Best Lenses for Family Portraits in 2023 – Reviews and Buyers Guide

I’m sure you’ve heard the age-old question: what’s the best lens for family portraits? It’s a difficult question and one that many photographers debate. But we’re here to answer it for you! In this article, we’ll discuss 5 Best Lenses for Family Portraits that would be best suited for capturing those perfect family moments.

5 Best Lenses for Family Portraits in 2023!

Here Is the compiled list of the best lenses for family portraits in 2022.

ImageBest Camer Lenses For Family PortraitsLens TypePrice
Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait LensSony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait LensTelephoto Check Price
2. Lightdow 85mm F1.8 Medium Telephoto Manual Focus Full Frame Portrait Lensightdow 85mm F1.8 Manual Focus Full Frame Portrait LensFixedCheck Price
MEKE 85mm F1.8 Auto Focus Full Frame Large Aperture LensMEKE 85mm F1.8 Auto Focus Large Aperture LensStandardCheck Price
Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f3.5-4.5G ED Zoom LensNikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm Zoom LensWide Angle Check Price
Canon EF 35mm f2 IS USM Wide-Angle LensCanon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle LensWide Angle Check Price

1. Sony – E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens

A beautifully crafted lens for portraits and more, the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 OSS is a fast standard-angle prime designed specifically for full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras. The bright f/1.8 maximum aperture benefits working in difficult lighting conditions and also affords extensive control over the depth of field for artistic shots with beautiful defocus effects. 

While the optical design incorporates both aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements to minimize aberrations and distortions throughout the aperture range, it also features a Super Sonic wave motor for quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance. 

A linear AF motor, which drives the lens for smooth, fast focusing when recording movies or shooting stills in live view is also integrated into the design of this Sony prime.

The best lenses for portraits come with a compact design that keeps its overall weight down to a mere 0.74 pounds (350g), this lens is the best choice for everyday shooting, travel, and special event photography. 

Its fast maximum aperture benefits low-light work while also providing a bright viewfinder image to aid in framing your shots perfectly even under dim lighting conditions.

The lens is also compatible with Sony’s A-mount cameras when its use is restricted to manual focus operation. Offering an effective focal length of 85mm when used on APS-C cameras, this classic portrait lens provides a moderately telephoto perspective while retaining an exceptionally flat perspective, which is best suited for head-and-shoulder portraiture.

 A bright f/stop of f/22 ensures excellent image sharpness plus the depth of field control when working in low light conditions or with selective focus techniques. The use of fluorite glass elements to correct chromatic aberrations throughout the aperture range also helps to ensure excellent contrast and clarity in your images.

Specification:

Brand: Sony
Lens Type: Telephoto
Compatible Mountings: Sony E
Maximum Focal Length: 50 Millimeters

Pros

  • Good battery life
  • Great still and video quality

Cons

  • More on the expensive side
  • Autofocus issues in video shooting

2. Lightdow 85mm F1.8 Medium Telephoto Manual Focus Full Frame Portrait Lens

The Lightdow 85mm F1.8 medium telephoto manual focus full-frame portrait lens is a high-performance prime lens designed for DSLR cameras with an APS-C sensor. It offers a focal length equivalent to 127.5mm in 35mm format, and it’s an ideal lens for portraiture photography as well as other applications where its 135° angle of view will prove useful.

It features 8 circular aperture blades that create beautiful bokeh when shooting wide open at F/1.8, and the hybrid aspherical lenses (aspHherical+extra-low dispersion) effectively eliminate spherical aberration, astigmatism, and coma to produce outstanding image quality.

The best lens for portrait comes equipped with a focusing ring that ranges from 0.45m to infinity in order to provide precise control over the focus position, plus it also sports an ultra-smooth linear motor which op aperture range even at wide-open setting (f/0.95), so you’ll rates near silently while still offering very quick autofocus speeds of less than one second. 

The AF 85mm f/slim is constructed using high-grade metal components, including an aluminum alloy mount; featuring enhanced durability and reliability when used under harsh shooting conditions.

It provides truly impressive sharpness all the way through its aperture range, and its best-in-class light transmission of T/stops (transmission) allows you to shoot in very dim lighting conditions without having to stop down the lens.

The best lens for portrait comes equipped with a linear AF motor that offers smooth, quiet operation when recording movies or shooting stills in live view mode thanks to its built-in focus drive unit. The lens is also compatible with Sony’s mirrorless cameras when its use is restricted to manual focus operation and also mount with Nikon.

Specification:

Brand: Lightdow
Lens Type: Fixed
Compatible Mountings: Canon EF, Canon EF-S
Maximum Focal Length: 85 Millimeters
Minimum Focal Length: 85 Millimeters

Pros

  • High Performance
  • 8 Circular Aperture Blades
  • Focusing Ring
  • Ultra-Smooth Linear
  • Aluminum Alloy Mount
  • Quick Autofocus Speeds

Cons

  • It’s a bit stiff for some models

3. MEKE 85mm F1.8 Auto Focus Full Frame Large Aperture Lens

The MEKE 85mm f1.8 is a standard 85mm lens for Nikon full-frame cameras, it has 9 aperture blades to produce a super smooth round bokeh effect. The aperture of the lens is fully made of metal with a decent build quality, capable of delivering sharp and clear images.

This lens will be your best choice if you are looking for a standard portrait lens or want to shoot landscape photography. Its wide aperture of f1.8 with 9 diaphragm blades, designed to produce a super smooth round blur effect.

