portrait lenses for canon T5i: My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing my Nikon to take pictures for some students that can not afford the prices of yearbook pictures. She now...

john.punky1 Loc: Catskill NY

My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing my Nikon to take pictures for some students that can not afford the prices of yearbook pictures. She now has the bug and some of her friends have asked her to take family pictures etc. She just purchased a canon rebel T5i. Of course it only comes with kit lenses and it is an entry level camera.
I am looking for suggestions for some portrait lenses for her. She has been using a few of my prime lenses so I don't think she will be very happy with the kit lenses for portraits
Thanks for any suggestions
John

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

100mm f2 Canon - best for the money ! .....

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Great idea on the 100 f/2 - here's a link to a review on this specific lens. If you navigate from the main page, the site provides reviews on all Canon lenses, separated between zooms and primes.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-100mm-f-2.0-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

lukan Loc: Chicago, IL

john.punky1 wrote:

My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing m... (show quote)

With that sensor, I'd try the 50mm f1.4. Its focal length becomes 80mm, and it gives wonderful results. The 100mm f2 shoots like a 160mm, which for portraits might be a difficult perspective to manage.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

lukan wrote:

With that sensor, I'd try the 50mm f1.4. Its focal length becomes 80mm, and it gives wonderful results. The 100mm f2 shoots like a 160mm, which for portraits might be a difficult perspective to manage.

Yes, the 100mm may be a bit long. I would go with the Canon 85mm f/1.8. The 85mm f/1.8 is on my 7D much of the time. This lens is quite reasonably priced and performs very well.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

I'd add too to look online at KEH for used copies of these suggestions. The lenses being discussed are in the $350 to $450 range covering the 50mm to 100mm focal length. The CANON 70-200MM F/4 L USM also covers this range. And priced used, this lens is just north of the price range.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

If you are thinking a prime, Sigma makes a 70mm 2.8 @ $499.00 (= around 112 mm) that might do well. Or better yet the EF 85 1.8 @ 419.00 a very well respected lens that would give you an equivalent around 135mm. Still a little long, but if she has the space, very doable.

Anvil Loc: Loveland, CO

For portraits, I like the Canon 50mm f/1.8, the Plastic Fantastic. It is very inexpensive, and feels it, but it takes terrific pictures. On a crop frame camera, 50mm is a good size for a portrait lens.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

john.punky1 wrote:

My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing m... (show quote)

I agree with the 50mm but I use the f/1.8 which should be plenty for most situations. This is especially true if she can shoot indoors and under window light. Below is an example of what I'm getting with my t3i in the situation I described at 400 ISO. This is my grand daughter.

Canon t3i, 50mm f/1.8, ISO 400, Under in home window light.

(Download)

amehta Loc: Boston

john.punky1 wrote:

My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing m... (show quote)

I would agree with the 85mm f/1.8 if she has space, the 50mm if she does not. She can look at the focal lengths she uses for her current portraits when she zooms to see which she tends to use most. If she uses the 18-55mm kit lens and always has it at 55mm, then the 85mm might be okay.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

amehta wrote:

I would agree with the 85mm f/1.8 if she has space, the 50mm if she does not. She can look at the focal lengths she uses for her current portraits when she zooms to see which she tends to use most. If she uses the 18-55mm kit lens and always has it at 55mm, then the 85mm might be okay.

This is amehta's thing, so I would listen to this advice. :thumbup:

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

haroldross wrote:

Yes, the 100mm may be a bit long. I would go with the Canon 85mm f/1.8. The 85mm f/1.8 is on my 7D much of the time. This lens is quite reasonably priced and performs very well.

I agree. 85mm is just right for me.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

john.punky1 wrote:

My daughter is a teacher. She has been borrowing m... (show quote)

Nothing wrong with the kit lens (no matter which one it is)...no reason to start the gear purchase treadmill just yet.

What can her current lens NOT do (that she needs it to do) when taking portraits?

(quote:
I am looking for suggestions for some portrait lenses for her. She has been using a few of my prime lenses so I don't think she will be very happy with the kit lenses for portraits.

End quote)

Why? How is her kit lens deficient?

I don't see how anyone can give advice when they don't even know which kit lens she has now....

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I also recommend the 85mm 1.8 for the money. Very sharp, fast focus. It ends up being the lens I usually have on my camera, a 1D Mark III. I have shot drag racing, indoor volleyball and outdoor scenes with it as well as portraits.

Best,
Todd Ferguson

amehta Loc: Boston

rpavich wrote:

Nothing wrong with the kit lens (no matter which o... (show quote)

It's pretty easy to guess about the lenses: an 18-55mm, 18-135mm, or 55-250mm are most likely. A lens like the 85mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.4 would give much better image quality at large apertures, f/5.6 or faster. The kit lenses have a maximum aperture of f/3.5, so f/2.8 is not even an option. Everyone has their own style, and I often use f/2.8-4 for portraits, especially of one person.