50mm or EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens for portrait

If you set the 50mm-only lens at f4 or a smaller aperture (bigger number such as 5.6, 8, 11)the pictures will beidentical withthose taken on the zoom lens set to 50mm and the same aperture.

The 50mm-only lens allows wider/bigger apertures, for use in lower light or reduced depth of field, and easier focus in low light.

The zoom has image stabilization, so if the subject stays still, you can use the zoom at slow shutter speeds without blurry results because the camera moves.

The 50mm-only saves enough money that you can buy hundreds of prints of the portraits you take.

The zoom allows you to take a much wider assortment of types of portraits, with more or less peopleint he shots, and better control over perspective.

BAK

Thanks for the reply , it seems the 50mm 1.8 is what I need also now I am thinking of checking the 85 mm 1.8 as well , I don't want an all around lens now but I am after a very good portrait lens .

Canon's three best all-around general purpose portrait lenses for photographers who, for instance, shoot portraits for magazines and directories and hanging on office walls and giving to granny are:

For full frame cameras like the 5D -- the 24-105 EF f4 stabilized lens.

For so-called crop (1.6) cameras, the personality of the photographer comes into play. The 17-55 EF-S f2.8 is the best lens for the people who lean back, and the 24-70 f2.8 EF lens is for the people who lean forward.

The overall best all-around.... portrait lens for a crop Canon camera is not made by Canon. It is the new Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 stabilized lens.bos for all sorts of final results.

That takes care of allaround use. For specialty shots, there are lens/camera combinations.

Portraiture is difficult.
BAK

BAK

Will def check it out
Thanks for the suggestion

BAK wrote:

Canon's three best all-around general purpose portrait lenses for photographers who, for instance, shoot portraits for magazines and directories and hanging on office walls and giving to granny are:

For full frame cameras like the 5D -- the 24-105 EF f4 stabilized lens.

For so-called crop (1.6) cameras, the personality of the photographer comes into play. The 17-55 EF-S f2.8 is the best lens for the people who lean back, and the 24-70 f2.8 EF lens is for the people who lean forward.

The overall best all-around.... portrait lens for a crop Canon camera is not made by Canon. It is the new Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 stabilized lens.bos for all sorts of final results.

That takes care of allaround use. For specialty shots, there are lens/camera combinations.

Portraiture is difficult.
BAK

BAK

Off course when it comes to the lower f number ...in. A lower light out door photographers prefer 50mm sum 1.2 will stand up is one of the best lenses for a sharper image and pick up all the lights in lower light Scenery haven’t said that your Lens are capable of producing beautiful sharp picture if you set up your camera to the right Aperture and shutter speed of course and exposure

Sam88 wrote:

Off course when it comes to the lower f number ...in. A lower light out door photographers prefer 50mm sum 1.2 will stand up is one of the best lenses for a sharper image and pick up all the lights in lower light Scenery haven’t said that your Lens are capable of producing beautiful sharp picture if you set up your camera to the right Aperture and shutter speed of course and exposure

I'm going to guess that after 8+ years, the OP has moved on.