Lens for portraits

K

Kittyb

Suspended / Banned
Messages
5
Edit My Images
No
Can anyone advise a complete newbie what lens is best for portraits? Plan to shoot all sorts of portraits including newborn babies

just trying to choose equipment right now and unsure between a 550D and a D5000, so any lenses compatible with either of those would really help :)

if anyone is able to advise what equipment I'm best to invest in for around £700 that would be great. Working on my portfolio and don't want to waste money on things I don't need :)

thanks
 
Last edited:
Both Canon and Nikon produce 'mid level' primes with very good optical qualities; 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 would both work very well as portrait lenses on the crop bodies you stated and are all in the £250-£300 ish price bracket from both manufacturers when new.
 
For canon get the 50mm f1.8. For nikon, your choice is a little more tricky as the D5000 does not have the AF motor built in and there is no motor in their 50mm F1.8, so you will have to spend more and go for the f1.4. However, why not start with the kit lens? The 18-55 IS canon lens is fine and I believe (although have no personal experience) that the nikon verion is even better. Once you know how you shoot (focal lenght etc) and what you lack you can move on to your next purchase from there.
 
menthel said:
For canon get the 50mm f1.8. For nikon, your choice is a little more tricky as the D5000 does not have the AF motor built in and there is no motor in their 50mm F1.8, so you will have to spend more and go for the f1.4. However, why not start with the kit lens? The 18-55 IS canon lens is fine and I believe (although have no personal experience) that the nikon verion is even better. Once you know how you shoot (focal lenght etc) and what you lack you can move on to your next purchase from there.
Click to expand...

I have to agree: a few of my friends own D3000 and D5000 cameras with the kit lens and for the money they're excellent.

Work out what percentage of your shots (when you start taking them) are at what focal length and buy any new lens accordingly...
 
grotty said:
Both Canon and Nikon produce 'mid level' primes with very good optical qualities; 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 would both work very well as portrait lenses on the crop bodies you stated and are all in the £250-£300 ish price bracket from both manufacturers when new.
Click to expand...
I have both of the Canon lens' satated above and are excellent portrait lens.
The 85 f/1.8 is also my go to Basketball lens, fast and fast AF.
 
60 mm nikkor micro lens is the full frame equivalent of 90mm the perfect portrait distance
Plus you get macro capability
 
Hi Kitty,

As mentioned above the Canon 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 are both superb lenses. Space might be an issue with the 85mm f1.8 indoors if you plan on full length shots.
 
don't bother worrying about "portrait" lenses if you don't already know why you would want a specific portrait lens, and what their strengths and limitations are - just buy the body that you are comfortable with and the standard kit zoom lens and start learning.

this is not yet another "I know nowt but want to buy a DSLR and be a Pro Tog" threads is it?
 
Sensible advice perhaps, but did you forget to address the OP as an idiot in that post somewhere?
 
Canon 500D (body only £469 new or buy second hand) Canon 50mm F1.8, Canon 85mm F1.8 and your pretty much sorted, but you will need a flash, I would recommend the Nissin Di622, which can be picked up for £109 at present.

So yes it will come in over budget, but it will take a long while to grow out off and with practise give excellent results.
 
no offence or belittlement of the OP is or was intended, my apologies to all if this is how my post was read

my post was firstly a simple and hopefully helpful practical recommendation from one novice (of many years incompetence) to another novice (quote: "complete newbie").

Secondly, my post was a realistic question as to whether this is a request for domestic or commercial startup purposes as it is unclear from the original post. Clarity in this matter would assist more knowledgeable forum members to assist the OP with more targetted advise, whether on the selection of equipment (including items necessary other than lenses) or the practicalities of a business venture.

Stewsmith - I consider your post to be highly offensive and extremely vulgar. I will refrain from replying in kind.
 
KittyB

The Canon and Nikon cameras are very good, and little between the 2. Its all down to personal preference. The D5000 is a good camera, but as others have said, does not have an inbuilt motor, so you need to take care when buying a lens. I use the 50mm AFS f/1.4 for probably 90% of the baby shots I do and think its a stunning lens. Approx. £300, so the D5000, kit lens and 50mm will be just over £750. Another option is to look at a second hand D90 kit, guessing around £550-£600 and you can then have more flexibility over lenses, and would then suggest a 50mm f/1.8 for around £100.
 
85mm f/1.8 is lovely lens. 100mm f/2.8 Macro (£700 should get an L IS version) is perhaps even better. Any Canon 50mm is not worth it unless you are skint - they are all built like plastic toys, and will break easily. Optically they are not great either, unless you compare them to the paperweight 18-55 kit lens.
 
Wookie said:
no offence or belittlement of the OP is or was intended, my apologies to all

Stewsmith - I consider your post to be highly offensive and extremely vulgar. I will refrain from replying in kind.
Click to expand...

I found your comment below to be pathetic,

this is not yet another "I know nowt but want to buy a DSLR and be a Pro Tog" threads is it?

That is why I wrote what I did. To be honest I dont care that you found my previous comment to be offensive.

StewSmith
 
???????????????????

Stewart, if the OP is trying to sort out equipment for starting a business venture then that needs to be clearly understood as they will need to know about more than just what is a good portrait lens in order to be able to supply portraits to customers. Their budget would need to take into account a few other minor considerations like lighting, reflectors, processing software, . . . professional portraiture is beyond my expertise but I know its not going to be just a camera and lens. It would also be courtesy to establish if they know about the taxman, printing of business cards, advertising methods and a few other business related aspects, as well as skill needs and opportunities.

I wrote what I wrote with no malice or bad intent, if you wish to read it to take some imagined fault with it in your head then that's your problem and I pity you.

Can you help the OP ? or are you just going to play at being Mr Nasty and derail the thread? . . . please grow up and try to use the forum in a considerate way.

Sorry to everybody, particularly the OP, for having to post this response to Stewart.
 
It's rather odd to suggest to a beginner that a portrait lens, such as a 50mm 1.8, is something to not bother with when every other beginners thread would advise the person asking to buy...a 50mm 1.8.

In case the OP was wondering, my advice would be to buy the Canon and get the 50mm 1.8 as your first lens to start learning portraiture. You can get sharper lenses (for a lot more money), but it is a perfect starting point. And much better than the kit lens to learn with.
 
I must agree, a small light prime is a great lens to learn with and achieve excellent results while doing so!
 
RevOnline said:
It's rather odd to suggest to a beginner that a portrait lens, such as a 50mm 1.8, is something to not bother with when every other beginners thread would advise the person asking to buy...a 50mm 1.8.

In case the OP was wondering, my advice would be to buy the Canon and get the 50mm 1.8 as your first lens to start learning portraiture. You can get sharper lenses (for a lot more money), but it is a perfect starting point. And much better than the kit lens to learn with.
Click to expand...

He's not wrong, you know...
 
My 2 pennies worth... If you go with Nikon DX I'd say the Nikkor 60mm f2.8 macro (non AF-S 'D' version) is a fantasic performer for portrait, you won't be disapointed with it's results. Incredibly sharp focus control with crystal clear optics.

edit - I forgot to say I also own a Tokina 100mm f2.8 macro which is almost as good as the Nikkor 60mm and gives you a little more room to play with when doing both portraits and macro work, another great lens imo.
 
Last edited:
OK here are two test shots using a 35mm lens and an 85mm lens - you can clearly see the difference between the two.
35mm causes some distortion to the facial features, while the 85mm flattens things out a little and renders a more pleasing view - similar to what we see when we look with both eyes at someone...(try closing one eye and look again at someone at five feet away - you'll see what I mean)...

35mm f/2
4923049819_e9101a9045_z.jpg


85mm f/1.4
4926901388_e1a55b330a_z.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top