Best lens for baby portraits?

[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.

 

[Canon_Wisconsin]

These are on a full frame (5D Mark II):

(Nabbed from my Facebook, so don't mind the slight degradation you may notice.)

This was taken with the 85mm f/1.8:

This was taken with the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8:

Not babies, but my youngest was no longer a newborn by the time I got my FF last May. I would recommend the 85 f/1.8 for baby portraiture!

 

[verysimplejason]

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.

there's another EFS lens at par or better than L lens. 60mm macro.

 

[RLPhoto]

A 50mm for full body portraits and an 85/135mm for tight shots.

 

[corey.kaye]

Did anyone else read "Best Lens Baby portraits?"

 

[beckstoy]

Without a doubt...50mm 1.4 on my 5DM3

<a href="http://s1232.beta.photobucket.com/user/beckstoy/media/386C1981_quickeditwm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1232.photobucket.com/albums/ff371/beckstoy/386C1981_quickeditwm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 386C1981_quickeditwm.jpg"/></a>

 

[3kramd5]

We're expecting a baby soon, and I thought it would be fun to rent a nice lens to take some early portraits. I assume a fast prime L lens makes sense, but what focal length? Any specific lens rental companies to recommend? Thanks.

I absolutely agree with the 50/1.4 on full frame suggestions, meaning the you would need something a little wider to accomplish the same. A zoom like the 17-40 would be functional from a framing standpoint, but less pleasing due to the increased DOF.

The ability to sit right up close with your baby and still frame him/her is invaluable. When I had to drop my 5D2 at the canon service center and used a crop camera, I was constantly dismayed by the need to either back up and have him be less responsive to daddy-right-here-making-me-laugh or sacrifice framing.

My son walks now, so I shoot a mixture of 50mm (when I'm willing to chase him around for close framing) and 24-70mm (when I'd rather show him in the environment).

Word of advise: enjoy the time you have when you can place him in nice light and he actually stays there
Have fun and good luck.

 

[@!ex]

50 1.2L

Check how creamy the bokeh is in the busy grass and contrasty tree branches on the shot below. You can't beat that (maybe the 85 1.2L II could, but the working distance sucks for babies)...

Also, my girlfriends nephew was sick of the photo shoot, so he decided to wait for the next bus...

 

[steliosk]

+1 for the 85mm 1.8

the ef-s 60mm macro is a good choice for breathing distance

if the money is not an issue get the 50L or the 85L II (however those monsters are heavy in your crop body)

 

[Crapking]

Don't forget about getting the colors / skin tones correct. Might also want to invest in a monitor calibration system (SpyderPro) & ColorChecker passport - don't want to take baby pictures then have that crazy uncle (doctor) tell you the baby is jaundiced

 

[RS2021]

135L is good with kids on a full frame. I don't use 85L usually given the minimum focus distance and the hit-or-miss nature with children....keepers with 85L are usually stunning though.

 

[Sneakers]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone. I ended up going with what seems like the consensus opinion and ordering the 85mm 1.8.

 

[7enderbender]

We're expecting a baby soon, and I thought it would be fun to rent a nice lens to take some early portraits. I assume a fast prime L lens makes sense, but what focal length? Any specific lens rental companies to recommend? Thanks.

50mm on FF (35mm on crop). Any of those will work well in my experience. Did all of my kids at that age with my FD 50 1.4 wide open.

 

[jlts]

+1 on the 85 f1.8. My first prime lens. Had it on a T2i for a while. It's tight indoor but i like the bokeh. Now i have it mounted on a 6D. Wow! It's a whole new world. Now I love my 85 f1.8 + 24-105. Now I have a little more elbow room with the 85mm in the house. I'm no pro here, just a photo enthusiasts. Hope this turn out ok. It's my first post.
Here is a photo taken recently of my 5month old boy. 85mm @f2 with ISO 6400.

 

[dickgrafixstop]

buy the 35mm f2.0. It's only a couple of hundred bucks, has been a great lens for twenty years and take
the money you save and put it in the baby's account. Diapers, formula and strained mush are expensive!

 

[@!ex]

I know you went with the 85 1.8, but it is fun posting these shots anyway. Another one I took with the baby bokeh machine, 50L