What is the best but affordable lens for portraits

[peggyowenby]

What is an affordable portrait lens

[ScottyP]

Sorry ebiggs1, but you are banished. 

[Skirball]

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@diverhank wrote:

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

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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.

[focus]

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

[hsbn]

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.

[diverhank]

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.

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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.

[diverhank]

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.

[diverhank]

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[diverhank]

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.

[hsbn]

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

[scj7129]

I kind of like the Lensbaby Edge 80 Optic!

http://lensbaby.com/optics-edge80

[Bill-Emmett]

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

[scj7129]

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!