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5 Best Lenses For Engagement Photos in 2023

Everything that has to do with the photography field is more than unique! Unique are also engagement photos! Besides the pictures that look good, engagement sessions have also become a big business all around the world. If you are a professional photographer and you already own a camera, you probably know that lenses are an important thing, during these types of sessions and if you are a beginner, at the end of the article are listed some things for you too!

In this article, you will find the top picks for lenses, and there are included different types so that you can find which one fits better your camera! Let’s have a closer look at them!

A Quick Look At My Favorite Lenses For Engagement

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Best Compact
Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM

10
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Best Macro
Canon RF100mm F2.8 L

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L

9
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Best For Bokeh
NIKON NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S

NIKON NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S

8.6
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Best Telephoto Lens
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8

Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8

8.5
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Best All-Rounder
Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN

Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN

8.6
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Key Takeaways

  • Since it is a special occasion, I would naturally want to select a special lens, such as the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN
  • On this special day, make sure your camera’s lens performs well in low light and has excellent speed and focus.
  • You will be able to capture the most memorable events of your life with the help of these fantastic lenses.
  • The best lenses for engagement can be found by reading this article.

The Top Lenses For Engagement Photos

1. Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM – Best Compact

What I Like

  • Quick Autofocus
  • Dust and fluorine protection
  • Silent aperture control
  • Exceptional optics

What I Don’t Like

  • Painful Price

Sony keeps coming up with new launches, and this lens is the newest one from the company! Based on the features that this lens owns, it is a top pick for almost any professional photographer.

The measurements of this lens are 8.39 x 5 x 5.51 inches and weigh 1.72 pounds. It has a very compact design and based on its weight the lens is fully portable and accompanies you to any location where the session takes place. As per its compatibility, it is perfect for both full-frame and APS-C2 cameras.

The focal length of this lens is 50mm which is perfect for any engagement photography session, while its maximum aperture is F1.2. It is known that the more blades the aperture has, the better it is. This lens has an 11 blade circular aperture that is related to the bokeh effect. This effect works perfectly on the lens when you want to capture details.

The focus on the other hand is an automatic one that works pretty fast and is very accurate. The lens is silent in general which is a great feature in case you want to take “paparazzi” photos, without the couple being noticed.

The lens in general owns three Extreme Aspheric elements which make the lens work smoothly, and that’s what you would need during these types of sessions.

Why should you buy it?

Based on the features that this lens owns, this lens is a top pick for almost any professional photographer.

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Sample Photos of the Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM


2. Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM – Best Macro

What I Like

  • Lightweight
  • Hybrid stabilization
  • Sharp images
  • Fast and quiet autofocus

What I Don’t Like

  • No lens hood
  • Narrow aperture limits use in dim light

Just by the name of this lens, we get that it is a macro lens that is compatible with many Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras. It is an easy lens to use even though it has many features that may sound complicated, but still, it is amazing when in use by professionals and beginners as well.

As per its built and design, it is a very durable lens since it is fully weather-resistant and fully dust-proof. Since in these types of sessions (engagement photos) the weather condition is an important fact, this lens being weather sealed facilitates your job! The measurements of this lens are 3.21 x 3.21 x 5.83 inches and its weight is 1 pound.

This lens has a focal length of 100mm and a fixed aperture of F2.8, which makes images shot with this lens always of high quality. It has 17 elements in 13 groups and a 9 blade aperture system, and it has a maximum magnification of 1.4x. The lens owns the adjustable Spherical Aberration control ring so that you can shoot with a great bokeh effect of the background.

This macro lens has an Optical Image Stabilizer with 5 stops of shake correction, and besides that, it also owns an in-body Image Stabilizer. That means that besides the bokeh effect that you choose to use, the picture taken will not have any blur or shake at all! The focus on the other hand works at its highest speed, it is quiet and smooth because of the Dual Nano USM.

Overall, this lens has many features that can be used for engagement photos, such as the bokeh effect, and the amazing focus that also works on subjects that may move fast in any situation.

Why should you buy it?

As per its build and design, it is a very durable lens since it is fully weather-resistant and dust-proof, so you can take engagement photos wherever you want.

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Sample Photos of the Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM


3. NIKON NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S – Best For Bokeh

What I Like

  • Great optics
  • Quick and quiet autofocus
  • Splash and dust protection

What I Don’t Like

  • A sensitive control ring system
  • Omits fluorine protection

From Sony and Canon, let’s move to a lens that is made for Nikon cameras since they are also used by many people around the world. This one is mostly used with Nikon Z mirrorless cameras and it makes a perfect combination of the camera and the lens itself.
This lens is fully sealed meaning that it is resistant to dust and any moisture that might in a way damage it. The measurements that this lens has are 3.89 x 2.95 x 2.95 inches while it has a weight of 1.03 pounds.

