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Q&A: What is the best lens and f-stop for portrait photography?

Patrick Rychner

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best lens and f-stop for portrait photography will depend on several factors, including the specific look you're going for, the lighting conditions, the subject's distance from the camera, and your personal shooting style.

That being said, in general, portrait photographers often prefer lenses with a focal length between 85mm and 135mm, as these lenses tend to produce a more flattering, compressed perspective and create a shallower depth of field, which can help separate the subject from the background.

As for f-stop, using a wide aperture (small f-stop number, like f/1.8 or f/2.8) can create a beautiful blurred background, which is often desired in portrait photography, and also allows more light into the camera for better exposure. However, it's important to note that using too wide of an aperture can result in too shallow a depth of field, which can make it difficult to keep all parts of the subject's face in focus, especially if they are not perfectly still. Using a smaller aperture (higher f-stop number, like f/8 or f/11) will increase the depth of field and can be useful if you want to keep more of the subject in focus or if you are shooting with a group of people and need a larger depth of field to keep everyone in focus.

In the end, the best lens and f-stop for portrait photography will depend on your specific needs and preferences as a photographer, so it's always a good idea to experiment and see what works best for you.

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