10 Best Canon lens for Family Portraits in 2024
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Choosing the Best canon lens for family portraits could be a big concern for you. The happy news is, your headache is going to be fizzled out because Canon is offering a bunch of marvelous lenses to freeze your sweet family moments with a bright touch. There is no point in purchasing a lens if you are not able to click the perfect portrait of your family. There could be a thousand lenses on Canon but choosing the best one can be challenging.
Of course, you are here to know about the details of the Canon lens. So, grab your best-desired Canon lens by checking out the given information thoroughly.
Our 3 Top Picks
To make your family photography session smoother, we are here to suggest the top 10 Canon EF mount lenses for you. Now a question can arise in your mind: why should you purchase an EF mount lens to shoot your best family portrait? The answer is that you have added “Canon” to your priority bucket.
In 1987 Canon launched the EF mount series for their SLR cameras, and in 2003, they updated the EF for the L series DSLR cameras. The technology of the EF mount series can be old, but this is the thing that makes Canon the most unique among its competitors.
Presently, EF lenses have become the most luxurious ones. I think you should use an EF-mount lens for family portraits because this is best for indoor shoots and it will enhance the quality of your family photographs. The characteristics of these lenses are appropriately suited for capturing family portraits.
But before grabbing any random lens from Canon, here are some key points that you need to remember. On the other hand, I am sure you are buying your desired Canon lens for family portraits, but that does not mean that you are not going to use your lens to shoot other subjects. So it’s better to buy a lens that you can use in multiple ways.
Here are some key points, such as:
- Pay attention to the size and appearance, and try to avoid purchasing bulky lenses.
- Do not forget to check the condition of MF and AF
- Better image stabilization
- Remember the importance of comparison with your current lens
- Before buying, do some research on Amazon and Facebook Groups
1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
To click a flourishing night-time portrait, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens could be your top-rated choice. When you are planning to click a family portrait, of course, in your frame there will be more than one person, and you will need a minimal distance, so in this case, this Canon full-frame EOS lens camera could be your priority.
If you are looking for a crisp family portrait lens, then you must not compromise on the facts of ghosting and flare, color balancing, sharpness of your portrait, and noise-free photographs. And surprisingly, this lens will provide you with all of these facilities.
The 1.15 ft. focusing distance of this lens added extra facilities to the lens. Moreover, the maximum magnification of 0.21 is going to offer you a sharp performance in the quality of the picture.
2. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens
Your need for a medium-level telephoto lens can be fulfilled with the use of this Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM. This lens is ideal for indoor photography in low light. To get a better quality picture, take 5-10 snaps continuously and the result will satisfy you. But if you click a photo from an extreme distance, your image will become blurry. So, this lens is good for full-body portraits.
So you’re searching for the Best Canon lens for Family Portraits will be set when you pursue the lens.
3. Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM Lens, Black - 2439C002
If you are a shutterbug and you have enough to snap unlimited clicks, then purchase the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM Lens. Do not expect so much from this lens. Moreover, do not assume that capturing anything with this lens will result in a perfect shot. This lens is mainly for indoor photography. Drop the idea of clicking wildlife photography with the lens.
But the look of the lens is fabulous, so to click a family portrait, pet photography, or food photography, this black-colored lens can be a rich choice. Because this lens is the beast of low-light photography, A special quotation for a buyer like you is that this lens is best for M50. But again, if you are not a pixel peeper, this lens is not for you.
4. Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM - DSLR Lens with IS Capability
Looking for a unique combination of optics, features, performance, and design? All of these factors can be yours with this L-series medium-telephoto lens. The sophisticated bokeh effect of this lens will bring your photographs to the next level. Moreover, the smoothness of the focus is also noticeable. As a result, you can professionally portray your subject with this lens, though you are not such a pro.
If you are planning to spend your money on a lens, then purchase the lens, and hopefully, you will not be disappointed. However, this is one of the finest lenses from Canon for portraits, and for taking family portraits, this lens is also user-friendly. So the word I can say to you is “happy shooting.”
5. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Standard Zoom Lens
In the case of buying a professional zoom lens, this lens is the master. The full zoom range capacity of the lens allows you to reframe your camera quickly. which is beneficial for snapping any type of portrait. But the wide-angle pictures will be more prioritized. If you have a desire to get versatility in one lens, then this zoom lens can match your desire.
6. Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Lens
Being a professional photographer, in case you are looking for a lens that is suitable for both low-light indoor and outdoor photography, then this lens is for you. Moreover, to click a portrait, this little pancake lens will fulfill your demand to click dazzling photographs. Because carrying a bulky lens everywhere could be a drawback to your photography experience.
This full-frame Canon EOS digital SLR will help you to balance the color of your photographs realistically. However, this lightweight lens has a nice focusing distance, which is 0.52 ft. (0.16 m), so as a cheap wide-angle photographer, this Canon lens can be helpful. As a consequence, you can get better photographs unless you get super close to your subject.
But if you are planning to do cinematic photography, then this lens is not for you. So, to make a long story short, choosing this lens for clicking wide-angle zoom portraits will not make you guilty.
7. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium Telephoto Lens
For close-up photography, the Canon EF 50mm gives the best service. If you are confident about taking the challenge of shooting with a prime lens and stopping relying on the zoom, then you can try this lens without a second thought. Even so, this lens has the great capability of clicking photos in low light.
For clicking a family portrait, if you want to focus on someone’s face, then the background of the picture will give you a natural blurry look. The specialty of the lens is that you can get a flawless picture even after cropping.
So, if you are looking for “the bokeh of portraiture,” then you should grab the lens. But before taking any decision, I want to mention one thing: most Canon lens users expect a dreamy look from photographs, but the fact is that this lens is applicable for natural photographs. As an example, astrophotography or big-frame family portrait, or pet photography.
8. Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens
This lens is good for clicking distance pictures. As you already know, to get better quality, you have to pay more, but Canon is offering this outstanding telephoto zoom lens at a reasonable price. Adding to this, the promo price of the lens makes it a better deal. The fantastic image quality of the lens will amaze you. So, the word “cheap” does not define the quality of the lens.
Using the Canon lens for family portraits may raise your concerns, but by using this lens, you can click various types of portraits. However, this lens is best for bright outdoor shooting. As a result, taking a natural portrait could be a good option for you.
9. Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens
Perhaps you are moving your eyes to grab a Canon lens for family portraits, but why are you not thinking about pursuing a versatile lens with professional quality? The answer is just to catch the Canon EF-S 18-200mm DSLR. As a wider-range photographer, this lens works in your favor. For covering a family event, this lens works like a charm.
But you can consider it a great medium-range lens as well. Whether you are obtaining this lens for snapping portraits or for versatile usage, including portraits, street photography, wildlife photography, sports photography, landscape shots, and common objects.
Similarly, if you are a high-end pro, then this lens is not for you. This lens will welcome you if you are a novice photographer. So do remember before buying that this is an EF-S lens and not an EF lens.
10. Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM UD
Basically, this USM standard zoom lens is wonderful for your everyday photography, and as well, after clicking the picture with this lens, the color consistency of your image will amaze you. The high-precision optics of these lenses added an extra benefit to this.
But the fact is, if your subject is human and you are planning to do photography in an indoor atmosphere with low light, then you should not purchase this lens. Moreover, in the case of vignetting, there is a shading issue. As a result, clicking a family portrait can be a barrier.
What to Look Before Buying Canon Lenses For Family Portraits
If you have already made up your mind that you are going to purchase a Canon lens for your family portrait, then why not the best one? Choosing the best Canon lens for a family picture is not anything difficult if you just pay attention to a few things. Such as:
Drop Idea about buying cheap:
Canon lenses are pricey, but the quality of the lenses will be worth the money. But it doesn’t mean you will pay high and buy a lens without judging.
Fix your lens type:
Do not get confused about which lens you are actually searching for. There are mainly two types of lenses on the market: one is a zoom lens, and the other one is a prime lens. As you are buying a lens for a family portrait, my suggestion would be that you should grab a zoom lens.
Importance of Focal distance:
To click on a family group photo 85 mm could be the best focal distance, but it may vary depending on your choice. Before buying, don’t forget to check your targeted focal length.
Extra lens material:
To enhance your photography, you can use some additional tools, such as a light filter, teleconverter, or adapter. But if you are a newbie photographer, it will be better for you to do practice on a basic level.
Frequently Asked Question
Why Is An 85mm Lens Good For Portraits?
85mm lenses work great for portraits because they give you the perfect image all the time. Distortion on the following lenses is minimal. As a result, you capture images that look surreal.
Is A 50mm Lens Good For Family Photography?
Depending on your photography needs, 50mm lenses are great for taking family photographs. Because it lets you capture both close-up and wider shots. Both of the shots come out more detailed and clear than ever. This is why you could go on to get a 50mm lens.
Is 35mm Good For Family Portraits?
35mm lenses are decent for family photographs. As the best lens focal length starts around the mentioned area, it would be a great option for you, because you could capture great family portraits. It’s a great option for any family portrait photographer to grab hands on.
What Settings Should I Use For Family Portraits?
With the following settings, you could get better family portraits. Like, you must set the aperture to about f/2 to f4 for having great family portraits. Moreover, set the ISO to a lower number. You could set 100 or 200 ISO to get better images. Plus, make sure to use a camera stabilizer.
What Shutter Speed Is Best For Portraits?
Fast shutter speed works best for portraits all of the time. Because it provides you the option to get better images without any potential blur. You could have better images if you could set the shutter speed to 1/200th. It’s a must for most of the portrait photos you are going to take.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say half the quality of any portrait depends on the lens and its functions, and I hope you will also agree with me. Your desire to get the best Canon lens for family portraits will be fulfilled when you buy lenses widely from Amazon after analyzing the other reviewers’ reviews and going through the features of the product description.
Bordie Capron
Author
“Bordie Capron is a Sr. Content Maker who is working in The Clipping Path Service an US-based image and video post-production company for over 7+ years. She completed her degree in graphic designing and worked as a graphic designing expert for several years. She always loved writing”
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