Portraiture is a popular genre of photography that requires a specific set of skills and equipment to master. And one of the most essential pieces of equipment for capturing stunning portraits is the lens.
A good lens can make all the difference in achieving your portraits’ desired look and feel. But with so many options on the market, choosing the right lens for your needs can be overwhelming.
Factors such as focal length, aperture, and image stabilization are vital when selecting a lens for portraiture.
In this article, we’ll explore the best lenses for portraiture, ranging from high-end prime lenses to budget-friendly options, and help you decide on the right lens for your style and shooting needs.
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Why choosing the right lens is important for portraiture
Choosing the right lens is crucial for portraiture because it can significantly impact the outcome of the photograph.
Different lenses have different properties that can affect how the subject is rendered in the photo, such as perspective distortion, depth of field, and compression.
For example, using a wide-angle lens can result in a distorted image, especially when photographing people up close. Because it can cause features such as noses and foreheads to appear larger than they are, resulting in unflattering portraits.
On the other hand, a telephoto lens can compress the perspective and blur the background. It can make the subject stand out and create a more visually pleasing portrait.
In addition, the lens choice also affects the depth of field or the range of sharpness in the image. Furthermore, this can be particularly effective for portraits focusing on the subject’s eyes and facial features.
Ultimately, the lens choice for portraiture depends on the photographer’s artistic vision and the effect they want to achieve. However, choosing the right lens can make a big difference in the quality and impact of the final image.
Best Lenses for Portraiture Review
When it comes to portrait photography, selecting the right lens is crucial for capturing stunning and impactful images.
Hence, this review will examine some of the best portraiture lenses.
Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto
The Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto is a high-quality prime lens designed for Sony E-mount cameras.
It is designed explicitly for portraiture and is an excellent choice for photographers who want to capture sharp, stunning portraits.
Key Benefits
- A wide aperture range of f/1.8-22 allows for excellent depth of field control.
- The nine-blade circular aperture further enhances the bokeh effect
- Linear motor for quiet and smooth autofocus makes it easy to capture sharp and accurate portraits
- The advanced optical design includes a combination of one extra-low dispersion element
- Lightweight yet durable design with a solid metal mount
- Affordable price point compared to other high-end portrait lenses
- Specifically designed for Sony E-mount cameras, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance
User Experience
This lens has been on my camera for a while. I am astonished by how well it performed.
Firstly, the lens is incredibly sharp, producing clear, detailed images with minimal distortion. Hence, this has made it a go-to lens for my portrait sessions, as I can easily capture the finer details of my subjects’ facial features.
Additionally, the lens has a wide aperture range of f/1.8-22, allowing for beautiful depth-of-field effects and bokeh.
I love creating a soft, blurred background that draws the viewer’s attention to the subject’s face, and this lens allows me to achieve that with ease.
Moreover, the autofocus system on the Sony SEL85F18 is also high-speed and accurate. Therefore, It makes it easy to capture sharp images even when my subject is moving, or I’m shooting in low-light conditions.
Further, I have achieved beautiful candid shots with this lens that would have been difficult to capture with other lenses.
Overall, I highly recommend the Sony SEL85F18 85mm F/1.8-22 Medium-Telephoto lens to anyone looking for a high-quality portrait lens.
Its sharpness, wide aperture range, and fast autofocus make it an excellent choice for amateur and professional photographers looking for the best lenses for portraiture.
Reason to like
- Produces clear and detailed images
- Creates beautiful depth of field effects and bokeh
- Fast and accurate autofocus system
Reason to avoid
- No Image Stabilization
- Not weather-sealed
- No Focus Limiter
Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame
The Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is a high-quality zoom lens for Sony mirrorless full-frame cameras. It is a versatile lens for landscape, architecture, and interior photography.
Key Benefits
- A wide aperture range of f/2.8 allows for excellent low-light performance and creative depth-of-field control.
- The fast and quiet RXD autofocus motor makes capturing sharp, accurate images in various shooting situations easy.
- Its lightweight and compact design makes it convenient to transport on the go.
- Advanced optical design with specialized elements.
