Would love to get some input on a lens purchase decision!
I shoot with a Canon 70D which has 1.6 crop sensor, I believe. I'm looking at 3 different lenses with the idea being to get better indoor shots of the twins. All 3 are Canon L Series, so the deciding factor has to be which one will capture the best portrait. There's a 50mm 1.2, an 85mm 1.2, and a 135mm 2.0. The 50mm and the 85mm are about the same price, and the 135mm is a couple hundred $ less (presumably due to the aperature).
What is the general consensus on the best length? I thought I read somewhere once that the optimal size for least distortion was about 70mm, but that doesn't seem to be a Prime option. And for the cost right now, Prime seems to be the way to go.
Your be happy with either. Depends if you shoot with a crop sensor and how close you want to be when taking the picture to get that sense of deep of field.
I have the 70-200 F4 and that's great for portraits as you get a that pop out feel with the narrow depth of field.
I also have a cheap 50mm 1.8 that again is great for portraits but for a head shoot your that much closer...
If it was me I'd probs get the 50 - you might need the wider angle if you're indoors and don't have the space to get far away from the action? I use a 50mm most of the time and still find it a little too long to capture people naturally in small spaces like kitchens, corridors, etc:) Happy to send you lots of sample images taken in a house if that would help at all?? Good luck! x
85mm is often considered to be a good focal length for portraits, however this is longer on a crop sensor which is fine.
The 50 on a crop is a longer lens which will give you a nice portrait. The 135 might be a little long but again it will give you nice portraits you will just have to be further away - and you need to consider how close they will focus.
My Bronica 150mm lens is spectacular however I need to use extension tubes to get a close crop. The closest it can focus is 1.5 meters.
This is one of those questions that has no easy answer.
Personally I would go for the 50mm. It is the "standard" lens on a full frame and a little longer on a crop sensor.
Do you really need f1.2? It is very wide. I have a 1.8 and it is excellent. I have never needed the extra f stop.
what other lens lengths do you have, and do you like them?
and which do you use by preference to shoot portraits with currently? Your preferred style will be part of the decision. I use 70-200 for portraits outside sometimes, and I loved the images from the 85, but if shooting in smallish rooms I have found it a bit restricting. I recently bit the bullet and purchased the 24-70L and wish I had invested in it earlier and instead of the 24-105 f4L and the 85. Perhaps you could look at the exif data on 365 for portraits you like, taken in similar situations as you will be shooting, and work out the style and lens compression that is most appealing to you?
Hi Ashley. You won't go wrong with the 50. I had the cheaper Canon version and loved it (until I dropped it!) Great for portraits and a handy 'walkabout' lens. A good investment.
I have a 70D too. I really, really like the 50mm (85mm equivalent) lens. I find it makes lovely portraits - but also doubles as a useful length if I am only taking one lens out with me. I'd slightly prefer a wider angle to be honest - as my house has small rooms, so I am sometimes right against the wall to get all my shot in the frame, but maybe you have a larger house?! Anyway - it's a small lens (in physical size) and doesn't look so intimidating for portraits, I can be a reasonable distance away and still get a lovely portrait with context. My 50mm is 1.4 which is plenty for me
Any of them. But do you really need them? Ask yourself what you can't do with your existing arsenal, and if post processing cannot make it up.
The lenses you describe are all professional full frame lenses, and don't really fit comfortably for cropped-sensor cameras. Canon (and Nikon too) have been severely reluctant to prove good prime glass for their APS-C line. Think really hard if you really must have one for your 70D.
@frankhymus Frank, my lenses just don't perform in indoor low light, and the twins' house has very little natural light. It's been the most frustrating thing with trying to get any kind of good photo of them!
now there's a delightful first world problem to have - decisions decisions :)
i'd have the same questions as Lyn... assuming you are using this for indoors, i would go with the 50 in order to have the option to shoot as wide as possible... for kids you will want more than their faces a lot of the time, and for twins, you may want shots of the two of them interacting... unless the house is big, you may not always have enough room to "back up" to give you the angle of view you are after...
someone above suggested the 50mm f/1.8 as an alternative to the L series f/1.2... it is definitely going to be cheaper, and it is fantastically light... i have it and don't love it, but as per @frankhymus comment, it may be quite sufficient for your needs...
