Best Portrait Lens? | Ask David Bergman

Today’s question from Abhinav M., “Hi David. I’m thinking about doing some portraiture and need lens advice. Which will give a better result? An 85mm with a large 1.4 aperture, or a 70-200 at 2.8 with the longer focal length? Thanks.”

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00:00 Intro
00:35 What makes a portrait lens
01:17 Depth of field vs focal length
03:30 The lenses
05:00 Real-world lens test
05:52 Background distance effect
06:29 Pros and Cons of each lens
08:30 The Bottom Line

Focal Length myth

Hybrid lenses

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✘ GEAR USED:

Canon EOS R1 Mirrorless Camera

Canon RF 85mm f/1.4 L VCM Lens

Canon RF 85mm f/1.2 L USM Lens

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens, White

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z Lens, Black

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens

✘ PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT USED:

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Full Frame Digital Camera Body

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Black Aluminum Tripod with MVH502AH Pro Video Head

Godox KNOWLED M300BI Bi Color LED Light

Glow EZ Lock Octa Quick XL Softbox With Bowens Mount (48″)

V-FLAT WORLD Foldable V-Flat

Prograde cards and readers

#portraitphotography #portraitlens #adorama

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5 Comments

  1. Thanks you David!!! I have another question related to this topic , what lens for portraits keep the face proportions without suffer deformation of it because focal distance?

  2. GREAT EXPLANATION OF DEPTH OF FIELD…and of course the distance from you and your subject plays a big role as well: THANKS! HG from Chicagp

  3. I’ve been experimenting lately with wide-angle portraits. I just recently bought a Sigma 28mm 1.4 Art lens. I’m still using a DSLR set up. You have to move in much closer — and that takes some getting used to, — but I love the photographs. A surprising amount of bokeh is present too.

  4. I got both with no looking back. The 85 is good when I do not have too much room. With the 70-200 I can shoot many more scenarios. Looking at photos I took years ago of my grandson as a baby, my DOF was too shallow. Be sure not to over do – use some test shots first! or a DOF calculator.

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