WTB: Portrait lens for 350D/Rebel XT

Stustaff

Hi I really cant decide what to spend my money on but I am in the market for a good Portrait lens.

I am in the UK but am prepared to pay postage from the US as the exchange rate is so good at the moment.

Am probably looking to spend around $300.

open to any suggestions/offers

Thanks

Bendr

Do you have the Canon 50mm 1.8?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=12142&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

It's a great lens, should be a good focal length for portraits, and at 70$ new, you can't beat the price...

urbanaries

Bendr wrote:

Do you have the Canon 50mm 1.8?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=12142&is=USA&addedTroughType=search

It's a great lens, should be a good focal length for portraits, and at 70$ new, you can't beat the price...

Agreed, 50mm is a great place to start!

I just purchased the 85mm 1.8, it was $360 USD. The focusing/sharpness is much better than the 50mm, albeit a bit longer, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your shooting conditions.

Stustaff

Thanks guys, I do have that lens but am now looking for something with a bit more flexibility, I struggle for example to photograph more than two or three people with that lens and the room I have.

Bendr

So it sounds like you are after a wider angle lens?

Correct?

Stustaff

Yes but still fast enough to be suitable for portraiture and not TOO wide (distortion!)

you see what it appears I want is a Magic lens! (or yes very expensive!)

is there anything in my price range do you think that would improve on what I have and give me that extra bit of flex?

GraphyFotoz

For small areas I use a Sigma 28-70mm f2.8-f4.
Nothing Fancy non EX DG...got it 2nd hand LN for like $60.

Sharp and faster than average.

Bendr

How wide do you need? Is the kit lens wide enough for your purposes? or do you need wider?


Good luck!

Stustaff

The kit lens i would say is wide enough but not fast enough or sharp enough.

Bendr

That's what I figured... Unfortunatley I don't have much experience in that lens range... So I don't know off the top of my head of a good lens in that range...

Stustaff

Or one to sell either i guess!

Thanks anyway Bendr.

gx470

I have Canon 35mm f2.0 for sale for $200

I used this lens all the time when I had 350d
after I got 5d, I use 50mm f1.4 instead.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gx470/sets/72157594345001036/

let me know If you are interested.

thanks

Chris

Stustaff wrote:

Hi I really cant decide what to spend my money on but I am in the market for a good Portrait lens.

I am in the UK but am prepared to pay postage from the US as the exchange rate is so good at the moment.

Am probably looking to spend around $300.

open to any suggestions/offers

Thanks

pathfinder

Stustaff wrote:

Hi I really cant decide what to spend my money on but I am in the market for a good Portrait lens.

I am in the UK but am prepared to pay postage from the US as the exchange rate is so good at the moment.

Am probably looking to spend around $300.

open to any suggestions/offers

Thanks

The Tamron AF 28-75 f2.8 Di LD is an excellent lens that is sharp as a tack and available after rebate from B&H for $349.

Mine is three years old and has travelled well over 50,000 miles in cars and motorcycles and still works flawlessly. It is a nice range for portraits on an APS sensored camera like the 350 Rebel

Stustaff

gx470 wrote:

I have Canon 35mm f2.0 for sale for $200

I used this lens all the time when I had 350d
after I got 5d, I use 50mm f1.4 instead.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gx470/sets/72157594345001036/

let me know If you are interested.

thanks

Chris

Thanks looks an interesting lens to consider but its available here for around £150 new so although yours is cheaper, once i factor in shipping and the fact its second hand, Id probably be better off buying new... unless your willing to accept less for it?

mikeb380

Stustaff wrote:

Hi I really cant decide what to spend my money on but I am in the market for a good Portrait lens.

I am in the UK but am prepared to pay postage from the US as the exchange rate is so good at the moment.

Am probably looking to spend around $300.

open to any suggestions/offers

Thanks

For portraiture the best lens is a small tele, i.e. about 80 - 100mm the 50 is too short and gives small distortion and a WA wide enough to do what you want is going to give even more distortion. Even a 35 is going to be too much and with a group of people will make the edges barrel shape. Can also affect faces. If you are serious about portraiture you need to find more room before you spend that money on a WA. I personally prefer the 80-85mm area. Of course you could get a Russian soft focus 85 and a WA also. Soft lens will give that dreamy effect in portraits. Great for Women's portraits. Some of the Russian lenses are pretty darn good, copy of the tessar lens. If you want an L lens get a Jupiter 61 L/Z which is a lanthanum lens and much less that the canon or nikon. The jupiter 12 35 0r 37 mm lens is very good and a sharp lens. The reason I say 35 or 37 is because it changes, I guess from one batch to another. Mine is a 37mm. Very sharp Oh, yeah, you can get adapters to use them. I can use the same lenses on my FEDs, Zorkiis, Canon F1, or Canon 300D. No more spending millions of dollars for lenses for each camera.