Best Lens For portraits

[Chancepics]

I have a canon 50D am looking for a lens. I mainly do portraits. I was looking at the L series. What should I look for when purchasing for portraits. Wide Angle?? What are your suggestions? thanks

[RichardTaylor]

This may help.

Canon Portrait Lens Recommendations

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by Chancepics

I have a canon 50D am looking for a lens. I mainly do portraits. I was looking at the L series.

24-70 f/2.8 L
70-200 f/2.8 L IS II
50 f/1.2 L
85 f/1.2 L II
135 f/2 L
200 f/2 L IS
24 f/1.4 L II
35 f/1.4 L

Originally Posted by Chancepics

Best Lens For portraits

The older 200 f/1.8 L will knock you socks off. Otherwise, the 200 f/2 L IS. For value, get a 50 f/1.8, 50 f/1.4 or 135 f/2 L.

[natek313]

I would recommend either the 24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens or the 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. You could go with the 85mm f/1.2L, but it actually focuses slower than the f/1.8, and it is heavy! That's not to mention the huge price difference. Plus, you can imagine how it could be to try and nail focusing at an aperture of f/1.2.

I've also used my 70-200mm f/4L IS USM lens for some portraits and really liked the results.

[Chancepics]

24-70mm f/2.8L USM looks nice and has great reviews. This may be the one. Maybe I overlooked it but does it have IS?? Im scared to throw out this much money for a lens. Ive never purchased a lens before =O

[RichardTaylor]

No it doesn't.

[natek313]

No, the 24-70mm f/2.8L does not have IS. Rumor has it that the next model will.

If you do a lot of studio portraits, IS isn't necessary. Even when using it in natural light, you have a lot of flexibility with a large aperture like f/2.8. When I've used that lens, I never found myself with camera shake problems.

[Chancepics]

ok. I do a lot of night portraits to even though I use my friends lighting I am scared that ill get cam shake. Do you know when the next model will be released or is it just rumor going around

[natek313]

There's no release date as of yet - at least not that I've heard.

[inkista]

What are you shooting with now? And why do you specifically want an L? The L portrait "holy trinity" is the 35/1.4L, 85/1.2L, and 135/2L. So, I'd recommend one of those, actually, but that's more if you're shooting with available light--it doesn't sound like that's the case for you. And I'm not sure I'd recommend an L as your first lens purchase evah: it's gutchurning enough without involving the high dollar amounts on an L--buying an L nearly always involves some form of buyer's remorse . The EF 50 f/1.8 II is about $100 and won't cause any ulcers and does great as a starter portrait lens.

The 50 Prime Challenge thread should give you hint as to why most of us have a 50/1.8 or 50/1.4 in our bags.

And this article on maximum aperture and primes vs. zooms will tell you why a fast prime is often favored as a portrait lens.