Portrait lens for Canon 7D

Jed Shields · 30 Sep 2012 at 17:24

Hi guys,

yesterday I picked up a Canon 7D after selling off my old 400D and have my 30D up for sale. I'm using a Canon EF-S 17-55 f2.8 IS lens and mainly shoot portraits of my boys, generally zoomed in at 55mm. I obviously haven't had chance to give the camera a good workout yet, but was wondering if i should be using my Canon EF-S 60mm Macro lens more when shooting portraits. Or is the 17-55 the better option?

Cheers,

Jed.

Glyndwr · 30 Sep 2012 at 20:52

Both will do a decent job. A fast prime like the Sigma 50mm 1.4 would be better for the improved bokeh

Jed Shields · 30 Sep 2012 at 21:46

I had a quick play with the 60mm earlier, bloody good with the 7D

theheyes · 30 Sep 2012 at 22:11

Stick with what you've got. 55mm on a crop at 2.8 is not too shabby at all.

Jed Shields · 30 Sep 2012 at 22:20

Yeah, both are 2.8 as well. Although the 17-55 has IS as well ...

Nexus · 1 Oct 2012 at 00:05

You want something longer for a decent portrait focal length, 85mm+

An Exception · 1 Oct 2012 at 00:14

Not on a crop, 50ish is fine. 85 is too long most of the time, either that or you have to be miles away.

Nexus · 1 Oct 2012 at 00:19

An Exception said:
Not on a crop, 50ish is fine. 85 is too long most of the time, either that or you have to be miles away.

50mm does work out to be about 85ish, but I did say 85+

My thinking is that you ought to pick up a lens which covers something like 70-200mm. It gives you options for shooting all kinds of things and racked out it gives very pleasing subject isolation for portraits.

Jed Shields · 1 Oct 2012 at 08:36

The 70-200 f4 L IS is on my list, but I've just spent £1150 on the 7D and battery grip

Devrij · 1 Oct 2012 at 08:53

50mm f1.8 is a nice portrait lens on a crop. Nice and sharp, nice wide aperture (it gets a bit soft at f1.8 though, as expected), and dirt cheap.

Hodders · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:33

There is no such things as one "right lens". It depends totally on the image you are trying to capture.

85mm on a full frame is what a lot of people will say is a flattering focal length for portraits, others will say 135mm. So on a crop a 50mm or 85mm will work our great.

But the only important question is if the people who matter like the image !

Hodders · 1 Oct 2012 at 10:35

Devrij said:
50mm f1.8 is a nice portrait lens on a crop. Nice and sharp, nice wide aperture (it gets a bit soft at f1.8 though, as expected), and dirt cheap.

You could do far worse than pick up a 50mm f1.8 for your 7d. Or for more money the 85mm f1.8 is also a great lens. These would give you the fell of a 85mm and 135mm (approx) on a crop camera.

Jed Shields · 1 Oct 2012 at 12:13

What would a 50mm f1.8 give me over the 60mm f2.8 macro that I'm using at the moment? Would it just be the f stop difference, or is there a quality aspect as well?

An Exception · 1 Oct 2012 at 12:26

The 50 1.8 isn't what I would call a good lens. It's just very good for the money.
It's a little too soft at F1.8 but sharpens up nicely by F2, therefore I would consider it a 50mm F2 lens, and is plenty sharp on a crop camera.

The difference in aperture means better background separation, and better lowlight IQ. However there isn't a drastic difference going from 2.8 to F2, but it is noticeable.

Personally I would look at something like a Sigma 50mm 1.4 as a 'good' portrait lens.
If you think you will need to interact with your subjects, then 85mm is just too long, and is only ideal for head and shoulders, or if you really need to compress the background.

An Exception · 1 Oct 2012 at 12:32

Also, a 50mm on a crop sensor will be allot more versatile, you can go close up, head and shoulders, or full length without too much trouble.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 1 Oct 2012 at 23:15

Had to sell mine as short of money(!) but the 85mm 1.8 is a really nice portrait lens and complements the 50mm on crops.

I would go 50mm 1.4 then 85mm 1.8 at a later date.