rpavich Loc: West Virginia

1/200
f/4
ISO 160

I was a bit less than 10 feet away...or whatever minimum focus distance is..

Trust me..that's not as sharp as it can get but its' not bad.... :)


THIS shot is wide open at f/2...and it's VERY sharp...just check out how it looks...that's what the 135 does...

donnabyrd Loc: Georgia

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Yes...that's a good thing....I predict you will get hooked on the 135 :)

Zero_Equals_Infinity Loc: Canada

I am a prime shooter much more than a zoom shooter. I had the Nikon 24-70 until it went swimming last summer. Needless to say it drowned, and my insurance enabled me to rethink my lens choices. WHile I really enjoyed that lens, I found that for me a better choice was to use my primes 105 F2.8 macro, and 135 F2 DC (defocusing control) for portrait work, and I picked up one of my all time favourite lense, 24 MM tilt-shift, (for architectural and landscape.)

I don't regret not replacing the 24-70 for two reasons. One is that foot cropping with primes makes me more creative, and a good prime really delivers the goods.

I second the thought of an 85 F1.8. Nikon has a sweet one in the 500 range, and if canon has one at 360 it is a bargain. I just saw that you are shooting crop-factor, so you could use a 50 mm F 1.8 and get great results at a bargain price. (I use a 50 mm F1.8 on my Nikon D800, and a 105. Love them both, but really want an 85 F1.8 as a go-to portrait lens.)

Sorry to gab, but I just never found that the 24-70 was a good choice for me, even though it is very highly regarded.

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

The experts say 85mm is the ideal portrait lens but bear in mind you are using a Canon 60d which doesnt have a full frame chip meaning you must multiply the lens size by 1.6 making a 50mm 1.4 your ideal lens as this equates to 80mm on a full frame camera, having said that i wouldnt hesitate at buying a 24-70mm 2.8 as my main portrait lens you will not be dissappointed

Paco Loc: West Coast, Fl

I use my Tamron 60mm F/2 Macro, affordable and takes great photos

Normanc Loc: Manchester UK

Hi Donnabird,
I use 2 'L' canon lenses, For me they are unequalled, although I suspect Nikon users may argue. As you say they are expensive. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. I have attached a prttrait of a friend of mine which I took using a Canon 70 - 300mm f4 -f5.6 L lens. Tis may help in your decision. Normanc.

littlejon Loc: northern minnesota

just got a used 24-70 from keh.took several weeks of waiting before they had one for sail.making the choice took me even longer.always came back to the 24-70.it has good wide angle for playing with landscape pics,and is the wedding class the pro's use.and had the focal lenght to fill up the space i was missing with my other l glass.i love it and if you can afford it get it.

scottdavid

Tamron, just came out with a 24-70 f2.8 with image stabilization,

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

LOL about marrying your Canon lens!!!

I've always been told 85mm was ideal for portraits, but years ago I owned a Nikkor 105mm and it was amazing for portraits. Seems anything under 70mm is probably not best for portraits due to the wonderfully shallow depth of field attained using the longer lenses, but 50mm is probably okay. JMHO.

photophly Loc: Old Bridge NJ

Optimum lens for portrait work is 80mm.....so your choice is a good one....
Can't beat the "L" glass .

Designerfin Loc: Utah, USA

I own the 85mm f/1.8. I love the portraits I've taken with it. It's very sharp, quick, silent focusing and not very expensive. If money's no object, though, sounds like the 24-70L wins the popular vote!

Bill gomberg

85 mm.f 1 .2. OR. 135 f 2 .. No zoom comes close for available light Shooting and image quality .However ,don' t buy before you try . RENT FIRST .

katbandit Loc: new york city

all my camera bodies are nikons..all my lenses are nikons except one..its my tamron 28-75mm 2.8f lens that hardly ever comes off my camera..love that lens ..i don't worry about constantly changing lens when outdoors ..i feel limited with my 50mm 1.8 and 85mm and use it strictly if I'm only doing an indoor portrait session..

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

L series lenses are the only way to go. I cheaped out on one of mine and regret it....money lost not money saved. One thing though....I bought a 24-70 and now wish I'd gone with a 24-105 for that extra bit of reach. I work for a professional photographer who has been in the business over 30 years, and that lens rarely comes off his body...it's his workhorse.