I rented that lens once...now I might have accidently purchased it lol.