> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jerome Davin > Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 4:17 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; > [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: EOS First question to the group on lens for portrait > > > I am an amateur photographer that wants to get good portraits shots of my > kids as they grow. > > I have an EOS Rebel 2000 with a 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens. That lens has > been too dark for me to get good shots indoors, and does an OK job outside > with nice light. > > What lens would you recommend for indoor/outdoor shooting? I'd > like to keep > it under $550 and I live in the US. > > I'd also like to be able to get nice 8x10 and larger enlargements. I am > thinking of using Fuji 160 NPS or Kodak Portra and some ILFORD > for black and > white. Any recommendations? > > Thanks in advance > > Jerome >
Hi Jerome, The classic 35mm format lenses for portraiture for the EOS SLRs are the EF 35 f/2, EF 50 1.8 or EF 50 1.4USM, EF 85 1.8USM or EF 100 2USM and EF 135 2L 135mm. Which focal length(s) you select depend on what kind of portraits you shoot. Small groups can be shot with 35mm and 50mm and even 85mm if you have the back-up room. Full body to 3/4 are good with the 50mm and 85mm, the 85mm is preferred if you have the room because it is more flattering. Head and shoulders shots 85mm to 100mm with tight head shots the 135mm specialty. All of Canon's non-L primes listed are fast and have excellent sharpness and contrast. The EF 35 f/2 is sharp and cheap, the EF 50 1.8 is slower focusing and very sharp if stopped down 2-3 stops. The EF 50 1.4USM is very fast focusing and very sharp if stopped down 1-2 stops. Both 50mm are rather soft wide-open but the EF 50 1.4USM is much sharper 1-2 stops sooner than the EF 50 1.8 which never quite catches up to the 1.4USM. The EF 85 1.8USM has very fast AF and is also very sharp, slightly sharper then the EF 100 2USM but not by much, it's also slightly less money. Both are great portrait lenses and can blow out the backgrounds very nicely. The EF 135 2L is an incredible lens for head shots. It's VERY sharp by f/2.8 and still has nice soft blown out backgrounds. I've owned the EF 50 1.8 (both series I and II), EF 50 1.4USM, EF 85 1.8USM, EF 100 2USM and EF 135 2L and loved all of them for shooting people on the street, travel and of course portraits. When I went digital I kept the EF 50 1.4USM and EF 85 1.8USM because they were the best imagers and also would work well with the EOS 1D and D60 I bought. The EF 135 2L is possibly the second sharpest lens Canon makes after the EF 200 1.8L. To be honest it may be too sharp for shooting women over the age of 16-18 because it shows EVERYTHING! It's also a great sports lens for hockey and under the hoop. But it eats up your whole budget even if you can find a nice used one at a very good price. Sigh... Cheers/Chip * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
