Help With Portrait Lens

[rishabh_destiny]

Hi All,

I just got my new Canon EOS 550D with a kit lens, and have been experimenting quite a lot with it lately. I feel I'm more inclined towards portrait photography and since the default kit lens has the min. f stop of 3.5, I don't get that quality amount of background blur which I expect.

So, I think I'll be going for a dedicated portrait lens (prime, preferably). What all do you suggest?

Is getting a 50mm/f1.8 better or 85mm/f1.8 in comparison to that?

What about zoom lenses for portraits? Any good value other than the mighty expensive 70-200?

[inkista]

Originally Posted by rishabh_destiny

...So, I think I'll be going for a dedicated portrait lens (prime, preferably). What all do you suggest?

Is getting a 50mm/f1.8 better or 85mm/f1.8 in comparison to that?

I think the 85/1.8 and 50/1.4 are better overall lenses than the 50/1.8, but they cost about three to four times more, so you'd expect that. For the price, the 50/1.8 II is a terrific lens.

I'd actually advocate going for the thrifty fifty, because that way you'll have experience with a fixed focal length lens (for not much money), and find out if prime shooting is for you, and whether you'll want to go longer or wider for a more 'permanent' lens.

I started with the 50/1.8, moved to the 85/1.8 for about a year, and now seem to have happily settled on a (non-Canon) 35/2 and the 135/2L. On a crop body. But I'm weird. You can spend a lot of money guesstimating what focal lengths are the ones that are going to work for you.

I'd say the only reasons to go for the 85/1.8 on a crop body are a) if you find yourself zoomed in at 55mm about 95% of the time with the kit lens and cursing the lack of reach, b) by portraits you mostly mean "head shots" or you always have a ton of working room, and c) you plan on shooting indoors sports or stage performances with the lens, and you can't get as close to the action as you'd like. And in these situations, the 100/2 might be just as good or a better choice.

The $500 and under Canon lenses that I'd consider for portrait shooting would include the 28/1.8 USM, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.8, 100/2, or 135/2.8 soft focus. If the sky's the limit, then the 35/1.4L, the 85/1.2L, or the 135/2L are the ones to look at.

[rishabh_destiny]

Thank you so much for the detailed answer

What about 135mm f/2.0 L ? How good is that for portrait photography?

[RichardTaylor]

If you have enough working room it is great.

[rishabh_destiny]

I'll mostly be taking portraits on streets, churches and fields.. Studio work will be very limited

[RichardTaylor]

For head shots etc it will be great.

It is a good choice providing you do not want environmental portraits.
All taken with a 40D

(1) Indoor in poor lighting.



Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 3200
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

(2)

Camera Canon EOS 5D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

(3)


Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/2000)
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -2/3 EV

(4)


Camera Canon EOS 40D
Exposure 1/6400 sec
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -1 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire