Best Portrait Lenses (108 Options Compared)

Portrait photography rewards medium-telephoto focal lengths (50-135mm) and fast apertures (f/2.0 or wider) for flattering compression and creamy background blur. 108 lenses fit the bill.

Lenses

108

Price range

$149 – $7,999

Avg price

$1,020

Weight range

116–2265g (0.26–4.99 lb)

Most Popular: Top 3

All 108 Lenses

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108 of 108 products

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	187g (6.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.8	Prime	155g (5.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	120g (4.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

TTArtisan

AF 56mm f/1.8 (Fujifilm X)

$149~

Sep 7, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.8	Prime	155g (5.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

TTArtisan

AF 35mm f/1.8 II (Nikon Z)

$149~

Jul 6, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	120g (4.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.7	Prime	160g (5.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

TTArtisan

AF 75mm f/2 (Nikon Z)

$199~

Mar 14, 2024 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/2	Prime	200g (7.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Canon

RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens

$239~

Nov 4, 2020 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.8	Prime	160g (5.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.8	Prime	186g (6.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/2	Prime	170g (6.0 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

OM System

M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8

$299~

Sep 2, 2011 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
45mm	f/1.8	Prime	116g (4.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	130g (4.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.8	Prime	202g (7.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	○	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/2	Prime	170g (6.0 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z DX MC 35mm f/1.7

$299~

Jan 31, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.7	Prime	166g (5.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
45mm	f/1.8	Prime	162g (5.7 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.8	Prime	300g (10.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	170g (6.0 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.8	Prime	490g (1.08 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.8	Prime	232g (8.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.8	Prime	230g (8.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	155g (5.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.8	Prime	464g (1.02 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

$449~

Mar 1, 2019 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.4	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Fuji X)

$449~

Jun 17, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.4	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Canon RF)

$449~

Sep 7, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.4	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Nikon Z)

$449~

Sep 7, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.4	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/2	Prime	200g (7.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Canon

RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM

$499~

Dec 13, 2018 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	305g (10.8 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	○	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	300g (10.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	310g (10.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary

$499~

Oct 28, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/2	Prime	290g (10.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (L-mount)

$499~

Oct 28, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/2	Prime	290g (10.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	295g (10.4 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.8	Prime	371g (13.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.8 S

$599~

Oct 25, 2018 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.8	Prime	415g (14.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.8	Prime	355g (12.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Panasonic

LEICA DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm f/1.2

$599~

Nov 15, 2013 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
42mm	f/1.2	Prime	425g (15.0 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	○	−	−

Sigma

35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary

$599~

Feb 19, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	325g (11.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (L-mount)

$599~

Feb 19, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	325g (11.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	435g (15.3 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 75mm f/1.5 Aspherical

$649~

Sep 22, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.5	Prime	460g (1.01 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	419g (14.8 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON classic 35mm f/1.4

$699~

Jul 28, 2017 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	274g (9.7 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Sigma

65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary

$699~

Feb 19, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
65mm	f/2	Prime	405g (14.3 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary (L-mount)

$699~

Feb 19, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
65mm	f/2	Prime	405g (14.3 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical (Fuji X)

$699~

Jul 29, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.2	Prime	290g (10.2 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 50mm f/1.2 Aspherical (Fuji X)

$699~

Oct 27, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 75mm f/1.5 Aspherical (Nikon Z)

$699~

Jun 23, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.5	Prime	460g (1.01 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

MACRO APO-ULTRON D35mm f/2 (Nikon Z)

$699~

Mar 31, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	140g (4.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

PORTRAIT HELIAR 75mm f/1.8 (Nikon Z)

$699~

Feb 27, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.8	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

PORTRAIT HELIAR 75mm f/1.8 (Canon RF)

$699~

Feb 27, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.8	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 75mm f/1.5 Aspherical (Canon RF)

$699~

Jan 26, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.5	Prime	460g (1.01 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	280g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 Aspherical

$749~

Dec 24, 2020 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	185g (6.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S

$799~

Aug 23, 2019 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.8	Prime	470g (1.04 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	645g (1.42 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art (L-mount)

$799~

Apr 23, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	645g (1.42 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical

$799~

Jul 25, 2019 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/1.2	Prime	287g (10.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 50mm f/1.2 Aspherical

$799~

Jul 23, 2020 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	336g (11.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical (Nikon Z)

$799~

Nov 25, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/1.2	Prime	287g (10.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2 Aspherical (Nikon Z)

$799~

Apr 27, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/2	Prime	282g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

APO-LANTHAR 35mm f/2 Aspherical II (Nikon Z)

