Sensor Compatibility: While buying a camera lens, it is quite important to ensure that it is fully compatible with the sensor of the camera you are using. This is due to the reason that a Canon EF lens is ideal for full frame sensor cameras and a Canon EF-S lens is ideal for APS-C crop sensor cameras. Focal Length: No matter what camera type you are using, the focal length of the lens being used needs to be fairly narrow or telephoto if you want to take natural looking portraits. In most cases, a focal length of 50 mm or 85 mm is going to look much better than 24 mm or 35 mm portrait photos. Aperture: You should need to check the aperture rating while getting a camera lens as it affects the background blur as well as the low light performance of your camera lens. By going with a fast aperture lens like a f/1.4 one, you can get much better photos than a lens with a slower aperture like a f/5.6 one. The f/1.4 lens will be much better in terms of its background blur as well as the low light performance.
Best Canon Lenses for Portraits
Best Canon Lenses for Portraits Reviews
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lenses for Portraits
Canon offers all kinds of prime lenses that can be used for all kinds of applications where its nifty fifty prime lenses are considered to be highly versatile because of the given focal length.
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The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Canon lens for portrait is present in the 1st position in this list as it is the most versatile prime lens present in this list. Since this is an EF lens, it is made for full frame sensor cameras. Because of the given focal length of 50 mm, this lens offers a medium field of view which is neither too wide nor too telephoto. And unlike its budget alternative, this one comes with a much faster aperture of f/1.4 for amazing bokeh. Since this is a prime lens, it is quite small in size and uses a filter thread of 58 mm for allowing you to use smaller filters with ease. You also get a decent minimum focus distance of 0.45m with this lens which makes it quite practical for close up photos. And since this is a Canon prime lens, it also offers superb autofocus performance for all of your photography needs. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 50 mm Offers an aperture of f/1.4 Includes a 58 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.45m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Highly versatile prime lens with superb image quality Quite compact and portable for ease of use Superb aperture for amazing bokeh and low light performance
Cons:
Does not support zooming since it is a prime lens
2. Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 Lenses for Portraits
Even though most Canon cameras out there are quite large in size as they are DSLR cameras, Canon does offer quite compact lenses that use a pancake lens design like this one. Canon’s EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Canon lens for portrait is present in the 2nd position in this listicle as it is the most compact option given here thanks to its pancake lens design. Because this is a EF-S lens, it is made for Canon APS-C crop sensor cameras. As for its focal length, it is a 24 mm lens which results in a full frame equivalent focal length of 38.4 mm. And considering the size of this lens, its given aperture of f/2.8 is also quite decent. Moving over to other features of this lens, it supports a filter thread of 52 mm which is one of the smallest out there. And a great thing about this lens is that it has a superb minimum focusing distance of 0.16m for great macro shots along with portrait shots. And despite its highly compact form factor, Canon has still included autofocus compatibility with it. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF-S crop sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 24 mm Offers an aperture of f/2.8 Includes a 52 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.16m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Excellent compact lens for portable usage thanks to given design Pretty amazing minimum focus distance rating for most Decent aperture considering the given size and price
Cons:
Focal length might be a bit too wide for close up portraits
3. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 Lenses for Portraits
Canon and its lenses can also be a great option if you want something that offers all the best features that you could want from a lens that is primarily made for portrait photography with full frame lenses. This Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Canon lens for portrait is present in the 3rd position in this article because it is the best performing option given in this list. Starting with its compatibility, this Canon lens is made for its full frame camera. As for the key feature of this lens, it uses a focal length of 85 mm which is perfect for portrait photos if you want a natural look. More importantly, you also get an aperture of f/1.8 which is not only great for low light photography, but also results in best class bokeh performance. While this lens might be slightly big in size, it still manages to include a filter thread of 58 mm which is on par with most other Canon lens offerings. Unfortunately, because of the given focal length, you only get a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m which is certainly higher than others. Thankfully, the autofocus performance of this lens still makes it the best pick for portrait photography in case you want the best quality pictures. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 85 mm Offers an aperture of f/1.8 Includes a 58 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.85m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Best in class image quality and sharpness for portrait photos Excellent focal length and aperture for portrait photography Standard filter thread size for great compatibility with lens filters
