what is the best lens for portait photos?

Answer 1

well you cant really say which lens is the best for portrait. it all depends what and how you are shooting. sometimes you can take a really really good photo/portrait with an average point and shoot and sometimes you cant with the best slr camera in the world.
it all depends.
and other thing is you should mention what camera you are using and in which conditions you want to shoot. bright day light outside, indoor natural light, indoor artificial light, etc etc..
to get the proper answer.
but still there are some basics so first of all you should choose a lens with big f numbers (lower numbers)
good luck and keep on smiling

Answer 2

Use a zoom lens! You can pretty much rely on the major brands! ( I use a 75-200 f 4.5 )
The standard "portrait" lens in the pre-zoom era was 2x the normal, or in the case of 35mm photography, approx. 100 mm.
Then came along the zoom lenses and photographers were able to crop and compose in camera, preview composition without having to run all over the studio and were no longer found themselves tripping over cords and wires in the semi-dark as they moved around in the studio as with the old fixed lenses.
The only only thing I would add is to be SURE to only use auto focus lenses and cameras. Portraits require precise focus, and auto focus in a candid environment is essential.
If you buy a fixed lens and a zoom lens I can assure you that the fixed lens will be gathering dust on a shelf somewhere in two years...Matter of fact I think I'll go dust off a few I have in the studio right now....

Answer 3

Two suggestions: Don't use your sharpest lens. Many people don't want their pores and lines visible in photographs. Your zoom lens may not be as sharp as your prime lens and will give you more flattering results.

Second, if using 35mm format film, try a lens of 85 to 105mm in focal length. A wide or even normal lens may exentuate the nose, while a short telephoto will tend to be more flattering. To show this, try a 28mm or other wide-angle lens, get real close, and the nose will become huge.

Other film/digital formats, use two to two and one-half the length of a normal lens as stated in an earlier answer.

Most of all, experiment! Film is still cheap.

Answer 4

It depends on what you want to happen... Most people have suggested that 50mm lens is the most appropriate lens to do the job especially when it's the lens that allows you to shoot at actual distance. But then, there were times when I, personally, wanted to exaggerate some body parts so a wide angle lens was suitable for my needs. If you're shooting outside the studio or on location, then having a telephoto lens would help isolating your subject by making you shoot with more shallow depth of field.

Answer 5

Probably a 50 mm lens since it is the less intrusive on real object scale and relation of proportions. You can also use 75mm, 120 mm or similar zoom values. These do change object relations and proportions but if you want to isolate character and other in frame object are irrelevant or secondary (suggest only) they will help you to do so by permitting you a very selective depth of field.
Best Luck
SF

Answer 6

A 90 mm lens, traditionally called a "portrait lens".
Be careful to divide by 1.4 if you have a digital camera.

Answer 7

Depends on the camera format.
Portrait of a person is not full figure, it is head and shoulder so:
for 35 mm cameras is the 105 mm or 135 mm. (better)
for 120 (medium format) is 135 mm or 180mm (better)
for large format (4x5) is 450 mm

Answer 8

The standard is 105mm (for lenses designed for DLSR's). For lenses designed for film, 105mm approximates to 70mm.