Renting the 85L for a portrait session?

I prefer longer focal lengths even for group shots. Something like 70-200mm f4 IS is better option for what you want if you shooting outdoors where space is not an issue. Inside I would stick with 24-70mm.

On a full-frame camera, I personally found that the 85mm f/1.2L works a little too close for portraits. It was easy to have faces and features become distorted. On full-frame, the 135mm f/2L seems more like a portrait lens to me. Of course this depends on your POV relative to the subject, but I did not like the distortion with faces large in the frame.

raksphoto wrote in post #17027092
On a full-frame camera, I personally found that the 85mm f/1.2L works a little too close for portraits. It was easy to have faces and features become distorted.

Say what? I think you need to back up a little...

gonzogolf wrote in post #16445863
For family photos you need enough depth of field for the majority of shots that micro adjust isn't likely to be an issue. Its capable of dramatic stuff, but I wouldnt expect those types of results the first time out and trying to learn on a client that needs results might not be the best plan.

Maybe its not a good idea but i always learn and try out new things exactly when its for a client. Never did it with photography but for software development. I say yeah i can do it even thought i cant yet, then learn it by doing it and in the end i made the client happy every time. But as a bonus youve learned something

I think in my case, having someone paying for youre work is pushibg me more than if i would do it without pressure and a bit of stress

snakeneck wrote in post #16449952
135L is the best portrait lens in my opinion. If you are shooting at f1.2 just to shoot at f1.2.....you have to be spot on....or everything goes soft.

But not a family shot. It's great for an individual portrait...but family...its just too long.

sportmode wrote in post #17028814
Say what? I think you need to back up a little...

Unless you can't.

If you need an 85mm focal length, for a group shot, I would go with the 85 1.8. You'll be stopping it down to 5.6 anyways to get everyone in focus...so it kind of defeats the purpose of a 1.2 lens.

I think for portraits it's hard to go wrong with the 70-200 f/2.8L IS Mk II. That thing hardly comes off my camera when I'm doing a portrait session.

Hogloff wrote in post #17029786
If you need an 85mm focal length, for a group shot, I would go with the 85 1.8. You'll be stopping it down to 5.6 anyways to get everyone in focus...so it kind of defeats the purpose of a 1.2 lens.

The difference between the 85L and the 85 1.8 is very noticeable even when stopped down a lot. The 85L is still an amazing lens when stopped down.

Numenorean wrote in post #17029852
The difference between the 85L and the 85 1.8 is very noticeable even when stopped down a lot. The 85L is still an amazing lens when stopped down.

Really, stopped down to 5.6 you'll see the difference in prints? I highly doubt it.