When it comes to portrait photography, choosing the right lens can make all the difference.
Professionals usually go for an 85mm or 50mm focal length, depending on their personal style.
Another consideration to ponder when taking portraits is the aperture.
Here are the best lenses for portrait photography available today.
It also features a superb HSM delivering fast, reliable, and silent autofocus.
Additionally, Nikons proprietary Super Integrated Coating reduces ghosting and flare.
It also features Nikons Silent Wave Motor, which powers a speedy and silent autofocus for snapping in-the-moment images.
Its a versatile lens ideal for many types of photography, including portraiture.
This nifty fifty is excellent for natural and lifelike portraits.
Its also perfect for snapping headshots, full-body portraits, and small group shots.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G
Many experienced and professional photographers consider 85mm the best focal length for portrait photography.
This focal length also gives a more flattering and natural effect on subjects.
With this lens, you also get soft and natural-looking bokeh with the fast aperture and seven-blade rounded diaphragm.
you might beautifully isolate your subjects while also capturing genuine expressions.
The f/1.8 maximum aperture also makes it an excellent choice for low-light situations.
That aside, you also get high-quality optics.
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
Another outstanding 85mm lens perfect for portrait photography is the Sony FE f/1.8.
Your subjects will enjoy the comfortable distance while you could still fill the frame with heads and shoulders.
Its also a good choice for capturing candids at events like weddings or concerts with the lens accurate autofocus.
Together with the 9-blade rounded diaphragm, youll get natural, buttery bokeh to draw attention to your subjects.
Eye detail and skin texture stand out, thanks to the outstanding corner-to-corner detail produced by this lens.
Additionally, its lightweight and compact build ensures shoulder-ache-free usage during extended periods of time.
It’s an all-around good choice for portrait photography.
With its bright f/1.8 maximum aperture and seven-blade rounded diaphragm, portraits are well-detailed with smooth bokeh.
The lens also features Sonys Optical SteadyShot image stabilization.
The nine-element, eight-group optical design includes an aspherical and ED element, which reduces spherical and chromatic aberration.
Additionally, the lens is lightweight and compact, making it a good choice for shooting portraits on location.
Thanks to its maximum f/1.8 aperture, its also a fantastic lens for low-light conditions.
With the wide aperture, you could also use fast shutter speeds to capture sharply-detailed in-the-moment expressions.
Overall, this lens offers excellent color rendering and contrast with images of high quality and clarity.
FAQ
Q: What Lens Do Most Photographers Use for Portraits?
The 50mm and, in particular, the 85mm prime lenses are the go-to for portrait photographers.
However, for a wider perspective, you may want to use the 35mm on occasion.
These prime lenses offer finer details and have wider apertures (which are essential when isolating subjects).
That said, some portrait photographers may also opt for a telephoto lens for more versatility or travel purposes.
They typically stick to shorter focal lengths on these lenses, usually between 24mm and 200mm.
Q: Is 50mm or 85mm Better for Portraits?
The 85mm lens is widely considered the best for portraits.
But it ultimately depends on the photographers style.
However, as it is wider, the 50mm allows you to capture more background.
This makes it a good choice for telling stories with images, such as artists working in their environment.
The 85mm lens is better for full-body or tight head and shoulder portraits.