Cons:
Minimum focusing distance is a bit high
4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 Lenses for Portraits
Canon also offers budget friendly and entry level versions of its prime lenses that can be an ideal option for those who are looking for a high quality lens at a fraction of the cost. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon lens for portrait is the best value for money option present in this list as you not only get a high quality lens, but it even comes with all sorts of accessories. Taking a closer look at the lens itself, it is made for full frame sensor cameras despite its entry level price tag. Because this uses a highly versatile focal length of 50 mm, this lens is also known as the nifty fifty as this can be a great entry level prime lens for most. Even though it is not the best, the given aperture of f/1.8 is certainly much higher than other budget options out there. When compared to its more premium alternative, this 50 mm Canon lens features an even smaller filter thread of 49 mm. Not only but you also get a minimum focus distance of 0.35m with it which is the best in its class. That being said, despite offering autofocus functionality, it is certainly not as good as the more expensive Canon prime lenses. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 50 mm Offers an aperture of f/1.8 Includes a 49 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.35m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Amazing value for money thanks to the given price tag Pretty great image quality thanks to a fast aperture Includes all sorts of accessories and tools in the box
Cons:
Autofocus performance could have been better and faster
5. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 Lenses for Portraits
In case you have one of the newer Canon mirrorless cameras, then you will be glad to know that Canon offers highly compact lens options for portable mirrorless cameras as well. Canon’s EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Canon lens for portrait is the best pick in this listicle for all of those who want a compact lens for their small size mirrorless Canon camera. As this lens is made for mirrorless cameras, it is only compatible with Canon APS-C crop cameras. Due to this, even with the given focal length of 22 mm, its full frame equivalent focal length happens to be 35 mm which is quite common. You also get a decent aperture of f/2 with this lens which is pretty good for a pancake lens like this one. Because mirrorless cameras as well as their lenses are pretty small in size, this lens uses a filter thread of 43 mm which is one of the smaller ones out there. Another great thing about this Canon lens is that you get a minimum focus distance rating of 0.15m with it which makes it pretty amazing even for close up photos if needed. And since it is a fairly new lens, its autofocus performance is quite great. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF-M crop sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 22 mm Offers an aperture of f/2 Includes a 43 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.15m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Perfect compact lens for Canon mirrorless cameras Excellent minimum focus distance for close up photos Quite good image quality for the given size and price tag
Cons:
Not ideal for larger full frame Canon cameras
6. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 Lenses for Portraits
Canon and its lenses can also be a great option if you want something versatile by getting a zoom lens that still offers decent image quality for all of your portrait photography needs. This Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 USM Canon lens for portrait is one of the best options out there in case you prefer zoom lenses over prime lenses. Unlike most other zoom lenses available out there, this one happens to be made for Canon full frame cameras. Although, despite offering a versatile focal length range of 17-40 mm, this lens might be a bit too wide for portraits. That being said, you do get a fixed aperture of f/4 which is not common with most zoom lenses. Since this is a zoom lens which is fairly large in size, this also means that it uses a larger filter thread of 77 mm. Fortunately, you do get handy features like an amazing minimum focus distance of 0.27m with it which can be great if you wish to take close up photos. And because this zoom lens is supposed to be easy to use, it also features autofocus functionality. Best Features:
Zoom lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 17-40 mm Offers an aperture of f/4 Includes a 77 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.27m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Quite a versatile Canon lens thanks to zoom functionality Offers a fixed aperture rating despite using a zoom design Pretty good minimum focus distance for closeups
