Here everything revolves around the portrait lens: You want to know which lens is good for portraits? Then this article is just right for you! Especially beginners often ask themselves the question which lens is best for portrait photography.
At first there is no really correct answer to this question, but one can certainly say that you should choose your portrait lenses according to what you mainly want to photograph.
Attention: Today's article deals exclusively with fixed focal lengths, which are best suited for portrait photography, simply because these fast lenses have a clear advantage in the price-performance ratio compared to zooms and also promote the active composing of a photo much better than zoom lenses.
Can't you use any lens as a portrait lens? Well, there is no right or wrong here - of course you can also use a 16mm wide angle as a portrait lens - but then this look probably appeals to the least.
PORTRAIT LENS - WHY FIXED FOCAL LENGTHS?
The answer to this question is quite simple: Lenses with fixed focal lengths are much easier to design and therefore often cheaper and much faster than zooms with comparable focal lengths. But why is this so? Well, with these lenses, the focal length is fixed by your design. So you always have the same image section and, unlike with zoom lenses, you cannot change it. This way the complete lens construction can be optimized to the fixed focal length and an optimal image quality can be achieved.
Here you have the advantages of a fixed focal length as a portrait lens at a glance:
- Large aperture - they are fast and therefore perfectly suited as portrait lenses because they allow easier cropping of portraits
- Attractively priced - fixed focal lengths are often cheaper than zooms and are therefore ideal portrait lenses for beginners
- Good sharpness to the edge - these lenses often have a better image performance than a comparable zoom lens
FOCAL LENGTH IN PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
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| (55mm) Short focal lengths distort faces and make noses look bigger. Very long focal lengths compress and make faces "fuller". Therefore it is important to use a portrait lens with the right focal length. |
No matter if you want to take a classic portrait or a full body portrait: Surely you have heard that typically for such a portrait you use focal lengths in the range of 50 to 135mm. But before we deal with the effect of different focal lengths in portrait photography, I would like to explain a few basics about focal length:
What is the focal length? The focal length stands for the distance between the plane of the image sensor and the lens plane. Different focal lengths represent different angles of view accordingly. Large focal lengths have small angles of view, small focal lengths have a large angle of view.
If this is too complicated for you, we can explain it a bit easier, but beware - the following section is really very simplified:
Imagine the focal length simply like this: the longer the focal length, the closer you are to the object you want to photograph, because with a long focal length you "zoom into" a smaller area.
The smaller/shorter the value of the focal length, the "further away" everything is and you get "more environment" on the photo. So: a large/long focal length (for example 200mm) enlarges your motif, or brings it closer to you. A short focal length makes it smaller and allows you to take more surroundings. This effect is important for choosing a suitable portrait lens.
How can I imagine the effect of different focal lengths of portrait lenses on a particular portrait?
When I talk about portrait photography here, I mean two things in particular: The person to be portrayed should be depicted as undistorted as possible and should be free - i.e. separated from the background. This can be achieved particularly easily in portrait photography with fixed focal lengths.
WHICH PORTRAIT LENS PAYS OFF FOR BEGINNERS?
50MM PORTRAIT LENS
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| A 50mm portrait: It was taken with a fast 50mm lens at aperture 1.4. In addition, only the available light from the surroundings was used to create the portrait. |
No matter what brand of camera you use, the most common entry-level portrait lens is probably a 50mm f/1.8.
This lens has an incredibly strong price/performance ratio, since it is relatively easy for lens manufacturers to design. It has a good cropping potential at short distances and since 50mm is a "normal focal length", it reproduces objects in size and proportions similar to how humans see. At least you can imagine it that way.
The open aperture of f/1.8 lets almost four times more light fall on the sensor, compared to most kit lenses. Due to the large aperture, the plane of focus can be kept particularly small, which is perfect for portraits.
Another advantage is that this portrait lens is lightweight and relatively small, making it suitable for street photography or travel. 50mm lenses are also available in faster professional versions. Most 50mm lenses have a speed of f/1.4, but Canon's 50mm portrait lenses from the L series even achieve f/1.2.
Personally, a 1.4 is sufficient for portrait photography. In my camera backpack there is always a Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art* which is very sharp even at open aperture and offers a worth seeing bokeh.
