Suggestions needed for a Canon EF Zoom Lens for Indoor Portraits

[d12go4]

Hi All

I would like to start by giving out a Heart-felt thanks to all who responded to my earlier post asking "What's a Good Portrait taking Canon Lens for use with a 5D ?"

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=175428

After looking through the many informative replies, I've determined that a Zoom Lens would better suit my intended purposes over a Prime lens.

I plan to take Portraits with my EOS 5D, using a portable lighting setup (3 x 180w heads with 2 Softboxes). The location(s) for the portrait sessions would mostly be HDB Flats, so I believe a Zoom would give me more flexibility to work in confined spaces.

That said, I'd REALLY appreciate your thoughts on what EF Zoom lens would best suit my needs. My Budget is SGD $1,500.

Thanks in advance.

MANoj

[user111]

50mm f1.8

[trlnlty]

Originally Posted by user111 50mm f1.8

85mm 1.8

[+evenstar]

full body? 3/4 body? half body? just head?

24-70 will be my vote

[Hoky]

Originally Posted by trlnlty 85mm 1.8

Wah kao, ppl already said he wanted zoom liao.

[Hoky]

Originally Posted by +evenstar full body? 3/4 body? half body? just head? 24-70 will be my vote

24-70L where can to find at $1500??
My suggestion is Tamron 28-75 F2.8, but I heard it's better on crop factor cameras than FF cameras.

[JediForce4ever]

28-70mmf2.8L?

[Stoned]

70-200/2.8L Non-IS 2nd hand.

[clie]

70-200mm?

[JediForce4ever]

Originally Posted by clie 70-200mm?

why not?

[wind30]

poster mentioned confined spaces.

[+evenstar]

close ups...

[tunster]

17-40L or 24-70 will be your best bet. But 24-70 seems to be over expensive. For a 5D, I'm not sure 17-40 will be too wide. You can always test out in the shop before decide to buy it.

[sk.images]

28-70 f/2.8L is the lens you want if you want a zoom. 17-40 will give too much distortion, especially at the wide end and not enough reach at the long end for outdoor use. 28-70 will give you width indoors without distortion (40-50mm) and length for outdoor 70mm and even enough for group shots arount the 28 end AND is close if not within your budget.

24-70 would be slightly better (4mm at the wide end is quite a lot) but over your budget.

Combination of 50 1.8 (or 1.4) and 85 1.8 as already mentioned would also do well for you without the flexibility of a zoom.

(excuse me if I missed this in the earlier thread, but...) specifically what type of portraits do you intend to do? single person, head & shoulders, full body, two or more people, small groups, etc, etc......

One more thing, the lighting you mentioned, sounds like the Jinbei strobes from Eastgear. Do you already have these, if so please PM me, I would like to ask some questions about these as I am also thinking of getting these.

[JediForce4ever]

Originally Posted by wind30 poster mentioned confined spaces.

so confined that he cant even afford 1.5m of spacing between him and subject?
he never say..so we just recommend

[Stoned]

Originally Posted by wind30 poster mentioned confined spaces.

sorry my bad, didn't read.

Ok seriously, here's what i think you should spend your 1500 on. Since you have time to set up and compose, use feet zoom.

Try the following lenses. Based on 2nd hand prices.

35/2 - 300-400
50/1.8 - 100
85/1.8 - 500
135/2.8 SF - 300-400

This is a lovely portrait set-up. under 1500.

[clie]

Originally Posted by JediForce4ever why not?

It was not directed at you but rather at the thread starter in a suggestive manner.

[clie]

Originally Posted by wind30 poster mentioned confined spaces.

I have seen the 70-200mm used in confined spaces. Then again its really up to individual preferences.

[szekiat]

as mentioned in your earlier thread, i'd go for any of the 70-200 for anything closer than a 1/2 body. It really is up to you to compose though as i just did a few portraits with my 16-35 today. Frankly, i'd go for a used tamron 28-75 and a used 70-200 f4 which if sourced carefully should be about 1500. I have used the 28-75 and my only complain was that it was too sharp when stopped down. As for the 70-200, if its anything like the 2.8 one that i use, then it will be brilliant!

[Hoky]

Originally Posted by szekiat as mentioned in your earlier thread, i'd go for any of the 70-200 for anything closer than a 1/2 body. It really is up to you to compose though as i just did a few portraits with my 16-35 today. Frankly, i'd go for a used tamron 28-75 and a used 70-200 f4 which if sourced carefully should be about 1500. I have used the 28-75 and my only complain was that it was too sharp when stopped down. As for the 70-200, if its anything like the 2.8 one that i use, then it will be brilliant!

Here's a review on the Tamron 28-75.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx