Just because something is cheap it doesn’t always mean it’s bad, and these portrait lenses under $500 prove that point.
Sure, you can go out and spend big bucks on portrait lenses that will get you top results, but you can also great performance and images with more budget friendly options that will make you, and your clients say “wow”. We are always told that buying expensive lenses is the only way to get quality results, and in the past that may have rang true, but now, thanks to increasing competition between first and third party lens makers, even budget lenses perform incredibly well. When it comes to portrait lenses you want to make sure the glass you are using produces sharp images, and that color reproduction is on point. The portrait lenses listed below are what we believe to be the best options under $500. They are all razor sharp, all have excellent build quality, and they all punch well above their weight. Here are our picks for best portrait lenses under $500.
Samyang /Rokinon RK50M-FX 50mm F1.2 AS UMC
When it comes to ‘bang for your buck’ lenses, Rokinon/Samyang lenses can really be hard to beat, and the RK50M 50MM f1.2 may be one of the best options for portrait photographers, especially if you don’t mind manual focus. The lens is designed to be used with APS-C based cameras which means the equivalent focal length will be about 75mm, which is just about perfect for portrait work.
In our review we said:
“This lens is razor sharp, has a decent build quality, a very smooth focusing ring, gorgeous bokeh and has a fantastic price attached to it. If you’re an APS-C camera user, then you’ll be hard pressed to find something better for portraits.”
The lens features nine elements in seven groups, and weighs just 0.8lbs. The light weight and small footprint makes this lens easy to use. Images that are produced by this lens are incredibly sharp, and the bokeh is just beautiful. A good overall build quality and solid performance makes Rokinon RK50M is one of the best portrait lenses if you’re on a budget. The lens is available in Canon M, Fuji, Micro Four Thirds, and Sony E mounts.
Buy now Canon M ($399.05): Amazon
Buy now Fuji ($351.50): Amazon
Buy now Micro Four Thirds ($351.50): Amazon
Buy no Sony E ($351.50): Amazon
Samyang 50mm F1.2 Image Samples
Pro Tip: If you are looking for a way control light a little more in your images, consider buying a set of reflectors
Canon 85mm F1.8 USM
If you are a Canon shooter you have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to portrait lenses, but one of the very best is Canon’s own 85mm f1.8 USM. The 85mm f1.8 is about as close as you can get to a L series lens without shelling out big bucks for the famed red ring.
In our review we said:
“Over the last year, I’ve used the Canon 85mm F/1.8 for weddings, concerts, portraits, studio work, event photography, pet photography, and street photography. When I purchased the lens, I wondered if it was really a purchase that was worth making. Then I put it on my cameras and kept it on my 5D Mk II for a week and then my 7D for the week after. I didn’t look back.”
The lens is built solidly, its focus motor is incredibly quiet, and it’s auto focusing speed is lightning fast. Image quality for a lens under $500 is simply incredible, and the bokeh produced will really make you say wow. The Canon 85mm f1.8 weighs in at 1.08lbs, and its small size makes it easy to handle. If you use this lens on a APS-C sensor the equivalent focal range will be 136mm. In all honesty, a lens this cheap should not perform as well as this one does. The Canon 85mm f1.8 is one of the must have portrait lenses on the Canon platform.
Buy now ($369): Amazon
Canon 85mm F1.8 Image Samples
Pro Tip: If you really want to take your images to another level you should consider using a flash. A flash will add extra dimension to your images, and can help increase overall sharpness.
Nikon 85mm 1.8 G
Much like its Canon counterpart, the Nikon 85mm f1.8 G is one of the best portrait lenses under $500 on the Nikon platform. The Nikon 85mm f1.8 is a well built lens that has a nice textured finish to it, and it is lighter than the Canon, coming in at 0.77lbs. The focus ring is large, and the focusing scale is easy to read.
In our review we said:
“For the price, it is very sharp, fast focusing in most situations, silent, and built extremely well. As a budget level lens, it is really hard to beat except by perhaps Rokinon’s 85mm f1.4; but that doesn’t have autofocus at all.”
The 85mm f1.8 G is a very, very sharp lens which makes it idea for portrait work. The silent wave motor makes quick, quiet work of autofocusing, while the maximum aperture of f1.8 makes it ideal for shooting in low light situations. Image quality, bokeh, and color reproduction are all excellent, as one would expect from a lens designed for portraits. When it comes to portrait lenses under $500, the Nikon 85mm f1.8 G is definitely one that should be in your bag.