POPULAR 50MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND:
50MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR CANON
- Canon EF 50mm 1.8 STM* - Probably the Canon portrait lens for beginners par excellence. It costs just 100€. This portrait lens is also very light and small.
- YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8* - A kind of replica of the Canon 50mm 1.8 Portrait Lens - made in China - nevertheless very popular, available for just under 60€.
- Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art* - One of the sharpest 50mm lenses with beautiful bokeh - I use it myself very often.
- Canon EF 50mm 1.2* - Amazing open aperture of 1.2 - a dream for portraits, unfortunately not quite as sharp - but relatively small and light.
50MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR NIKON
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50 mm 1:1.8G* - Nikon's entry-level 50 - small and light
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50 mm 1:1.4G* - Nikon 1.4 50mm lens
- Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art* - One of the sharpest 50mm lenses with a great bokeh - I use it very often myself.
50MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR SONY
- Sony SEL-50F18F* - Sony's "Nifty-Fifty" - unfortunately not as cheap as Canon.
- Samyang 50/1.4 FE* - popular 50mm with open aperture of 1.4 and excellent sharpness.
- Sigma 50mm 1.4* - one of the sharpest 50mm lenses with great bokeh - I use it myself very often.
85MM PORTRAIT LENSES
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| A portrait photographed with an 85mm lens at aperture 1.8 The 85mm lens can probably be called one of the most used portrait lenses. |
Probably the most used fixed focal length for portraits is the 85mm lens. With the 85mm lens you get a great exposure and due to the slight tele effect this focal length flatters especially the portrayed person.
85mm lenses produce an incredibly beautiful bokeh - at least most of them. Cheaper 85mm lenses often have an aperture of f/1.8 and are therefore still relatively light and small.
The professional versions with f/1.4 or even f/1.2 gain quite a bit in size and weight and often cost four to eight times as much as the entry-level models, but have an extreme free-focus potential, which enhances the look of a good portrait.
I personally use 85mm lenses rather rarely. However, it is my wife's favorite focal length and she photographs portraits exclusively with an 85mm lens.
POPULAR 85MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
85MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Canon EF 85mm 1.8 USM* - popular portrait lens Canon: relatively inexpensive 85mm portrait lens. Was used by my wife for a very long time.
- Tamron SP 85mm 1.8 VC* - incredibly sharp 85mm portrait lens with very nice bokeh and an excellent image stabilizer. Currently often used at weddings.
- Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art* - also a popular portrait lens - heavy and large - but extremely good image quality at open aperture.
- Canon 85mm 1.2 II L USM* - the classic from Canon - produces a fantastic bokeh at aperture 1.2 - but due to the slow focus it is only usable in a controlled environment.
85MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR NIKON
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm 1:1.8G* - Nikon's entry-level 85mm lens
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm 1:1.4G* - The professional version with open aperture 1.4 - sharp and reliable glass
- Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art* - also a popular portrait lens - heavy and large - but extremely good image quality at open aperture.
85MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR SONY
- Sony SEL-85F18F* - entry-level 85mm Sony portrait lens
- Samyang 85/1.4 FE* - Korean portrait lens. small and light, weaknesses in sharpness at aperture 1.4
- Sigma 85mm 1.4 Art* - also a popular portrait lens - heavy and large - but extremely good image quality at open aperture.
PORTRAIT LENSES FOR ADVANCED USERS
35MM PORTRAIT LENSES
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| 35mm portrait of musical actress Olivia Delaure, photographed with a Sigma 35mm lens to include some of her surroundings |
35mm lenses are also often used for portraits. 35mm is a typical focal length, which is mainly used in reportage photography and at weddings.
Due to the light wide-angle look of the 35mm lens, it is possible to photograph the person portrayed perfectly in the context of their surroundings. This is especially useful when the person being portrayed has a relationship to the surroundings.
But you should be careful not to stretch anything towards the camera or to the edge, otherwise the wide angle effect of the 35mm lens will distort the proportions.
With 35mm lenses, the best way to make people stand out is to keep the distance to the model as small as possible. But be careful: From some perspectives, 35mm lenses can look very unfavorable. Heads, for example, look much bigger when photographed from diagonally above (see last example photo below).
