WHATS THE BEST LENS FOR PORTRAITS

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Helen Shapiro
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MonkeyDave
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Hi there everyone i am interested in getting into portrait photos .i was wondering what everyone else uses or would recommend that i get thanks .:thinking:. i know you will all have your own favs .come on let me know and i can go from there. i dont want to go out and buy anything then regret it . :bang: and belive it or not i value your opinions :clap: :clap:
 
Not an expert, but like my 85mm 1.8, 50 1.8 is good too, but favourite is the 85mm :)
 
What you want for portraiture is a length of 80-100mm

Given the 1.6x multiplier of all but the top end Canon bodies the nifty 50 will come in greatly. It's cheap and it works.

Next step up the pecking order -> EF50mm f1.4 USM

If you've got the money to spend then the 24-70L 2.8 is a definate brill lens (but at ~£800 it aint cheap)

That said I tend to use what I have (sic). As stated the nifty 50 is king of the cheap and cheerful (@f4 especially), the 17-85EFS is OK, but not great.
So I used the Sigma 105 which is a great lens (but with the 1.6X is now a bit long). So the short end of the 70-200L gets used LOTS.
 
85mm F/1.2 L
 
Another recommendation for the 50 (I have the 1.4) It is very sharp & I feel comfortable with the range for portraits.
 
I agree - my 50mm is the one that stays on my D70 most of the time, and it's gonna give you 35mm equivalent of 75-80mm - which is (from what I've read and been told) an ideal portrait lens length...
 
Having just traded up from a 20D to a 5D I have only really started using my 85mm now as I was the same as whitewash and found it a bit too cramped.

Even if you move up to full frame you will still love the 50mm and it is tremendous value so IMO it wins as it will give you best bang for buck.
 
Tamron 28-75 F2.8 is my main portrait workhorse. It's bang on, clients happy, me happy.

I do use the 50 1.4 for my personal work though, preferably at 1.4 and maxing the fuji out at 1600iso. I just love that limited DOF.
 
My fav is my trusty 85mm 1.8, second to that is my 50mm 1.4. I assess the space available and if tight go for the 50mm. Gillian
 
I use my 60mm for people pics, seems to work quite well on a 20D

Although i'm considering moving up to full frame soon, so i'll have to get a new lens to fit between the 40 and 70mm ranges as the ef-s won't fit on a 5D
 
I shoot more portraits with my 70-200 than any other lens. It means I can work without crowding the victims and still get in for some great closeup stuff when the expression is right. Have taken some shots I really like with my 300 too though.

Some people shoot great stuff with just mild wide lenses that I know I wouldn't be able to work into my style.

Everyone here will tell you which lens works well for them and they'll be right to recommend it but you need to figure out what's going to fit best with your style.
 
:clap: thanks to everyone who posted there thoughts on the lens
i have thought about it and decided on two the nifty fifty is a must for my bag also a sigma 105
many thanks again and have this one on me
na ill get the round in
:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:
as for payin for that
:exit:
 
digitalfailure said:
I use my 60mm for people pics, seems to work quite well on a 20D

Although i'm considering moving up to full frame soon, so i'll have to get a new lens to fit between the 40 and 70mm ranges as the ef-s won't fit on a 5D
Click to expand...

If you mean as a direct replacement for the 60mm to do the same job you'd need to be looking at a 100mm lens on the 5D.

Apologies if I'm telling you something you already know :D
 
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