Wanted for Canon - Portraits: I'm pretty new so not positive what's the best way to go on a fairly limited budget. It's been recommended I look at a 24-70mm F2.8 but can't afford that...

deg122 Loc: Buffalo, NY

I'm pretty new so not positive what's the best way to go on a fairly limited budget. It's been recommended I look at a 24-70mm F2.8 but can't afford that unless someone is generous with a price on a used one......Or a 50mm good prime lens. Open to suggestions and help. Thanks.

cosmo54 Loc: Easton, PA but will travel for photos

There are various sites you can look for used lens........KEH, B&H, Adorama.....are just a few. I have purchased from KEH.com and they have an excellent return policy, and their descriptions of the lens condition are generous. Good luck

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

deg122 wrote:

I'm pretty new so not positive what's the best way to go on a fairly limited budget. It's been recommended I look at a 24-70mm F2.8 but can't afford that unless someone is generous with a price on a used one......Or a 50mm good prime lens. Open to suggestions and help. Thanks.

Check Sigma 17-70, Bob.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

You didn't say if you are using a crop or full frame camera which makes a lot of difference. The 50 mm is good for crop frame cameras and will also give you a good low light lens. I like longer lenses for Head Shots. Even on a crop. The lens that has been my go to lens for 50 years is 135mm Spiratone f/2.8. It is a preset (look it up) on a t mount so you can get an adapter for almost any camera. I used it on my Minolta 35mm film cameras and no on my Nikon crop frame camera. It has a 15 blade diaphragm that give background blur great Bokeh. I see them on eBay for $20 to $50. If not the Spiratone you may want to look at any of the 135mm lenses on eBay that will fit your camera for your Head & Shoulder shots and a 50 for full length. Since on portraits you have time to mess around lenses that you have to use on manual should work fine. - Dave

mper812 Loc: Atlanta GA area

For portraits on a fixed budget I would suggest a 50 mm prime as they are relatively inexpensive and you will get very good results.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

deg122 wrote:

I'm pretty new so not positive what's the best way to go on a fairly limited budget. It's been recommended I look at a 24-70mm F2.8 but can't afford that unless someone is generous with a price on a used one......Or a 50mm good prime lens. Open to suggestions and help. Thanks.

This has been discussed frequently, many different opinions, depends on your way of working and where you are working. My go to for portraits in the old film days on 35mm was a 50mm with a 2x extender on a Miranda or a Practica, had a 50mm Jena for the Practica, nice lens. The combo put me right in the recommended 90mm-105mm range, some shooters preferred longer, however with longer lenses you need more room to work, if you are outside not so much of a problem but in a small studio... . You can check online for the differences in facial renditions based on the lens used, different lenses exaggerate or flatten facial contours. It all depends on your way of working.

Laura72568 Loc: Anderson TX

You could also go with an Canon 85mm 1.8 prime lens. A lot of people use this for portraits as well. Unless you're confined to a very small studio space...then I would suggest a used 24-70mm or the 50mm.

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Laura72568 wrote:

You could also go with an Canon 85mm 1.8 prime lens. A lot of people use this for portraits as well. Unless you're confined to a very small studio space...then I would suggest a used 24-70mm or the 50mm.

I have both the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and the Canon 85mm f/1.8

Both are excellent choices for full frame or cropped, bought both of mine here used on the Hog for around $300 each

The picture below was taken with the 85mm at F/2.8. Not a portrait but never less a very sharp photo, great piece of glass for an affordable price.

(Download)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

deg122 wrote:

I'm pretty new so not positive what's the best way to go on a fairly limited budget. It's been recommended I look at a 24-70mm F2.8 but can't afford that unless someone is generous with a price on a used one......Or a 50mm good prime lens. Open to suggestions and help. Thanks.

There are several options - 50mm with a 1.4X TC is among the cheaper.
Vivitar has a 85mm f1.8 manual focus new for $100 - Not sure how "good" it is - but manual focus can have some advantages - especially if you are not in a hurry. Of course Canon makes a good 85 1.8 and 100 f2 for around $350 used and Samyang makes an 85 1.4 manual focus for around $300 new.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Pretty much all I shoot are portraits. I use a Canon 18-135 almost exclusively - great lens. I handles almost every need. I also use a 50mm prime occasionally.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

You might try craiglist i bought three lens on craiglist in mint condition at give away prices ,you can barter for price.I got a 50mm f 1/8 AF for 60.00 it looked like it was never used .

billybob40

IF your realy in to doing photography I will help you out. send me a PM.

sirlensalot Loc: Arizona

For portraits/macro you can use a MF lens. Suggest a Samyang/Rokinon 85/1.4 as a lower priced option. With your savings, you can afford a nice tripod.
50/1.8 still the best deal around.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

You can by a cheep lens for portraits you don't want a sharp lens you want something with a soft focus most pros use soft focus lens they help to hide blemishes .

billybob40

you need help I have it, send PM