Best Portrait Lenses for Canon 5D Mark II 2023
The Canon 5D Mark II is a very popular camera among portrait photographers. And certainly one of the best cameras you can find under 400 US dollars. If you’re looking for a lens that can help you shoot stunning portraits of your family, friends, or clients, here are some of the best portrait lenses for Canon 5D Mark II that I am using myself and love.
| Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM |
| Canon EF 135mm f/2L |
| Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II |
| Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM |
1. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
Mount: Canon EF
Elements/Groups: 14/10
Diaphragm Blades: 9
Max. aperture: f/22
Autofocus: Ring USM
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.85m
Maximum Magnification (x): 0.12
Image Stabilizer: 4 stops
Filter thread: 77mm
Weight: 950g
What’s good
+ Fabulous image quality
+ 4 stops of IS
What’s bad
– It’s big and heavy
The Canon 85mm f/1.4L USM lens is a top-of-the-line piece of equipment for any professional or amateur photographer.
With its wide aperture, it allows for stunning bokeh and low-light capabilities. The lens is also incredibly sharp, even when shot at f/1.4.
One of the things I appreciate most about this lens is its build quality. It is solid and well-constructed, with a metal body and a smooth, easy-to-use focus ring.
The USM (Ultrasonic Motor) provides quick, nearly silent autofocus, which I really like.
I have used this lens for a variety of shoots, including portraits and landscapes, and it has never let me down.
The bokeh it produces is beautiful and smooth, making it a great option for portraits.
The sharpness of the lens also makes it a great option for landscapes, as it allows for incredible detail and clarity.
The only downside to this lens is its weight and size. It is on the heavier side and can be a bit cumbersome to carry around, especially for long periods of time.
However, this is a small price to pay for the quality of images it produces.
Additionally, the 85mm focal length is perfect for portraits and headshots. The compression it creates gives a flattering look to the subject, making them look more polished and professional.
The lens is also great for capturing candid moments and capturing emotions in a more natural way.
Another great feature of this lens is its ability to handle backlight and flare very well.
The lens has a great coating and it minimizes unwanted reflections and ghosting, which can often ruin a shot. This is particularly useful for outdoor photography where the sun is often in the frame.
The lens also comes with an included hood which is great for protecting the front element from scratches and protecting the lens from flare. This hood also gives the lens a more professional look.
Overall, I highly recommend the Canon 85mm f/1.4L USM lens to any serious photographer.
Its wide aperture, sharpness, and build quality make it a fantastic choice for a variety of shooting situations.
It is a bit on the pricey side, but the investment is well worth it for the stunning images it produces.
2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
Mount: Canon EF
Elements/Groups: 6/5
Diaphragm Blades: 7
Max. aperture: f/22
Autofocus: STM
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.35m
Maximum Magnification (x): 0.21
Filter thread: 49mm
Weight: 160g
What’s good
+ Small and compact
+ Great bokeh
What’s bad
– Softness at wide open
The Canon 50mm f/1.8 is especially well-suited to photographers who are just starting out because it’s lightweight and compact!
This is my first lens when I started shooting with my Canon 5D Mark II.
Its wide maximum aperture allows you to capture stunningly sharp images even in situations with poor lighting conditions.
This versatile lens is great for a wide range of subjects, from close-up portraiture to landscape photography.
The fast maximum aperture and wide focal length make it ideal for capturing stunning bokeh effects, while the STM motor ensures silent and smooth autofocus operation.
I recently took this lens with me on a trip to Perth, Western Australia, and was able to capture some beautiful nature shots.
The wide aperture helped me to capture crisp images in low light and the autofocus was fast and accurate.
The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is an incredibly affordable lens. At under 200 dollars, it’s a great option for photographers on a budget who are looking for a reliable lens.
I’ve been using this lens for a few years now, and I’m really impressed by the optical performance. The images it produces are sharp and detailed, and the bokeh is smooth and beautiful. I would highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a great budget option.
3. Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
Mount: Canon EF
Elements/Groups: 10/8
Diaphragm Blades: 8
Max. aperture: f/32
Autofocus: Ring USM
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.9m
Maximum Magnification (x): 0.19
Filter thread: 72mm
Weight: 750g
What’s good
+ Great sharpness
+ Lighter compared to Canon 85mm f/1.4L
What’s bad
– No image stabilization (IS)
The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens is a highly respected piece of equipment among professional and amateur photographers alike.
Its fast f/2 aperture and long focal length make it a great choice for portraits and low-light photography.
