10 Best Canon Lenses For Portraits 2025 in the United States

The Canon RF28-70mm F2 L USM Lens is a versatile zoom lens that stands out for portrait photography, especially for users with Canon EOS R series mirrorless cameras. One of its key strengths is the bright, constant f/2 aperture that allows for excellent low-light performance and beautifully blurred backgrounds, which is ideal for capturing stunning portraits. The lens is part of Canon's L-series, ensuring high image quality with sharp details and vibrant colors. Additionally, it features a control ring for easy adjustments to settings, making it user-friendly for photographers who want to fine-tune their shots on the fly.

However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Weighing in at 3.15 pounds, this lens is relatively heavy, which could be cumbersome during long photo sessions. Its size may also limit portability compared to smaller lenses. While it boasts a solid build quality with dust and water resistance, the fluorine coating helps protect against smudges, it may not be foolproof in extreme conditions. Users should also be aware that the maximum magnification of 0.18x is lower than some other specialized macro lenses, limiting its versatility for close-up work beyond portraits.

In terms of autofocus performance, the lens utilizes a 12-pin communication system for fast and accurate focusing, which is beneficial for capturing quick moments in portrait sessions.

The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS lens is a high-quality choice for portrait photography. With its fixed 85mm focal length, it is ideal for capturing stunning portraits with a pleasing perspective. The standout feature of this lens is its bright f/1.2 aperture, which allows for exceptional low-light performance and creates beautiful background blur, or bokeh, especially enhanced by the DS (Defocus Smoothing) coating. This makes your subject stand out sharply against a dreamy, softened background.

The lens also includes Blue Spectrum Refractive optics to reduce chromatic aberration, ensuring your images are sharp and clear without color fringing around the edges of your subjects. Additionally, the lens has a minimum focusing distance of 2.79 feet (0.85 meters), which is great for getting closer to your subject while maintaining clarity and detail. Another handy feature is the control ring, which allows for quick and direct changes to settings like aperture and ISO.

However, one potential drawback is the lack of built-in image stabilization, which means you'll need a steady hand or a tripod to avoid motion blur in low-light conditions. Also, the lens is relatively large and heavy, which might be cumbersome for some users to carry around for extended periods. The autofocus performance is generally fast and accurate, but it might struggle slightly in very low-light situations. In summary, the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS lens is an excellent option for portrait photographers seeking high image quality, beautiful bokeh, and a lens that excels in low-light scenarios, as long as they can manage its size and the lack of image stabilization.

The Canon RF24-105mm F2.8 L is a versatile and high-quality zoom lens well-suited for portrait photography, thanks to its consistent f/2.8 aperture that allows for good background blur and strong low-light performance across its zoom range. Its focal length (24–105mm) covers wide-angle to short telephoto, giving flexibility in framing portraits from environmental shots to tighter headshots. The lens offers smooth, precise aperture control with an iris ring, which is handy for adjusting the depth of field and achieving pleasing bokeh, a key aspect in portraits.

Although image stabilization isn’t explicitly listed, Canon’s L series lenses typically include it, helping keep images sharp when shooting handheld. Autofocus is fast and accurate, supported by Canon’s USM technology, which is beneficial for capturing candid moments or working in dynamic environments. The lens also supports optional zoom adapters for smooth zooming in video, making it a good choice for hybrid shooters.

On the downside, it weighs nearly 3 pounds, which might feel heavy during extended use, and its standard telephoto range, while flexible, is not as specialized as prime lenses that some portrait photographers prefer for ultimate sharpness and background separation. This lens excels in handling, build quality, and optical performance, making it a strong option for photographers looking for an all-in-one portrait zoom lens with professional results.