Best portrait lens for bokeh?

Bmat · Sep 30, 2006

Keeping it within the stated budget.

100 f2. Awesome lens - bokeh is comparable (i.e., equal) to my 135L, and it's incredibly sharp even at f2. Another option would be a macro lens 100 f2.8 (or for crop bodies, EF-S 60, my favorite lens on a 30D). I find the 85 1.8 is wonderful, but the bokeh can look a bit distressed (not 50 1.4 distressed, but still distressed).

My 70-200 IS has ok bokeh -- 24-70 a bit better (and is cheaper). But if you want bokeh, a prime is the way to go.

--
Brian. Too much stuff; not enough stuff.

Bmat · Sep 30, 2006

Sorry, just reread the post.

Consider the EF-S 60 -- yes you want to go FF. If that's the case, but it used for $325 and sell it later for that or a slight loss. It's not real low light, but it's perhaps one of the best lenses you can pair with a APS sensor camera. Nice bokeh, macro sharpness, still good focusing to infinity, and a compact size and nice build.

--
Brian. Too much stuff; not enough stuff.

Kamran26 · Sep 30, 2006

I do agree with 70-200 IS:

http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/image/57945138
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/image/59782540
--
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj

Xenedis · Sep 30, 2006

Ted1212 said:
I'm looking for a portrait lens that gives really good bokeh.

135/2L, hands down.

The 85/1.8 (or 85/1.2L II if you can afford it) would also be recommended.

I also use my 300/4L IS for portraits.

J.

Xenedis · Sep 30, 2006

Grandin said:
The 135/2 is also a good indoors sports lens among other things,
but used with an 1.4x extender (which makes it a 189/2.8) I think
the results from my former 200/2.8 L Mark I was slightly better.

The 200/2.8L (II) prime will be sharper than the 135/2L + 1.4x TC.

J.

David M. Jenkins · Sep 30, 2006

I agree with Brian on both the EF-S 60mm & the 100mm f2. These two lenses are on my 30D most of the time. Both offer great IQ at a reasonable price - depends what shooting distance most of your portraits will be - but what the heck, get both!
--
David Jenkins
Kelowna BC Canada

Alastair Norcross · Sep 30, 2006

I used to use the 50 1.4 for indoor low light shots, portraits, etc. Then I bought the 85 1.8 and the 28 1.8. I found I never used the 50 again, so I sold it. I much prefer the 85 to the 50 for portraits. The 50 was fine, but the 85 is exceptional. If you can't afford the 85 1.2L (who can?), it's the best portrait lens you can get for under $1000. The 135 F2 might give slightly nicer results, but I would find the length (on a crop camera) too much for indoor work.
--
Alastair
http://homepage.mac.com/anorcross/home.html
http://anorcross.smugmug.com
Equipment in profile

Hauxon · Sep 30, 2006

The 100mm f/2 USM is a great portrait lens. Here's a shot of my daughter made with a 300D and the 100/2 at f/2.0.

Hrannar

--
http://wwwflickr.com/photos/hauxon

Gene L. · Sep 30, 2006

Ted1212 said:
I would love to have a 5D and 135L, but for now it will have to be
a 350D and prime or one of the 70-200 zooms.

I wonder if the 135 would be too long though if I have a Tamron
28-75 lens, and what sort of improvement an 85 f1.8 would be over
the Tamron.

This is turning out to be one of the most difficult purchases I've
ever made!

I had the Tamron and absolutely loved it (replacing it with the 17-50). It would be okay for studio use where f/2.8 is fast enough. For environmental portraiture where extremely dim lighting conditions might be encountered, I feel that a fast prime is better. It is also better when you want shallow DOF.

The bokeh from the Tamron is good, but I think the prime is a bit better. Either will do the job when there is adequate light. The prime has advantages in low light while the zoom is more versatile. My bet is that whichever you get, eventually you will end up with both. I would favor the prime for portraiture. Of the zooms, I would favor the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 over the 70-200 f/4.

If you really want the versatility of a zoom, one alternative to consider is the Tamron 28-75 and the inexpensive ($80) Canon 50 f/1.8 for low-light portraiture.

-Gene L.

Kory55 · Sep 30, 2006

Im still a newbe...
I ha ve been seeing "bokeh" term everywhere, BUt i dont know what it means.

Cab someone please explain it to me?
Thanks!
--
- - - - - - - - - - - -

If you cant DODGE it... RAM it!!!
Take pictures till it blows up!
'Nothing shoots like a CANON!'

Hauxon · Sep 30, 2006

It's how the lens renders the out of focus areas. A good bokeh is smooth and creamy to look at. Lenses with bad bokeh render harsh and ununiform out of focus areas.

Out of focus lights (bulps) can be used to determine bokeh quality. A lens with a good bokeh would render the out of focus light as a round and uniform sharpe. A lens with not so good bokeh would render the lights ununiform, like a donut (brighter at the edges) and/or possibly elyptical or poligonal in shape.

Hrannar
--
http://wwwflickr.com/photos/hauxon

Jeff Varszegi · Sep 30, 2006

Learn to use the web. Google is a great tool.

Jeff Varszegi · Sep 30, 2006

Ted1212 · Sep 30, 2006

Here's Ken Rockwell on bokeh http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm

His comparison of different Nikon lenses bokeh is also quite interesting.

Kory55 · Sep 30, 2006

Cool! I learned something today!

Thank you!
--
- - - - - - - - - - - -

If you cant DODGE it... RAM it!!!
Take pictures till it blows up!
'Nothing shoots like a CANON!'

Jeff Varszegi · Sep 30, 2006

... was to search for yourself, instead of uselessly cluttering up message boards.

Kory55 · Sep 30, 2006

Funny man you are!

I like msn over google anyways.

I like DPreview over both.
I wasnt starting a whole new thread on bokeh.
I wasnt forcing anybody to answer.

--
- - - - - - - - - - - -

If you cant DODGE it... RAM it!!!
Take pictures till it blows up!
'Nothing shoots like a CANON!'

Kory55 · Sep 30, 2006

If u have a problem w/me posting questions, dont answer them.

SOME people are happy to answer questions.
and im EXTREAMLY greatfull for that.

Im not clogging up the message boards, if I were too I would have started a new thread.

This was a simple question w/ one or two answers.

But YOU made it into a long thread so YOU are clogging up the forums.
--
- - - - - - - - - - - -

If you cant DODGE it... RAM it!!!
Take pictures till it blows up!
'Nothing shoots like a CANON!'

JaimeZX · Sep 30, 2006

...especially in this forum, where people post the "what is the best lens for X" question almost daily. The "search" feature is excellent and underused, but multiple "I'm not answering that" posts could also be considered "clutter." IMHO. ;-)

tontsdot · Sep 30, 2006

Kory55 said:
If u have a problem w/me posting questions, dont answer them.

SOME people are happy to answer questions.
and im EXTREAMLY greatfull for that.

Im not clogging up the message boards, if I were too I would have
started a new thread.

This was a simple question w/ one or two answers.

But YOU made it into a long thread so YOU are clogging up the forums.
--

don't worry about it, his reputation is that of a certifiable jerk on here.

Best portrait lens for bokeh?

Forum Enthusiast

Forum Enthusiast

Forum Enthusiast

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-known member

Forum Pro

Leading Member

Senior Member

Forum Enthusiast

Leading Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-known member

Forum Enthusiast

Senior Member

Forum Enthusiast

Forum Enthusiast

Leading Member

Leading Member

Keyboard shortcuts