Best lens for baby portraits?

[bdunbar79]

If you're doing this for baby portraits, there's really no reason at all to go with the expenses of the 50L and 85L.  I've seen no evidence from anyone that the 50 f/1.4, 50 f/1.8, or 85 f/1.8 does any worse than the L's at wider aperturers.  Maybe the bokeh isn't as good but that's not the point for baby portraits.  While I appreciate photos from the L lenses, typically what I see is "oh this is the best lens, see my photo!"  Well that's nice, but who's to say the non-L couldn't have gotten that exact same photo?  What I mean is, if you had a shot with the 85L and 85 f/1.8 side by side with the same camera and settings, then I could see.  But using only one lens to justify it doesn't seem too scientific to me. 

[verysimplejason]

Here's a sample.  I used a 500D + 50mm F1.8.  You don't need an expensive equipment to get good pictures.

[sandymandy]

Just any lens that is a bit soft wide open. For baby portraits a bit softness is perfect Dont forget babies usually dont just sit there not moving at all and smiling in the camera. Aperture like 1.2 will give u lots of oof shots

[BrandonKing96]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned it but if you can get a decent quality used 24-70 mark I, then you have a really good all-round lens with extremely beautiful quality.  Prime wise, I'd go for an 85mm f/1.8.

If money isn't an issue, I highly recommend:
85L, 24-70L II, 70-200 f/2.8L IS II.

[smithy]

I take a lot of baby photos, and tend to use the Canon 50mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 85mm f/1.4.  (They are a good option if you don't have thousands of dollars to spend.)

Sometimes I'll attach my 24-70mm f/2.8L if I need some flexibility, but most of the time it's just the two primes.  The downside to the 85mm primes (of all brands, as far as I'm aware), is that the minimum focussing distance is around 1 metre (approx 3 feet).

If Canon update their 50mm f/1.4 I'd probably buy it, otherwise I'll upgrade to the Sigma 50mm in the near future.

[CJRodgers]

This was with 135 L on 5d mkii. So an 85mm on a crop would be roughly the same

[J.R.]

I'd suggest a 17-55 f/2.8 on the crop body! Probably the best and THE only EFS lens whose IQ is at par with the precious Ls.

[7enderbender]

I second the 50 1.4. Safe the rest of the money for diapers and supermarket delivery service...

[drob]

I'm a fellow dad and have spent the last 2 years photographing and learning about what gear is great for the kids. I've started off with a 50mm 1.8, 85mm 1.8, & my kit lens (on a 60D). Loved the 50mm but had a hard time in close quarters, so picked up the Sigma 30 1.4 and now find it is on my camera most of the time indoors. Once I had the 30mm 1.4, the 50mm 1.8 seemed noisy and slow, so I upgraded to the 50mm 1.4.  Great lens. Also, love the 85mm but it is so long on a crop body it is not realistic to shoot indoors with it.   Also found that primes were just to hard for trips to the zoo, park, aquarium, etc and my kit lens (18-135mm) more or less sucked. So I purchased a used 24-105L and love it for a general purpose lens.  The 30mm 1.4 for Sigma is on sale now for 289. Can't beat the price.

[DanielW]

On a crop body I would buy the 50mm f/1.4 (I did) and rent the 50mm f/1.2L. I would also consider the new Sigma 35mm f/1.4, which I might even buy later on, even though I just love my 17-55mm f/2.8.
Congratulations, and happy shooting!
Daniel

[jasonsim]

If you can fund it, I would just get the new Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens.  It is spectacular, very sharp, and compatible with full frame camera's should you decide to go that way some day. 

I sold my 35mm f/1.4 and 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, after getting the 24-70 II.  I have the 50L and 85L II, but rarely use them now.  Maybe that is a sign that I need to sell those off too. 

I think the best trinity at the moment is:  16-35mm II, 24-70mm II, and 70-200mm IS II.  You cannot go wrong with these and your clients will never know you did not use a prime lens...neither will they care!  Now, if you like shooting with a bunch of primes, then that's a different story.

Kind regards,
Jason S.

[bdunbar79]

If you can fund it, I would just get the new Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II lens.  It is spectacular, very sharp, and compatible with full frame camera's should you decide to go that way some day. 

I sold my 35mm f/1.4 and 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, after getting the 24-70 II.  I have the 50L and 85L II, but rarely use them now.  Maybe that is a sign that I need to sell those off too. 

I think the best trinity at the moment is:  16-35mm II, 24-70mm II, and 70-200mm IS II.  You cannot go wrong with these and your clients will never know you did not use a prime lens...neither will they care!  Now, if you like shooting with a bunch of primes, then that's a different story.

Kind regards,
Jason S.

That lens is the absolute best zoom lens I've ever purchased.  I've been doing a lot of portrait and group photo work lately and the sharpness is absolutely stunning at f/2.8.  I've also done ridiculous crops and shot things far away and the sharpness is so unreal to me.  I owned the 35L and 50L and I could never crop this far before and still maintain such razor sharpness.  Amazing lens!

[DanielW]

Lots of good advice here, but I understand the OP wants to rent, not buy, a lens; hence my recommendation for the 50mm f/1.2L.
I'd only buy a fast prime after getting a good all-around zoom (for the 60D, the 17-55mm f/2.8, for instance), although many people would disagree and vote for a prime lens-only kit.
Tell us what you decided for and show us some pics!
Daniel

[sleepnever]

I've got one on the way too here shortly and have been trying out my friend's Canon 35L 1.4 on my 5D3. If I end up liking it enough, I'll probably spring for the new Sigma 35 1.4 since it is considerably sharper than the Canon. I also own a 50mm 1.8 II and while soft until stopped down, its hard to beat for the price. I used to use it on my T2i as well. I have not tried the 85 1.8 and hear that is a must.

[beckstoy]

No Question.  My favorite lens for infant photography is EF 50mm 1.4 (on my 5DM3).

Occasionally I use something with 24mm (the 24-105 or 24-70) for wide, but be sure to center the baby properly so there's no distortion to the baby's head.