1DX MKII - Portrait Lens

[tvstaff]

Considering another portrait lens under $2,000

Love my 70-200, 24-70 and 85 but need to kick it up a little in my Pelican.

Hoping to get a lens I'll really like for intimate portraits in and out of studio.

Preference is a prime so good I'll sing with joy

Thank you

 

[MingTzu]

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www.canonpricewatch.com

 

[Keith Z Leonard]

Ming is probably right, you already have the 70-200 f2.8L and 85L, the other highly regarded lenses are the 135L and the 200 f2L.

 

[cpharm86]

My vote is the 135L

 

[hotdog321]

For me, the 70-200 f/2.8L IS II is key for everything from portraits to sports. And the 24-70 f/2.8L II is amazing for environmental work. But if I think if I wanted a fixed portrait lens, I'd put the 135 f/2.0 on the short list.

Personally, I'm a Canon zoom fanboy, but that 135 f/2.0 is highly regarded by the fixed lens folks.

 

[MingTzu]

Sorry, forgot that you mentioned under $2,000. In that case, the 135L should be #1

 

[BAK]

Re> kick it up a little<

Advisors on DPR always, of course, have the problem of trying to figure out what the questioning photographer thinks a portrait is.

But anyway...

a/ Buy a 100mm f2.8 macro, and shoot tight and make big prints.

b/ Buy a 16 - 35 f4 IS (the new one) and shoot portraits that illustrate how the person(s) being portrified fit into their environment, whether business, social, trees and water or giant drill presses.

BAK

 

[hotdog321]

Re> kick it up a little<

Advisors on DPR always, of course, have the problem of trying to figure out what the questioning photographer thinks a portrait is.

But anyway...

a/ Buy a 100mm f2.8 macro, and shoot tight and make big prints.

b/ Buy a 16 - 35 f4 IS (the new one) and shoot portraits that illustrate how the person(s) being portrified fit into their environment, whether business, social, trees and water or giant drill presses.

BAK

True! I shoot a LOT of environmental portraits with a 16-35.

 

[rrccad]

Considering another portrait lens under $2,000

Love my 70-200, 24-70 and 85 but need to kick it up a little in my Pelican.

Hoping to get a lens I'll really like for intimate portraits in and out of studio.

Preference is a prime so good I'll sing with joy

135/2? 200/2? oops scratch the 200/2 because I can't read.

100/2.8 macro may be good but slow to focus.

btw, how's your 1DXII's working did everything get resolved?

 

[Keith Z Leonard]

Re> kick it up a little<

Advisors on DPR always, of course, have the problem of trying to figure out what the questioning photographer thinks a portrait is.

But anyway...

a/ Buy a 100mm f2.8 macro, and shoot tight and make big prints.

b/ Buy a 16 - 35 f4 IS (the new one) and shoot portraits that illustrate how the person(s) being portrified fit into their environment, whether business, social, trees and water or giant drill presses.

BAK

True! I shoot a LOT of environmental portraits with a 16-35.

 

[JerryriggedTECH]

Considering another portrait lens under $2,000

Love my 70-200, 24-70 and 85 but need to kick it up a little in my Pelican.

Hoping to get a lens I'll really like for intimate portraits in and out of studio.

Preference is a prime so good I'll sing with joy

Thank you

 

[tvstaff]

Considering another portrait lens under $2,000

Love my 70-200, 24-70 and 85 but need to kick it up a little in my Pelican.

Hoping to get a lens I'll really like for intimate portraits in and out of studio.

Preference is a prime so good I'll sing with joy

135/2? 200/2? oops scratch the 200/2 because I can't read.

100/2.8 macro may be good but slow to focus.

btw, how's your 1DXII's working did everything get resolved?

IDX MKII just back and shot NYFW with it....

Seems OK...

Here is a shot after that last checkup from a Spots Shoot...

Like the 1DX... you MUST clean it often

I really need a portrait lens now. The portraits from my 300mm 2.8 IS USM II are stunning. But it's too long.... something between 50 and 135.... that's razor sharp.... So confused....









--
Feel Always Humble - "FAH" - You'll Learn More

http://www.kissmykite.com

 

[JerryriggedTECH]

Considering another portrait lens under $2,000

Love my 70-200, 24-70 and 85 but need to kick it up a little in my Pelican.

Hoping to get a lens I'll really like for intimate portraits in and out of studio.