Cheap 35mm lenses usually start with a speed of f/1.8. More expensive 35mm lenses let 2/3 more light fall on the sensor, i.e. these are lenses with an aperture of f/1.4.
My 35mm lens (Canon 35mm 1.4 II L USM) is also a faithful companion on all photo jobs.
POPULAR 35MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
35MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Canon EF 35mm 2.0 IS STM* - small and lightweight 35mm lens from Canon with image stabilizer.
- Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art* - I used this 35mm lens of the Art series from Sigma for a long time.
- Tamron SP 35mm 1.8 VC* - stabilized 35mm lens that is not so heavy.
- Canon 35mm 1.4 II L USM* - Canon's 35mm lens for professionals - breathtaking sharpness already at aperture 1.4 - I use it almost daily. Unfortunately very expensive - but worth the expense.
35MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR NIKON
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 35 mm 1:1.8G* - With this lens Nikon has the most affordable 35mm for beginners.
- Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art* - first lens of the Art series from Sigma that I used for a very long time.
- Tamron SP 35mm 1.8 VC* - stabilized 35mm lens that is not so heavy.
35MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR SONY
- Sony SEL-35F18* - Sony's small 35mm lens with aperture 1.8
- Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art* - first lens of the Art series from Sigma that I used for a very long time.
- Samyang 35/1.4 FE* - cheap and very sharp 35mm lens from Korea
40 & 45MM PORTRAIT LENSES
Also a slightly more exotic focal length, which even better interprets the human view, which is about 42mm. However, the difference to 50mm lenses is really very small, so my personal opinion is that these fixed focal lengths are rather rarely used.
POPULAR 40 & 45 MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
40 & 45MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Tamron SP 45mm 1.8 VC* - Interesting focal length with good stabi - I used it for a short time.
- Sigma 40mm 1.4 Art* - Extreme sharpness already at open aperture.
40 & 45MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Tamron SP 45mm 1.8 VC* - Interesting focal length with good stabi - I used it for a short time.
- Sigma 40mm 1.4 Art* - Extreme sharpness already at open aperture.
40 & 45MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Tamron SP 45mm 1.8 VC* - Interesting focal length with good stabi - I used it for a short time.
- Sigma 40mm 1.4 Art* - Extreme sharpness already at open aperture.
90MM LENSES
Also a popular focal length - not only among macro photographers - but rather rarely found and due to the initial aperture of 2.8 this fixed focal length for classic portraits offers less cropping potential than an 85mm lens. Due to the macro functionality you can get very close to your model and thus, for example, only photograph the eyes.
POPULAR 90 MM PORTRAIT LENS BY CAMERA BRAND
90MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR CANON
- Tamron SP 90mm 2.8 VC* - Very nice macro lens that is also great for portraits
90MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR NIKON
- Tamron SP 90mm 2.8 VC* - Very nice macro lens that is also great for portraits
90MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR SONY
- Tamron SP 90mm 2.8 VC* - Very nice macro lens that is also great for portraits
100 & 105MM PORTRAIT LENSES
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| Very heavy and big: The 105mm lens Sigma Art with aperture 1.4 - A dream concerning sharpness and bokeh. |
With 105mm you have a fixed focal length, which is exactly in the middle of the light telephoto lenses. 105mm lenses offer a little more freedom than an 85mm lens and are a little insider tip among many photographers.
You can still communicate with the model without any problems and you have an incredible image look! The 105mm version from Sigma has an aperture of 1.4 and is called "Bokeh-Master" for a reason!
Unfortunately 105mm fixed focal lengths are very expensive, quite rare and therefore rather to be classified as special. I own one from Sigma and love the plastic image look at aperture f/1.4 and use this lens especially for portraits and at weddings for couple shootings.
Unfortunately there is one big disadvantage: This lens is very heavy and very large compared to other fixed focal lengths.
My 105mm 1.4 lens from Sigma, for example, weighs over 1.5kg and has a front lens diameter of an incredible 10.5cm!
As an alternative to the massive 105mm lens, Canon offers a 100mm macro lens with open aperture 2.8, which is also perfect for portraits and has a similar look. The 100mm lens is also extremely popular with many wedding photographers, who use it primarily for portraits.
