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Want to improve your portrait photography? Focus on the lens.
Ask any photographer what gives portraits a pleasing look and they’ll tell you—it’s all in the lens. A focal length between 85mm and 135mm has a flattering effect on faces and blurs the background for a shallow depth-of-field that makes your subject the star. So what’s the best lens for taking portraits? The big camera names have their own lenses, but there are alternative lens brands that offer other options.
These choices are for DSLR cameras, and will work with both pro-grade full-frame sensors, or the more-affordable crop-sensor cameras that offer lots of performance well below $1,000. They also all have fixed focal lengths—instead of zooms—so you’ll need to physically move the camera to find the right spot. That’s a small price to pay for the image quality, especially when you consider the price of a zoom lens capable of approaching the quality of these choices. That extra versatility of a zoom lens comes at a steep cost in both money and performance.
The following lenses will help you shoot high-quality and perhaps even breathtaking portraits:
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM
Canon
With quick autofocus performance, a large aperture and fast f/1.2 speed, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is an outstanding portrait lens that can keep up in even the most demanding settings. It uses algorithms that allows for an autofocus speed that is nearly twice as fast as the original model. The Optical Image Stabilization and aspherical elements ensure crisp images, too.
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 85 mm f/1.4G
Nikon
This 85mm lens is the cream of Nikon’s NIKKOR crop. Its maximum aperture of f/1.4 is efficient with light. The diaphragm itself is made up of nine blades to create a rounded opening for beautiful bokeh (or the blur in the background, that is not in focus). Autofocus is powered by Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology and the prominent “N” indicates Nano Crystal Coated elements.
Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD
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The Tamron SP 85mm f/1.8 Di VC USD is available for Nikon, Canon and Sony bodies. The internal Vibration Compensation (VC system) helps you capture sharp images. You can snap crisp photos even in low light with slow shutter speeds when you’re taking advantage of the f/1.8 maximum aperture, fast Ultrasonic Silent Drive (USD) auto-focus, and low-dispersion glass elements.
The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
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Sigma offers a high-value performer with f 1.4 maximum aperture, 9-element rounded diaphragm, and high-torque auto focus system. The Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens will also provide sharp images, and its mount options include Nikon, Canon, Sony, and more. While its list price is on the low side for its class, you’ll always be right on the money with this high-performance lens.
Or, if you’re looking to spend less than $500:
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens
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Canon’s best lenses are its “L Series.” But there are great lenses to be had for less money. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens will work with any Canon DSLR body, including full-frame models. With a price below $500 and a fast f/1.8 speed, this is a great choice for novice and pro alike.
AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8
2201_AF-S-NIKKOR-85mm_front
If you shoot Nikon, the in-house NIKKOR lenses should be your first stop. Look for lenses that will work with the full-frame FX bodies, even if you’ve got a smaller DX model. This AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8 will create beautiful portraits together with any Nikon body for a $429.95 list price. It’s short enough that you won’t need a huge working space even at the 1.5X crop of the DX cameras.