Cons:
Focal length range might not be the best portrait photos
7. Lightdow 85mm F1.8 Lenses for Portraits
Lightdow is a much smaller and quite a new brand of lenses in comparison to others because of which most of its offerings are highly affordable and budget friendly. The Lightdow 85mm f/1.8 Canon lens for portrait is one of the cheapest options given here which makes it an ideal pick for those with budget restrictions. Despite being a highly affordable lens for portraits, it still works with Canon full frame sensor cameras. More importantly, you get a focal length of 85 mm with this lens which is considered to be the best for portrait photos. Not only that but you also get an aperture of f/1.8 with this lens for amazing bokeh and low light performance at all times. Considering that it is an entry level lens for Canon cameras, its given filter thread size of 72 mm is to be expected especially at the given focal length. Similarly, its minimum focus distance of 1.0m is also a bit on the higher side. But the biggest issue with this lens is that in order to keep its price tag low, it does not support autofocus function. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 85 mm Offers an aperture of f/1.8 Includes a 72 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 1.0m Uses manual focus type Backed by a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
Superb camera lens for buyers on a tight budget with a Canon camera Pretty great image quality considering the given price tag Solid build quality thanks to a metal construction
Cons:
Lacks support for autofocusing for taking portrait photos
8. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 Lenses for Portraits
Apart from offering highly versatile lenses for its full frame cameras, Canon also offers some of the best all in one lenses for its small crop sensor cameras that can be great for portraits as well. Canon’s EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM Canon lens for portrait is hands down the best lens present in this listicle if you have a Canon APS-C crop sensor camera since this is a Canon EF-S lens. Unlike most other lenses given here, it is a zoom lens which allows it to offer a variable focal length of 17-55mm which results in a full frame equivalent focal length of 27-88 mm. Despite having such a versatile focal length range, this lens still offers a fixed aperture of f/2.8 for the best possible image quality from it at all times. Coming to the dimensions and size of this Canon lens, this camera lens uses a filter thread of 77 mm which is to be expected considering its given size. Because of the versatile focal length of this Canon lens, it is able offer a minimum focus distance of 0.35m which is pretty amazing for most. Another great thing about this Canon lens is that being a USM lens, it also offers best in class autofocus performance at all times. Best Features:
Zoom lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF-S crop sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 17-55 mm Offers an aperture of f/2.8 Includes a 77 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.35m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Best performing Canon lens for crop sensor cameras by Canon Superb versatility thanks to the given focal length range Supports a fixed and fast aperture despite being a zoom lens
Cons:
Front filter thread size might be a bit too big for some users
9. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Lenses for Portraits
Canon and its lens offerings can be a great pick for those as well who want an all in one lens for their camera but do not want to pay a premium at the cost of image quality. This Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Canon lens for portrait is the best pick in this article if you want a zoom lens with excellent range. In order to keep its price tag low even with the given focal length, it is only designed for Canon crop sensor camera bodies. As for its focal length, it is rated for 18-135 mm which results in a full frame equivalent focal length range of 29-216 mm. However, this superb focal length results in a poor variable aperture range of f/3.5-5.6 which might not be ideal for low light photography. Fortunately, Canon does offer this excellent focal length range in a fairly compact form factor which results in a filter thread size of 67 mm. Another great thing about this Canon lens is that you get a minimum focus distance of 0.39m with it which should be quite good for most. Just like most other Canon lenses available out there, this one also supports autofocus function which is to be expected. Best Features:
Zoom lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF-S crop sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 17-135 mm Offers an aperture of f/3.5-5.6 Includes a 77 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.39m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 2 year long warranty
Pros:
Excellent focal length range for amazing reach with this zoom lens Decently small and compact considering the given focal length range Fairly good autofocus performance with most Canon cameras
Cons:
Quite a poor and variable aperture rating for low light photography
10. Meike 85mm f1.8 Lenses for Portraits
