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My next prime portrait lens should be ... ?

Started 7 months ago | Questions thread
thunder storm Forum Pro • Posts: 10,139
Re: My next prime portrait lens should be ... ?

atolk wrote:

I don't strictly speaking NEED a portrait lens because I don't shoot all that many portraits, and my EF 70-200mm f/2.8 and EF 85mm f/1.8 are adequate, but I have the bokeh envy from all the FB posts and YouTube reviews, and I know that I am supposed to want a prime lens for sharpness (I think my old 85mm 1.8 has issues), so I am thinking about getting a lens that I don't need but will love and use a lot. And just in time for a requested senior shoot. Make the customer's friends and family ooh and aah and start knocking my door down for more sessions.

Let's say the RF 85mm f/1.2 at $2,699 sets the upper limit of desirability and budget

If it's the best focal length for you, you will stick with Canon and you can swing it.... Go for it.

.

Let's say that something like Samyang/Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 AF at around $499 is an acceptable low end alternative. (Oh, and I just found out than an RF version exists, except it seems that it does not.)

My copy suffers from slight front focusing with moving subjects & subject/face/eye detect AF. With single point AF you'll be fine. There's no in camera correction for vignetting. I like the vignette though. The lens renders a little warmer, which can be both a good and bad thing. It has circular bokeh balls at f/2.0, unlike the RF 85mm f/2.0 IS stm. The back grounds are rendered more smoot compared to the Canon f/2.0, even at f/2.0. As a light weight option it can be nice. It has the best "weight to bokeh quality ratio". There might be some copy to copy variation, and you can only buy it second hand, so there's a risk there.

Not to mention the $349 manual focus version with RF mount. An option? Why not?

Less good optics. Don't go there.

If manual focus is good enough I would have a look at the Samyang 85mm f/1.2 XP. Check Dustin Abbotts review. I own the 50mm f/1.2 XP. You will have focus confirmation, and even eye recognition. Works great!!

And the three famous Sigma ART lenses comfortable occupying the middle tier and running between $1,049 and $1,499, commanding a cult following of sorts.

The 105mm is great value for money. If 105mm works for you it's second best, close after the RF 85mm f/1.2 L.

The 85mm Art is not in the same ball park. It's very sharp, but the 105mm.... renders more beautiful. I'm using the 85mm indoors, as 105mm is a bit long for indoors, and I don't have very complex back grounds indoors anyway. Outdoors the 105 shines.

I've seen lovely pictures from the 135mm f/1.8 Art. For me 135mm is too long, but if it works for you I would investigate this option too.

In your own humble professional opinion,

Amateur here, sorry.

what lens delivers the greatest wow/price ratio?

I'd vote for the 105mm Art if it comes to value for money. The RF 85mm f/1.2 L is the best, but that's not always the same as the best value for money.

If you want something less heavy than the RF 85mm f/1.2 L things get difficult. At that point it might make sense to switch to another brand if the RF Samyang f/1.4 isn't good enough.

If manual focus is good enough the Samyang EF 85mm f/1.2 XP is a serious option.

Make your recommendation as succinct or verbose as you please.

I will buy the lens YOU recommend. And if I don't, we can have a nice gear chat.

Samples are always welcome! Especially if you do senior shoots.

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45 is more than enough, but 500.000 isn't

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