Prime portraits

Almost any kind of lens can be used to shoot great pictures of people. However, by ‘portrait lens' we usually mean something specific: a short telephoto that will take head-and-shoulders shots without distorting your subject's features. Typically, this means lenses in the 85mm-135mm equivalent range.

For portraits, wide-open sharpness isn't essential; indeed, a little softness will often be flattering. However, the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus blur, or ‘bokeh', is paramount; a distracting background can detract from an otherwise fine image.

The obvious first step for APS-C DSLR users is to buy a 50mm f/1.8 for this kind of photography. But if you want to take your people pictures up a notch, these are the lenses you should be considering.

Canon EF 85mm f/1.4L IS USM

• £1,380 • www.canon.co.uk

Canon users who want the very best need look no further than this image-stabilised fast prime. We think it's one of the finest primes Canon has ever made, and that its accurate