Help with portrait lens

[K.ErickPhotography]

After saving up for a few months Im finally ready to graduate from my kit lens on my 50D and get a nice lens for portrait/modeling shootiing.

Heres the deal, I have about 1400 saved up, I do outdoor shooting. I need something that is sharp and clean and will complement my 1.6 crop factor. I was interested in the 135L but had a few questions. How far would I have to stand back from my subject to get a full body shot? Head and shoulders?? Ive never used a prime lens before so Im kind of shaky about purchasing one and me not liking, but Ive read nothing but great things about it. Also like many others I like the 24-70L but again its just a "interest" Can somebody give any advice or suggestions on what lens you think would be a good one. thanks everybody.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by K.ErickPhotography

I was interested in the 135L but had a few questions. How far would I have to stand back from my subject to get a full body shot? Head and shoulders??

"Canon EF 135mm f2.0L USM...On an APS-C camera, you'd need to be maybe 10ft from your subject for a "head and shoulders" shot and maybe 30ft away for a full body shot." Source: Portrait Lenses for the Canon EOS system

[K.ErickPhotography]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

"Canon EF 135mm f2.0L USM...On an APS-C camera, you'd need to be maybe 10ft from your subject for a "head and shoulders" shot and maybe 30ft away for a full body shot." Source: Portrait Lenses for the Canon EOS system

thanks very informing article.ahh so many choices makes it hard!

[SusanH1970]

My next lens is going to be the 85mm f/1.8. Every photographer that I know that has one and uses it for outdoor portraiture swears it's their favorite lens. The 85mm f/1.2L is also obviously an excellent choice if you're sold on an L lens, but there's about a $1300 price difference. I believe there's a review on the 85 1.8 on the link that LoveDSLR posted (thanks for that link, btw, great resource!).

[inkista]

From my experience with the 85/1.8 and the 135L, the L kicks ass in terms of bokeh, color, and contrast and CA control, vs. the 85/1.8. Since I got the 135L, I rarely put the 85 on the camera any more. But I tend to use it much as one would use a 70-200 f/2.8. 135 is the middle of the 70-200 range. It's long on a crop.

SusanH: three other possibilities, if you wanted to save a bundle, aside from the much-mentioned 85/1.8, are the EF 100 f/2 USM, and the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus. And if you don't mind giving up autofocus, the Contax/Yashica-mount Zeiss Sonnar T* 135 f/2.8, and an adapter ring. It goes for about $200-$250 used, and it's one of the Alt. lens bargains. OK, it's not a Planar 100/2, but it still rocks that Zeiss microcontrast in a way no Canon glass can duplicate.

[bono]

The list probably misses one very good lens for portrait shooting - the Tamron 90mm f/2,8 Macro. This is rather a cheap option but has a very nice Bokeh and the right focal length for an APS-C body.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by inkista

SusanH: three other possibilities, if you wanted to save a bundle, aside from the much-mentioned 85/1.8, are the EF 100 f/2 USM, and the EF 135mm f/2.8 Soft Focus. And if you don't mind giving up autofocus, the Contax/Yashica-mount Zeiss Sonnar T* 135 f/2.8, and an adapter ring. It goes for about $200-$250 used, and it's one of the Alt. lens bargains. OK, it's not a Planar 100/2, but it still rocks that Zeiss microcontrast in a way no Canon glass can duplicate.

Thanks, Inkista! I'll look into the 100 f/2. The 135 is way too long on my crop sensor. And I gotta have my autofocus when shooting little ones.

[K.ErickPhotography]

My original choice was the 135L but of course with all the other lenses its confusing. My only concern is that its a prime. I sold my kit lens to help me pay for the new one so the only lens Ill have is a prime but then again the only photos I take are portraits =). I was also interested in the 24-70L just because the its zoom factor and its credibility. I was also advised to take a look at the Macro 100mm 2.8L. Thanks everybody !! Please feel free to add any input bad or good

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by K.ErickPhotography

My original choice was the 135L but of course with all the other lenses its confusing. My only concern is that its a prime. I sold my kit lens to help me pay for the new one so the only lens Ill have is a prime but then again the only photos I take are portraits =). I was also interested in the 24-70L just because the its zoom factor and its credibility.

I don't know what is your style or how long you have been shooting portraits. However, you should be favoring a certain focal length range based on what you are shooting the most.

Back in the SLR days, Nikon's best was the 105mm and Canon was the 135mm. Since I don't shoot that many head and shoulders stuffs, I favor the shorter focal length such as 85mm or 105mm. For Canon, I shoot with the 85 f/1.2 L II and 105 mm with Nikon.

I use these primes for portraits rather than general people photography (cover by 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8). Note that lower noise high ISO cameras support f/2.8 better than less capable body.

Would I buy a 135mm? Yes, but it would be the Nikon 135 f/2 DC instead of the Canon 135 f/2 L (it is not my cup of tea).

[K.ErickPhotography]

After thinking about it the 135L may be a little too long for full body shots on my crop body. I personally think that about no more than 15 feet is a good distance between a photographer and model. Again though thats just my likings. With the 135L Id probably have to stand about 30 feet back to get a full body shot, at that distance I feel the model loses that intimacy especially in their eyes.