Affordable portrait lens for my 6d

Hello, I'm looking for a cheap portrait lens to use over the next month or so.

Ultimately I want a 50 1.2 or 35 1.4 but both of those are outside of my current budget,

what would you all recommend? I do want Auto Focus

Cheers

Jason

Your best bet would probably be the EF 85 F1.8.

Good and relatively cheap.

The 85 f1.2L, 135 f2.0L, and the 200 2.0L are the most respected currently produced portrait lenses made by Canon, but every one of them is much more expensive than the 85 f1.8.

50 and 35 are too short for traditional portraiture on a full frame camera. The 85 1.8 is the best bamg for the buck, the 135L is the best bargain although not the cheapest.

Affordable is relative. I use a 35 IS, and 50 1.4, among others. I'd call neither of them a 'portrait' lens. I have no desire for the L-versions of either focal length. Both are way too much money for the little difference in the final image.

Two 'affordable' portrait lenses are the 85 1.8 and 135 f/2L. A fair compromise between the two is the 100 f/2.

I have the 100mm f2 and for the money, it's hard to beat IMHO.

niceguyhomer wrote in post #17820819
I have the 100mm f2 and for the money, it's hard to beat IMHO.

I had that before I got the 85 1.8 and 135L. Very nice lens. Focuses really quickly and accurately. Less CA than the 85 1.8. Good performer wide open.

Gotta cast another vote for the 85 1.8. I use the 135L when space allows, but often it doesn't and the 85 gets the majority of my portrait work. It's also my go-to lens for anything fast-moving because of how quickly it focuses.

Milutiche wrote in post #17820700
Hello, I'm looking for a cheap portrait lens to use over the next month or so.

Ultimately I want a 50 1.2 or 35 1.4 but both of those are outside of my current budget,

what would you all recommend? I do want Auto Focus

Cheers

Jason

Heya,

With autofocus, the EF 85mm F1.8 is likely you're best starting point as others have stated. You can find it $250~300 used very commonly. Otherwise also look at the EF 100mm F2, which is a very similar lens, slightly longer, slightly slower, but an even better portrait lens relative to distortion, also coming in around $300ish used. This will cover full body, face, bust, etc, all portraiture, with a working distance of 3 feet or so, to infinity. Keep that in mind, if in a small room. Another option is a 90mm F2.8 macro or 100mm F2.8 macro, by Tamron and Canon respectively. Older ones are fine. You gain the flexibility of very close focusing if you want to do other things not possible with the other lenses. They run $200~400ish used, respectively.

50mm, 35mm, etc, can be used too, but can introduce distortion on a portrait if just doing face and close distance. These focal lengths are totally find if doing full body as you're distant from the subject and the distortion is not as much of an issue if any. 35mm is an excellent environmental portrait focal length. A Yongnuo 35mm F2 for Canon is about $100 new. You can get this with a telephoto and have both focal lengths ready to go. The 35/85 or 35/100 would be a great way to go.

Rehash:

Canon EF 85mm F1.8
Canon EF 100mm F2
Canon EF 100 F2.8 Macro
Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro

Yongnuo 35mm F2

Very best,

niceguyhomer wrote in post #17820819
I have the 100mm f2 and for the money, it's hard to beat IMHO.

I agree. Some people call it the poor man's 135L.

Awesome, thanks guys, I'm in NZ so the prices are a fair bit higher here with the falling exchange rate
the 85 f1.8 is $575ish and the 100 f2 is around $700
I don't know if I want to go that high as I will be looking to buy a 24-70 mk2 early next year for sport & event photography

I see what you all mean with respect to distortion with the wider focal lengths, I had kinda forgotten about that. I can borrow a 100 f2.8 macro and a nifty fifty from my mother in the mean time

Maybe I'll take a look at the second hand market and see if I can pic up a bargain 85

It's not the focal length that causes the distortion, it is the lack of distance from the subject, required to fill the frame. Perspective distortion is caused only by the relative locations of the camera, and subject matter. Shoot from the same location with both a 35mm and 85mm lens, and crop the 35 to match the 85, will result in images with identical perpective.

Pick your prefred working distance, choose a focal length to frame your subject.

Alan

135mm f2.8 with Soft Focus is a tack sharp lens and has soft focus built in for those unique angelic portraits.

A bit longer than 85mm but does a magical job, and for the money, it's a wonderful find.

I'm selling mine in the UK.

Zeiss Otus 55mm f/1.4 is your best bet.

Well can't forget the 200mm 2.8. While it is a bit excessive for the reach, the price isn't too bad and it is a bit sharper than the 85 1.8. But both have their uses.

i agree with the 135f2.8 Soft focus...you can pick one up for pretty cheap in comparison to other lenses...you don't need to use the soft focus aspect of the lens if you want a sharp shot