Meike is another brand of photography gear and camera lenses which is a great pick despite being fairly new since most of its offerings are great for those who are looking for entry level lenses. The Meike 85 f/1.8 Canon lens for portrait is the best budget friendly option present in this list if you want something built specifically for portrait photography. Unlike what you would expect from such an affordable lens, it is made for Canon’s full frame cameras. As for its portrait photography capabilities, this Meike lens offers great results thanks to its given focal length of 85 mm. Not only that but you also get a fast aperture of f/1.8 with this camera lens. Considering the given size and the price tag of this camera lens, you also get a decent front filter thread of 67 mm with it. Another great thing about this Meike lens is that it features a minimum focus distance of 0.85m which is on par with other 85 mm lenses out there. And while it may not be as good as Canon’s own prime lenses, this budget friendly portrait lens does offer autofocus capabilities. Best Features:
Prime lens for Canon cameras Compatible with Canon EF full frame sensor camera bodies Rated focal length of 85 mm Offers an aperture of f/1.8 Includes a 67 mm front filter thread Supports a minimum focus distance of 0.85m Uses autofocus focus type Backed by a 1 year long warranty
Pros:
Amazing entry level lens for portrait photography with Canon lenses Excellent focal length and aperture rating for the given price Decently small and compact considering the given specifications
Cons:
Not as sharp as Canon’s own prime lenses
Buying Guide for the Best Canon Lenses for Portraits
Whether you have an entry level Canon camera or a high end one, you won’t be able to get high quality photos with it if you do not have a high quality lens to use along with it. This becomes even more important when you want to take portrait photos using your Canon camera. To ensure that you are using the right lens for portrait shots, we have already discussed a few of the best Canon lenses for portraits earlier in this list. With all of these Canon lenses, you can also learn about their key specifications and factors. And if you wish to learn further, make sure to go through this complete buying guide for the best Canon lenses for portraits:
1. Sensor Compatibility
Before anything else, you should check the sensor compatibility of your Canon lens. This is due to the reason that even within Canon’s camera lineup, you can find different sensor sizes like full frame and APS-C in different body types like DSLR and mirrorless. Because of this, you can find different types of Canon camera lenses with mounts like Canon EF, Canon EF-S, and Canon EF-M. As for their compatibility, while Canon EF and Canon EF-S are made for Canon full frame and APS-C DSLR cameras, Canon EF-M lenses are made for APS-C mirrorless cameras. You simply need to pick a lens which is fully compatible with the camera you are using as otherwise the lens might not fit.
2. Focal Length
Moving over the image quality or the look offered by a given Canon lens, you should first check its focal length. The focal length determines the field of view of a lens where a tight field of view or a telephoto field of view is more ideal for portraits than a wide field of view. To understand the same better, you can look at the focal length of a given camera lens which can include options like 24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 85 mm, 105 mm, and various others. When compared with each other, while 24 mm and 35 mm lenses can be a bit too wide for portraits, 85 mm and 105 mm lenses will offer the best results with a natural look for portraits. Although, while checking the focal length of lenses made for APS-C lenses, you need to keep in mind that their 35 mm full frame focal length will be different. For example, a 22 mm APS-C lens will offer the same field of view like a 35 mm full frame lens because of the crop factor associated with APS-C camera sensors.
3. Aperture
Another highly important factor while picking a lens for your camera is the aperture rating. The aperture of your lens tells you about the size of the opening of the lens. This affects the images taken by your camera quite a lot since a larger opening or a faster aperture will offer better low light performance along with more background blur or bokeh. In simpler words, an aperture of f/1.4 is going to be much better than a f/5.6 lens in terms of both the background blur as well as low light performance. And in general terms, a low aperture value of f/1.4 is considered to be faster than f/5.6 which is considered to be fairly slow. One thing to keep in mind while checking the aperture rating is that zoom camera lenses can have a variable aperture. Because of this, as you zoom in with your lens, the fastest available aperture rating may change to a slower value which can affect the low light performance and the background blur.
4. Focus Type
The last thing you would want while taking portrait photos is to get blurry or out of focus photos with your Canon camera. Hence, it is quite important to check the focus type of your Canon lens. Thankfully, apart from a few older and entry level camera lenses, almost all modern lens offerings come with autofocus capability. This means that taking high quality photos with razor sharp focus should be quite easy. And if you have a modern Canon camera which also supports features like face tracking or eye AF, then you can get much better results than a manual focus lens which can be cumbersome to use as well.
