Budget portrait lens?

[Ezamond]

Hi guys, I'm really considering to buy a portrait lens for my Canon APS-C camera. Not for professional using, just to take photos about my girlfriend, and others. So I'm looking for a good but cheap (max. 300$) portrait lens. What would you choose?

[Opticus]

Tokina 90mm f2.5 AT-X is pretty good. Great bokeh and very sharp.

[calvin83]

EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

[TAo2]

Industar f3.5/50mm M42. Actually, nearly 53mm. With an APS/C around 78-85mm (FOV equivalent). Ye can get a mint one for $30-40. Plus an M42-Canon mount converter(a few dollars). Superbly sharp, even at f3.5.

[newst]

[dan_]

The clasical Helios-44 Mx 58mm f/2 is very cheap (30-40$) and with a very nice IQ wide opened.
As for modern lenses, Samyang 85mm f/1.4 is in your price range, it can be found in Canon mount and is a very nice portrait lens.
With a little effort you can get both together for 300$.

[kansalliskalaCafe]

G.Zuiko 50 1.4
under $100

now we have many options

[visualopsins]

As TAo2 said, the equivalent portrait lens for APS-C size sensor is 50mm focal length. Our great fortune, there are many many fast 50mm lens that were used as normal lenses on 35mm film-size format. These fast lenses make excellent portrait lenses for APS-C size sensor. Almost any of them will give excellent results.

[jamaeolus]

Pentax super multi coated takumar 50mm 1.4. 80-100 USD

[cooltouch]

Just about any "normal" lens will work fine as a portrait lens on an APS-C camera. F/2 is somewhat slow for a normal lens, but it's a fast maximum f-stop with just about any other focal length. So, you could pick up a 50/2 normal for around 10% of your budget, and in all likelihood, it will work well.

If you want to spend upwards of $300, then I'd suggest you look for an exotic, like a Canon FD 50mm f/1.2 L or 55mm f/1.2 Aspherical. Or a Nikon 50mm or 55mm f/1.2. Or maybe a nice Contax Planar 50/1.4 or something.

[visualopsins]

Oops, well I remember to mention for Canon APS-C that unfortunately Canon FD/FL/etc. lenses and Minolta lenses won't focus all the way to infinity, which may not be a problem with portraits, and Pentax PK mount lens will mount cockeyed.

Lenses that do mount easily to Canon APS-C have M42 mount, such as the Takumars and Helios, Nikon mount Nikkors, and Olympus OM.

You might like the Pentax M42 colors, the Nikon "look", or the swirly bokeh of Helios 44M...plenty of online examples clearly show different characteristics...

[WNG555]

You didn't mention what Canon camera. I'm assuming a DSLR and not their EOS-M mirrorless.
As mentioned, if it's EF mount/DSLR, you're limited to a number of makes due to register length.
Some good suggestions have already been made for vintage manuals.
If you go M42, there are a lot of other makes and models.
Mamiya/Sekor SX 55mm f/1.8 or f/1.4. The SX line is superb, albeit pricier than the previous AUTO models, which are also very good.
Yashica Yashinon DX/DS/DS-M 50mm f/1.7 and f/1.4.
Fuji Film Fujinon EBC 55mm f/1.8 and f/1.4.
Ricoh Auto Rikenon 55mm f/1.4 and 50mm f/1.7.
Auto Chinon MC 55mm f/1.7.

As for Olymus OM mount....I second the Zuiko 50mm f/1.4 suggestion. It's a gorgeous rendering portrait lens.

But don't dismiss modern offerings.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 can be found for ~$300 used. A fabulous prime lens.
Rokinon/Samyang 50mm f/1.4. Manual focus, and EF mount.

[Marek]

I am about to sell two Zeiss Biotar 58/2 copies, M42 and Exa, both fully refurbished by the serviceman if you're into swirly bokeh and portraiture-like proportions on APS-C.

Listed both on Ebay: M42, Exa/Exakta (M42 perhaps soon-to-be-sold)

Prices are a) negotiable and b) couting with double-fee (PP + Ebay) so feel free to offer something in case of interest.

I am not saying you wouldn't fine sharper/faster/cooler lens under $300 cap but hey, I liked these two (great bokeh and contrast).


Marek

[papasito]

I really like for portrait a 85/100 mm lens

One is the Nikkor 2/85 AIs.


Good lens




Both at F/4.

Nice lens.

[fwcetus]

[Mr G]

Hi Ezamond, I am surprised by some Of The responses here, obviously if it's just nice pictures of your girlfriend you probably need more than one focal length. Are you shooting just head shots, full length or environmental, natural light, tungsten or flash. There are too many variables, personally I would go for a high quality zoom with a constant aperture of say f2.8, I am sure someone on the forum could recommend something.

[Nordentro]

Rokinon 50mm f/1.7
Zeiss Planar 50mm f/1.7
Fujinon 75mm f/1.8

[kansalliskalaCafe]

[Mr G]

There is plenty of scope for $300, 3rd party lenses from Tokina or Tamron even af versions are well within his budget. He could probably pick up an RB 67 kit judging the prices recently on EBay, buy a film or two and get them scanned.
If however there is some sort of kudos associated with manual lenses on a digital body and the ability to use one, then a 44m would suffice for portraiture.

[memetph]

[memetph]

[cooltouch]

Yeah, the Canon folks call that one the "nifty fifty" because it's a good lens and it's relatively cheap.

[Novicus]

Nikkor 85 f2.0 is a nice one....alternatively a 50mm with a tele-converter works too.

[devinw]

Are you specifically looking for an older, manual focus lens, or AF? I mean, this is a MF forum, but you didn't specify so I'm just checking.

[kievuser]

One of the well used enlarging lenses with bad scratches for $8.00.