What's your portrait lens??

[703Methane]

50mm 1.8
Sigma 24-70 2.8

 

[Derrel]

70-200 2.8 VR-1. 105mm f/2 AF-D Defocus Control. 85/1.4 AF-D. Pretty hard to beat those three.

 

[Tee]

<--- 85 1.8D

For those on a crop camera, the 50mm is a tasty lens.

 

[eric-holmes]

70-200 2.8 VR-1

That's the one I'm currently saving for. I'm about 1/3 the way there.

 

[Village Idiot]

Well all the best advise has been given.

And a 35mm it is going to be!

52.5mm field of view on a 1.5x APS-C sensor. I use a 24-70 f/2.8L as a portrait lens and it's not always at 70mm. It'll work just fine.

 

[enzodm]

52.5mm field of view on a 1.5x APS-C sensor. I use a 24-70 f/2.8L as a portrait lens and it's not always at 70mm. It'll work just fine.

at the risk of discussing always the same things, focal length is not only matter of field of view.

 

[Bram]

Yeah see I needed a prime lens, and something that I could afford so my options were pretty limited, I wish I could have gone for the 2.8 70-200 or the 85 1.8 but that's just not in my budget.

 

[NikWilliamson]

I do headshots for a living, and I use the 85mm F1.8. It's the best portrait lens under 400. I recommend it to everyone!

 

[Bram]

Hmm i'd first need a body with an AF motor, I tend to move around alot and not use a tripod so the AF is kind of a big deal to me.

 

[flea77]

Depending on the situation, from most to least used:

85 1.8
24-70 2.8
80-200 2.8
105 2.8

Reasons are:

1: Quality of bokeh
2: Subject/background compression
3: Quality of image
4: Ability to seperate the subject from the background (which kind of relies on 1 and 2 as well)

Allan

 

[reznap]

As of this xmas, a Sigma 50mm f/1.4. It's bokehlicious.

 

[Bram]

Some juicy bokeh there rez.

 

[reznap]

Some juicy bokeh there rez.

Thanks. I like how it doesn't make footballs like my 50mm f/1.8 did. First one front-focused about about 1cm so I had to exchange it.

Here's a shot of the problem if you want to check it out: http://i.imgur.com/HVuZQ.jpg

I followed this guide: Focus Testing - photo.net

I went ahead and checked all my lenses with the chart while I was at it. It's a worthwhile test to perform if you're getting blurry pictures from one of your lenses.

 

[Bram]

Hmm weird how it did that...

 

[JWellman]

As of this xmas, a Sigma 50mm f/1.4. It's bokehlicious.

Nice! Saving for this lens as we speak! Excuse my ignorance but isn't the Sigma also compatible with the Canon? I wonder which is better? (Currently shooting with a 50D - 28x135 and totally aggravated with some of the portraits). Reading this thread has helped me understand a little better.