Portrait lens advice

chez1980

chez1980

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Hi all, just starting out really! I have a canon camera with kit lens & 50mm! I mainly do newborns & kids portraits. I'm thinking of getting another lens but don't want to spend thousands! 300 to 400 maybe!

What do you all recommend? Some people have said 28 to 135 or the 85 mm?

Cheryl
 
I'd go for the 85mm personally. The 50 is a good length on crop, as it is on full frame, but the image quality of the 85mm f/1.8 is sublime from what I've read. I'm hopefully getting one in a couple of months for my 21st birthday and I really cannot wait. The 50 is covered by my 17-55mm so having the extra length of the 85 is good, especially if you don't own a telephoto. It helps pull the subject out from the background and flatten the features of the face, so very flattering for portraits.
 
Hi! I agree, 85 mm f/1.8 is really a good lens. You can also use it in a low light situation. I had a chance to use it before and mount it on a 7D. The results are amazing both for still and video. I am sure you can get it within your budget. :-)
 
chez1980 said:
Hi all, just starting out really! I have a canon camera with kit lens & 50mm! I mainly do newborns & kids portraits. I'm thinking of getting another lens but don't want to spend thousands! 300 to 400 maybe!

What do you all recommend? Some people have said 28 to 135 or the 85 mm?

Cheryl
Click to expand...

I don't know what Canon camera you're using but if it's an APS-C model you may find some of the lenses suggested a little long. In fact if you have an APS-C camera you may have problems framing the shot and staying in the same room as your subject with some of these lenses.

I'd question the use of f1.4/f1.8 lenses for portrait use unless you are shooting in low light and if so at these wide aperture you'll be getting quite thin DoF. That may be what you're going for...it may not be.

So, what camera are you using? Will you be using flash or not? Do you really need f1.x? Are you aiming for thin DoF?

If it helps at all... a relative of mine used to shoot portraits for money with a 5DII and just one lens, an f4 zoom.
 
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85mm F1.8.

It works out as a 135mm when the crop factor is taken into account and give a great head an shoulders shot at 2 metres from the subject.
Although its sharp wide open, I found mine works really well around F2.5 for close portraits.
The fast aperture is a real bonus indoors as it often means you can get away without having to use flash and can use natural light instead.
 
135mm (FF) at 2m is really tight IMVHO, and at 85mm APS-C or 135mm FF your DoF is going to be thin even at f8. Probably something like 6 inches, if that's what you're after.
 
It depends a lot on your style and how you like to shoot. Do you find your 50mm is too long, if so get a wider lens, if your 50 isn't long enough then go longer. I personally use a 70-200mm f2.8 and 24-105 combo on full frame for most of my baby and toddler shoots.
 
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