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Features

You’ll Love the Bokeh These Great APS-C Portrait Lenses Create

Brett Day
No Comments
12/12/2020
2 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm 90mm f2 first impressions product images (2 of 9)ISO 4001-60 sec at f - 3.2

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‘You can’t create nice bokeh with APS-C cameras!’ This phrase has been muttered a million times by those who have been blinded by Full-Frame cameras. This tends to happen a lot, and the ignorance seems to be getting worse. However, we’re here to tell you that you can create gorgeous bokeh with APS-C cameras, and it’s not difficult at all. If you’re a portrait photographer rocking an APS-C camera, read on. We’ve rounded up four APS-C portrait lenses that will create some of the nicest, creamiest, smoothest bokeh you’ll ever see.

Samyang 50mm f1.2

APS-C Portrait lenses

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.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief

Buy now: $380.04

Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary

APS-C Portrait lenses

In our review, we said:

“Thanks to the Sigma 56mm f1.4’s 9 bladed rounded aperture design, the defocused areas of the frame are velvety smooth and help isolate your subject as a result. The transition between focused and defocused is pleasant and gradual, with light sources in the background becoming beautifully rounded bokeh balls.”

Paul Ip – Former Reviews Editor
APS-C Portrait lenses
Captured with the Sigma 56mm f1.4
Captured with the Sigma 56mm f1.4 and the Sony a6400

Buy now Canon EF-M: $429

Buy now Sony E: $385

APS-C Portrait lenses
Shot with the Fujifilm 56mm f1.2

These APS-C portrait lenses will definitely help you create fantastic images. Still, having a great lens is only half the story. If you truly want to create a gorgeous portrait, you need to know the secrets of posing. Try this: have your subject relax and ask them to just be themselves. Communicate your idea, and have your subject play around with it. You’ll find that you’ll get much more natural, organic captures this way.

Fujifilm 56mm f1.2

APS-C Portrait lenses

In our review, we said:

“Fujifilm’s 56mm f1.2 is the sharpest mirrorless camera lens that we’ve tested. Not only that but it exhibits beautiful bokeh, pretty good color rendition, almost no distortion, focuses quickly, and is built well.”

Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
APS-C Portrait lenses

Buy now: $999

Fujifilm 90mm f2 R LM WR

APS-C Portrait lenses

In our review, we said:

“The bokeh is creamy as ever here, which makes this an excellent lens for headshots and portraits. In fact, that’s what it was designed for. With all of this said, photographers of all types will love this lens for the bokeh. Professionals will value that they can photograph their clients with a lens wide open and get them perfectly in focus while the enthusiasts will sit there and cuddle with the lens day after day.”

APS-C Portrait lenses

Buy now: $949

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