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Recommendations

Best vintage lenses for portraits

By the criteria below, the Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 (C/Y) leads: 85mm f/1.4 on Contax/Yashica, typically $800 used. Close behind: Helios 40-2 85mm f/1.5 and Canon FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C.. 7 lenses qualify.

How this list was built

  • Focal length between 75mm and 135mm, the classic portrait range on full frame
  • Maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster, for subject separation

Ordering: Fastest aperture first, then lower typical used value. Values are used-market estimates, not appraisals, and each lens page states the basis for its range. Minimum focus distance, weight, and measured sharpness are not in the catalog, so no list ranks on them.

The 7 lenses that qualify

  1. Carl Zeiss

    Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 (C/Y)

    85mmf/1.4Contax/Yashica

    Used value
    $500 to $1,400
    Made
    1975-2005

  2. Helios

    40-2 85mm f/1.5

    85mmf/1.5M42

    Used value
    $90 to $350
    Made
    1970s-present

  3. Canon

    FD 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C.

    85mmf/1.8Canon FD

    Used value
    $100 to $340
    Made
    1974-1990s

  4. KMZ

    Jupiter-9 85mm f/2

    85mmf/2M42

    Used value
    $90 to $320
    Made
    1950s-1980s

  5. Nikon

    Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 AI-S

    105mmf/2.5Nikon F (AI-S)

    Used value
    $150 to $450
    Made
    1981-2005

  6. Meyer-Optik Gorlitz

    Trioplan 100mm f/2.8

    100mmf/2.8M42

    Used value
    $250 to $900
    Made
    1950s-1970s

  7. Leica

    Elmarit-R 90mm f/2.8

    90mmf/2.8Leica R

    Used value
    $300 to $800
    Made
    1964-1996

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