Question:What is the best portrait lens 70 to 85mm.

Jigt · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 412 Location: Belgium

What is the best portrait lens 70 to 85mm.

- Colour rendering is important to me
- Specialy a fast one max = f2
- Bokeh should be good

pse let me know your opinion. Main use is portrait but also some available light.

135 is not an option because the cropfactor (1.5)

Guido

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Nikkor 85mm f/1.8
Takumar 85mm f/1.8
Helios-40 75mm f/1.5
CZJ Biotar 75mm f/1.5
CZJ Pancolar 80mm f/1.8
Jupiter-9 85m f/2

All are great lenses witch one is the best very personal decision.

I like very much Pentacon 100mm f/2.8 and Orestegor 100mm f/2.8,
CZJ Biometar 80mm f/2.8 M42.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

It is not easy to say because the lenses have different behaviours - for instance the Jupiter-9 is very contrasted while the Helios-40 is in most circumstances a low contrast lens.

The Helios-40 can be difficult to handle because if the size-weight. Also it takes time to really master it (same as with Jupiter-9), they are not easy lenses to use.

I think that the most used portrait lens all over the world is the Nikkor 2.5/105 AI version. I have it and it's a great lens and by far the easiest to use compared to all others with regards to skin rendering. What I mean is that it's more forgiving of non perfect exposure, while many others (like Jup-9, Helios-40, and Nikkor 1.8/85) require a perfect exposure to render skin properly. You have to carefully meter on your model's skin.

I think that overall my vote would go to the Nikkor 1.8/85. A killer bokeh, shorter lenght than the 105mm, and reasonable cost - but beware, you hav eto find the pre-AI lens. The newer versions are not so good.

In any case I think that any of the lenses I mention here are excellent for portraits.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I forgot to say Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 that is a very good lens, anyway in my opinion for portrait don't need to use the best lenses. Very sharp lenses shows every skin problem a little soft lens as many cheap one cover them.

Jigt · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 412 Location: Belgium

Nikor does not fit my Pentax.

How is the handling with the Biotar.

Guido

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Look an M42 mount Biotar , for portrait works in my order Biotar the last one.

Borges · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Moers, Germany

My vote goes to the Helios 40-2
- 85mm is the ideal focal length for portraits in my opinion
- I can't live without aperture preset mechanism anymore
- Widest aperture of 1.5 for the Helios is VERY thin - the result is creamy
- it's one of my russian lens, everyone expects that I am voting for this. I don't want to disappoint them. Very Happy

Second one is Jupiter 9 and third one is ... eh ... Canon EF 50/1.8 II *ooops* No. Never. Sorry.

Michael

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Oh, I forgot Tamron SP lenses in this focal length all are excellent and low cost solution.

Jigt · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 412 Location: Belgium

I heard about a zentitar 85mm 1.4

Is it good?

Guido

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I never heard this lens I don't think so that is available.

Jigt · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Posts: 412 Location: Belgium

THis is the reason I'm asking.

http://www.cetussoft.com/pentax/85compar/zk85f14.htm

Guido

Borges · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Moers, Germany

Yes, you're right. Seems to be for Pentax K mount only. Here is more info:
http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/zenitar-1-4-85.html

Michael

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

One of the best thing in this forum we can learn a lot from each others. If you able to get for reasonable price take it and share the result. Zenitar lenses well know from quality.