Is there a standard focal length for portraits?
hghlndr6 wrote: There's not really a standard length but you will have no difficulty finding people who will argue otherwise. There's a range of lengths that are good for portraits. The parameters to consider are:
• working distance ... you don't want to be right up in your subject's face as you would be with, say, a 50mm on a full-frame body
• exaggerated perspective -- both too wide angle and too long introduce distortions that aren't pleasing
• depth-of-field --- sure, it's a function of aperture, but also of distance from subject so focal length comes into play
(other things such as bokeh and sharpness are characteristics of a specific lens and not relevant to this discussion)
My go-to lens now is 105, on full-frame. Way back in the day, I used 135 to good effect. Many now consider 85mm prime to be the perfect portrait lens and it will work nicely on both full-frame or crop body. Really, anything from 85 (maybe 50 on a crop body) to 200 will work OK.
well said, I don't think this could have been summed up better. IMO, it's all preference. Use what works for you and don't buy into gear acquisition hype unless you absolutely need to have something. 
Tim Entin wrote: 800mm for a portrait? From what distance of the moon?
I kinda think you're overestimating the reach of a 800mm lens dude.
Anyway, to prove my point. F-stoppers did a test of some sort of radio trigger thingy and they used a 800mm lens to shoot this:
Of course people don't usually use 800mm lenses for portraits for monetary or practical reasons, but there's nothing wrong with it.
(source: fstoppers.com/favorites/fstoppers-nikon-...-and-ac3-review-6144 )
I should have said 1200mm though:
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