Tips & Tricks
Three Lenses Portrait Photographers Can't Live Without
Photography Talk
If you ask a group of photographers what lens is the best for portraiture, you're going to get a lot of answers.
But a lot of times, you'll hear something about a 35mm, a 50mm, and an 85mm lens.
There are plenty of variations of these lenses, but some of the best ones are those with large apertures - in the range of f/1.2-f/1.4.
As I'm sure you already know, the larger the maximum aperture, the larger the price tag.
But, that doesn't change the fact that these wide-open lenses are among the best for portraits. That's something that Jessica Kobeissi explores in the video above using Canon glass.
Give the video a quick view, and for more detailed information about these lenses, read on below!
Editor's Note: The lenses featured in this article are spendy when they're purchased brand new, but you can find great deals on pre-owned lenses to save yourself some money. To do so, we recommend Lensfinder, a marketplace that's devoted specifically to letting photographers buy and sell pre-owned lenses. You can check out their inventory here.
Canon 85mm f/1.2 L II USM
YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi
If you're a Canon shooter, it doesn't get any better than their L-series glass.
These professional lenses are among the best in the industry with fine optics and mechanics that render beautiful images with sharp detail and little aberrations.
The 85mm f/1.2 is ideal for portraiture for a couple of reasons.
First, it gives you a little more focal length so you can have some separation between yourself and the model.
With that little bit of extra room, the model might feel more relaxed and comfortable, which will certainly show up in the shot.
Secondly, with a huge f/1.2 aperture, you're able to shoot in low-light situations without using artificial lighting.
That big aperture also means a greater ability to create a bokeh-filled background that helps separate your subject in the shot.
The compression of an 85mm lens is also quite pleasing because it flattens out facial features ever so slightly to create a flattering portrait.
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Canon 50mm f/1.2 L USM
YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi
Let me start by saying that the f/1.4 version of this lens is less expensive by a mile (by around $1,000) and still produces excellent results.
Having said that, the f/1.2 is something to behold, a lens that can do just about anything and help you produce eye-catching results no matter the subject.
This thing is built like an absolute tank, too, with 8 different lens elements crammed into a lens that's just under 3.5 inches long.
Sure, that means it's a heavy lens, but that added weight is worth the results.
Like any other 50mm lens, this one is incredibly versatile - something you can take with you to the wilderness to photograph landscapes and then back home again to take portraits of your kids and then out to a wedding to photograph the day's events.
What makes it a great portrait lens, though, is that it's got an incredibly fast and accurate focusing system, so you don't have to constantly hunt for the right focus on your portrait subject.
Now, shooting wide-open at f/1.2 makes it more difficult to nail the focus, given that the depth of field can be razor thin.
However, with that big of an aperture, this lens creates some of the best bokeh out there - a nice feature to have in a portrait photography lens.
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Canon 35mm f/1.4 L II USM
YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi
Perhaps the most traditional portrait lens on this list, the 35mm f/1.4 offers a much wider field of view than the other two lenses, but without being so wide that it creates portraits with a ton of distortion.
In fact, it's nearly as versatile as the 50mm, allowing you to take everything from detail-oriented close-up shots to environmental portraits that incorporate the subject's surroundings.
It's a great walkaround lens, too, giving you enough length to make your subject stand out in the frame but without having to lug around a long and heavy lens.
As far as image quality goes, this lens is at the top of the heap.
It produces images that are clean and sharp, particularly in the center of the image, and produces very little distortion. And like the other lenses on this list, the bokeh is absolutely fantastic.
Better still, this isn't just a one-trick-pony lens. You can use it for portraiture, cityscapes, architecture, landscapes...you name it.
YouTube Screenshot/Jessica Kobeissi
Some photographers swear by the 85mm, others don't shoot with anything but their 50mm, and yet others love the flexibility of a 35mm lens.
At the end of the day, any one of these lenses will suit you just fine for portraiture.
Editor's Note: Ultimately, your decision will come down to the type of portraits you want to take, and, of course, budget. Fortunately, you can stretch your budget by shopping for pre-owned lenses. Even better, if you have old lenses lying around, you can list them for sale today, use the money you earn from selling them, and then apply that money to a new-to-you lens.
