Comparing four different portrait lenses: Which focal length is best?

 

 

Photographer Manny Ortiz wants to help you choose the right portrait lens for your work. In the video below, he compares Sony and Zeiss 35mm, 55mm and 85mm prime lenses along with a 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto zoom. Of these four lenses, which is best?

Of course, what counts as best depends on many things. To help demonstrate the different strengths and weaknesses of each lens, Ortiz takes similar pictures with each of them at their fastest apertures and shows them off.

Which of the lenses do you like best? In your own portraiture work, do you prefer prime or zoom lenses? Do you have any experience with any of the lenses in the video below?

(Via Manny Ortiz)