- A 17-28mm zoom range is ideal for landscape, architecture, and interior photography.
- Compatible with Sony mirrorless full-frame cameras, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with your camera system.
User Experience
I have been using the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD for a few months, and I’m impressed with this lens.
One of the first things that struck me was how light and compact it is. It’s so easy to carry around, making it an excellent travel and outdoor photography lens.
The quality of the image is excellent, with sharp, detailed images and accurate colors. Also, I love using this lens for landscape and architectural photography.
Moreover, The wide-angle range allows me to capture the full breadth of a scene while maintaining sharpness and detail throughout the image.
Furthermore, the autofocus system is also a standout feature of this lens. The RXD stepping motor is incredibly fast and quiet. It allows me to capture sharp images of moving subjects or in low-light conditions.
Besides, the autofocus is accurate and consistent, so I can always be confident that my images will be sharp.
Thus, the Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD is an excellent lens. I highly recommend it to any Sony mirrorless full-frame user looking for a high-quality, compact, wide-angle lens. It is one of the best lenses for portraiture.
Reason to like
- Lightweight and compact
- Sharp and detailed images
- The fast and quiet autofocus system
Reason to avoid
- No built-in image stabilization
- Limited zoom range
- Not weather-sealed
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a professional-grade standard zoom lens designed for Canon DSLR cameras. It is a versatile lens for various photography styles, including portraits, landscapes, and events.
Key Benefits
- Professional-grade standard zoom lens designed for Canon DSLR cameras
- Fast and accurate Ultra Sonic Motor (USM) autofocus system
- Weather-sealed design protects against dust and moisture
- Relatively lightweight and compact for easy portability
- Advanced optical design minimizes distortion, chromatic aberrations, and other common lens aberrations
- Sharp, clear, and highly detailed images with accurate color reproduction
User Experience
I have been using the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens for a few years now, and it has become my go-to lens for a wide range of photography needs.
The first thing that struck me about this lens was its build quality since it feels excellent and well-made and cannot withstand heavy use in various conditions.
In addition, one of this lens’s standout features is its fast and accurate autofocus system. The USM motor is high-speed and quiet, making capturing sharp images of moving subjects or challenging lighting conditions easy.
But, one downside to this lens is its weight. It is a relatively heavy lens and can be cumbersome for extended periods.
However, the build quality and image quality make it worth the extra weight.
I think the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens is an excellent lens, and I would highly recommend it to any Canon shooter looking for a high-quality, versatile zoom lens. It is one of the best lenses for portraiture.
Reason to like
- Good image quality
- The wide aperture of f/2.8 allows for outstanding low-light performance
- Fast and accurate autofocus system
Reason to avoid
- Heavyweight
- Expensive
- No image stabilization
Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 G Master Full-Frame
The Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 G Master Full-Frame lens is a high-end wide-angle zoom lens designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras.
It is a part of Sony’s prestigious G Master series of lenses, known for their exceptional optical performance and build quality.
Key Benefits
- High-quality wide-angle zoom lens designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras.
- Constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 for excellent low-light performance and creative depth of field control.
- Two XA (extreme aspherical) elements, three ED (extra-low dispersion) glass elements, and one Super ED glass element minimize distortion, chromatic aberrations, and other common lens aberrations.
- Weather-sealed design protects against dust and moisture.
- Its lightweight and compact design makes it easy to take with you on-location shoots.
- Advanced autofocus system, including two XD (extreme dynamic) linear motors, provides fast, accurate, and quiet autofocus performance.
- Compatible with Sony’s advanced autofocus tracking and Eye AF feature for precise focus on moving subjects.
- Ideal for various photography styles, including landscape, architecture, and astrophotography.
- Part of Sony’s prestigious G Master series of lenses, known for their exceptional optical performance and build quality.
- It offers excellent sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy.
User Experience
I have been using the Sony FE 12-24mm F2.8 G Master Full-Frame Lens for several months and am incredibly impressed with its performance.
The first thing that strikes me about this lens is its build quality. It feels substantial and well-made. It cannot withstand heavy use in various conditions.
