Best portrait lens

[jules007]

I have the Canon Rebel Xsi and am wanting to find the best portrait lens that will do good both indoor and outdoor for around $200-$400.
I have researched for a long time and don't know what to get. I have heard good things about the EF 85mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.4 but I don't know what the difference in them would be. I don't have a very big studio but I do take indoor shots both head shots and full body.
Is there a better lens for that price out there that is a zoom lens? Please help!

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by jules007

I have the Canon Rebel Xsi and am wanting to find the best portrait lens that will do good both indoor and outdoor for around $200-$400.
I have researched for a long time and don't know what to get. I have heard good things about the EF 85mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.4 but I don't know what the difference in them would be. I don't have a very big studio but I do take indoor shots both head shots and full body.

The difference is, that in a not-very-big studio the 85mm will allow for 'close' headshots/head and a little shoulder, and the 50 will do good for an upper body/torso shot, but both are too long for a full body shot, for that you will need something wider...

...or break out a studio wall...

Is there a better lens for that price out there that is a zoom lens? Please help!

Since in-studio you do not often shoot wide-open/large aperture, but more like F5.6 - F8.0, and you can (and probably should) use a tripod, no 'fancy fast glass with IS' is needed so perhaps an EF 24-85F3.5-F4.5, especially the (can only be purchased 2nd hand) 'silver/champagne gold' edition has a good reputation price/$$ wise, 'new' a black one can be bought (f.e. at B&H) for around $325, Dirk (aka D50&D70Freak) recently bought one attached to an old film-EOS for ~$70 ...

(see here )

When used with intelligence (not too wide open, stay away from the extremes on 24mm and 85mm end to avoid barrel/pincushion distortions) the sharpness (at F5.6-F8.0), color and saturation are very good - for the $$ spent...

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[Dirk]

Indeed it did but it was 70 euro (but is it ok to say that euro and dollar are close)
the goldfinger is a fine lens but so is my 18-55 is

I do not know the ef 85mm from canon so i can't say if it is equal or better than my nikon nikkor as 85 1.8D which is a very good portrait lens

[woehlerking]

85mm 1.8

[lizziejane]

While I like the 50 1.4 just fine - my first choice is always the 85.

[swampler]

I like the EF-S 60 f/2.8 Macro for portraits. Very sharp lens, even at f/2.8. Only negative is that f/2.8 won't get you the razor thin DOF that some like.

[aphotographynut]

Hi: For the crop factor of your camera, I would suggest the 50mm. Also, no mater WHAT you get, I always tell people to consider their future purchases. Are you ever going to get a full frame camera? If so, then you may want to stay away from the EF-S lenses.

Another nice thing about the 50 1.4 si it is a nice walk around lens, etc. I grab it a lot when I want to just "go to town" and look around, take a walk with the kids, etc.

Either way, both are nice lenses.

My last suggestion, would be to get a rough idea where you want to pose subject vs. camera position and get a volunteer to go with you to the camera store (assuming they have both lenses). Play around there and buy the one that is best for you!

[ashleykaryl]

The 85mm F1.8 is a very good portrait lens. On a full frame body it has a slight limitation in that its closest focus is only enough for a classic head & shoulders crop, but on a smaller sensor you should be getting closer. Regardless of the sensor size though I'd prefer the 85mm for portrait work over the 50mm unless you know you will frequently be working in confined spaced. As I learned when I used a 20D, small spaces and a small sensor can create big headaches when you need some space around your subject.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by ashleykaryl

On a full frame body it has a slight limitation in that it's closest focus is only enough for a classic head & shoulders crop. . .

I'm confused. Are you saying you want to be closer than full heads and shoulder?

[ashleykaryl]

The short answer is yes. Most of my work involves beauty photography, so frequently I want to go closer than just head and shoulders, in which case I find the 85mm a bit limited. The 24-105L will focus closer at the same focal length without significant distortion and that is useful. The quality also appears to be very close, but obviously the cost is higher. Another alternative for portrait work is the 100mm macro.

[drumsergeant]

I have an 85 1.8, 60 2.8 macro, and a cheapo 50 1.8. They all work very well depending on how much room you've got to work with.

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by ashleykaryl

The short answer is yes. Most of my work involves beauty photography, so frequently I want to go closer than just head and shoulders, in which case I find the 85mm a bit limited. The 24-105L will focus closer at the same focal length without significant distortion and that is useful. The quality also appears to be very close, but obviously the cost is higher. Another alternative for portrait work is the 100mm macro.

...if you need the F1.8 over the F2.8 and can spare the extra crop to get rid of the vignetting, you might also try the macro extension tubes on the 85F1.8 , Canon 25mm Extension Tube II (EF 25) Review or Canon 12mm Extension Tube II (EF 12) Review...

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

[ashleykaryl]

I have the 100mm macro already, so I don't need them. I've never liked extension tubes where it was possible to work without them. Remember also that extension tubes steal light. For closeup portrait work it's unlikely I would ever work at F1.8 because depth of field would be practically zero.

[boog69]

I would go with the 85 1.8 as I just use mine more often that the 50. Also the 85 1.8 is insanely sharp.

[jeff5897]

Here are the photos taken by 85mm & 50mm, you can download the photos and tell their difference of image quality & sharpness.

85mm F1.8
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.

50mm F1.4
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.


if you want the best portrait lens, I think it's 85mm F1.2 L, please see the photos taken by the lens.
Flickr Search Engine : Flickr original size search engine.

[KmH]

The thing is, there is no one best portrait lens. Good portraiture requires a selection of lenses and the really good ones cost considerably more than a few hundred dollars.

As you can see from the responses here the 50 mm and 85 mm lenses are popular. So are 105 mm and 200 mm. The other factor to consider is maximum aperture.