portrait lenses

FLkrakr · 04-03-2018, 08:01 PM

Which lens do you use for portraiture and why?

edom31 · 04-03-2018, 09:00 PM

Hobbyist here...

I love the sharpness of the K 55mm 1.8; more suitable for portraits on a dslr cropped sensor, but always good.

Also, if you can get really close to the subject (I use this one on my baby, for example) the M 28mm 2.8 - the easiest manual focus ever and a very simple lens, doesn't add nor substracts, very balanced.

- Takumar Bayonet 135mm 3.5 - honestly becuse it is soft and very forgiving on facial imperfections. It gives a nice soft glow.

biz-engineer · 04-03-2018, 09:00 PM

I use only one lens, DFA70-200, on full frame it covers from group photo to head portraits.

**twilhelm** · 04-03-2018, 09:42 PM

The 77... I’ve used the K 55 1.8 also which is good for portraits. Then there’s the DA* 50-135 right up there with the 77.

LeRolls · 04-03-2018, 10:29 PM

The FA 85 1.4 because of the compression, sharpness even fairly wide open, and soft buttery bokeh. Used to love the 77 but the 85 has it beat in every category except for size and price.

Sandy Hancock · 04-03-2018, 11:32 PM - **8 Likes**

What lenses do I use for portraiture?

Nearly all of them

Why? (beware - pic heavy)

DA70 on crop

FA*85 on full frame

Sigma 35 Art on full frame

A50/1.2 wide open

FA150 on 645Z

FA77 on full frame

DA*55 on full frame

DFA*70-200 on full frame

DFA24-70 on full frame

DA*16-50 on crop

DA21 on crop

FA77 on crop

FA43 on crop

01 on Q7

06 on Q7

Sigma 70-200 on crop

Kiwipixter · 04-04-2018, 04:53 AM

DA*55 and DFA100 Macro on FF.

jwc77 · 04-04-2018, 05:27 AM

My three favorites are DA*55 (best of the lot imo), Tamron 28-75, and Tamron 90 macro.

Snappertim · 04-04-2018, 06:11 AM

Depends on how much depth of field I want and size of head in the final pic, DFA 77mm Ltd, 90mm Tamron Macro, 100mm Pentax DFA Macro WR, Sigma 105 2.8 Macro and my favourite Pentax FA135 2.8 (if), all these are good, if you definitely taking a portrait use a nice sharp prime lens.

**UncleVanya** · 04-04-2018, 06:16 AM

I'm with Sandy... I'll spare you the pictures for now as I'm on mobile. I have good traditional portsit type shots from 15mm-400mm on crop.

However if pressed I would say that I prefer the working distances from lenses between 30mm - 135mm on crop. This makes the DA* 50-135 QUITE useful on paper, but the larger size (and it isn't huge) throws off some subjects. Sometimes s smaller lens is physically less intrusive and psychologically puts the subject at ease.

IgorZ · 04-04-2018, 06:16 AM

Definitely depends on the situation. My most favourite is probably CZJ 180 f2.8 Sonnar. I find I have the highest proportion of keepers with this lens. Also could be because I use it with film and just am more careful. Otherwise it really depends on situation, but the ones I like are FA43, Takumar 58 f2, and Helios 40. I am getting to know FA77 at the moment. Helios is not your everyday lens in my opinion. Also Tair 11 (133 f2.8) if you have the space and want to throw those 20 aperture blades at someone...

**UncleVanya** · 04-04-2018, 06:19 AM

Originally posted by edom31

- Takumar Bayonet 135mm 3.5 - honestly becuse it is soft and very forgiving on facial imperfections. It gives a nice soft glow.

That's the 2.5 right? I have that lens and like it also. It is underrated.

mariajaner · 04-04-2018, 12:13 PM - **3 Likes**

I prefer to use the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC HSM because I achieve high resolution image, it has a nice size and above all little weight, its brightness and sharpness which is what I like the most. The price is not bad. I also use the DA 40mm and the DA 70mm achieving good results.
If I were to choose a prime for portrait without doubt it would be the fa77mm which I do not have.

**UncleVanya** · 04-04-2018, 12:53 PM

Picture time...

DA 18-135:

DA* 50-135:

DA 40 (SMC version):

DFA 100:

FA 77:

(15.7mm on Panasonic LX-7):

**pres589** · 04-04-2018, 02:19 PM

On crop, I really like the Sigma 28mm EX f1.8 and the DA 50 1.8. AF, in my experience, with the Sigma 28 isn't always so accurate.

I've just started shooting film and the first portrait lens I want to get is a Pentax M 85 f2.0. A 55mm prime of some sort also seems useful here but hard to justify when I already have an M 50 1.4.

04-03-2018, 08:01 PM	#1
FLkrakr New Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: FL Posts: 5	portrait lenses Which lens do you use for portraiture and why?

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04-03-2018, 09:00 PM	#2
edom31 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Garden City, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,349	Hobbyist here... I love the sharpness of the K 55mm 1.8; more suitable for portraits on a dslr cropped sensor, but always good. Also, if you can get really close to the subject (I use this one on my baby, for example) the M 28mm 2.8 - the easiest manual focus ever and a very simple lens, doesn't add nor substracts, very balanced. - Takumar Bayonet 135mm 3.5 - honestly becuse it is soft and very forgiving on facial imperfections. It gives a nice soft glow.

04-03-2018, 09:00 PM	#3
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,232	I use only one lens, DFA70-200, on full frame it covers from group photo to head portraits.

04-03-2018, 09:42 PM	#4
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	The 77... I’ve used the K 55 1.8 also which is good for portraits. Then there’s the DA* 50-135 right up there with the 77.

04-03-2018, 10:29 PM	#5
LeRolls Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: PSL, FL Posts: 4,504	The FA 85 1.4 because of the compression, sharpness even fairly wide open, and soft buttery bokeh. Used to love the 77 but the 85 has it beat in every category except for size and price.

04-03-2018, 11:32 PM - 8 Likes	#6
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	What lenses do I use for portraiture? Nearly all of them Why? (beware - pic heavy) DA70 on crop FA85 on full frame Sigma 35 Art on full frame A50/1.2 wide open FA150 on 645Z FA77 on full frame DA55 on full frame DFA70-200 on full frame DFA24-70 on full frame DA16-50 on crop DA21 on crop FA77 on crop FA43 on crop 01 on Q7 06 on Q7 Sigma 70-200 on crop

04-04-2018, 04:53 AM	#7
Kiwipixter Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Auckland Posts: 248	DA*55 and DFA100 Macro on FF.

04-04-2018, 05:27 AM	#8
jwc77 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Rolla, MO Posts: 269	My three favorites are DA*55 (best of the lot imo), Tamron 28-75, and Tamron 90 macro.

04-04-2018, 06:11 AM	#9
Snappertim Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 88	Depends on how much depth of field I want and size of head in the final pic, DFA 77mm Ltd, 90mm Tamron Macro, 100mm Pentax DFA Macro WR, Sigma 105 2.8 Macro and my favourite Pentax FA135 2.8 (if), all these are good, if you definitely taking a portrait use a nice sharp prime lens.

04-04-2018, 06:16 AM	#10
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	I'm with Sandy... I'll spare you the pictures for now as I'm on mobile. I have good traditional portsit type shots from 15mm-400mm on crop. However if pressed I would say that I prefer the working distances from lenses between 30mm - 135mm on crop. This makes the DA* 50-135 QUITE useful on paper, but the larger size (and it isn't huge) throws off some subjects. Sometimes s smaller lens is physically less intrusive and psychologically puts the subject at ease.

04-04-2018, 06:16 AM	#11
IgorZ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,735	Definitely depends on the situation. My most favourite is probably CZJ 180 f2.8 Sonnar. I find I have the highest proportion of keepers with this lens. Also could be because I use it with film and just am more careful. Otherwise it really depends on situation, but the ones I like are FA43, Takumar 58 f2, and Helios 40. I am getting to know FA77 at the moment. Helios is not your everyday lens in my opinion. Also Tair 11 (133 f2.8) if you have the space and want to throw those 20 aperture blades at someone...

04-04-2018, 06:19 AM	#12
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Originally posted by edom31 - Takumar Bayonet 135mm 3.5 - honestly becuse it is soft and very forgiving on facial imperfections. It gives a nice soft glow. That's the 2.5 right? I have that lens and like it also. It is underrated.

04-04-2018, 12:53 PM	#14
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,404	Picture time... DA 18-135: DA* 50-135: DA 40 (SMC version): DFA 100: FA 77: (15.7mm on Panasonic LX-7):

04-04-2018, 02:19 PM	#15
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	On crop, I really like the Sigma 28mm EX f1.8 and the DA 50 1.8. AF, in my experience, with the Sigma 28 isn't always so accurate. I've just started shooting film and the first portrait lens I want to get is a Pentax M 85 f2.0. A 55mm prime of some sort also seems useful here but hard to justify when I already have an M 50 1.4.