$799~

Nov 30, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/2	Prime	330g (11.6 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 40mm f/1.2 Aspherical (Canon RF)

$799~

Oct 5, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/1.2	Prime	287g (10.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
90mm	f/2	Prime	540g (1.19 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.8 S

$849~

Oct 26, 2018 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.8	Prime	370g (13.1 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

OM System

M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8

$899~

Sep 21, 2012 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.8	Prime	305g (10.8 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.2	Prime	665g (1.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
75mm	f/1.2	Prime	665g (1.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.2	Prime	405g (14.3 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
55mm	f/1.8	Prime	281g (9.9 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Tamron

35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD

$999~

Nov 25, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35-150mm	f/2	Zoom	1165g (2.57 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	665g (1.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art (L-mount)

$999~

Sep 22, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	665g (1.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	750g (1.65 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

50mm f/1.2 DG DN Art (L-mount)

$999~

Nov 24, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	750g (1.65 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.2	Prime	445g (15.7 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Tamron

35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD (Nikon Z)

$999~

Jun 16, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35-150mm	f/2	Zoom	1165g (2.57 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

SEPTON 40mm f/2 Aspherical

$999~

Feb 20, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
40mm	f/2	Prime	190g (6.7 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Samyang

AF 35-150mm f/2-2.8 FE

$999~

Aug 11, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35-150mm	f/2	Zoom	1160g (2.56 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.4	Prime	625g (1.38 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art (L-mount)

$1,099~

Dec 25, 2020 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.4	Prime	625g (1.38 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

OM System

M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.2 PRO

$1,199~

Apr 25, 2024 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
45mm	f/1.2	Prime	410g (14.5 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 50mm f/1 Aspherical

$1,199~

Apr 20, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1	Prime	530g (1.17 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 50mm f/1 Aspherical (Nikon Z)

$1,199~

Oct 28, 2021 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1	Prime	530g (1.17 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	485g (1.07 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	516g (1.14 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Voigtlander

NOKTON 35mm f/0.9 Aspherical (Fujifilm X)

$1,299~

Feb 24, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/0.9	Prime	460g (1.01 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.4	Prime	524g (1.16 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1	Prime	845g (1.86 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
56mm	f/1.2	Prime	405g (14.3 oz)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

135mm f/1.4 DG DN Art

$1,699~

May 1, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
135mm	f/1.4	Prime	1120g (2.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Sigma

135mm f/1.4 DG DN Art (L-mount)

$1,699~

May 1, 2025 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
135mm	f/1.4	Prime	1120g (2.47 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.4	Prime	642g (1.42 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	770g (1.70 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
135mm	f/1.8	Prime	950g (2.09 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	778g (1.72 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 35mm f/1.2 S

$1,999~

May 17, 2024 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
35mm	f/1.2	Prime	830g (1.83 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Panasonic

LUMIX S PRO 50mm f/1.4

$1,999~

Mar 28, 2019 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.4	Prime	1110g (2.45 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S

$2,099~

Dec 11, 2020 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	1090g (2.40 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Canon

RF 135mm f/1.8 L IS USM

$2,199~

Dec 8, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
135mm	f/1.8	Prime	935g (2.06 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	○	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50mm	f/1.2	Prime	950g (2.09 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena

$2,499~

Oct 27, 2023 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
135mm	f/1.8	Prime	995g (2.19 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.2 S

$2,599~

Dec 9, 2022 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.2	Prime	1160g (2.56 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
85mm	f/1.2	Prime	1195g (2.63 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
50-150mm	f/2	Zoom	1340g (2.95 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	−	−	−

Fujifilm

XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR

$5,999~

Nov 29, 2018 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
200mm	f/2	Prime	2265g (4.99 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
○	○	−	−

Nikon

NIKKOR Z 58mm f/0.95 S Noct

$7,999~

Dec 25, 2019 release

Focal	Aperture	Type	Weight
58mm	f/1	Prime	2000g (4.41 lb)
AF	IS/OSS
−	−	−	−

Frequently Asked Questions

What focal length is best for portraits?

85mm is the classic portrait focal length — it gives flattering compression without forcing you too far back. 50mm works for environmental portraits, 135mm for tight headshots.

Why f/2.0 or faster?

Wide apertures (f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.0) separate the subject from the background with bokeh and let you shoot in ambient light without flash. Modern f/1.8 primes deliver exceptional sharpness even wide open.

How many lenses qualify as portrait lenses?

Gearbase identifies 108 lenses in the 35-200mm range with f/2.0 or faster maximum aperture.

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