Which one is your fav/dream lens for portrait?

[nightwolf75]

Got that from some local course materials? I did. But I went ahead to try anyway. For portraits, is "generally" the longer the better in terms of perspective distortion, or whatever you call it (nose getting too big on wide, models look slimmer on tele...)

muaahaaa.... not really lah. models dun exactly look slimmer on a tele. u're right abt the distortion from wides at close ranges tho. :bsmilie:

most folks like to use teles (esp primes, and the longer the better) to shoot portraits (full, half or face) is partly becos of teles' ability to 'compress' the background. hence better bokeh, something which, unless u got blardy lot of time on ur hands, is quite difficult to mimic on PS. bokeh is not just abt big apertures. its also abt the distance bet u, the subject and the background. u can try it, actually. get someone to pose for u outdoors with some background. then try shooting (eg) at f5.6 at the max zoom. then, repeat with a short lens/prime.

locally, most of us (hobbists) tend to stick to ard 85mm. those using L-zooms, it will be 70-200/2.8. this, as stoned pointed out, allows one to get up close and personal with the model. overseas, i've read dat fashion mags like sports illustrate shoot the covers with a 300mm prime... minimum. when i attended russel wong's workshop some time back, he related to us, too, dat for such shoots photogs and PAs communicate via walkie-talkies.

 

[Deadpoet]

The 85 1.2L rocks as a portrait lens. Cannot leave home without it.

Shot portrait outdoor once with a 300 2.8L. WOW. The way the 300mm lens compressed the background, the result was amazing. This will be my next choice. However, very difficult to shoot portrait with a 300 without a PA.

 

[haagen_dazs]

Do get the cheaper 85mm though before deciding to expand, not upgrade, with the 85/1.2.

I think this is a very sound and sensible advice from Stoned.
Part of me want to own the 85L and part of me dont want to spend that insane amount of money.

Is the poll really true? are the so many people who own the 85 L? wow. i am surprised really...

 

[haagen_dazs]

ok i realize maybe the poll doesnt reflect who are actual owners of the 85L lens.. maybe its just what their favourite lens is....

 

[Ren_Hao]

Well, it did say fav or dream rite?
So, i guess in dream, $$$ is not an issue.
Like my dream bicycle would be a Pinarello Dogma FP. :bsmilie:
Think not many here will know what it is. ;p

 

[student]

Not on your list.

And money not an issue, and you are willing (and able) to do without auto-everything.

These two lenses will out perform any L lenses!

Leica Apo- Summicron 180 mm f2

Leica Apo-Summicron ASPH 90 mm f2.

 

[Zplus]

Pls provide reason why u choose your fav lens too...Thanks.

Your 300mm is really a very good portrait lens... but you do need walkie talkie... assemble your team of members and you can do outdoor poses very nicely. For indoor.... you can pull it off with your 50mm f1.4 in a small studio or use your 70-200mm f2.8 in a bigger studio.

Buy the 85mm f1.2 if you really want that thin DOF at f1.2. The mk1 focusing in slower then the 85mm f1.8 but in a studio it does not matter... take your time. I think the Mk2 was built partly to overcome this slow focus.

 

[Garion]

85mm f1.2L gets my vote. :thumbsup: Bokeh and color/sharpness is stunning. DOF is ridiculously shallow. But its a really heavy, and rather slow focusing 'coke bottle' lens. For portraits, I prefer small and light, something like its cheaper brother, the 85mm f1.8, fits perfectly. But if u have the moolah, the 85mm f1.2L is THE portrait lens.

Why I did not pick the 135mm f2L? I feel the focal length is a bit too long for a 1.3x or 1.6x crop factor body. Stoned has made a good pt., communication with the model is important, and a shorter focal length also offers a bit more flexibility. But for full frame body (e.g 5D), I would take a long hard look at 135mm f2L too, I think both the 85mm f1.2L and 135mm f2L would make a stellar combo on FF (if you can afford both that is :bsmilie: )

Shot portrait outdoor once with a 300 2.8L. WOW. The way the 300mm lens compressed the background, the result was amazing. This will be my next choice. However, very difficult to shoot portrait with a 300 without a PA.

Yes, either that or you need a loudhailer/walkie talkie to communicate with the subject. :sweatsm: Its an amazing lens though. But a bit too cumbersome and long for portraits, not to mention you will be sweating buckets hauling it around in the sun.

From what I've heard before, SI (Sports Illustrated) photogs used 600mm f4 lens to shoot their models. Hows that for a portrait lens? :bigeyes:

 

[bonifas]

135mm F/2L

sharp lens, and taking portrait using tele + maximum aparture just my style...

 

[Kongo]

Already owned the 50f1.4 and 135f2, no need to dream abt them anymore, the 200f1.8 is very cool but price way out of my league, so it could only be:

the 85f1.2L II :lovegrin:

Do I really need it? Not sure.. but I really WANT it, that's for sure :bsmilie:

Think I have a special greed for portrait lens, or is it the BBB virus or L virus that is infecting me?

Already sold my 85f1.8 before the warranty expire, lucky I have the 50f1.4, 135f2 & a Sigma 105f2.8 as backup..

But the 85mm range is still my fav indoor portrait range for the 1.6x crop.. When is the stock of 85L coming in huh?

 

[haagen_dazs]

Leica Apo-Summicron ASPH 90 mm f2.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[sehsuan]

Like my dream bicycle would be a Pinarello Dogma FP. :bsmilie:

There are Cycleworx riders here on the forum. Rest assured.

 

[Ren_Hao]

There are Cycleworx riders here on the forum. Rest assured.

Of course there are :bsmilie: :bsmilie:
SI photographer using a 600f4 to shoot models, that is definately interesting. Wish I have the change to see how they do it, just to open my eyes :sweat:

 

[SnakeJackal]

the price of 85L MII is still sky high ... due to the huge fans support, the price does not seems to move down even in 10 years. I always monitor the lens price in kakaku. The old version price increase after the new one release, which is very abnormal for a consumer products.

The old one increase from Y138000 (SGD1900) to Y168000 (SGD2300).

85L MII price trend

85L MI

 

[DT_]

18-55

reason: cheap + does the job


16-35 24-70

reason: why prime only.. zoom for quik change of perspective and compo, considerably 'enough' aperture, sharp enough + does a better job

 

[jdredd]

heh all my riding friends shudder when i mention pinarello dogma.... frame breaks too easily apparently... and if its the seat post... ouch.

 

[zuikoku]

85 mm prime lens (f/1.8 or f/1.2L) is the best choice.

 

[jdredd]

managed to borrow a 85mm F1.2.. dam but its a big piece of glass... using it for shoot...
i have this fear... that im going to like the pictures so much... may have to resort to robbery

 

[Virgo]

For a 1.6 crop factor, I'll choose the 50mm.

For a 1.3 or FF, I'll take the 85mm L.

Since I got the 1.6 crop, my choice goes to the 50mm.

The 135 is way too long for a portrait lens IMHO.

 

[user111]

typical favourites:

200/1.8L
400/2.8L
600/f4L

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: