Portrait Lens

I use my T4i for mostly video, I currently have a setup of 10-22 and 24-105, other day a co worker of mine asked me to take pictures of him, now I dont know if he wants headshots, or full body shots but I was thinking of an 85mm lens. However I've been looking for an excuse to purchase an art lens, perhaps a 18-35, or 35mm. Will these be useful for portraits or should I just use a 85mm 1.8.

I compared the 85mm 1.8 with the 100mm f2 and bought the 100mm f2. It had less CA wide open and nicer bokeh in my estimation. Both lenses are excellent inexpensive portrait lenses.

nightcat wrote in post #16204190
I compared the 85mm 1.8 with the 100mm f2 and bought the 100mm f2. It had less CA wide open and nicer bokeh in my estimation. Both lenses are excellent inexpensive portrait lenses.

100mm is a little long on a crop for full body shots. I'd go with the 85mm 1.8. If you get CA it can be easily fixed in PP.

Perhaps its just me, but I think 85 is too long on a crop. I would suggest 50 and even that requires one to stand quite a ways back to get a full body shot.

Be aware that the label 'portrait lens' given to certain FL applies in their list of products ONLY within the context of FF format cameras!

In APS-C,

• a 'normal', about 32mm, is for shooting full length standing shots
  
• about 50-55mm, is for shooting waist-up portrait
  
• about 60-65mm, is for shooting head & shoulders shots
  
• about 85-85mm, is for shooting headshots
  

Wilt wrote in post #16204301
Be aware that the Canon label 'portrait lens' given to certain FL applies in their list of products ONLY within the context of FF format cameras!

In APS-C,

• a 'normal', about 32mm, is for shooting full length standing shots
  
• about 50-55mm, is for shooting waist-up portrait
  
• about 60-65mm, is for shooting head & shoulders shots
  
• about 85-85mm, is for shooting headshots
  

...from about 8-10' distance to the subject

I guess I have to give them personal space as oppose to having my own enjoyment of a cool lens. I certainly want full lenght standing shots, as well as headshots and shoulders. So what would be the best lens for the combo? 50 1.4?

KeenanRIVALS wrote in post #16204314
I guess I have to give them personal space as oppose to having my own enjoyment of a cool lens. I certainly want full lenght standing shots, as well as headshots and shoulders. So what would be the best lens for the combo? 50 1.4?

I shoot a cropper and based on my experience you will be better off with 35mm especially if you plan on shooting indoors. Trust me with a 50mm indoors, you will often find walls coming down on you to get a full body shot.

Outdoors is a different story altogether, it really depends on how you like to shoot. But too far back and I think we lose connection with our subjects and can't ask for tweaks, that is if they are listening

KeenanRIVALS wrote in post #16204314
I guess I have to give them personal space as oppose to having my own enjoyment of a cool lens. I certainly want full lenght standing shots, as well as headshots and shoulders. So what would be the best lens for the combo? 50 1.4?

The 8-10' shooting distance has long been employed by professionals shooting within their interior studio spaces...that is now 85mm got established as common FL for waist-up portraits, and how 100mm got established as common FL for head & shoulders. It takes 20-25' of studio length to handle the space for backdrops, separation between subject and backdrops to permit indendent lighting of the backdrop and sufficient blurring of the backdrop, distance between subject and camera, and space for the camera support and photographer.

If you try to 'made do' with a single FL such as 50mm for full length shots, your camera-to-subject distance is 56% farther...you have to be 16' from the subject to frame an area 7' tall (which then gets trimmed when you print an 8x10 BTW!) allowing tiny space below the feet and above the head of a 6'6" subject. Suddenly you need 25'-30' of shooting space! And when you want to shoot head & shoulders, you either have to crop tighter in post processing or intrude upon your subject's personal space with only about 6-7' and a less attractive facial perspective -- even worse with headshots.

What's wrong with your 24-105? I recently did a similar shoot (head shots, full body shots) for a client needing a bio photo for a book cover. We got some great results with my 7D/24-105 combo. The client submitted shots from three different photographers, and the editor chose mine.

ceegee wrote in post #16204417
What's wrong with your 24-105? I recently did a similar shoot (head shots, full body shots) for a client needing a bio photo for a book cover. We got some great results with my 7D/24-105 combo. The client submitted shots from three different photographers, and the editor chose mine.

Nothing its a great lens, my current subject just wants out door low light shots. Again this is probably just an excuse to buy a new lens, but I jus want a prime for portraits with a nice aperture.

Im still as confused as I was when I started to be honest lol.

To be honest Im jus coming to you all because I have no clue what I'm doing. I had a client who saw a video and asked about pictures, decided why not take the chance, so just want to make sure I have this setup perfect or as perfect as I can get it to take advantage of the whole office.

KeenanRIVALS wrote in post #16204108
I use my T4i for mostly video, I currently have a setup of 10-22 and 24-105, other day a co worker of mine asked me to take pictures of him, now I dont know if he wants headshots, or full body shots but I was thinking of an 85mm lens. However I've been looking for an excuse to purchase an art lens, perhaps a 18-35, or 35mm. Will these be useful for portraits or should I just use a 85mm 1.8.

You want to buy a new lens just for taking some portraits of your co-worker? I hope he's paying you well. If it were me I'd just use the 24-105, it makes a decent enough portrait lens, then use your money to get whatever lens you truly want. That or buy a practically disposable nifty fifty and use that.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #16204447
You want to buy a new lens just for taking some portraits of your co-worker? I hope he's paying you well. If it were me I'd just use the 24-105, it makes a decent enough portrait lens, then use your money to get whatever lens you truly want. That or buy a practically disposable nifty fifty and use that.

Well money isnt the issue, unless I have to buy 2 lens, I have enough for a nice lens rather it look new or professional then just give my friend the old freebie treatment. He is a good friend of mine, the deal we actually have is if I take pictures of him for free, he will buy the lens I need. I sent him the Sigma 35mm Art and he said no problem, but is that the proper lens is what I'm asking? He wants face & shoulders, and full body.

KeenanRIVALS wrote in post #16204460
Well money isnt the issue, unless I have to buy 2 lens, I have enough for a nice lens rather it look new or professional then just give my friend the old freebie treatment. He is a good friend of mine, the deal we actually have is if I take pictures of him for free, he will buy the lens I need. I sent him the Sigma 35mm Art and he said no problem, but is that the proper lens is what I'm asking? He wants face & shoulders, and full body.

In that case, no, that's not the right lens for that. I would go for at least 50mm FL (I prefer 135mm on FF when shooting outdoors).

50mm 1.8