Its high-speed autofocus with a silent wave motor for fast and accurate focusing. Aperture range from f/16 to f/22 best which is best for landscape photography, the minimum aperture of this lens is 16mm. The lens has an angle view up to 18 degrees while shooting in the vertical orientation.

The standard focal length 85 mm lenses are ideal for taking pictures indoors or outdoors where you can produce excellent images on any surface you want to shoot without having too much trouble adjusting your camera position because it does not have more weight than needed making it easy enough that anyone who wants to take photos using this type of equipment will be able to do so easily produce professional results every time they use it no matter what their level of expertise might be.

This best MEKE lens for family portraits is a great lens that can be used on any Nikon DSLR camera and also you can use it with many other cameras as well using the right adapter to fit your particular model of digital SLR Camera, you will get best results from this best lens for portraiture. This best portrait lens has been getting rave reviews online by people who bought it because not only was it better than expected but its price range falls into place nicely without feeling like too much.

Specifications:

Brand: MEKE
Lens Type: Standard
Compatible Mountings: Nikon F
Maximum Focal Length: 85 Millimeters

Pros

  • 9 Aperture blades
  • High-speed Auto Focus
  • Silent Wave Motor
  • 85 Millimeters Focal Length

Cons

  • Sometimes its misses the mark while autofocus

4. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Zoom Lens

This Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Nikon is a versatile wide-angle to a standard zoom lens that covers a broad range of photography, from landscapes and portraits to close up shots. Its ultra-fast, ultra-quiet autofocus motor makes it great for shooting movies as well as stills.

The Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides quick, precise, and quiet focusing action that’s ideal when recording HD video or live performances. And the new rounded 7-blade diaphragm makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural.

This best lens for family portraits is great if you like to shoot above eye level, but it’s also good at capturing close-up shots and making your subject pop. This best lens can be mounted on both APS-C Nikon DSLRs as well as 35mm film SLRs or FX-format D-SLR cameras from Nikon—making this a versatile companion lens that will last you many years.

The best lens for family portraits is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry around during your outdoor adventures or while traveling. The best lens comes with a large 77mm filter thread that provides the ability to share filters between other NIKKOR lenses (52 mm standard). 

 It features fast focusing speed with excellent all-around sharpness, especially when shot wide open between 18mm – 20mm focal length ranges due to its large aperture size of f/22 – 36 (one step higher than most standard zoom lenses). The best part about shooting with this best lens is that you won’t have to worry about dust or water getting into the lens, since it has a weatherproof design.

Specifications:

Brand: Nikon
Lens Type: Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings: Nikon FX
Camera Lens Description: 35 Millimeters
Maximum Focal Length: 35 Millimeters

Pros

  • Auto Focus
  • Ultra Fast
  • Ultra Quiet
  • Weatherproof Design
  • Silent Wave Motor

Cons

  • Sometime zoom ring produce squeal noise

5. Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens is an excellent lens for photographers who want to capture the image with a wide-angle and for family portraits. The EF 35mm f/2 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens from Canon is a wide-angle prime lens designed for full-frame EOS DSLRs.

It features an optical image stabilizer (IS) to reduce the appearance of camera shake by up to 4 stops and has a ring-type USM for quick, quiet autofocusing. 

This manual focus lens also offers a full-time manual focus override via its large, easy-to-use focusing ring. A stepping motor (STM) provides smooth and near-silent focusing performance when shooting video on compatible cameras. 

The 35mm focal length is ideal for general photography and especially suited to everyday shooting needs. Its wide angle of view is perfect for landscapes, group shots, interiors, and street photography. 

The best lens for family portraits is the Canon EF 35mm f/11 IS USM Wide-Angle Lens. It has a wide-angle of view, allowing you to capture more people and surroundings in your photos. The optical design includes two aspherical elements that provide sharp, high contrast images with maximum image quality and flatness.

Specifications:

Brand: Canon
Lens Type: Wide Angle
Compatible Mountings: Canon EF
Camera Lens Description: 35 Millimetres
Maximum Focal Length: 35 Millimeters

Pros

  • Wide-Angle Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilizer
  • USM for Autofocusing
  • Produce sharp, high contrast images
  • Stepping motor (STM)

Cons

  • Low light performance not so good

Read More: Best Walk Around Lenses For Canon

Buyers Guide – Best Camera Lenses For Family Portraits

A good lens for family portraits is a camera lens that best suits your budget and needs. Camera lenses come in various types, such as zoom lenses and prime lenses. Zoom lenses are best used by beginners because of their convenience; however, they do not offer the best image quality compared to other models. Prime or fixed focal length cameras require photographers to move around more often so they can get different angles but produce higher-quality images than zoom options.

Another important factor to consider when choosing the best lens for family portraits is the camera’s sensor size. Larger sensors produce images with better quality and allow more light in, which allows you to take sharper photos at faster shutter speeds. However, this also results in larger lenses that are heavier than smaller ones.

When looking for the best lenses for family portraits, it is best to shop online because prices are usually lower compared to physical stores due to less overhead costs. Amazon offers competitive pricing on the best lenses from brands such as Nikon, Canon or Sony so check them out.

Conclusion:

Photography is an amazing way to document life’s most precious moments. If you’re looking for lenses that will work well with family portraits and events like graduations. Then we hope this list helps you find something in-between your needs and price range. If you have any questions about portraits lenses please ask in the comments.

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