Preference is a prime so good I'll sing with joy

135/2? 200/2? oops scratch the 200/2 because I can't read.

100/2.8 macro may be good but slow to focus.

btw, how's your 1DXII's working did everything get resolved?

IDX MKII just back and shot NYFW with it....

Seems OK...

Here is a shot after that last checkup from a Spots Shoot...

Like the 1DX... you MUST clean it often

I really need a portrait lens now. The portraits from my 300mm 2.8 IS USM II are stunning. But it's too long.... something between 50 and 135.... that's razor sharp.... So confused....



--
Feel Always Humble - "FAH" - You'll Learn More
http://www.kissmykite.com

OK, if you want between 50 and 135, I've gotta go with rrccad in recommending the 100mm f/2.8L Macro. The lens is super sharp! When you get in close, you get really blown-out backgrounds. Very nice!

 

[JackM]

What's wrong with it?

If you just want a new toy, how about a 135L?

 

[Marc dbr]

Nobody mentioned it but I'd go for the Sigma 50 f1.4

A lot of pros are crazy about that piece of glass...

 

[expro]

You already have the best intimate portrait lens canon makes, so why need another?

what are you looking for to improve? 85 is way sharper than 135.... and has better bokeh and colour/micro contrast...

i sold 135L because 72isii was far better, more contrast, sharper, quicker AF - only bokeh was better on 135 which you can cape with. And 135 not in same league as your 300.

no if the 85 ain't good enough then your only choice is go Zeiss, with manual AF...

 

[gimp_dad]

What's wrong with it?

If you just want a new toy, how about a 135L?

I agree with both of these points. The 70-200/2.8LII is pretty amazing for portraits that are "intimate" without requiring the photographer to spoil the moment.

And so is the 135/2L. I have both (as well as 100/2.8LIS, 85/1.2LII, 35/1.4LII). My favorite is the 135/2L. It nails focus, works great at F2, is sharper than all listed except the 70-200/2.8LII -- and even then, it is very close. The 85/1.2LII and 50/1.2L are not as sharp and even the 100/2.8LIS is not as sharp (nor does it have as good of bokeh or subject separation unless you are in Macro range).

If 135 is too long of a FL for your situations and you still want intimate the 85/1.2LII is unique in its ability to give bokeh and subject separation in a small space with tight framing. It takes more work to nail the shot (at least for me it does) than the 135/2L but may be a better complement to your excellent 70-200/2.8LII since subject separation is a little less evident as you zoom out toward the shortest end of the zoom.

 

[expro]

I too had all those lenses, and the 100 macro is slowest AF and second least sharp.

strangely my 135l was the least sharp. I thought it was my copy but when you look at reviews it commonly is not the sharpest....

you are extremely lucky to get the great one!

 

[gimp_dad]

I too had all those lenses, and the 100 macro is slowest AF and second least sharp.

strangely my 135l was the least sharp. I thought it was my copy but when you look at reviews it commonly is not the sharpest....

you are extremely lucky to get the great one!

Yea. I have been very pleased with the sharpness of the 135/2L as shot on my 5DSR. I also own the Zeiss 135/2 which is sharper as is my 35/1.4LII and Sigma 50/1.4 Art, but not many other lenses in my set. I have about 12 "L" lenses but don't have any of the gen II big whites (only big white I own is a gen 1 400/2.8LIS). It is clearly way sharper than the 85/1.2LII at all apertures (that they share).

Surprised a bit by your finding. DXOMark also rates the 135L at 30 for sharpness which puts it in the top 5-10% of all Canon compatible lenses. Note that this is different than P-MP rating which is their overall score.

 

[BAK]

Well, intimate doesn't require telephoto.

Put a man, naked, in a little floating boat in the swimming pool.

Give him a juicy peach.

Cover him with bunches of carrots, still with the green part on. Add some iceberg lettuce.

Put the photogapher on the diving board, lying on his stomach, stretched over the water.

Have an assistant push the boat gently so it goes under the end of the diving board,

Have the portrait subject bite into the peach and let the juice run down his face.

Or, on a solid floor, reproduce Helmut Newton's 1978 shot of Cathy Reid (http://www.virtualreferencelibrary....027115F&R=DC-TSPA_0027115F&searchPageType=vrl) -- this is not the lobster shot, which I can't find but well remember from her portfolio decades ago.

But use your imagination. It involves crawling, lobster tails, a lot of melted butter.

And a wide angle lens.

BAK