70-200mm lens for portrait work

Wilt wrote in post #18552467
http://stepheneastwood​.com …/lensdistortion​/index.htm

But I do NOT like her photo taken with 230m or 350mm more than I like her photo taken with 100mm or 135mm!

that's subjective.

I do think the 350 looks the best, but then again, that's my opinion

I do recall a blind test where FL wasnt mentioned, and consistently, 200 looked better than 135 and 85. And of course there's the model factor, professional models tend to look better with longest FL, but dont look bad with short either.

Charlie wrote in post #18557211
that's subjective.

I do think the 350 looks the best, but then again, that's my opinion

I do recall a blind test where FL wasnt mentioned, and consistently, 200 looked better than 135 and 85. And of course there's the model factor, professional models tend to look better with longest FL, but dont look bad with short either.

Yes it is indeed subjective.
We are not familar with their usual appearance, we only know what looks good to us as individuals.
But the portrait shooting photographer for paying clients needs to remember it is not what WE THINK is a pleasing photo, it is the SUBJECT or the subject's MOTHER who chooses the photo that pleases them!
That is why I find it so perplexing when photographers want razor-thin DOF and I anticipate the subject's reaction is 'why is the photo blurry?'

I am very satisfied with the results from my 70-200mm f/4L IS lens on either a full frame camera or a 1.6x crop camera. I don't like the razor thin DOF in which the eyelashes can be in focus with the pupils OOF.

I most often shoot at f/5.6 with focal lengths all over the range from 70mm to 200mm on both full frame and crop cameras, depending on my subject or subjects. Using a longer focal length allows background blur even at f/5.6.

The 70-200mm f/4L IS lens is relatively light weight and fast focusing (which may at times be an advantage). The extra price of this lens vs the non-IS is (IMO) well worth it. An additional plus is that the rounded iris blades provide very smooth and buttery bokeh. The price of this lens (in comparison with other top-line glass) isn't too bad either...

It is my go-to long focal length lens...

70-200 is superlative for portrait work. Able to manage full body to head and shoulders with one lens, and typically f/2.8 is plenty fast. Faster than f/2.8 in portraiture is specialty really, as it will leave parts of the subject blurry as well unless the framing is loose and kind of non-typical for portraits.

If it's just head and shoulders (to mid torso) in a studio setting, then I'll use my 100mm or 135mm primes. I still use the 70-200mm often, for any outdoor work: be it portraits, sports, or landscapes.