In addition, the quality of the image is excellent, with sharp, detailed images and accurate colors. This lens is perfect for landscape photography, architecture, and other wide-angle applications.
Furthermore, the wide aperture of f/2.8 allows for excellent low-light performance, making it a great lens for indoor or low-light photography.
Another great feature of this lens is its versatility. Despite being a wide-angle lens, it has a zoom range of 12-24mm, which allows for greater flexibility in framing shots.
The lens is also relatively lightweight for its size, which makes it easy to carry around and use for extended periods. f/2.8 makes this lens one of the best lenses for portraiture, too.
Reason to like
- Sharp and detailed photos with excellent image quality
- The wide aperture of f/2.8 allows for outstanding low-light performance
- Fast and accurate autofocus system
Reason to avoid
- Expensive compared to other wide-angle lenses
- May be challenging
- Distortion can be an issue
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is a popular and affordable prime lens designed for Canon DSLR cameras.
It is a part of Canon’s EF lens lineup, compatible with full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras.
Key Benefits
- An affordable and high-quality prime lens designed for Canon DSLR cameras.
- A fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 allows for excellent low-light performance and creative depth of field control.
- The circular seven-blade diaphragm produces smooth and natural-looking bokeh.
- Metal mount and durable plastic body ensure good build quality.
- The Autofocus system includes a Stepping Motor (STM) that provides fast, smooth, and quiet autofocus performance.
- A versatile focal length of 50mm makes it suitable for various photography styles, including portraits, street photography, and landscapes.
- Good image quality, with sharpness, contrast, and color accuracy that exceeds its price point.
- Compatible with both full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras in Canon’s EF lens lineup.
User Experience
I’ve been using the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens for a few years, and it’s one of my favorite lenses. Because it’s incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry wherever I go. Also, the build quality is good, and the focus and aperture rings are smooth and easy to use.
Moreover, One of the things I love about this lens is its image quality. The images I get with this lens are incredibly sharp, even when shooting at wide apertures like f/1.8. Also, the bokeh is very pleasing, with smooth and creamy backgrounds that make the subject stand out. It is one of the best lenses for portraiture.
In addition, the autofocus system is also fast and accurate, making capturing sharp images of moving subjects easy. Also, the STM motor is very quiet, making it an excellent lens for video.
However, one downside to this lens is its build quality. While lightweight and compact, it feels plasticky and less durable than other lenses. Additionally, the focus ring is small and can be challenging if you have larger hands.
Reason to like
- Lightweight and compact
- The wide aperture of f/1.8 allows for excellent low-light performance
Reason to avoid
- Build quality feels a bit plasticky
- The focus ring is a bit small
Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G Full-Frame Large-Aperture Ultra-Wide Angle G Lens
The Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G is a high-quality, full-frame, ultra-wide angle lens designed with Sony E-mount cameras.
It has a large maximum aperture of F1.8, making it ideal for low-light photography and creating a beautiful background blur.
Key Benefits
- A wide angle of view allows you to capture more of the scene in a single frame.
- The large maximum aperture of F1.8 is excellent for low-light photography and creating a beautiful background blur.
- Fast, precise, and quiet autofocus for capturing moving subjects
- The weather-sealed design makes the lens resistant to dust and moisture
- Ideal for landscape, architecture, and interior photography
- Compatible with Sony E-mount cameras, including full-frame models
- Smooth and precise manual focus control for creative expression and critical focus
- Professional-grade build quality and construction for long-lasting durability.
User Experience
Firstly, the build quality of the lens is exceptional. It feels sturdy and well-made in my hand, and the focus and aperture rings are smooth and easy to operate.
Secondly, the lens size is compact and portable, making it convenient for travel and on-the-go photography.
In addition, when I mounted the lens on my Sony A7R III camera, I was blown away by the sharpness and clarity of the images captured.
Furthermore, the lens’s autofocus is fast and accurate, making it easy to capture sharp images even in low-light situations. Hence, it has become one of the best lenses for portraiture.
Further, the lens is also relatively lightweight, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods.
Overall, I highly recommend the Sony FE 20mm F1.8 G lens to any photographer looking for a high-quality ultra-wide angle lens for their full-frame Sony camera.
In brief, this lens’s image quality and versatility make it an excellent addition to any photographer’s kit.
Reason to like
- Wide angle and large aperture
- Excellent image quality
- Lightweight and portable
Reason to avoid
- Relatively expensive
- Limited zoom range
- Not weather-sealed
Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM for Canon Full Frame Mirrorless
The Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM is a versatile and affordable prime lens designed for Canon mirrorless cameras.
Its compact and lightweight design makes it an excellent option for photographers who want to travel light without compromising image quality.
Key Benefits
- Fast and bright maximum aperture of F1.8, perfect for low-light shooting and creating shallow depth-of-field effects
- Super Spectra coating minimizes flare and ghosting and ensures accurate color reproduction.
- STM autofocus system provides smooth and quiet autofocus performance for both stills and video
- 50mm focal length is versatile and can be used for a wide range of photography genres, from portraits to landscapes to street photography
- The 7-blade circular aperture helps to produce smooth and pleasing bokeh in out-of-focus areas.
- Minimum focusing distance of just 0.3m, making it great for close-up photography
- Compatible with Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance
- Affordable price point, making it accessible to a wide range of photographers and budgets
- High-quality construction and durability, ensuring long-lasting use and enjoyment.
User Experience
I have had a positive experience with this lens. One of the first things I noticed was the lens’s compact size and lightweight feel. Hence, It is easy to carry around and only adds a little weight to my camera bag. The lens also has a sleek and modern design that looks great on my camera.
Regarding image quality, the Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM lens does not disappoint. The f/1.8 aperture allows for a beautiful depth of field and bokeh effects, which is excellent for portrait photography.
In addition, this lens produces sharp images with minimal distortion and aberrations, even wide-open shooting. Also, the autofocus is fast and accurate, making capturing sharp photos easy.
Finally, this lens also has a relatively short minimum focusing distance, which allows me to get in close for intimate shots, making this lens one of the best for portraiture.
Reason to like
- Compact size and lightweight design
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Excellent image quality
Reason to avoid
- It can be a bit noisy when focusing
- Lack of image stabilization
- Build quality could be more robust
Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Lens
The Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 Lens is a versatile, compact, wide-angle lens designed with Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras.
With a focal length of 24mm and a maximum aperture of F/2.8, this lens is ideal for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, and street photography.
Key Benefits
- A versatile and compact wide-angle lens designed for Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras
- Ideal for capturing landscapes, cityscapes, and street photography
- Close-up capabilities with a minimum focusing distance of just 4.7 inches (12cm) and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:2
- Fast, precise, and quiet autofocus performance with Tamron’s OSD motor
- High-quality optics, including LD and GM elements, minimize distortion, aberration, and color fringing, ensuring sharp and accurate image quality.
- Moisture-resistant construction makes it durable and reliable for shooting in various weather conditions.
- The compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry and use without adding extra weight to your camera setup.
- Affordable price point, making it accessible to a wide range of photographers and budgets
- Suitable for both stills and video shooting
- It can be used with Tamron’s “Lens Utility” software to customize settings and update the firmware.
- Includes a lens hood and protective lens case for added convenience and protection.
User Experience
I was excited to try the Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 lens.
Firstly, It’s easy to carry around and doesn’t add too much weight to my camera bag. Then the lens also has a sleek and modern design that looks great on my camera. Also, I was impressed with the Tamron 24mm lens regarding image quality.
In addition, It produces sharp images with minimal distortion, even when shooting at wider apertures. And the autofocus is fast and accurate, making capturing sharp images easy, even in fast-paced shooting situations.
Additionally, the lens has a quiet autofocus motor, which is excellent for shooting video. Therefore, to me, it’s one of the best lenses for portraiture.
I recommend the Tamron 24mm F/2.8 Di III OSD M1:2 lens to any Sony full-frame mirrorless user looking for a high-quality, affordable wide-angle lens.
It is an excellent addition to my photography kit and has become a go-to lens for many shoots.
