Canon EF 85 mm f / 1.8 USM
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 136 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A fairly compact lens with an ultrasonic motor focuses quickly, suitable not only for quiet studio shooting, but also for reportage. The lens is well known for its very good image quality and good drawing. With high and unobtrusive sharpness, it is excellent for reproducing grayscale originals. The circular aperture allows you to get a beautiful picture while blurring the background. It is popular because of its compactness, relatively low price and high image quality.
Canon EF 85 mm f / 1.2L II USM
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 136 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The second modification of Canon's fastest portrait lens. The L index in the title indicates the professional purpose of the lens. The solid frame and the considerable weight of the optical unit for such dimensions make the lens very weighty, which, however, is not a disadvantage in this case, as it helps to additionally stabilize the camera during shooting. Optical quality at medium apertures is excellent, and wide-aperture shooting requires careful focusing due to the shallow depth of field. Very attractive for outdoor portraits due to its high aperture and very special pattern.
Canon EF 100 mm f / 2.0 USM
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 160 mm 35 mm equivalent. Apart from the professional L series, the lens still delivers a very high quality, fully corrected image, which is why many photographers use it for technical and advertising photography. As a portrait lens, it is also a success for producing sharp, toned images of medium contrast. A very interesting pattern at a fully open aperture, thanks to a fairly large focal length, the background is very well blurred. Focusing is carried out by moving the rear lens unit, which provides a fairly high focusing speed.
Canon EF 135 mm f / 2.0 L USM
The focal length for the APS-C format corresponds to 216 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A professional portrait lens with a very comfortable and durable frame. Like many telephoto lenses, there is a focusing distance switch so that autofocus does not scroll the entire range. Best of all, it realizes its quality on full-format digital and film cameras. This class of lenses has long been the preferred lens for close-up portraits, as the 135mm focus provides a minimum of geometric distortion at short distances. Now this class is not very popular, so it is rather difficult to acquire it. Excellent sharpness, high image contrast and almost complete absence of distortion and chromatic aberration.
Canon EF 135 mm F / 2.8 Soft Focus
The focal length for the APS-C format corresponds to 216 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A dedicated lens designed exclusively for portraits. It is recommended to use it on full-format and film cameras, since the change in the lens pattern on smaller format cameras is quite significant due to the change in the nature of image softening. Lenses with the Soft Focus designation provide so-called optical retouching, softening the contrast of small details and creating a special image that seems to glow from the inside. You can get a similar picture with the help of external diffusers or processing in graphic programs, but this approach provides at best some stylization. The design allows you to adjust the degree of softening from full sharpness to a soft, blurry image. The lens is perfect for both studio shooting and for portraits in the open air.You can shoot very interesting still lifes with it.
Nikon AF NIKKOR 85 mm f / 1.8D
Focal length for DX format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A very compact, inexpensive and very popular lens. It can be used both for technical filming and for reportage. Focusing with the movement of the rear component provides a very high speed of operation. The image is clean, clear, high-contrast, with good geometry. It is known as a portrait photographer, but it is successfully used for almost any work, excluding macro photography. The circular aperture provides beautiful background blur when shooting at low settings. Works well in backlighting.
Nikon 85 mm f / 1.4D AF NIKKOR
The focal length for the DX format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The high-aperture lens of the budget series does not have a budget quality at all. Compactness, reliability, low price for such aperture ratio. It can be used on both film and digital cameras. Usually used for portraits both in the studio and in the open air. Very high quality, fully corrected image, however, at open apertures, the image contrast and resolution at the edges are noticeably lower than at closed ones. This is not a defect, since it is these properties that make it possible to create high-quality portraits with a characteristic pattern.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85 mm f / 1.4G
Focal length for DX format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The new high-end professional lens incorporates all the latest technologies, including a special nano-coated lens. There is no higher quality lens of this class on the market now. The lens is designed for professional full-frame cameras. There are no complaints about the image quality, but many photographers find the image produced by this lens unnecessarily correct for portraits. The lens barrel is designed to last for many years in harsh environments. The high price is fully justified by the excellent quality.
Nikon 105 mm f / 2D AF DC-NIKKOR
The focal length for the DX format corresponds to 157.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A fairly old and very well-known portrait lens that has an image defocusing control system. For this, a special ring is used, which has three positions: neutral, defocusing the background and defocusing the object. The sharpness of the image is maintained in all modes, but when you rotate the ring, you have to focus the lens again. This is not a classic soft focus lens - image softening is achieved by changing the curvature of the image field. The lens is very high quality, the nature of the image is not liked by all photographers, but many are delighted with it.
Nikon 135 mm f / 2D AF DC-NIKKOR
The focal length for the DX format corresponds to 202.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. It is also a rather old lens, created for film cameras, but it is still successfully used for close-up portraits, especially in wedding photography. Refers to a series of portrait lenses with controlled image defocusing. Nikon uses this term, obscure to most photographers, for DC (Defocus-image Control) lenses. Other companies have no analogues of this series. The lens is even similar in appearance to its brother - Nikon 105mm f / 2D AF DC-NIKKOR, but slightly different in image character due to the longer focus.
SMC Pentax DA 70 mm f / 2.4 Limited
Focal length for DX format corresponds to 105mm 35mm equivalent. A fairly simple optical design, compact size and high quality workmanship provide excellent shooting results. The lens belongs to the Limited series, which means, on the one hand, a limited number of lenses of this model, on the other hand, the highest quality of materials and technologies used. The lens can be used as a portrait lens and as a moderate telephoto lens. The surface of the lenses is protected by a special Super Protect coating, which prevents the adhesion of various kinds of dirt.
SMC Pentax FA 77 mm f / 1.8 Limited
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 115.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A fast lens designed specifically for portraits. Excellent grayscale reproduction and high, yet unobtrusive image sharpness make it suitable for any kind of shooting that requires a long lens. Recommended for theater and genre photography. The high quality lens coating ensures good results when shooting against light. A retractable metal hood is built into the body. Belongs to the famous fans of the Pentax Limited series.
Pentax SMC FA 85 mm f / 2.8 SOFT
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. Many companies have produced soft focus lenses, but none have been able to achieve such an impressive result for small format cameras. The softness of the picture is changed using the relative aperture. There are no additional elements that introduce distortion - the result is achieved by a specially designed optical circuit. Maximum softness and airiness at open aperture, sharpness and contrast rivaling reproduction lenses from f / 8. The lens is successfully used in portrait and landscape photography.
Pentax SMC-FA * 85 mm f / 1.4 (IF)
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A legendary lens that belongs to the so-called stellar Pentax series. It differed from lenses of other companies similar in characteristics not so much by their high technical quality as by their special plastic pattern. The most impressive results were obtained when shooting portraits in nature. Shooting with a wide aperture is characterized by a very soft and clean picture.
Pentax SMC-FA 135 mm f / 2.8 (IF)
The focal length for the APS-C format corresponds to 202.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A great portrait lens, very lightweight, compact and fast. Despite the fact that it does not belong to the professional class, the image quality is exceptional. The characteristic plasticity and richness of the picture are combined with very high sharpness. The lens is equipped with an internal focusing mechanism and a built-in hood.
Sigma AF 85 f / 1.4 EX DG HSM
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The lens is designed to work with digital cameras. It is qualified by the manufacturer as a versatile telephoto lens suitable for shooting in any genre. Belongs to the class of professional Sigma lenses, which is confirmed by both high image quality and the strength of the frame, the high aperture of the lens allows it to be used for shooting in natural light in adverse lighting conditions. The circular nine-blade diaphragm provides pleasing background blur pattern. The lens is fully corrected for chromatic and spherical aberrations.
Sony SAL-85F28
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. A new portrait lens designed for Sony amateur cameras. Very compact, lightweight and inexpensive. Produces very good image quality for its price. The rounded diaphragm produces a pleasing pattern of out-of-focus backgrounds. A hood is supplied with the lens. The lens has a focus mode switch.
Sony SAL-85F14Z
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 127.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. Premium professional telephoto lens. The legendary quality of Carl Zeiss optics is backed up by Sony technology, a gorgeous solid frame, fast and soft focusing. The lens is designed for all types of photography, from portraits to sports. Creates a very sharp, clean image across the entire field. The technical quality of the picture is impeccable. The only drawback is the high price.
Sony SAL-135F28
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 202.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent.Professional portrait lens with special elements that change the optical pattern of the lens. Softening the background is achieved by rotating a special ring on the frame. STF mode provides additional softening of contrast for out-of-focus subjects. The wide focusing ring provides additional convenience when focusing manually. The lens has no analogues from other manufacturers.
Sony SAL-135F18Z
Focal length for APS-C format corresponds to 202.5 mm in 35 mm equivalent. The professional high-aperture moderate telephoto lens from Carl Zeiss belongs to the highest class. There are no restrictions on the genre of filming. Equally suitable for studio and open-air portraits, for reportage and genre photography, as well as for filming wildlife. The technical quality of the image is very high at all apertures, including fully open. The high-strength frame is designed for many years of service in intensive use.
