100mm f/2.8 Macro for Portrait?

[alp_hizal]

Hi all,

 

I've been looking for a portait prime lens for my EOS 20D and have ended up

with two lenses, one is the well known Canon EF 85 f/1.8 and the other is a

macro lens, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro.

 

My question is that if i choose the 100mm, what will be the drawback(s) besides

the auto-focus inaccuracy at long focusing distances?

 

Does any of your use the 100mm for portraits, if you do can you please send me

a link to your related photos?

 

I like portraits and macro photography and want to know if i can do them all

with 100mm or buy two lenses :)

 

thanks!

[btmuir]

I have those very same 2 lenses and a 20D also.

 

I like both and of course the 100 lets you get closer for full face shots without too much

perspective distortion since it's around a 160 on the 20D.

 

The 85 1.8 is a much faster focusing lens so there you have it. Do you buy the 100 and use

it for multi applications or do you buy both for the times each excels?

 

You wont go wrong with either of those.

 

My flicker page has examples of both lenses. Link is on my main pnet page.

[alp_hizal]

Bruce, thank you for your kind comments!

 

Actually i didn't spent enough time to compare 85's and 100's compression differences...

 

Can you say that the 100mm flattens your models faces? Or is there a major difference?

 

Since buying only the 100mm for macro+portrait will be a good buy for me but, i am not sure yet!

 

Thanks!

[btmuir]

if you need the macro capability by all means just get the 100.

 

I didn't notice a huge difference as far as compression goes because I tend to not get

super close with the 85 due to the minimum focus distance.

 

If you can deal with the slower focusing you will be fine. The 100 is great for tight

headwork on the 20D .

 

The 85 snaps right in focus but the 100 sometimes hunts a bit but that isn't a huge issue

for me as I am used to manual focus.

[alp_hizal]

nice recommendation...

 

since i don't care that much on bokeh quality, i think i will use an 70-200 f/4 to do such tight headwork...

 

and also buy the 85 f/1.8

 

maybe after a while i'll get to 100mm for macro shooting :)

 

again, thank you for your comments!

[beauh44]

Hi Alp, Maybe I got lucky but my 100mm f/2.8 macro autofocuses fine at a distance. It makes a great portrait lens, imho. Since you're using a 20D with its "crop factor" (1.6x multiplier) a 50mm will give you a nice portrait lens too. Any of Canon's 50mm's will do fine. Even though it's a bit long in the tooth and doesn't have USM, the Canon 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro on a 20D is sharp as Einstein and has almost zero distortion. Good luck!

[david_graham1]

I use it all the time and love it but I am using a 5d. You can see a lot of examples on my website www.photograhams.com