I'd go for the 50 as well, as you've said you are indoors with little natural light and I think you will find the other two a bit too long on a crop sensor for indoors. My theory now is spend the money on the best lens you can afford and then you won't wish you bought it later.
I have both the 50m f1.4 and the 135m f2. I love both but use the 135m more these days. However, when my kids were younger and I took more indoor shots the 50m was perfect. I would suggest the 50m f1.4 or f1.8 as I don't see the need for a f1.2 either. You have such a narrow depth of field with the f1.2 and its very hard to get a sharp photo of a moving child!
I have the Canon 50 1.4 and I love it. Not great at focusing close up or in poor light but those are my only complaints. I love a lot of blur in my photos and the 1.4 is perfect for that. As others have said I'm not sure how much you'd use 1.2 setting.
I know you're looking for really wide apertures, but you might want to consider the 24mm f/2.8 pancake lens - not an L series, but it's my go-to for indoor shots on my crop sensor Canon. And it's very light and fairly inexpensive. :)
My house is older, with tiny rooms, low ceilings and small windows, and I can take natural light shots indoors during the day with it. 99% of the images in my project were taken with that 24mm lens.
I have an 85mm that I use for outdoor, low-light sports/field band shots, and there is no possible way I could take indoor shots with it, I'd have to be in another room looking through a doorway to be far enough away!
I love my prime L lenses and think they are worth the investment. Buying used saves a bit as well. I would go with 50mm 1.2 for close indoor use. Also could use it for street.
@sarahsthreads I was going to mention the same idea of going even lower. I use a 35mm Sigma 1.4 , so it's a 50mm on my crop sensor (7DMIi). Takes excellent portrait shots and does great in low light. I've used it for concerts, some sports , and indoor outdoor portaits. Just another option (so you really will have a nifty fifty).
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I have the 70-200 F4 and that's great for portraits as you get a that pop out feel with the narrow depth of field.
I also have a cheap 50mm 1.8 that again is great for portraits but for a head shoot your that much closer...
Happy choosing..
The 50 on a crop is a longer lens which will give you a nice portrait. The 135 might be a little long but again it will give you nice portraits you will just have to be further away - and you need to consider how close they will focus.
My Bronica 150mm lens is spectacular however I need to use extension tubes to get a close crop. The closest it can focus is 1.5 meters.
This is one of those questions that has no easy answer.
Personally I would go for the 50mm. It is the "standard" lens on a full frame and a little longer on a crop sensor.
Do you really need f1.2? It is very wide. I have a 1.8 and it is excellent. I have never needed the extra f stop.
and which do you use by preference to shoot portraits with currently? Your preferred style will be part of the decision. I use 70-200 for portraits outside sometimes, and I loved the images from the 85, but if shooting in smallish rooms I have found it a bit restricting. I recently bit the bullet and purchased the 24-70L and wish I had invested in it earlier and instead of the 24-105 f4L and the 85. Perhaps you could look at the exif data on 365 for portraits you like, taken in similar situations as you will be shooting, and work out the style and lens compression that is most appealing to you?
The lenses you describe are all professional full frame lenses, and don't really fit comfortably for cropped-sensor cameras. Canon (and Nikon too) have been severely reluctant to prove good prime glass for their APS-C line. Think really hard if you really must have one for your 70D.
i'd have the same questions as Lyn... assuming you are using this for indoors, i would go with the 50 in order to have the option to shoot as wide as possible... for kids you will want more than their faces a lot of the time, and for twins, you may want shots of the two of them interacting... unless the house is big, you may not always have enough room to "back up" to give you the angle of view you are after...
someone above suggested the 50mm f/1.8 as an alternative to the L series f/1.2... it is definitely going to be cheaper, and it is fantastically light... i have it and don't love it, but as per @frankhymus comment, it may be quite sufficient for your needs...
My house is older, with tiny rooms, low ceilings and small windows, and I can take natural light shots indoors during the day with it. 99% of the images in my project were taken with that 24mm lens.
I have an 85mm that I use for outdoor, low-light sports/field band shots, and there is no possible way I could take indoor shots with it, I'd have to be in another room looking through a doorway to be far enough away!