5. Minimum Focus Distance
Speaking of focus, you should also check the minimum focus distance of your Canon lens. This is quite important if you are going to use a given lens for close up shots or macro photography alongside portrait photography. Hence, almost all Canon lenses available out there will mention a minimum focus distance which tells you the minimum distance at which you can shoot without losing focus in your photos. And depending on the lens that you are going for, it may have a minimum focus distance like 0.4m, 0.25m, or 0.15m where a lower value will result in a more versatile lens.
6. Front Filter Thread
If you are familiar with the world of photography, then you must know that while taking photos you may have to use various kinds of filters with your lens. This can include both functional filters like ND filters and CPL filters along with creative filters like mist filters and color filters. And in order to use these lens filters along with your camera, you need to screw on a given filter to the front of your lens. Therefore, to ensure that the size of your filters is compatible with your Canon lens, you should check its front filter thread size. It can include sizes like 67 mm, 77 mm, 82 mm, and various others. You need to choose from one of these based on the filter sizes that you either have or want to go with.
7. Lens Type
Even though we have already covered almost all of the specifications and features related to Canon lenses available out there, you should also check the lens type. And while buying Canon lenses, you will primarily find prime lenses and zoom lenses. The primary difference between these lens types is that while a prime lens will have a fixed focal length, a zoom length will have a variable one. Although, the difference between these two lens types is more than just the focal length. In general, almost all prime lenses will have a sharper image quality and lesser visual artifacts even if you are shooting with a fast aperture. On the other hand, while a zoom lens not only has softer image quality, but it may even suffer with visual artifacts like vignetting, distortion, chromatic aberration, and much more. That being said, zoom lenses are definitely much more versatile since carrying a single zoom lens can be equivalent to carrying multiple prime lenses in terms of the available focal lengths which can be handy for different kinds of scenarios and photography styles.
8. Dimensions and Weight
There might be many cases where you may have to take your camera gear with you on the go. And even though carrying a single lens which is large and bulky should not be an issue, things get quite difficult if you have multiple lenses in your camera bag. Thus, checking the dimensions and weight of your Canon lens for portraits can be a great idea as well. If you want something compact, then picking a lens with a 3 inch length is going to be much more practical than going with a 6 inch long lens. Similarly, you should prefer lightweight lenses as a 300g lens will be much more practical than a 700g one.
9. Warranty
While almost all camera lenses out there can easily last for years and even decades if handled properly, it is always a great idea to check the included warranty of your Canon camera lens. This simply ensures that the lens that you are going for is highly durable and reliable. Although, the warranty included with your lens depends on the manufacturer that you are going for instead of the camera compatibility. If you are going with Canon’s own lenses, then almost all of them will feature a 2 year long warranty. However, if you are going for a smaller third party lens manufacturer, then you might only get a 1 year long warranty with your camera lens.
Conclusion:
In case you want hands down the best portrait photos out of your Canon camera, then you should go with the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. Thanks to its 85 mm focal length, you get an amazing natural look with all of your photos. And because it is an f/1.8 lens, it not only offers excellent bokeh, but you also get superb low light performance. You even get a minimum focus distance of 0.85m with it which is fairly good for the given focal length. Taking a look at the complete end of the spectrum, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 lens is one of the cheapest options given above. And while it is definitely not as sharp as the Canon offering, you still get the same focal length of 85 mm. More importantly, despite its entry level price tag, you get an aperture of f/1.8 with it which makes it the perfect option for buyers on a budget. In fact, you even get the same minimum focus distance of 0.85m with this lens as well. If you want a highly versatile Canon lens for portrait to be used along with a Canon crop sensor camera, then you can go with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 lens. Because this is a zoom lens, it features a variable focal length of 17-55mm which is about 27-88mm full frame equivalent which is excellent for all kinds of portrait shots. But the key feature of this Canon lens is that you get a fixed aperture of f/2.8 which is fairly fast considering that it is a zoom lens. You also get a superb minimum focus distance of 0.35m with this lens which makes it even more practical.
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