What is the best portrait lens Canon makes?

[poker]

I'd like to know your thoughts on the best lens for portraits that Canon makes. In the following photo, I used a Canon 70-200L but it had to stay on a tripod and I could not move with it due to size and weight.



I'll be doing a few headshots and may use my Canon 85 f/1.8 USM which is pretty darn sharp.

Does anyone have other suggestions? I may rent based on your opinions.

Thanks in advance

BTW, I have a Canon 30D so I have to deal with the x1.6 magnifier issue in case that matters.

[Loupey]

I just bought the 85mm myself. Seems ideal for headshots with the 1.6x factor.

Of course Alison does a brilliant job with her 50mm 1.8 too. Good for head/torso shots.

As long as you have the room to physically move back and forth, I'd stick to using primes only. Those two would do nicely IMO.

[yogestee]

Eric,,,,how long is a piece of string??If you want bang for your bucks buy yourself a Canon 50mm 1.8...Cheap as chips,,sharp as a pin and small enough to tuck away in your camera bag without taking up much room...I believe Alison has glued her 50mm 1.8 to her camera :idea:

Jurgen

[gryphonslair99]

I love primes for portraits. My bag currently has the 50mm f1.4, the 85mm f1.8 and the 100mm f2.8macro(still a great prime). My next addition will be the 135 f2.8L.

[mjs1973]

I would add to what the others said about the 50mm f/1.8. I very fine lens at an unbeatable price. It would give you field of view equal to 80mm with your camera's crop factor. Longe enough so you wouldn't have to be right on top of your subject to get a head shot. I shot some senior portraits a couple years ago, and I used my 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens on a 1.6x DRebel. I really liked the focal length for getting in close, but not crowding the subject.

It's a very subjective question, so I'm sure you will get a lot of different suggestions.

[poker]

Eric,,,,how long is a piece of string??If you want bang for your bucks buy yourself a Canon 50mm 1.8...Cheap as chips,,sharp as a pin and small enough to tuck away in your camera bag without taking up much room...I believe Alison has glued her 50mm 1.8 to her camera :idea:

Jurgen

Hi Jurgen,

I have that lens. Although, I appreciate its quality I wonder if anything with a higher price tag can do better. I have NOT heard any reviews stating the f1.4 version was much better except for build quality.

I'll give more of a chance.

Thanks!

[poker]

Thanks for your comments gryphonslair99 and Michael.

In using my 85mm, I believe I was comfortable in moving about. I always thought that using a 100mm with the crop factor would get me way too close.

I'll see what happens when I do my headshot session sometime in the next couple of weeks. It's kinda funny, the guy is doing voice overs but he needs headshots. they are not going to see his face anyway. I guess it's part of the biz.

Thanks for the responses. I have the the 50 f/1.8 and the 85mm f/1.8. Since nobody mentioned L glass, I'll assume that I need to put more faith in my current glass.


:thumbsup:

I would add to what the others said about the 50mm f/1.8. I very fine lens at an unbeatable price. It would give you field of view equal to 80mm with your camera's crop factor. Longe enough so you wouldn't have to be right on top of your subject to get a head shot. I shot some senior portraits a couple years ago, and I used my 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens on a 1.6x DRebel. I really liked the focal length for getting in close, but not crowding the subject.

It's a very subjective question, so I'm sure you will get a lot of different suggestions.

[Loupey]

For portraits, I think those two lenses (50 & 85) are "sharp enough". I think the level of PP has a lot more effect on the end result (good and bad) than the lens in this particular situation. The difference between the 85 1.8 verses the 1.2L would be evident in the raw form, but that difference would be covered up by good post processing IMO. Not too many people want to see every wrinkle, blemish, and stray hair.

BTW, the guy that shot my "head shots" simply used a 100mm f/2. On most photo shoots that I'm in, the majority of photographers use the 24-70 f/2.8L on a 1DsMKII. FWIW.

[livin4lax09]

85 seems to be the preferred lens because of the 1.6 crop factor. I personally like the long end of my 24-70 and the short end of my 70-200, so basically around the 55-85mm range.

[gryphonslair99]

Hi Jurgen,

I have that lens. Although, I appreciate its quality I wonder if anything with a higher price tag can do better. I have NOT heard any reviews stating the f1.4 version was much better except for build quality.

I'll give more of a chance.

Thanks!

The one advantage that the50mm 1.4 has over the 1.8 is the quality of the Bokeh. The 1.8 seems a bit octangular where as the 1.4 is much smoother. The 1.2 has even better Bokeh, but at a price that I just can not justify.

[Lionheart]

Nothing wrong with the 85 f1.8. Or the 50 f1.8 f1.4, or the 70-200 f2.8, or even the 100mm f2 and f2.8 macro. My vote goes to the 135 f2L.

[Lionheart]

I love primes for portraits. My bag currently has the 50mm f1.4, the 85mm f1.8 and the 100mm f2.8macro(still a great prime). My next addition will be the 135 f2.8L.

You will not be disappointed in the 135 f2L. My favorite prime of all time.