Best options for Portrait lens on a cropped body.

[Max]

Needs some ideas and suggestions.I have 2 kids, nearly 4 and 6, that I love to photograph.
The best shots I tend to get with my 100 2.8 L macro. The 50 1.8 has been useful and the 70-300L ( its F4 from 70-110) is also good.

I am unlikely to ever go fullframe, so Aperture F4 doesn`t really cut it as it might with a ff sensor. So its 2.8 or brighter. If I was going ff I would get the 24-105L.

The flexibility of a zoom is pretty important as the kids don`t sit still long enough. But if I don`t find a suitable zoom lens, I will get a Canon 85 1.8

From experimenting with all my lenses, what I would like is a 40-140 2.8 L IS USM.
There is plenty of good 17-50/55 2.8 lenses, but they are just a bit short for what I would like.


Any thoughts?
What zoom do you use for portrait work on a cropped body?

[JM Tran]

I'd stick with the 100mm macro you have there, its good for portraiture. I dont like using a 50mm on cropped bodies much as it tends to distort the figure to an extent. But the crop of 100mm can be quite long for indoors with kids.

I guess it all comes down to how much space/room you have to maneuver in first. Will you be doing outdoor locations most of the time or studio and indoors?

[Max]

it will be indoors and outdoors, not studio.
The 100 is really good but just a bit long sometimes.

[kiwi]

Nikon 24-120 f/4 sounds perfect

Whoops yours a canon

[Max]

no F4 is not enough for what I want, otherwise I would get the 24-105 F4 L

[JM Tran]

Sigma and Tokina also do the 50-150 f2.8 lens, it has almost the same field of view as a 70-200 on a cropped body, it has good reviews to mixed reviews depending on the sample variation you get

[peterb666]

Tamron 60mm f/2 macro is fine for me.

[Kym]

I usually work with my Tamron 28-75/2.8 at the 75 end.

[NGP]

the 24-70f2.8L or 70-200f2.8L are always an other option..

[Max]

yes I think the 24-70 2.8 would be a possible option. But with cropped body it may just be a bit short. I can see why they introduced a efs 55-255 lens.


I have just bought a canon 85 1.8, its too good value to pass up and it may be enough to keep us happy.

[andylo]

Owned a 500D myself and taking pics of my 4 yrs old on every week basis, I would make the following suggestion (from expensive -> cheap, but all have high IQ IMO)

Canon 24-70L
Canon 17-55 f/2.8
Sigma 30mm f/1.4
Tokina 11-16 f/2.8 (if you do need to get REAL close)
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 (non-VC, I don't like the VC version due to sharpness)

[Max]

I agree with your list of lenses and would have no problems owning them. For the portrait work I am looking for, I find the 17-50 range in a bit limiting. 2.8 is not that bright compared to the 50 prime and its not long enough for real good background blur or getting in close on a subject. But have no complaints with the 15-85 3.5-5.6. Its sharp, focuses fast and does a great job as a general purpose lens, being able to zoom in tighter is an advantage. The 2mm at the wide end and the extra 30mm at the long end becomes very useful.

The advantage of 2.8 aperture is not real obvious on the shorter focal length. Like I said, I have a 50 and 100 prime and they do the job nicely, but with fast moving kids a zoom in the 40-140 2.8 range would be ideal. I guess the 70-200 for cropped bodies. I am hoping that with the Canon 85 I will end up in the middle, I can always zoom with my feet a bit. Will find out in a couple of days, I guess.

The Sigma 30 F1.4 does sound interesting and is something I may explore in future. That is a lot brighter than the 2.8 zoom.

I can definitely see why FF bodies are the go for portrait type work.

[andylo]

Focal length is not the sole reason for pro FF

Larger sensor also records more details and dynamic range which contribute to better pictures.

[jafin]

I have just bought a canon 85 1.8, its too good value to pass up and it may be enough to keep us happy.

I too enjoy the Canon 85 1.8 for Portraits. Nice bokeh, works well on a cropped sensor. I also like my 50/1.8 but would prefer a 1.4 at some stage. The blades can give a funny background sometimes.