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Best lens for taking baby photos? - Full frame body

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jongwook

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Hi - What is the best prime lens for baby photos - mostly indoor.

I currently have 5DmkII and 25-105L kit lens. I am looking to buy nice prime lens for our new baby. Any recommendations which prime is best for taking baby photos? I can buy only one prime lens for now. Thanks in advance!
 
I can recommend 35L 1.4, 85L 1.2, 50 1.4 or 85 1.8. Babies mean lots of indoor photos, so you will need a fast lens. The first two lenses are expensive, the other two pretty affordable. 35mm will give you nice full body portraits with some background. The 85s will be much tighter, you will get more head shots. If I could only choose one lens and did not want to spend a fortune, I would probably go for 85 1.8.
 
An 85 lets you get head and shoulder shots, and, without backing up too far, full body shots, as long as the little person stays little.

But here's an idea.

Look through the lens you own now, and see what is your favorite focal length.

Then buy the prime that comes closest.

BAK
 
What's your budget? I'd rather have two good-quality primes than most single L primes, personally. Here are some options:

24L
35L
50L
85L
100L

28mm f/1.8
35mm f/2
50mm f/1.4 (or even the Sigma version, as long as it works for you)
50mm f/2.5 macro
85mm f/1.8
100mm f/2
100mm f/2.8 (on the borderline of too slow IMHO)

You could also sell your 24-105L and buy a 24-70L plus a cheap prime, or make any number of other rearrangements. One other option, if you are concerned with taking macro/closeup shots of fingers etc., is to get a set of Kenko tubes, which you could even use with your 24-105L.

I like BAK's advice of choosing your favorite focal length using the 24-105L you have now.
 
jongwook said:
Hi - What is the best prime lens for baby photos - mostly indoor.

I currently have 5DmkII and 25-105L kit lens. I am looking to buy nice prime lens for our new baby. Any recommendations which prime is best for taking baby photos? I can buy only one prime lens for now. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
I've never used the 28 / 1.8, so my recommendation of that lens is based on images I've seen with it and lens test charts. But, my experience is that wide and fast is a good way to go, and the 24 / 1.4L has served me well in that regard for those types of pics on a 5D:

Canon 5D + 24 / 1.4L @ f/1.4, 1/125, ISO 400



Canon 5D + 24 / 1.4L @ f/1.4, 1/125, ISO 400



Canon 5D + 24 / 1.4L @ f / 1.4, 1/60, ISO 1600

 
jongwook said:
Hi - What is the best prime lens for baby photos - mostly indoor.

I currently have 5DmkII and 25-105L kit lens. I am looking to buy nice prime lens for our new baby. Any recommendations which prime is best for taking baby photos? I can buy only one prime lens for now. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
A very popular local child photographer in my area primarily uses a Canon 50mm f2.8 Macro in studio. Great for isolated body parts like fingers, toes, etc. Also uses a zoom but I forget which one. Perhaps the 24-105mm IS.
 
Lovely shots, Joe!

Just a personal preference, the 35L is my 1st choice. In the beginning, though, I used longer focal lengths, the 85L and 90mm TS-E - these are superb, also, but most often too slow (AF-wise) and too long, these days with my son running around really fast.

Some samples:









More of these here:

http://eyvindness.zenfolio.com/p291550299

Cheers,
Eyvind
--
http://eyvindness.zenfolio.com/
 
On full frame, I'd want a 35 or 50mm lens. You could get good use out of an 85, especially as your baby becomes a child - older than a toddler.

A time will come, sooner than you think, when you will want to get shots of your child on stage. Now, a fast wider to normal lens is perfect.
 
Very nice baby photos. I expect to be in Oslo over the next few summers - Your portfolio is a good advertisement for a full frame camera and L lenses.
 
jongwook said:
Hi - What is the best prime lens for baby photos - mostly indoor.

I currently have 5DmkII and 25-105L kit lens. I am looking to buy nice prime lens for our new baby. Any recommendations which prime is best for taking baby photos? I can buy only one prime lens for now. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
 
thanks you all for your inputs..
i still can't decide.
which one will be most versatile since i can buy only one?
 
With that sort of budget, I would buy the 35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8. You will be quite happy with the images you can get with those lenses.
 
The perfect lens for beautiful baby pictures in available light. It will grow with your child until he/she starts running around and you need a longer focal length.

Also great for indoor and family shots.

Good luck!
jongwook said:
Hi - What is the best prime lens for baby photos - mostly indoor.

I currently have 5DmkII and 25-105L kit lens. I am looking to buy nice prime lens for our new baby. Any recommendations which prime is best for taking baby photos? I can buy only one prime lens for now. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
 
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