topic Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits in EF & RF Lenses

What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

peggyowenby — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:22:12 GMT

What is an affordable portrait lens

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

cicopo — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 01:05:29 GMT

There are several threads on the topic already but because cameras (DSLR's) today use different sized sensors we need to know which one you're using. The same lens on a 1.6 crop body doesn't give the same results (FOV or DOF) on a full frame body.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

diverhank — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 03:31:37 GMT

Opinions will vary but my vote goes to the EF 85mm f/1.8. This is the only non-L lens I own and it's my favorite for portraits (I have the 24-105 f/4L, 24-70 II f/2.8L, 100mm f/2.8L macro, 70-200mm f/4L IS...any of which can make a nice portrait lens but none can beat the 85mm bokeh @ f/1.8.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

7D5D — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 05:09:37 GMT

85 f/1.8 for FF and 50 f/1.4 for crop are probably the best all around affordable lens for portraits.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

ScottyP — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:43:12 GMT

I agree 100 percent with 7d5d the 50 for rebels or the 85 for full frame. About $350.00 each.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

PatrickE — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:44:02 GMT

I also agree with 7D5D. 50 / 1.4 for crop sensors and 85 / 1.8 for FF

Pat

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

diverhank — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:03:39 GMT

In my opinion 50mm is not as good for portraits even for crop sensor

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

ScottyP — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 05:28:05 GMT

Assuming the original poster has a rebel or other crop sensor, I will say that 85 f/1.8 will work for portraits on crop if you have room to step back as you shoot. For me 85 on a crop is often too much telephoto for a lot of rooms I am in.

If you have a kit lens that covers 50 and 85 try out those exact lengths. If 85 feels tight then go with 50.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

ebiggs1 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:02:33 GMT

Maybe a funny recommendation on the Canon forum, but I am going to say the Sigma 85mm f1.4 EX.

It bests the Canon 85mm f1.8 and rivals the Canon f1.2 L. The Siggy is not an "L" lens, however. It is rugged build but not weather resistant. The best part, it is $1000+ cheaper than the "L". So don't use it in the rain and save a buck or two.

Although not my number one choice for a crop camera, at 136mm equivalent, still workable.

There are just a few Sigma lens' that rival Canon and this is one.

I personally don't recommend the Canon 50mm f1.8 to anybody.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

hsbn — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:26:02 GMT

I know it's a great lens, but $900 is not affordable to me by any mean. For under $500, 85 F1.8 is hard to beat.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

ScottyP — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:56:19 GMT

Sorry ebiggs1, but you are banished.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

Skirball — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:17:48 GMT

@diverhank wrote:
In my opinion 50mm is not as good for portraits even for crop sensor

But the 85mm on a crop is?

I even like 50mm on a FF for portraiture, but it can be a bit uncomfortable for the model if they're not used to a camera in their face. You also have a much larger background to deal with.

That said, I'm not crazy about the 50/1.4 as a lens. I try to love it, but I don’t. The 85/1.8 is a better lens IMHO. And providing that you have the space, you can always go longer with portraits. 85mm is a workable distance on either crop or FF.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

focus — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:54:09 GMT

40mm f/2.8 STM is very cheap and I think nicer than any of the 50mm for portraits.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

hsbn — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:05:42 GMT

I also find macro lens can be a really good portrait lens. The Canon 100mm Non-IS is good and doesn't cost that much too.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

diverhank — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:20:19 GMT

hsbn wrote:

I also find macro lens can be a really good portrait lens. The Canon 100mm Non-IS is good and doesn't cost that much too.

===

I agree. I also use the 100 f/2.8L as a portrait lens. However, part of the reason the 85mm f/1.8 is better is because of the bokeh below f/2.8. Because the 85mm is affordable, I recently bought it just to see (having owned the 24-70II, 100 2.8L, 70-200 f/4L already). The 85mm is now my portrait lens...it is that good.

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

hsbn — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:47:19 GMT

85mm 1.8L is on my wishlist :). I don't want to spend cash for the 1.2L 🙂

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

scj7129 — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:08:40 GMT

I kind of like the Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic!

http://lensbaby.com/optics-edge80

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

Bill-Emmett — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT

You may want to try the Canon EF 40mm pancake, f2.8 stm. I use it on some of my portraits, and the cost is low, only $149.00 at most NYC houses. You just have to get close to the subject.

Bill

Re: What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

scj7129 — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:32:53 GMT

I suppose if you are using it on an APS-C DSLR with a 1.6x multiplier, it would come out to a nice 64mm for portraiture!....Not too shabby!