What's the best lens for producing portrait and close-up photographs?

[JayEssKay]

I'm looking to make my first DSLR purchase and will probably go with a Canon EOS 7D, but I'm unsure of what lens to go for.

I'm looking to produce images like these (below), but will also will also like to use the camera for general everyday photography and to take to my sisters wedding.

I've been reading this website which has informed me greatly.

I have used his 6 step guide to find the perfect lens and here are the results:

1. Determine the focal length you'll need

• Short - Standard lens - 50mm to 75mm

2. Decide if you want a prime or zoom lens

• Zoom

3. Select a maximum aperture

• Constant maximum aperture - f/1.4 - f/2.8

4. Choose between first or third party lenses

• First party (Would settle for Second party)

5. Evaluate any extra features

• Image stabilization - Internal zoom?

I think all of the above are correct for the type of shot I require..

I just need some help in finding the right lens for the job..

 

[pete.rush]

What you'll also need to remember is, the 7D is a 1.6x crop sensor body. Therefore your 50mm lens will frame like a 80mm lens (50mm x 1.6 crop factor = 80mm), so if you need a working range of 50-75mm on this camera you would need to choose say a 24-70mm f2.8 lens, which frames like a 38.4-112mm lens to give you that working range. For close up work, the lens would need a reasonable decent minimum focus distance, true macro is a 1:1 ratio achieved by lenses like the tamron 90mm f2.8, the canon 24-70mm f2.8 has a pretty usable 0.38m minimum focus distance. The most important thing you forgot to include, step 7 budget, very important. As the 24-70mm f2.8 is £1000.

 

[Dan76]

If it were me taking shots like that, then I'd have to use a tripod. Therefore I wouldn't need IS. And thus I would have a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens! And it just so happens I have and can thoroughly recommend it

 

[JayEssKay]

What you'll also need to remember is, the 7D is a 1.6x crop sensor body. Therefore your 50mm lens will frame like a 80mm lens (50mm x 1.6 crop factor = 80mm), so if you need a working range of 50-75mm on this camera you would need to choose say a 24-70mm f2.8 lens, which frames like a 38.4-112mm lens to give you that working range. For close up work, the lens would need a reasonable decent minimum focus distance, true macro is a 1:1 ratio achieved by lenses like the tamron 90mm f2.8, the canon 24-70mm f2.8 has a pretty usable 0.38m minimum focus distance. The most important thing you forgot to include, step 7 budget, very important. As the 24-70mm f2.8 is £1000.

Budget is undecided at the moment.

Ideally it would be under the £500 mark.

But I understand that may be too low.

 

[JayEssKay]

If it were me taking shots like that, then I'd have to use a tripod. Therefore I wouldn't need IS. And thus I would have a Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L lens! And it just so happens I have and can thoroughly recommend it

I would be using a tripod for 2 out of 8/10 photographs (6/8 closeups).

Image stabilization isn't essential but it would be nice..

 

[petersmart]

A lens with the aperture you want is likely to be quite expensive - possibly the nearest one is the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM whch is just over £1000 and you would still have to buy a second one for Macro.

But have you considered the cheapest prime lens available - the "Nifty Fifty"?

It's excellent for portraiture and with a set of Kenko DG AF extension tubes you can get excellent macro shots.

It's also very sharp from F4 upwards but is very good from f2.8 and usable from full aperture.

I bought both on here S/H for about £150.

 

[HoppyUK]

The closest lens you'll get is the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS. It is a little over your budget but is a perfect match for a 7D. There is no zoom available with a lower f/number than f/2.8 for Canon.

It is a brilliant walkabout lens, as close to perfect for a wedding as any single lens can get, and if you pop a supplementary close-up lens on it (eg Hoya +2 diopters) it will do your close-ups nicely.

This is also the same lens that I recommended to you in your other thread

 

[JayEssKay]

The closest lens you'll get is the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS. It is a little over your budget but is a perfect match for a 7D. There is no zoom available with a lower f/number than f/2.8 for Canon.

It is a brilliant walkabout lens, as close to perfect for a wedding as any single lens can get, and if you pop a supplementary close-up lens on it (eg Hoya +2 diopters) it will do your close-ups nicely.

This is also the same lens that I recommended to you in your other thread

Thanks for the advice .

It's currently top of my list with the only slightly bad thing about it being that it's L lens price but without the slightly higher standard of quality, which is a shame.

 

[chris321]

Thanks for the advice .

It's currently top of my list with the only slightly bad thing about it being that it's L lens price but without the slightly higher standard of quality, which is a shame.

It's only build quality, the optical quality is right up there with the Ls. Don't get sucked in to thinking that if it's lacking a red L, it's a lesser lens! It's the best lens for that range on a crop sensor. It does come at a premium, but unless you're going to look at primes, you won't find anything else in the focal length fast enough that beats it!

If you can afford it, go for it. If not, get the Tamron 17-50!

Chris

 

[swag72]

Another +1 for the 17-55/2.8 EF-S. It is a belting lens on a crop body and a really good length. You will have to up your budget a little for this though. I just sold a minter on here for £565

 

[JayEssKay]

It's only build quality, the optical quality is right up there with the Ls. Don't get sucked in to thinking that if it's lacking a red L, it's a lesser lens! It's the best lens for that range on a crop sensor. It does come at a premium, but unless you're going to look at primes, you won't find anything else in the focal length fast enough that beats it!

If you can afford it, go for it. If not, get the Tamron 17-50!

Chris

Yeah, I've read alot about the lens and it's seems pretty perfect and the lack a it's little red L isn't too much of a bother for me. It seems to be alot of advertising hype.

 

[JayEssKay]

Another +1 for the 17-55/2.8 EF-S. It is a belting lens on a crop body and a really good length. You will have to up your budget a little for this though. I just sold a minter on here for £565

I thought I would have to, but it should be ok as Jessops have it with 12 months 0% finance which is the deal breaker for me. They're only about £100 more than most other places on both the Canon 7D and the lens, so that's not too bad.

 

[JayEssKay]

If you can afford it, go for it. If not, get the Tamron 17-50!

Chris

Is this the one you're on about, or there abouts?

They don't have the Canon lens for me to try out instore before I buy it with the Canon 7D, but they do have this one and it might be worth trying it out just to give me an idea of what to expect..