portrait lens for canon d5? - DPChallenge Forums

04/29/2007 11:23:33 AM · #1

hello dear everyone!

quite unexpectedly:) I feel like I need a new camera.
after reading the discussions here on dpc and everywhere in the internet I have chosen canon d5.

I already have nikon d50 and two lenses: 50mm 1.4 and a standard 18-55 one. I decided since I need a new camera and want to shift to canon, it is good time to upgrade now since I haven't invested fortune into lenses for nikon.

I am still not sure 100% if it is a right decision.
I am going to continue making portraits, mostly indoors, also with low light, that's why I have chosen d5. the alternative is nikon d200 which I was holding in hands and really love. I like the look of nikon cameras more than canon, but it is not the look that is important.

could you please recommend a good not too expensive lens for portraits for d5? 50mm 1.2 or 60mm? I don't know much about canon lenses.

I would really really appreciate your advice.

thank you!

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 11:27:02.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

04/29/2007 11:31:40 AM · #2

Remember that lenses are going to seem much wider on the 5D. To get the same framing at the same distance, you'll need a 1.5x longer focal length. If 50mm works for you now, look at lenses from 70mm up. The 85/1.8 is considered a wonderful portrait lens. The 50/1.4 is also a very good portrait lens for full-body shots in tighter spaces. Like Nikon, Canon's 70-200 zooms are excellent portrait lenses as well. So is the 100/2.8 Macro.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 11:32:39 AM · #3

thank you so much Fritz!

edwalk74

Canon EOS-30D

04/29/2007 11:35:53 AM · #4

I know you said inexpensive but I would recommend the Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L or the newer EF 50mm f /1.2L. They are both on the high end but their quality and sharpness are unmatched. Now mind you, everyone has an opinion and what I might like no one else will. they make a cheaper 50mm but you don't get the huge 1.2 F-stop or the UD glass. I hope this helped.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 11:37:27 AM · #5

Originally posted by kirbic:

Yup.

50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.8 of f/1.2 (if money is not a concern), 100mm f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

04/29/2007 11:41:37 AM · #6

I've just read the conclusion on dpreview.com and they said the lens choice is very important for d5 because of some "Edge softness / falloff / chromatic aberrations, needs good lenses
AI Servo (continuous AF) interference banding issue (certain lenses, high sensitivities) "

I did understand it about softness, but didn't wuite get it about the AI servo..:)

and it doesn't have usb, should I use firewire to transfer photos? maybe there are other ways I don't know about...

thank you! money is a concern:) but it is great to know as much as possible about everything.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

04/29/2007 11:48:03 AM · #7

Originally posted by silverfoxx:

My 5D has USB

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/29/2007 11:51:39 AM · #8

Originally posted by NstiG8tr:

My 5D has USB

oh, i definitely misunderstood them:
"No mass storage device USB mode, limited throughput (just 2.5 MB/sec) "
thank you!
:)

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

04/29/2007 11:53:24 AM · #9

The AI Servo banding occasionally happens with a few specific lenses (the 50/1.4 is one). It only happens when the focus motor is driving the lens while the shutter opens. Even then, it only shows up occasionally. It's a non-issue.
Because the 5D uses the full width of the image circle, the performance of a lens at the outer fringes of its image circle become important. Many otherwise good lenses show noticeable corner performance issues (softness, CA) on the 5D. Contrary to popular belief, though, you don't need ultra-expensive glass for great results. Over the majority of the frame, the 5D is less demanding of a lens than an APS-C (1.5 or 1.6-crop) camera that has a much smaller pixel pitch. Often, reduced corner performance is of little consequence. For portrait work this is usually true. Corner performance also improves when stopped down.
The 5D does have USB. I do, however, strongly recommend a fast card reader (a true high-speed USB 2.0 unit, or better yet a firewire one), especially if you shoot RAW. The RAW files from the 5D are about 12-14 MB each.

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

04/29/2007 11:54:07 AM · #10

Originally posted by silverfoxx:

I did understand it about softness, but didn't wuite get it about the AI servo..:)

I have no clue what they are talking about there. I use AI Servo when the subjects are moving unpredictably and I like what I get.

Originally posted by silverfoxx:

and it doesn't have usb, should I use firewire to transfer photos? maybe there are other ways I don't know about...

To be honest, I have no idea about USB. I always use a card readers. Card readers cost less than $20 and they are often faster than pulling the images off the card. Plus, you're camera isn't tied up while you're downloading images.

Ubersteiny

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Sigma 35mm f1.4 dg hsm for Canon

04/29/2007 12:35:21 PM · #11

85mm/1.8 is a great length on full frame, and the 50mm/1.4 is great on a crop body( i just purchased one)

magnus

Canon EOS-30D

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

04/29/2007 01:21:07 PM · #12

Here's another vote for the Canon 85/1.8. I really like it as headshot lens with the 1.6x factor on my D10, I imagine it's a very useful full-body portrait lens on a D5. And it's very reasonably priced. This lens's best feature: buttery smooth bokeh. Worst feature: some purple fringing when shooting against bright backgrounds (or maybe that's just my copy, have other people noticed that?).

