Best Lens for Portraits
Focal length is an important factor to consider while choosing a lens for portraits. Lenses having focal lengths in the range of 90-135 mm are the most suited for portraits. In case of lenses with focal length less than 80 mm, photographers have to take close-up snaps. It causes the nose to appear big.
What is a Portrait Lens?
The lenses which are used in clicking pictures of faces can be simply called portrait lenses. The lenses that have a size between 50-105 mm are recommended for portrait photography.
Best Lens for Portraits
The lenses to be used for photography depend on the type of picture to be clicked. For the portrait of a person in standing position, 50-70 mm lens is recommended. For the sitting position, 70-105 mm lens should be used. The 200-300 mm lens is the best lens for portrait shots with just shoulders and head. Let us have a look at some of the the best rated lens for portraits through the following paragraphs.
Using Lenses with Maximum Aperture
The lenses with maximum aperture are useful in creating an effect of a blurred background. It helps in maintaining the focus only on the face by eliminating other effects. A shallow depth of field is created with lenses having maximum aperture. These are the best lens for portraiture.
Lenses for Different Cameras
Here is a list of lenses that are suitable for different cameras.
- Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD: It is used for the Canon camera and helps in capturing images that look natural. A depth of field is created by the wide constant maximum aperture. Size of the lens is 92 x 73 mm and it weighs around 510 g. The filter size of this lens is 67 mm and it is priced at $340.
- Sony 50mm f/1.4: It is a small and light weight lens which provides sharp images. The size is 38 x 63.5 mm and it weighs around 240 g. The filter size of this lens is 55 mm and it costs $350.
- 50mm f/1.8D: This 50 mm lens is reliable, durable and one of the best for Nikon camera. The light weight and small size makes it easy to use and is one of the sharpest lenses manufactured by the Nikon company. The lens is best suited for portraits however, it can also be used for other types of photography. The weight of this lens is 145 g and its size is 27.5 x 63.5 mm. The price of '50mm f/1.8D' is $110 and its filter size is 55 mm.
- Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4: It is the perfect lens for Pentax SLR camera. The images captured with this lens are soft and provide out-of-focus backgrounds. It is one of the sharpest lenses for these cameras. The '50mm f/1.8D' weighs 220 g and its size is 37 x 65 mm. The filter size is 49 mm and it costs $200.
- Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 E-ED: It is the best lens for portrait photography with digital SLR cameras of the Olympus company. Along with portrait photography, it can also be used to capture images of landscapes. The lens is 88.5 x 73.5 mm in size and weighs 435 g. The filter size is 67 mm and it is priced at $400.