Buy now ($476.95): Amazon
Nikon 85mm F1.8 G Image Samples
Pro Tip: When shooting outdoors your camera and lenses will get dirty. Make sure you have a good cleaning kit in your camera bag.
Olympus 25mm f1.8
Cheap lenses do not always mean poor results. If there is one lens that can absolutely destroy that notion it’s the Olympus 25mm f1.8. You may be thinking that 25mm is not ideal for a portrait lens, but when you take into account that Micro Four Thirds cameras have a crop factor of 2x, the 25mm will have the equivalent focal range of 50mm, which is great for portraits.
In our review we said:
“The 25mm f1.8 is one of the most affordable and bang for your buck lenses out there for the Micro Four Thirds system. In general, we’re quite impressed with the sharpness, bokeh, fast focusing speed (coupled with accuracy), small size, and the overall feel that it is the single lens that you may want to keep mated to your camera forever.”
The Olympus 25mm f1.8 an incredibly small lens, but it produces big results. Inside the lens are nine elements in seven groups. There are seven rounded diaphragm blades which help produce very smooth bokeh when the lens is shot wide open. Images are sharp from corner to corner, and colors are about as accurate as you can get right out of camera. Build quality is good, but not great, however when you put the whole package together, this is one of the finest portrait lenses under $500 you can get for Olympus based cameras.
Buy now ($299): Amazon
Olympus 25mm 1.8 Image Samples
Pro Tip: Carrying your gear around comfortably, while also keeping it secure is incredibly important. A good camera bag can make all the difference, especially during long shoots.
Fujinon XF50mmF2 R WR Lens
Fuji users will be happy to hear that there is a fantastic lens for portraits under $500 for the system. The Fujufilm 50mm f2 R WR is a great all round performer, it’s small and compact, and it features excellent weather sealing. For the price Fuji users will be hard pressed to find a better offering.
In our review we said:
“The Fujifilm 50mm f2 R WR has fantastic image quality that really, truly speaks for itself. There isn’t a single reason for photographers to complain. It’s sharp, has nice bokeh, doesn’t suffer from any sort of issues the 23mm f2 suffers from when it comes to image quality, and most importantly it’s got great colors.”
The Fujifilm 50mm f2 has nine elements in seven groups, and features 9 rounded aperture blades. The optics are great, images are super sharp, and bokeh is pleasing to the eye. Color rendition is also very good with this lens, and chromatic aberration is non existent. The lens weighs just 0.44lbs, it’s so light you’ll barely even notice it on your camera body which makes using this lens for long periods of time a breeze. Thanks to the overall image quality, weather sealing, and the low price, the Fujifilm 50mm f2 R WR is one of the best portrait lenses on the Fuji system.
Buy now ($395): Amazon
Fujinon XF50mmF2 R WR Lens Sample Images
Pro Tip: Straps that come boxed with cameras are not the most comfortable to use. Take the weight off of your neck by using a good camera sling
Sony E Mount 50mm F1.8
Sony shooters will be pleased to hear that the Sony 50mm f1.8 is a solid choice when it comes to portrait lenses under $500. The 50mm (or nifty fifty) has always been popular with portrait photographers due to the focal length being close to what the human eye sees. Nifty Fifties are known to be light weight, sharp, and excellent performers in general, and this offering from Sony is no exception to that rule.
In our review we said:
“When you consider everything that you’re getting at this price point, the 50mm f1.8 performs very well in terms of image quality. It’s probably the full frame E-mount’s softest lens overall, but that’s still saying something considering just how good they all are overall and the fact that it’s the most affordable.”
Make no mistake about it, the Sony 50mm f1.8 is a very sharp lens, just not as sharp as say the G Master or Zeiss series of lenses, but that is why they cost significantly more. The image quality is quite excellent, and when shot wide open, bokeh produced is very nice. Focusing is snappy thanks to the DC motor, and color reproduction is really nice. The build quality is great, and the light weight (0.41lbs) means this lens pairs up well with the A7 series as well as the Alpha series of Sony cameras. If you are a Sony shooter who is looking for a portrait lens under $500, this is certainly one to check out.
Buy now ($248): Amazon
Sony 50mm F1.8 Sample Images
What are your favorite portrait lenses under $500? Let us know in the comment section below.