POPULAR 100 AND 105 MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
100 & 105MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Canon EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM* - one of Canon's sharpest L-series portrait lenses for the EF mount.
- Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art* - The bokeh master with outstanding sharpness. At aperture 1.4 you can zoom in and count the model's lashes. This lens creates an incomparable image look. I use it for portraits and for (bridal) couple shootings. Unfortunately with 1.5kg very heavy and with 10.5cm front lens diameter you can intimidate your model quite a bit.
100 & 105MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR NIKON
- Nikkor 105mm 1.4* - one of the most beautiful portrait lenses from Nikon. Lighter and smaller than the Sigma with very good sharpness
- Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art* - The bokeh master with outstanding sharpness. At aperture 1.4 you can zoom in and count the model's lashes. This lens creates an incomparable image look. I use it for portraits and for (bridal) couple shootings. Unfortunately with 1.5kg very heavy and with 10.5cm front lens diameter you can intimidate your model quite a bit.
100 & 105MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR SONY
- Sigma 105mm 1.4 Art* - The bokeh master with outstanding sharpness. At aperture 1.4 you can zoom in and count the model's lashes. This lens creates an incomparable image look. I use it for portraits and for (bridal) couple shootings. Unfortunately with 1.5kg very heavy and with 10.5cm front lens diameter you can intimidate your model quite a bit.
135MM PORTRAIT LENSES
135mm Portrait: This photo was taken with the Canon 135mm lens and aperture 2
The 135mm portrait lens is an often underestimated, if not unknown focal length that can create a magical image look. Due to the quite high tele effect, this focal length is not very useful in rooms and studios and the 135mm lens makes communication with the model very difficult due to the long distance.
But it is one of my favorite celebrity focal lengths, especially at weddings. The advantages are a very good cropping, with suitable backgrounds large, nice blur circles and the low weight for so much tele (at least in the Canon L version).
The purchase costs for a 135mm portrait lens are in the middle price range. However, since the focal length is more of an exotic lens, it is not available from every camera manufacturer.
POPULAR 135 MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
135MM PORTRAIT LENSES FOR CANON
- Canon 135mm 2.0 L USM* - very light and sharp telephoto lens that focuses extremely fast and can therefore be used for reporting in addition to portrait photography.
- Sigma 135mm 1.8 Art* - extremely sharp lens with a little weight - but an aperture of 1.8 and a great bokeh.
- Samyang 135mm 2.0* - cheap tele for portrait photography with super sharpness - unfortunately only manual focus
135MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR NIKON
- Sigma 135mm 1.8 Art* - extremely sharp lens with some weight - but aperture of 1.8 and great bokeh.
135MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR SONY
- Sigma 135mm 1.8 Art* - extremely sharp lens with some weight - but aperture of 1.8 and great bokeh.
- Samyang 135mm 2.0* - cheap tele for portrait photos with super sharpness - unfortunately only manual focus
200MM PORTRAIT LENSES
The long end of the fixed focal length offers at 200mm an extreme exposure of your motif and also large blurred circles.
Problematic is however the already clearly visible compression effect of this long focal length. As a result, faces often appear "thicker" than they actually are, which can quickly lead to the fact that the person being portrayed on the photo does not like himself or herself - at least if you take a direct and frontal photo. From 200mm on, by the way, an image stabilizer is necessary if you do not take pictures from a tripod. Even if they are no longer fixed focal lengths - the list contains only zoom lenses with stabilization in this focal length range. Why? Because the optical quality of these lenses hardly differs from a fixed focal length.
POPULAR 200 MM PORTRAIT LENSES BY CAMERA BRAND
200MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR CANON
- Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2* - clear winner in terms of price and performance among the 70-200s. Good sharpness and excellent stabilizer.
200MM PORTRAIT LENS FOR NIKON
- Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2* - clear winner in terms of price and performance among the 70-200s. Good sharpness and excellent stabilizer.
CONCLUSION: PORTRAIT OBJECTIVE - FIXED FOCAL LENGTH
With the different fixed focal lengths you can always create a completely different image look. If you know how to use them, you can make your portraits more interesting. I hope my overview could help you.
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