Lens to buy? I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper...

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

toptrainer wrote:

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

Nikon makes a 105mm 1.4. Expensive, but perfect for head shots.

toptrainer Loc: Wellington

Sorry, I forgot to add I use Canon.

Kmgw9v Loc: Miami, Florida

toptrainer wrote:

Sorry, I forgot to add I use Canon.

Oh, never mind.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

toptrainer wrote:

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

Get this lens.
85mm f1.4 L will not break the bank.
https://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/lenses/85mm-f14.htm

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

toptrainer wrote:

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

I use my 70-200 for head shots all the time. I have found my Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens one of the sharpest lenses in my pack.
Lens sharpness is more up to the photographer than the lens. Correct? Now, learn to get the most out of your current lens. If you don't, you will continue to have lens overload with any lens you buy.

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

I would look into the Sigma ART series- They are very nice in both construction and performance.

Tomfl101 Loc: Mount Airy, MD

Most people wanting headshots don’t want a sharper look. If anything the want a softer look. I use a Canon 85 1.2 for most of my headshot/portrait work but end up reducing texture as a routine in LR because they’re too sharp in many cases. What I like about using the 85 as apposed to the 70-200 is the lighter weight and wider aperture which allows me to shoot closer while maintaining significant bokeh. The wider aperture also helps in low light of course.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

billnikon wrote:

I use my 70-200 for head shots all the time. I have found my Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR Lens one of the sharpest lenses in my pack.
Lens sharpness is more up to the photographer than the lens. Correct? Now, learn to get the most out of your current lens. If you don't, you will continue to have lens overload with any lens you buy.

I believe the OP is looking for Canon products and performance, not Nikon products and their different performance.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

toptrainer wrote:

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

Do you really want the ears to out of focus? I wouldn't go lower (larger aperture) than f/2.8 unless you're doing high-end magazine-type portraits.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

toptrainer wrote:

I have used my 70-200 2.8 for most of my Head Shots and have had great results. I’m now looking to upgrade my lens to possibly something @ a 1.4 or 1.8 to get that sharper look. I have done tons of research and reading on recommendations on the best lens to use and have lens overload. I would like to hear from anyone here that does Head Shots and what they use, also don’t want to “break the bank”.

Responding via Canon, from your clarification later, only a Canon prime will be overall sharper than any of Canon's 70-200L zoom models. The EF 85 f/1.8 is amazingly sharp at a modest price relative to all the L-series options. The EF 100 f/2 is just as sharp and essentially the same size and weight and cost.

Other ideas: EF 85 f/1.4L IS, EF 85 f/1.2L II, EF 135 f/2L

Look at your current portraits and see if you 'see' the focal length you typically use as that will determine which prime focal length you should select. You already have a great portrait lens in the 70-200, so adding a prime seems unnecessary.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

My 2 cents is WHY do you need a sharper lens than what you have for a head shot... My Olympus 75 is actually too sharp sometimes on long portraits. You don't want to emphasize every imperfection in a head portrait.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

Architect1776 wrote:

I believe the OP is looking for Canon products and performance, not Nikon products and their different performance.

His response was before the OP's second message about his camera was not a Nikon.
I do think 85mm is the lens of choice

Quixdraw Loc: x

Without getting into brands a good fast 105 has been the top choice for portraiture since film days, followed by a similar 85. All about working distance and DOF. I don't know Canon, do they have a DC equivalent?

User ID

toptrainer wrote:

Sorry, I forgot to add I use Canon.

Canon 85/1.8, cheapest greatest fast lens around. However I finally shelved mine in favor of the Tamron 85/1.8, cuz OIS ! But if you don’t need the OIS, then the Canon will save you some $$ vs the Tamron.