Quote Originally Posted by fstr View Post
I need a recommendation for a new portrait lens for a T2i.
I initially bought the 50mm 1.8 about a year ago and initially loved it (with some limitations) for taking pictures of my kids and family. But now with my little guy becoming more mobile and starting to walk/run the focus on the lens is just not able to keep up with him. I'm finding the lens amost useless to me now.
I am a beginner in the field of digital photography and don't find the time to become better. I'm hoping in a few years when the kids are bigger I will have more time to improve my skills but for now I just need gear that is easy to use.

So I need a lens that is quicker to focus and I'm not sure if the 50mm 1.4 is it. The 85mm sounds like a good lens but on a crop-sensor it will probably not work for me. Then there are some 35mm options, but then price becomes an issue...
Even though $300-400 is considered cheap, it makes me flinch. What options do you recommend? Will the 50mm 1.4 work for me or do I need to look at something else?

Thanks!
I'm curious what other lenses you have. I don't have kids, but have pets that I try and capture.Setting your camera to AI servo may help with your moving targets, also try and match the speed of your child, ie pan your camera at roughly same speed.

You mention 50mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.4 - -- I did not review the reviews on either but I do not believe it will focus faster, 1.4 vs 1.8 will allow more light in for the same period of time, so can stop action more... but it also has a shallower depth of field.


I do not have any fixed lenses but have the same model camera as you, and only started learning when I joined these forums in February.

What settings are you using to capture images of your family, that it is no longer working for you.
Perhaps someone can suggest a couple camera settings to restore use to your lens.