Portrait lens - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 50mm f1.2L

08/27/2007 04:55:14 PM · #1

Hey guys, which lens is a better lens for portraits? Canon 85mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4? Both are roughly about the same price.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/27/2007 04:57:07 PM · #2

That would be a personal preference. They both are good focal lengths for portraits. Gonna have to say that the 85mm does get a bit crowded trying to work in tight spaces though (on a cropped sensor).

Rompy

Canon EOS-5D

08/27/2007 04:59:38 PM · #3

I have the 85mm (which I love) and the cheapo 50mm 1.8. I think both are totally fantastic for portraits. Sharp as nails with great bokah. What more could you ask for?
The cool thing about the 85, is that you can be a bit further away from your subject and not all up in their face.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/27/2007 05:00:12 PM · #4

with your camera, probably the 50 1.4

I used to love that on a D60. The 85 1.8 is now just about my most favourite lens for portraits though.

08/27/2007 05:12:05 PM · #5

Do yourself a favor. Go look at some of the favorite portraits that YOU have taken with your current lenses. Look at the EXIF and see what focal length you are using most often.

Simms

08/27/2007 06:49:58 PM · #6

Originally posted by Gordon:

with your camera, probably the 50 1.4

I used to love that on a D60. The 85 1.8 is now just about my most favourite lens for portraits though.

Oh yeah, the 85m 1.8 is tasty tasty..

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/27/2007 06:55:05 PM · #7

Originally posted by Simms:

Oh yeah, the 85m 1.8 is tasty tasty..

Yeah, but... the 85mm 1.2 is "to die for". (some day, maybe)

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/27/2007 06:58:28 PM · #8

Originally posted by dwterry:

Originally posted by Simms:
Oh yeah, the 85m 1.8 is tasty tasty..

Yeah, but... the 85mm 1.2 is "to die for". (some day, maybe)

and slow & heavy, compared to the 1.8. Depends on what you plan on using it for. Great shallow DoF, huge piece of glass to move around.

Simms

08/27/2007 07:01:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by dwterry:

Originally posted by Simms:
Oh yeah, the 85m 1.8 is tasty tasty..

Yeah, but... the 85mm 1.2 is "to die for". (some day, maybe)

and slow & heavy, compared to the 1.8. Depends on what you plan on using it for. Great shallow DoF, huge piece of glass to move around.

The pain would be worth it..

Saying that, I had the fortune to play with a 50mm f1.0 the other day, the rear element on that is HUGE, right to the edge of the mount. and VERY VERY heavy. I will admit that all the shots I took with it had such a shallow depth of field they were, for want of a better phrase, out of focus. Shame, but fun to play with.

08/27/2007 07:21:45 PM · #10

where do you find the 50mm 1.8 cheap? Everywhere I look, it is expensive and takes almost a month to get here from overseas. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place

08/27/2007 07:25:30 PM · #11

Originally posted by Truegsht:

where do you find the 50mm 1.8 cheap? Everywhere I look, it is expensive and takes almost a month to get here from overseas. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place

B&H

Message edited by author 2007-08-27 19:25:57.

De Sousa

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/27/2007 07:34:02 PM · #12

Theorically around 80mm lens is the choice for portraits.
So, if you have a fullframe sensor go for the 85mm. If you have 1.6 crop sensor go for the 50mm.

But the best answer is here:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Do yourself a favor. Go look at some of the favorite portraits that YOU have taken with your current lenses. Look at the EXIF and see what focal length you are using most often.

Message edited by author 2007-08-27 19:36:12.

08/27/2007 07:34:18 PM · #13

thanks...prob. order later tonight...cheaper than Ebay as well.

Nusbaum

Fujifilm X-T1

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

08/27/2007 08:29:27 PM · #14

Originally posted by De Sousa:

Theorically around 80mm lens is the choice for portraits.

I would say that the classic portrait lens from Nikon was the 105mm f/2.5. For Canon I believe the classic lens would be the 135mm F2.0L. Both of these are slightly longer than 80mm as the theoretical choice for portraits. That's not to say the 50mm would be a bad choice, but I don't think the 85mm would be considered too long even with a 1.6 crop factor.

More important, there is no one right answer. The 50mm and the 85mm provide different perspectives and as the photographer you need decide which is most appropriate for your purpose. I tried to pull some images with similar framing but different perspectives from my portfolio. If I can get a daughter to volunteer I may be able to get the exact framing with both lenses in order to illustrate the difference.

50mm f/1.4

50mm f/1.8

08/27/2007 08:40:45 PM · #15

Traditionally, anywhere between 85mm and 135mm on a 35mm has been considered a "portrait" lens. So, both the 50mm and 85mm fall in that range on a cropped sensor cam. But, as Nusbaum points out. eloquently with the pics, it is a matter of perspective and of personal tastes/style.

Ideally, you will have both a 50mm and 85mm in your bag to have choice.

Since the 50mm 1.8 is also a very good lens (and is cheap), the logical choice for me was to get the 50mm 1.8 and the 85mm 1.8.

Yes, the 50mm 1.4 has "prettier" bokeh than the 1.8, but the 1.8's isn't ugly by any means.

08/27/2007 09:09:43 PM · #16

I'm reading reviews of the 50mm 1.8 II, several have said that they can't print anything over 8x12 (portraits),without great loss in image quality. Would this be from the lens or the camera being used?

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

08/27/2007 09:12:31 PM · #17

Originally posted by Truegsht:

Sounds like the user to be honest.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/27/2007 09:22:45 PM · #18

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by Truegsht:
I'm reading reviews of the 50mm 1.8 II, several have said that they can't print anything over 8x12 (portraits),without great loss in image quality. Would this be from the lens or the camera being used?

Sounds like the user to be honest.

Yeah, definitely.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

08/27/2007 09:27:53 PM · #19

Originally posted by Truegsht:

It's true that if you are shooting with that lens at f/1.8 or f/2.2 it is quite soft. So if they were concerned with sharpness, it's probably true.

08/27/2007 09:37:44 PM · #20

Just ordered one from bh. Will see how it works in a week or so. Hope it works with the 400D? LOL

Canon CA50182EF Normal EF 50mm f/1.8 II Autofocus Lens
USA 1 $79.95 $79.95

Sub Total: $79.95
Shipping: $4.95
Sales Tax: $0.00

Orders consisting of two or more types of items may be shipped from multiple locations. Total: $84.90

08/27/2007 09:51:04 PM · #21

One last thing...does anyone with the 400D have some sample photos taken with that camera and this particular lens? I'd love to see some samples.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D