Best Lens for portrait shots

5 years 9 months ago #591044 by catindubai
Hello there, I am very new to photography.  I have a canon EOS 1300D, it came with a 18-55mm lens. What is the best lens to get in order to take portrait shots with a blurry background?  The 15-55 lens only goes as low as F3.5... Thanks, Cathy 


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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #591357 by garyrhook
You need to study depth of field.

Portraits are typically done with longer lenses, at least 85mm, but some swear by 105mm, 135mm, and 200mm.

You want fast glass (see DoF, above) for bokeh. Bokeh is about geometry. Thus, learn about DoF.

You'll need to invest in good glass. That means $$


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5 years 9 months ago #591366 by effron
All those mentioned are great, the photographer is more important than the kit.

Why so serious?
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5 years 9 months ago #591528 by KCook
With a lot of background separation you should get some background blur, even at f/3.5

Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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5 years 9 months ago - 5 years 9 months ago #591758 by Nikon Shooter

catindubai wrote: What is the best lens to get in order to take portrait shots with a blurry background


Hi Cathy,
three characteristics will influence greatly DoF and BG blur aka bokeh:
  1. aperture: the wider = the shallower the DoF
  2. focal length: the longer = the shallower the DoF
  3. subject distance to BG: the greater = the more bokeh
  4. subject distance to camera: the closer = the better
Note that when 3 & 4 are working together… magic will happen! :cheer:

…and yes, the brighter the glass + the longer the lens = greater investment
HTH.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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5 years 9 months ago #591771 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day Cathy

As you tell us at the very start - you are a beginner here ... so WELCOME !!!

Secondly, although you are asking about portraiture & lenses, I suggest you look at a general purpose lens that can also be used for portraiture as well. Yes - the 18-55 is not the magic solution, but you might find that a lens of 50 to 200/250mm sort of range will do some nice things for you

I do lots of outdoors portraiture in the 100 to 135mm range, sometimes I whiz the lens out to its maximum to create wonderful blurry backgrounds as well. So there are lots of possibilities

You could try 2 things - 1) do you have a local camera club where you might be able to get together with someone and borrow a lens one day, and 2) have a look on DP Review.com for lenses to suit your Canon - there may be 1/2-dozen possibilities available which also take note of the suggestions above

Hope this helps
Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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5 years 8 months ago #594498 by effron
Any updates?

Why so serious?
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