Best Portrait Lenses

Best Portrait Lenses for Canon Nikon Sony

Lenses used in portrait photography are classically fast, medium telephoto lenses, though any lens may be used, depending on artistic purposes. The best focus range for portrait photography is 80-135mm. Here are lists of best rated Portrait lenses according to DxOMark. See below:

Portrait Lenses for Canon DSLRs | Portrait Lenses for Nikon DSLRs | Portrait Lenses for Sony DSLRs

 Best Portrait Lenses for Canon (1D X, 5D Mark III, 5D Mark II, 6D, 7D, 70D, 60D, T5i, T4i, T3i, SL1)

According to DxOMark, the best portrait lens tested on Canon 5D Mark III is the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens, this lens is even better than Canon and Zeiss lenses. The EF 100mm f/2 USM lens is another good portrait lens for a very cheap price. Remember official Portrait of President Obama is taken with the 85mm f/1.2L USM lens.

Lens DxOMark Check Price at
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 35 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 100mm f/2 USM 33 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 85mm f/1.2L USM 32 ebay
Zeiss Makro-Planar T* 100mm f/2 ZE 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM 31 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 50mm f/2 ZE 30 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF 30 Amazon/B&H/ebay
EF 50mm f/1.2L USM 29 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 29 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 40mm f/2.8 STM 29 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZE 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 50mm f/1.8 II 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM 27 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro 27 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 27 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
APS-C Only
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM 18 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay

Best Portrait Lenses for Nikon (D4, D800, D700, D600, D300S, D300, D7100, D7000, D5200, D5100, D3200)

Best Portrait lens for Nikon DSLRs is the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G lens, and the f/1.8 version has the same score, but much cheaper, only for $500. Of course the AF-S Nikkor 200mm f/2G ED VR II is a super good portrait lens, but the price is very expensive.

For Nikon DX DSLRs, the best choice is AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G, only $277.

Lens DxOMark Check Price at
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G 40 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G 40 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR II 39 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 ZF2 36 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Samyang 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical IF 36 Amazon/B&H/ebay
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 35 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 D IF 33 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 D 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 G 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD 32 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Zeiss Makro-Planar T 50mm f/2 ZF2 31 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G 31 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro 30 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Zeiss Planar T 85mm f/1.4 ZF2 29 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 29 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro 28 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
AF Micro Nikkor 200mm f/4.0D ED-IF 27 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
DX Only
AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G 18 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tamron SP 60mm f/2 Di II 1:1 AF Macro 17 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tokina 35mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO DX Macro 17 Amazon/ebay
AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR 15 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay

Best Portrait Lenses for Sony A-mount DSLRs (A99, A850, A77, A65, A58, A37)

The Sony 85mm f/1.4 Zeiss Plannar T* lens and 135mm f/1.8 Zeiss T* are the best Sony Portrait lenses. For a cheap price, the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens is another good choice.

Lens Check Price at
Sony 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss Planar T* Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sony 135mm f/1.8 Carl Zeiss T* Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sony Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 Planar T* ZA Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di MACRO 1:1 USD B&H/ebay
Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sony 50mm f/1.4 Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay
Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro Amazon/B&H/Adorama/ebay