Portrait Photo Shooting

[cqprime]

For Portrait Photo Shooting is a prime lens Canon 50mm or Canon 16-35mm L Lens more suitable.

currently i am using 1000D with 16-35 and considering should i get prime lens for portrait photo taking.

[Reim1o]

16-35 is only for 'emergency' portrait shooting or if you need to take group shots. Just because it has f/2.8 doesn't mean its good for portraits. Not enough compression
All primes are usually always give better IQ & bokeh than the zoom counterpart. 50 85 135 even 300 with f/2.8 or smaller are all good for portraits.

Hope that helps.

[wdEvA]

i'll choose prime for portraits anytime.

can consider the 50 1.8 if you dont mind the adsent of USM, and harsh bokeh, else can consider the 50 1.4 or even the 85 1.8 which is very good for portraits.

[cqprime]

thanks for the input, is a L Prime lens a good buy?

[estel]

Originally Posted by cqprime thanks for the input, is a L Prime lens a good buy?

Almost all L primes are very good buys for serious photographers. Depends on how much you are willing to spend for the additional improvement. For instance, 50 f/1.2L is about 4 times as expensive as the 50 f/1.4, and more than 12 times as the 50 f/1.8. Arguably, the improvement on photos doesn't reflect the huge price difference.

[wdEvA]

L Primes are great if u have the budget for it.
85 1.2 and 135 f2 would be good choices

[pplneedthelord]

a 50mm f/1.8 would be a good prime to start with.

[rendition]

If you're going with 50mm - just get 50 f/1.4 la. 1.2 is crazy for the slight-and-not-very-noticable improvement and can-show-off red L line. Many professional corporate photographers I know, even GettyImages photographers have gone for 1.4 instead of 1.2. - Wait, it's the 1.2 even heavier? If so, that could be another factor.

1.8 is a steal, no need to ask one. Hah..

[cqprime]

wat do u mean compression?

[peapilot]

16-35 is plenty good for portrait shooting, depending on what kind of portraits you want to shoot of course. Lots of great portraits are taken with a WA lens so don't restrict yourself into thinking you can only shoot portraits with a certain lens or a certain focal length onwards.

If you really want to try a longer lens try renting one first and see if you like it before you plunge into it.

[solar]

agree. it also depends on what kind of portrait u're looking at. and the conditions and stuff. eg the space.

if u hav the money, u can hav all the lens u wan. but does it justify? do u find a need to get 1 prime lens? what does prime lens giv dat ur present lens cant?

if not. go rent 1 to try before your decision on purchasing

[cqprime]

mmm in this case i go borrow a prime lens 50mm and try before i plunge into buying it

[Headshotzx]

If it's between the 16-35L and 50mm f/1.4 (from Canon, although Sigma's better and more ex), I'd choose the 50mm f/1.4 any day. Of course, it'd help if you told us what type of portraits you're going to shoot. I find that I use my 50mm (f/1.8II-- still thinking whether or not I should upgrade since I use the 50mm FL very often) and 85mm a lot in the studio, but outdoors, I'd use my 70-200 f/2.8IS because of the versatility and bokeh.

For portrait lenses, you main priority is to pick a focal length that you're comfortable with. Sharpness can also be a concern, but I wouldn't want an oversharpened face. Following that, pick a lens with a wide aperture if you're shooting in non-studio conditions. That's to blur the background.

The 85mm f/1.2II and 200mm f/2L's probably the best of the best portrait lenses out there. However, if you're a mere mortal like most of us non-professional shooters, you can consider the good primes such as the 30 f/1.4 (Sigma), 50 f/1.4 (Canon/Sigma). 85 f/1.8 and 100 f/2. Those are similarly priced (with the Sigma lenses priced higher than Canon). If you have a higher budget, you can even try the 135f/2L or 200mm f/2.8L for about 1.2k, or the 70-200 f/2.8L if you need a zoom (1.6k without IS).

Remember that portrait photography isn't all about gear. You must understand how to pose your models and light them up. Knowledge like that will allow you to achieve portraits that are creative and fresh.

Cheers,
Zexun

[cqprime]

is sigma prime lens better than canon prime lens?>

[Snoweagle]

Primes are better. Recommended is 50 and 85mm.

[cqprime]

Originally Posted by Snoweagle Primes are better. Recommended is 50 and 85mm.

sigma is better than canon for prime right?

[Trapper]

Originally Posted by cqprime sigma is better than canon for prime right?

Not sure where you got that from. The only Sigma prime that is "better" is the 30mm, and that's because Canon doesn't make an equivalent. Many of us went Canon instead of Nikon because of their primes.

[cqprime]

Originally Posted by Trapper Not sure where you got that from. The only Sigma prime that is "better" is the 30mm, and that's because Canon doesn't make an equivalent. Many of us went Canon instead of Nikon because of their primes.

Thanks for the sharing, ok now i know sigma 30mm lens is good and canon prime lens are good choice. now is for me to decide which prime for me to try out and what type of portrait i wish to shoot.

[jlkk76]

from wat i noe, some ppl actually like to use zoom lens for portrait...

[m3lv1nh0]

Read this : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/C...rait-Lens.aspx