Reason to like
- Compact design
- Minimal distortion
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Reason to avoid
- No image stabilization
- The lens hood is sold separately
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L
The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L lens is a high-performance telephoto zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera system.
It is a versatile lens ideal for wildlife, sports, and outdoor photography, providing excellent reach and clarity to capture distant subjects.
Key Benefits
- Versatile telephoto zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless camera system
- An impressive zoom range of 100-500mm, providing excellent reach for capturing distant subjects
- Advanced optical technology, including Super UD and UD lens elements, minimizes chromatic aberration and ensures high image quality throughout the zoom range.
- Fast and precise autofocus system, thanks to Dual Nano USM motors, suitable for both stills and video shooting
- The optical image stabilization system helps reduce camera shake and produce sharp images when shooting handheld.
- Durable and weather-sealed design, constructed from high-quality materials
- A customizable control ring allows users to adjust settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for greater creative control.
- Compatible with Canon’s RF extenders for even greater reach
- Suitable for a wide range of photography applications, including wildlife, sports, and outdoor photography.
User Experience
I was excited to try the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L lens on my Canon full-frame mirrorless camera. I’ve used this lens for a few months and have had a great overall experience.
The first thing that stood out about the Canon RF 100-500mm lens was its impressive focal length range. This lens allows me to capture a wide range of wildlife. The zoom range is smooth and easy to adjust.
Secondly, the image stabilization is effective and works well even at the longer end of the focal length range.
Additionally, regarding image quality, I have been very impressed with this lens. It produces sharp and detailed images, even at the longer end of the focal length range. Also, the colors are vibrant, and the contrast is excellent, which results in stunning photos.
Overall, I highly recommend the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L lens to any wildlife photographer looking for a versatile, high-quality telephoto zoom lens.
It has become my go-to lens and allowed me to capture stunning wildlife images I am proud to share.
Reason to like
- Impressive focal length range of 100-500mm
- Accurate autofocus
Reason to avoid
- Heavy and bulky
- Expensive
NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Standard Fast Prime Lens
The NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S Standard Fast Prime Lens is a high-quality lens for Nikon’s Z-series mirrorless cameras.
It offers excellent image quality and a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, making it ideal for various photographic applications.
Key Benefits
- A fast maximum aperture of f/1.8 allows for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field effects.
- Due to its stepping motor (STM) technology, the fast and quiet autofocus system makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects or shooting video.
- A customizable control ring can be assigned to adjust the aperture, exposure compensation, or ISO for greater creative control.
- Weather-sealed construction protects against dust and moisture, making it suitable for various environments.
- The versatile 50mm focal length is ideal for various photographic applications, including portrait, street, and low-light photography.
- Compatible with Nikon’s FTZ adapter, allowing it to be used with Nikon’s F-mount DSLR cameras.
User Experience
As a portrait photographer, I was excited to try the NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens on my Nikon Z7 full-frame mirrorless camera.
From the first time I used it, I was impressed by the sharpness and image quality that this lens produces.
Additionally, the lens is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around for extended periods. Also, the build quality is excellent, and the lens feels solid and durable.
Furthermore, The NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens truly shines regarding image quality, producing incredibly sharp images with beautiful colors and contrast. Also, the bokeh is creamy and beautiful, which makes it perfect for portrait photography.
I have been highly impressed with the NIKON NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S lens. It is an exceptional lens that produces beautiful images with great detail, color, and contrast. Therefore, to me, it’s one of the best lenses for portraiture.
Reason to like
- Excellent image quality with sharpness
- Easy to carry
- Wide maximum aperture of f/1.8
Reason to avoid
- Expensive compared to other
- Lacks image stabilization
In conclusion, choosing the best lenses for portraiture depends on several factors, such as personal preferences, shooting style, and budget.
However, some key features to consider when selecting a portrait lens include focal length, maximum aperture, sharpness, bokeh quality, and overall image quality.
Ultimately, the best lens for portraiture can deliver sharp, clear, and beautiful images with smooth and pleasing bokeh.
It should also suit the photographer’s shooting style and preferences. With the right lens, a portrait photographer can create stunning images that capture the essence of their subject and tell a compelling story.
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