Best/best value portrait lens for FF?

Hey everyone!

Another one of these threads  I know this topic has sort have been covered in threads in the past (I have searched the archives), but not in the specific capacity that concerns me.

I'm seriously mulling this over: I need a good portrait lens, and I don't need to cover every focal length.

My choice is between three lenses: the 85 f/1.8; the 100 f/2.0; and the 135 f/2.0L.  I'm thinking that 85mm is a little short for my purposes on FF, but I've heard some reports that bokeh from the 85 f/1.8 is a wee bit smoother than from the 100 f/2.0.

The 85 f/1.8 is a little cheaper than the 100 f/2.0, but not by a lot.  The 85 f/1.2L is not an option!  (Too big/heavy/awkward/expensive).

Right now I'm leaning toward the 100 f/2.0 because of the optics, the focal length and the metal filter threads.

I could be swayed to the 85 f/1.8 if the bokeh IS noticeably much better; if the 135 f/2.0L really does slay them both I could save up for that as well--it's more expensive, but still not a ridiculously expensive lens.

Any and all thoughts/ramblings or sample images will be gratefully appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

-Don

If you're going for headshots - there is no better portrait lens than 135/2.

Full body, I'd go for the one FL you are most comfy with: either 85/1.8 or 100/2. Both are great.

Take a look at flickr and just type the name of the lens in the slot for "search this group's pool" to get pics taken with corresponding lens. All taken with the 6D.

Link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/eos6d/

Pär

Recommend you also consider the Sigma 85 f/1.4.

bhollis wrote:

Recommend you also consider the Sigma 85 f/1.4.

Thanks for the pointer.  It does look like a great lens.  For crop I would likely choose it.

On FF I think I would go with the 135 f/2.0L for similar $$.

barba wrote:

If you're going for headshots - there is no better portrait lens than 135/2.

Full body, I'd go for the one FL you are most comfy with: either 85/1.8 or 100/2. Both are great.

Take a look at flickr and just type the name of the lens in the slot for "search this group's pool" to get pics taken with corresponding lens. All taken with the 6D.

Link: http://www.flickr.com/groups/eos6d/

Pär

Thanks for the suggestion.

Searching the Flickr galleries for photos taken with these lenses is yielding a ton of very good samples.

So far it's pushing me in the direction of the 100mm f/2.0

I hate to muddy the waters, but have you considered the Canon 100mm f2.8L macro IS lens?  It might be out of your price range, but it is a wonderful portrait lens, has image stabilization, and  focuses much, much closer than the 85mm f1.8.

Robert

I have 85 f1.8, 100 f2, 100 f2.8 macro non-is and sigma 70-200 os all of which I use for portraits. All equally good.

You said too bigand heavy - so assuming hand held .

As other poster said , look at the 100 l macro .

ex human wrote:

bhollis wrote:

Recommend you also consider the Sigma 85 f/1.4.

Thanks for the pointer. It does look like a great lens. For crop I would likely choose it.

On FF I think I would go with the 135 f/2.0L for similar $$.

Agree, EF 135mm f2.0L is a great lens for portrait.