Lens choice is vitally important in portraiture. We think that a good portrait can be coaxed out of pretty much any DSLR or mirrorless camera with a functioning sensor – provided it has the right lens. Portrait lenses can be very expensive – but don’t have to be.
Plenty exist for all the major mounts and systems that serve great portraiture at a fraction of the price of professional lenses. Not as pin-sharp, and nor do they have wide maximum apertures, but they produce a great-looking image. From our broad experience of testing and reviewing lenses for every major system, we have assembled this guide to finding one.
If you’re entirely new to portraiture, you could start with our . Those flush with cash should also read our guide to the . For now, we consider what makes a good portrait lens.
.. Two factors are key – getting the and a .
A short telephoto focal length is generally regarded as best for portraits; most agree that the optimal is . This isn’t an absolute rule, and there’s some wriggle-room on either side. In general though, a is best because it provides a flattering perspective of a subject with minimal distortion of their features.
A wider lens will require you to shoot from closer, which consequently exaggerates the width of your subject’s facial features; not desirable. This short telephoto focal length allows you to fill the frame with the subject without encroaching on their personal space. This means if you’re using a , you’ll ideally want a.