What is the best kind of lens for portraits?

Question

also can you get a diff brand to fit on another camera

Answer 1

I would recommend a lens 85mm or higher. The classic portrait lenses are the 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm. Some photographers like taking portraits with even longer lenses, up to 400mm, for the compression effects these lenses have, and for the way they throw the background out of focus.

I prefer shooting portraits at very wide apertures, i.e. low f-stop numbers, like f/2.8 and below (down to f/1.4!). Always focus on the eyes, or the eye nearest the camera (with few exceptions). Using a shallow depth of field focuses the viewers attention on the most important facial feature, the eyes, and throws the background out of focus, creating separation between foreground and background.

For example, these Steve McCurry photos were taken with relatively shallow depth of field. Notice how the eyes are in focus, but the back ear is out of focus in the Tibet photo. Also note how it focuses the viewer's attention:

http://www.savetibet.org/calendar/event....

The Afghan girl portrait was shot with a 105mm lens, with an aperture of around f/2.8 or so.

edited to add: I should add, that as far as using lenses on different cameras, each camera brand generally takes its own type of lens (with some exceptions. For example, Fuji takes the Nikon F-Mount). Also, be aware that Canon has gone through a number of mounts over the years. A Canon lens from the mid-80s will not work on today's EOS cameras. Nikon has been pretty good at keeping the same mount, so, in general, you can use lenses dating back to about 1977, and even older ones with some modifications.

At any rate, if you're buying a lens that has been produced in the last 20 years, you should be fine.

Also, there are mount converters that will allow you to use one brand of lens on another camera, but these generally are not very good at all, so please avoid.

Answer 2

Thinking in terms of a 35mm format, the best lenses to use range between 105mm and 135mm.  You don't have to use the camera manufacturers lenses if you can find such lenses as Tamron or Sigma that are designed to fit on your camera.  

Leica DSLRs will take the Olympus DSLR lenses and Olympus will take the Leica lenses, both are 4/3 and they are interchangeable.  Olympus has a fast 50mm either just out or coming out which in 4/3 format, will give you 100 mm, which is an excellent portrait lens.  

Answer 3

look at the subjects profile. If he has a prominent nose and receding chin, you'd want to flatten it and lose perspective. Maybe a 135 mm. If OTOH his face is flat with little depth, you'd want something a little shorter, maybe 80 mm to exaggerate the depth. If you're shooting indoors, it's a good idea to have a lamp with a weak bulb in it, say a 40 watt. out of the line of sight. This puts a catch light in their eyes and provides a place to focus.  

Answer 4

A medium telephoto lens that has a f/2.8 f/stop or faster.

No, only lenses designed to work with your camera are  usable

Nikon or Nikon's

Leica for Leica's

Canon for Canon's

Answer 5

you'll need a longer lens. somewhere between 80mm to 120mm. prime lenses are cheapest. stick with the faster lenses (ie. f/2.8). if you go with a zoom, stay away from variable apertures (or floating f-stops).

when shooting the subject, make sure you stop down. I'm usually between f/8 and f/16, unless I only want part of the subject in focus.

camera and lens mounts are proprietary. (you can't use a Canon lens with a Nikon body) BUT, there are third-party manufacturers that sell quality glass at cheaper prices. Some of those are: Tamron, Tokina and Sigma.