"must have" portrait lenses for 5D

New to full frame (5D) and want to settle on no more than three lenses. I shoot mostly portraits, but of course snapshots and maybe environmental type stuff from time to time.

What three lenses would you recommend? I already have the 135 f/2 and the 85 f/18. Should I keep these and add something else or should I get rid of these? I really do not want to part with the 135, I love it!

My portraits are both indoors and out, one person and groups, so please recommend something that will work well for groups. I was sort of thinking about the 24-105, but don't know if prime would be better.

Thanks!

covers the wide end weill and is good for group shots.

ed rader

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'One often has mixed feelings about relatives, but few people could identify serious problems in their relationships with dogs.'

-- Anonymous

the 85L

85L!

Not the 85L since you already have the 85 f/1.8. A very useful addition woulf be the 35L (EF 35mm f/1.4L)

Philip

Probably the 135L.

Sell both and buy the 85mm 1.2L II. Incredible lens! You won't regret.

the 135 on ff is one of the finest portrait lenses around.

for environmental portraits, full body, and groups, the 35L is stellar. the 35/2 is also darn good for the money, but i'd go with the 1.4.

then you probably want something else in between. i don't think the 24-105 is all that great for portraits, but there are people who produce good work with it. disadvantages include: lousy at 24 (distortion, soft), dim lens (which is important because you are going to get the ee-s super precision focussing screen, for about $35 it is perhaps the best investment you can make), big and extends a lot for what you get, and of course the bokeh isn't very pretty, nor is there all that much bg blur. if you really want a zoom, then go with either the 24-70 (which doubles as your general purpose lens) or go with the 70-200/2.8--it's a very capable portrait lens.

but if it were me, i would stick with another prime. the best would be either the 50/1.2 or the 85/1.2. the former fills in the middle range better and is a more versatile lens; it also focusses faster. the latter is the ideal portrait length, a flattering but natural perspective, has beautiful bokeh, and unmatched thin dof. you can do things with this lens that you cannot achieve any other way. but it focusses somewhat slowly, and the 135/2 is so good at some of the same functions (and allows you to frame even more closely) that if it were me, for just three lenses, i'd go with the 50.

the 50/1.4 is also good, but not quite in the same league.

have fun. full frame is very nice.

007MI5 said:

Sell both and buy the 85mm 1.2L II. Incredible lens! You won't regret.

Click to expand...

i'll second this. that's what i did.

once you have the 85L, you'll probably want something longer than the 135L for distant candids, such as the 300L f/4 IS. that's not saying the 135L isn't an excellent portrait lens on the 5D, i'm just saying that the 85L is much better because the f/1.2 can create an amazing look.

http://alfieri.smugmug.com/gallery/2256513

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Bob Alfieri
Chapel Hill, NC
http://alfieri.smugmug.com

50L or 35L!

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KEG ( http://www.pbase.com/k_e_g )

85L.
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Tom F.
Raleigh, NC

These 3



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Canon 5D&G7
Canon 35L 85L 135L 50/1.4 85/1.8
Sigma 14/2.8
Tamron 17-35/2.8-4 Tamron 28-75/2.8
Kenko 1.4x & 2x

Holy Trinity of primes: 35L, 85L, 135L

Any cheaper suggestions than the 35L?

Thanks

85L is THE ultimate portrait lens
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Canon Five D (35L, 50L, 85L)
http://www.creatiffi.com (overview)

I have it all and couldn't agree more !!
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Canon Five D (35L, 50L, 85L)
http://www.creatiffi.com (overview)

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http://www.henrypollux.com/gallery

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Much of this thread is just plain silly, driven by price and lack of experience.

The 35mm f2 lens is a fine lens, and costs a reasonable amount of money.

It's a great choice for group portraits, and for single person portraits where you want to show the surroundings that help explain the personality, profession, interests of the person in the photograph.

The Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens is a great portrait lens when you want more than a head and shoulders shot, for a lot less money than the Canon 24-70.

BAK

I too have recently bought the 5D and with it I got the 24-105L & 70-200 2.8L. I almost bought the 135L and intend to get it in the future. I already had the 85 1.8. I have set up a studio with 4 lights and I'm going to shoot potraits to begin with in the 5.6 to 8 range. I have seem the 85 1.8 make some pretty dreamy potraits and my question is when you shoot the 85L what f stop do you need to shoot, 1.2 to about 1.8? I'm still very new to potrait photography and need to get used to using the lights and getting consistant sharp shots & good lighting. I hope to experiment with a smaller depth of field after I get consistant. I am expecting to use the 70-200 mostly and shoot childern through young adults ( since we have so many in our families).

Bob