One of the standout features of this lens is its ultra-sonic motor (USM) which allows for fast and silent autofocus, making it a great option for capturing fast-moving subjects or for use in quiet environments.
Additionally, its L-series designation indicates that it is part of Canon’s professional line of lenses, and it is built to a very high standard with dust and moisture resistance.
The Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM Lens is a great performer when it comes to optical performance.
I’ve found that it produces sharp images with no distortion, even when shooting wide open at f/2.
Stopping it down to f/2.8 sharpens up the images even more, and I’ve found that the colors and contrast are excellent.
Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the optical performance of this lens.
It’s also able to produce creamy bokeh, thanks to its wide aperture.
One potential downside of this lens is its relatively large size and weight, which can be a bit unwieldy for some photographers.
Additionally, its relatively high price point may make it unattainable for some amateur photographers.
Personally, I’ve had the pleasure of using this lens on a number of occasions, and I’ve always been impressed with the results.
This lens has been a trusted companion on many of my photography trips. I’ve used it to capture stunning nightscapes, for action and sporting events, and it’s even been one of my go-to lenses for shooting portraits.
I’ve found that it’s versatile enough to handle just about any type of photography I throw at it.
The sharpness, bokeh, and autofocus capabilities are all top-notch. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality telephoto lens for portraits or low-light photography.
According to the DP Review, this lens is one of the best 135mm lenses on the market, with great sharpness, bokeh, and autofocus.
They also mention that this lens is a bit heavy and expensive, but overall it is a great lens to have in your camera bag.
4. Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
Mount: Canon EF
Elements/Groups: 14/11
Diaphragm Blades: 9
Max. aperture: f/22
Autofocus: Ring USM
Closest Focusing Distance: 0.28m
Maximum Magnification (x): 0.21
Filter thread: 72mm
Weight: 760g
What’s good
+ Fantastic optical performance even wide open at f/1.4
+ Fast autofocus
What’s bad
– Heavy
I have been a long-time user of the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens and can attest to its performance. As soon as I got my hands on it, I knew that this lens was a significant upgrade to my photography gear.
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens is a perfect solution for a variety of subjects. Whether you’re shooting a landscape shot, a portrait, or a street scene, this lens will help you capture an amazing shot.
It also works well for environmental portraits and has great depth of field control.
I really like to shoot portraits with this lens. The bokeh it creates is beautiful, and you can get some great separation between the subject and the background.
This is a very versatile lens with a fast aperture that allows for beautiful bokeh.
Its dreamy bokeh is perfect for portraiture and I often get complimented on my portraits taken with this lens.
The lens produced stunning results: the image was sharp, clear, and vivid.
The Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens delivers exceptional optical performance, with great corner-to-corner sharpness and low chromatic aberration.
The lens also offers excellent flare resistance and minimal distortion, making it ideal for capturing high-quality images.
I have found the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II lens to be an invaluable part of my photography gear. It is a great lens for capturing a variety of subjects, and I have been delighted with the results it has produced.
I would highly recommend this lens to any photographer looking for a great 35mm lens.
5. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
Mount: Canon EF
Elements/Groups: 23/19
Diaphragm Blades: 8
Max. aperture: f/32
Autofocus: Ring USM
Closest Focusing Distance: 1.2m
Maximum Magnification (x): 0.21
Image Stabilizer: 3.5 stops
Filter thread: 77mm
Weight: 1480g
What’s good
+ Great zoom range
+ Unmatched optical quality (compared to other telephoto zoom lenses)
What’s bad
– Slower autofocus in mid zoom range
Are you looking for a fantastic telephoto zoom lens? Look no further than the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM. I recently purchased this lens and I can confidently say that it is worth every penny.
This lens gives you a versatile telephoto zoom range with a fast and reliable autofocus system.
Its 70-200mm focal length gives you plenty of range for portrait shots and close-up action shots.
The bokeh is super creamy, especially when using the telephoto end. You can get a great depth of field and make your subject stand out from the background.
I’m using this lens with my Canon 5D Mark II when shooting weddings.
And I was able to capture some truly stunning photos. Everyone was so impressed with the quality of the images that I was able to capture, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
The lens is also well-built and robust, so it can handle any kind of weather or environment.
It also has a high-quality image stabilizer, which makes it perfect for low-light photography and for shooting wildlife.
The only downside to this lens is its mid zoom range performance. I find that the autofocus is not that fast when I’m in the middle of its zoom range.
It is not the most affordable lens on the market, but if you are looking for a lens that is reliable and produces great images, then the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is a great choice.