DSLR/lens question...?

Question

I will be purchasing a Canon dSLR within the next few months.

I am an enthusiastic amateur who does a lot of all around shooting, outdoors, indoor, etc. etc. I am planning on doing LOTS of portraits in the near future. So my questions is, do I go for a camera with the kit lens, or buy body and save up for a different lens that is more suitable for portraits? My current (35mm) lenses are (approximately) the digital equivalent these focal lengths:

45-168

56-128

112-336

Thanks :)

Answer 1

one lens that gets good reviews for taking portraits is the canon 100mm macro lens



a few reviews of the lens

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showp...

Answer 2

Just give us the brand and actual focal lengths of the lenses you have ... then we can give you some more specific information ... for instance are your current lenses auto-focus Canons?  28-105 mm for instance?  If you have a 35-80 mm, it covers the same focal lengths as the 28-105 mm.  Unless it is much faster, having two lenses that have the same focal lengths is not necessary.  My guess is that the 70-210 mm is not a Canon lens.

Some portrait photographers use the Canon 50 mm f/1.4 as their primary portrait lens on their cameras.  It is relatively inexpensive when compared to zoom lenses.

Buying the so called kit lens is a good way to go because the 18-55 mm is a good medium wide angle to medium telephoto lens.

Answer 3

First, let me suggest, that next time you name the actual focal lengths of the lenses (and maybe 35mm equivalents in parentheses). What you wrote is very confusing . Most people will know what that means when mounted on different cameras... Because a focal length - it's a focal length. That's a physical unit. Can't get away from it.

Now, if I understand your focal lengths correctly - it seems that indeed a 18-55mm lens is all you need. That would be an equivalent of 28-80mm, and you've got the rest of the range covered by your other lenses... If you really want a good portrait lens - get a 50mm prime, either f/1.8 or f/1.4 if you can afford it. They will work great for portraiture!

LEM.