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

04/29/2007 01:28:35 PM · #13

Originally posted by magnus:

Worst feature: some purple fringing when shooting against bright backgrounds (or maybe that's just my copy, have other people noticed that?).

All very fast lenses, shot wide open in bright light, will give some magenta "blooming." It's normal.

Prof_Fate

04/29/2007 01:41:51 PM · #14

Those that have teh 5D tell me cheap lenses look like real crap on that camera, being FF the edges of lenses matter and the resolution of the sensor shows lens flaws as well.

The 85 1.8 (the 1.2 is better, but you said inexpensive) is great.
The 50 1.8 will sucks on the 5D, the 1.4 should be fine.
The 100 2.8, also a macro lens, would be a good choice.

For zooms, the 70-200 2.8 is THE lens to have. IS is nice, but $700 more.
24-70 2.8, but you might make do with the tamron 28-75 2.8 for 1/3 the price - borrow one and make sure you like it on the 5D first.
A lot of people like the 24-105 F4 IS - a very useable range, not a bad price for what you get, and will work for potraits, but not gonna give you that very shallow DOF of a faster lens.

From a D50 to a 5D is a big step up - you're gonna have a blast!

missinseattle

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/29/2007 02:24:50 PM · #15

I'm looking at the same thing but won't be buying till fall. I'm happy to see that the lenses I have listed already are ones people are suggesting.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

04/29/2007 02:32:30 PM · #16

thank you so much!
is 20-200 usm or is you mean? I've just found out there are several types.
is there much difference between 70-200 f2.8 and 4.0? the price is so different. I can only afford f 4.0.

the same with 85 mm: only 1.8 unfortunately...

I am choosing between 85 mm 1.8 and 70-200 4.0 now.

missinseattle

Nikon D200

04/29/2007 04:25:56 PM · #17

where are you looking at lenses? I've been looking around at B&H today just out of couriousity.

Mr_Pants

SiPix Blink

04/29/2007 04:33:00 PM · #18

If it's head and shoulders type portraits that you are looking at, the 135 f/2 is a seriously sharp lens wide open and gives the opportunity for shallow DOF at a lot less cost than the previously mentioned 85 f/1.2

Obviously a longer lens, but much faster focussing than the 85 1.2.

The 50 f/1.4 performs pretty well on an FF camera, anyway, and at a price much less than many of the other lenses mentioned here.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

04/29/2007 04:34:13 PM · #19

There's a Canon 85mm f1.8 at work on the 5D.

Check out JL's India folder and you'll see many are taken with that lens.

04/29/2007 04:42:41 PM · #20

missinseattle I am just looking in google for the lenses recommended here and come to some forums. or you mean to buy? i am going to buy them here in norway.

thank you Mr. Pants, I am thinking more about full length portraits, like this one:

I guess I have to be very far from the the subject with 85 mm for this type of portraits?

Pawdrix, what a wonderful photo! thank you

Message edited by author 2007-04-29 16:59:35.

Prof_Fate

04/29/2007 05:29:38 PM · #21

70-200 F4, 70-200 F4 IS, 70-200 2.8, 70-200 2.8 IS...all are USM (a non-geared focus motor, faster to focus)

You know you should use a shutter speed of 1/focal length, IS will give you 1/ 1/3 the focal length.
What that means to me is I can hand hold 1/40 at 200mm. I shoot weddings, so that is a feature I need to have, to be able to get slow shutter and wide aperture.

The f4 lens is a lot lighter, some say sharper, and the 5D has cleaner high ISO than my 30D by at least a stop. Also, a crop camera body gives one more stop DOF than a FF - so you should be able to live with F4 non-IS unless you have some specific need for IS or faster glass. Besides, the 70-200 F4 will hold it's value very well, so if in a year you want to sell it for a 2.8 or IS you'll do fine.

85mm full body shot on a FF body...i'm estimating 15 feet away would probably do it.

04/29/2007 05:35:11 PM · #22

thank you Chris!
this is what I have decided now, too. I don't have much space, so I'll go for 70-200 f4, not IS, I always use my tripod, even outdoors.
thank you so much for all your advice!
I can't wait until tomorrow:)

04/30/2007 05:33:35 AM · #23

good morning, I found one more lens:
SIGMA 70-200/2,8EX DG MACRO Canon
is it any good? it is much cheaper than canon 70-200 f2.8

hankk

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

04/30/2007 12:38:47 PM · #24

Check out //www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/55/cat/11 and //www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/217/cat/31 to compare the Sigma to the Canon. Be sure to use the full-frame results, a lot of lenses are very sharp in the 1.6x center area and not in the parts outside that.

Message edited by author 2007-04-30 12:38:57.

hankk