New L lens for portrait photography?

Looking for a new lens to mount on my crop sensor t2i. Other lenses I have are listed in my sig. The more I search on here, the more I see people using the 70-200 and 24-105 a lot. Now I'll say this, I'd really prefer the price of the 70-200 F4 NON IS. Photography for me is strictly a hobby. If I were to charge someone for taking pictures, it's normally $50-$60. I am still new to this stuff, so having a lens I could learn with would be nice.

70-200 2.8 IS mk II is out of the question, so please don't offer up one of those. lol

the 24-105 f4 IS would be about as much as I'd like to stretch my budget. I've seen a lot of them go for around $800 or slightly cheaper. I think they have the 70-200 f4 IS for around that same price.

The lens would primarily be used for people, engagement shoots, maternity, etc. But I am also a big car guy, and having something that would work well for car photography would definitely be a plus.

The 24-105 seemed nice because of the IS, but the 70-200 seems to produce some nice bokeh.

If you could recommend something, and perhaps post up some pictures you've taken with it, preferably on a crop sensor camera like mine, that would be great.

Do you have strobes? If not, I'd say this is your most limiting factor now, not lenses. You should consider investing in some strobes and modifiers.

IMO, you already have lenses for what you are intending to use it for.

pulsar123 wrote in post #15651833
Do you have strobes? If not, I'd say this is your most limiting factor now, not lenses. You should consider investing in some strobes and modifiers.

I had strobes, then sold them. Sort of regretting that now. I do have a bower external on camera flash that's pretty powerful. Thinking about getting another set of strobes.

and this would be for outdoor portraits and such. Not indoor with a backdrop.

You have great lenses for portraits now. Focus on lighting and practice for the time being.

I would go with the 70-200 F4/L for outdoor shots where lighting wont be an issue. You can use your 85 F/1.8 for indoor shots (church, reception hall, etc).

Have you considering investing in a flash?

85 f/1.8 is a great, cheaper alternative

I don't see either of those lenses improving your potraits. Your 85/1.8 is enough as everyone has already stated.

use your 85mm and pick up a speedlite and syl arenas book.

Agree with others. Stick with your current lenses and buy a speedlite flash

You don't need strobes. 99% of the work on my site is done with ambient/natural light only. Learn to read the natural light before you move on to strobes. I'd recommend a nice, moderately priced prime lens to start with...the 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8 are both good, solid choices.

LisaJH wrote in post #15652145
You don't need strobes. 99% of the work on my site is done with ambient/natural light only. Learn to read the natural light before you move on to strobes. I'd recommend a nice, moderately priced prime lens to start with...the 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8 are both good, solid choices.

"Needing" strobes is a subjective matter. There are looks you can't get without strobes and looks you can't get with them. Really depends on what the OP wants to get our of their portraits imo.

70-200 L f4

narlus wrote in post #15651885
85 f/1.8 is a great, cheaper alternative

and the OP already has it in their signature!

I love my 70-200 F2.8 IS II. This along with my 85 F1.2 are my outdoor portrat lenses. That said I am shooting full frame bodies. Both of these have great broketh. Allows me to take pictures in public and still have the visual focal point still be my person. All things said if I where in your shoes I would be looking to spend my money on a full frame body first.