What's a good portrait lens for Canon?

lucky_13

lucky_13

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Billy
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I I have a 550D and I'm after a portrait lens,
What would u say that it's a good but fearly cheap lens? as I'm saving for the 15-85 too and the budget will not allow me to spend too much.
 
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seconded on the 50mm 1.8 mkii, fantastic little lens for the price, nice and light and also cheap.
 
Ok thank u I will be getting one of those, how about a zoom one?
 
Generally the cheaper the lens the less "good" it is, and this is more noticeable with zooms. If you have a small budget then fixed (prime) lenses are your best choice. As suggested above you cannot go wrong with the 50mm f/1.8
 
i was recommended a tamron 17-50 f2.8(you have some zoom then) when i posted for portraits for my budget...you can pick this up for around £250
 
85/1.8 - a great lens. Bit more expensive but very good for the price. It has all the nice stuff that the 50/1.8 doesn't (USM, full time manual focus, focusing scale, front element doesn't rotate).

Also won't die from the first knock :)
 
Agree with the others about the 50mm f/1.8. Great lens for the money. Even better on a crop, but a bit more expensive, is the Canon 35mm f/2 which is ideal for portraits, one of my fave lenses. I also have the canon 85mm f/1.8 and while a stunning lens, the focal length can limit you somewhat when it comes to portraits.
 
lucky_13 said:
Ok thank u I will be getting one of those, how about a zoom one?
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If you wanted a specific "portrait zoom" then you could try using a FF lens like say the Tamron 28-75 2.8. Not an ideal range for a walkaround lens as its not that wide but perhaps better suited for portait work with the extra tele reach.

Using the sweet spot of the lens on a crop would mean you could get good results from a(relaitvely) inexpensive FF zoom rather than having to shell out for the Canon 24-70.
 
Moreorless said:
If you wanted a specific "portrait zoom" then you could try using a FF lens like say the Tamron 28-75 2.8.
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:agree: I have one, it's really quite nice.

Moreorless said:
Not an ideal range for a walkaround lens as its not that wide but perhaps better suited for portait work with the extra tele reach.
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Depends what you walk around I guess, It's not ideal for landscapes but I think it's fine for general family snap type stuff.

The 50mm f1.8 is a great lens, but for full length stuff you will need quite a bit of space indoors, something like 25 feet.
 
The Tamron does also seem to have the advantage that its a good deal lighter than the other 24-28 to 70-75 zooms at just over 500 grams, actually lighter than the 17-55 2.8.
 
odd jim said:
Agree with the others about the 50mm f/1.8. Great lens for the money. Even better on a crop, but a bit more expensive, is the Canon 35mm f/2 which is ideal for portraits, one of my fave lenses. I also have the canon 85mm f/1.8 and while a stunning lens, the focal length can limit you somewhat when it comes to portraits.
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When it comes to the 35mm f2 I am also in love with it. On my camera 75% of the time and only comes off when wanting the extra wide of my 17-40. I just think it's a stunning lens and the smallest, lightest thing out there.
 
Another recommendation here for the 50mm f1.8, and the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8

I own both :lol:
 
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