When it comes to choosing a lens for portrait use, one has plenty of options to choose from. There are some exceptional first-party lenses, and there are also a few from third-party makers that make things better. With more and more lenses launching for portrait use, here is a look at some that have gotten the best reviews from us. Have a look.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 G2
With 9 rounded blades and 3 aspherical elements, the 28-75mm lens offers a nice autofocus. It can track humans and animals in most situations, and works well in low light. The lens also produces sharp photos, and you also get bokeh that is nice and creamy. There is some flare, vivid colors, and overall a nice look and feel. As we added in our review, “Tamron states that the USB port on the lens is weather-sealed in the same way that a phone is. To us, that means that at least one part of this area is IP-rated when it comes to the build quality.”
Nikon Z 50mm f1.2 S
The Nikon 50mm f1.2 is an S-class lens, which means that it is designed for professionals. You get a 0.45m close focusing distance, 9 aperture blades, and weigh 1,090g. Along with the weather sealing, you get an LCD on the lens, and a silent autofocus. The lens works best for slower subjects, and the “miss rate was between 10 and 20 percent” when used with stationary subjects. The bokeh is round and smooth, and the sharpness is impressive even at f1.2. You also get some nice flare.
Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM OSS II
The Sony 70-200mm is another lens that makes it to the cut. It offers an 11 blade aperture, has 14 groups and 17 elements, and comes with a 0.4m minimum focusing distance. The lens is large but lightweight, and can withstand rain and dust. With a fast-paced camera like the a1, the lens could keep up with the autofocus. There is also lens stabilization and the lens is technically perfect. As we explained, “The lens produces some nice, rounded bokeh. Sure, it’s an f2.8 and not an f1.8 or f1.2 prime, but it’s still got plenty of bokeh.” You get sharp images, but also accurate color rendition.
Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM
With a close focusing distance of 0.85m, the 85mm lens is huge and has a pebbled matte texture ring. The device is weather sealed, can accurately focus on people, and it can track faces and eyes with ease. The images are sharp, and the colors are quite fantastic. In our review, we added, “When shooting with the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 L USM, the transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas is smooth and gradual. Portrait photographers who prefer to shoot wide open will love how this helps isolate their subjects from the environment.” It is also a clinically perfect lens designed for professionals.
Sigma 135mm f1.4 DG Art
The 135mm lens is a perfect lens for L- and E-mounts. With 1:6.9 magnification, 1,430g weight, the 135mm has a matte body, and one of the fastest autofocus we have seen. The lens offers a good focus rate in low light. You can also get good results with “combination of human detection and choosing the focusing area to get my subjects in focus.” The images are sharp, the colors are nice, even when unedited, and the bokeh is nice and soft. For a lens that is priced under $2000, this lens can do a lot.