As per its focal length, it is 85mm and the aperture that it works with is f/1.8. While we are at the aperture it has nine aperture blades that bring to you the most amazing bokeh effect that you have ever seen, with which you will take the most amazing detailed pictures during an engagement session.

With the 2 ED glass elements on this lens, the pictures that are taken with it besides having high quality, have a very detailed look, they will have unbelievable sharpness and amazing color accuracy, just as they should be! Besides them, it also has the Nano Crystal Coating which completely reduces ghosting and flare on any picture.

There is also included the Multi-Focus technology that works with two synchronized AF drivers, making the focus more accurate and fully putting an end to any deviation or aberration. It also has in-camera Image Stabilization for better pictures with no blur!
All in all, this lens is a telephoto one that has a very accurate perspective of anything that you are taking a picture of, it has a level of precision of details. For engagement photos or sessions, the details of the photo and the accuracy of a lens are very important!

Why should you buy it?

This lens is a telephoto one that has a very accurate perspective of anything you are taking a picture of. It has a perfect level of precision and detail.

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Sample Photos of the NIKON NIKKOR Z 85mm f/1.8 S


4. Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 – Best Telephoto Lens

What I Like

  • Great resolution
  • Sturdy build
  • Optical stabilization
  • Teleconverter Compatibility

What I Don’t Like

  • Dimmed corners
  • Weak flare resistance

This Tamron lens is a telephoto lens just like the one mentioned above, it is a camera that is used mostly by Canon camera owners because it is compatible with Canon EF DSLR cameras. Being a telephoto lens means that it has a longer focal length, and a narrow field of view.

With a very durable and strong construction, this lens has a resistant built and it is protected from moisture and dust at the same time. Its measurements are 7.6 x 3.46 x 3.46 inches and the lens is a little bit heavier in weight than the other products mentioned above since this one weighs 3.31 pounds.

The focal length of this big lens is divided into a minimum one of 70mm while its maximum goes up to 200mm. Its aperture on the other hand is F/2.8. Every inch of this lens brings to you high quality pictures and it also has an amazing bokeh effect.
The optical design of this lens uses extra Low Dispersion and Low Dispersion glass that makes the lens work without any aberration too.

With the eBand Coating, the reflections become something in the past, since it is a superior anti-reflection on the lens.

The focus of the lens is an automatic one, but it also allows adjustments without having to change it to the manual mode. There is also included the USD motor which means Ultra Silent Drive which means that the lens will deliver a very sharp contrast even in the highest zoom range. On the other hand, it owns VC image stabilization, and an amazing ability to work in low light!

Overall, this lens is used by many people, of course, those that own Canon DSLR cameras. But still, you should always keep in mind that this one is bigger when compared to the other lenses, that are mentioned in this article.

Why should you buy it?

This lens will deliver a very sharp contrast even in the highest zoom range, which means you will get perfect engagement photos.

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Sample Photos of the Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8


5. Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN – Best All-Rounder

What I Like

  • Sharp optics
  • Full frame coverage
  • Aperture control ring
  • Quick autofocus

What I Don’t Like

  • Focus breathing

The DG on this lens’ name stands for its compatibility of it with full-frame sensor DSLR cameras while DC stands for compatibility with APS-C DSLR cameras. So basically this Sigma lens is fully compatible with DSLR cameras in general.
Design-wise, this lens measures 3.7 x 3.26 x 3.26 inches and has a weight of 1.39lbs. It is made of very durable strong materials that make the lens resistant to splashes of water and also dust. It is a very compact lens and based on its weight it is a portable lens that you can carry wherever you may go and it has a Brass Bayonet mount.

The focal length of this lens is 85mm which makes it stand in the group of the best lenses for engagement photography. The aperture on the other hand is F1.4. On the lens is also included a stepping motor and it is directly related to the focus that this lens owns. The focus is very accurate and fast making this lens stand as a great performer when it comes to focusing.

As an overall opinion about this lens, I would say that it is a great one for focus, even on the fastest moving subjects, and while in engagement sessions you will deal with many things or poses so that it stands still in any way!

Why should you buy it?

This lens is a great one for focus, even on the fastest-moving subjects, so you can catch great engagement photos even if the couple is running.

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Sample Photos of the Sigma 85mm F1.4 DG DN


Important Things: Lenses and Engagement Photos?

Focal length

As some of you may already know, the focal length is the distance between the lens and the image sensor, when the subject that you are taking a picture of is focused. While shooting engagement pictures, you should always know that there are three focal lengths that work better. It is 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm or above.

Aperture

Aperture, in general, refers to the opening of the lens’ diaphragm, and through it, the light passes. It is written and measured in f/stops that is written with numbers 1.4, 2.8, and so on. A higher number of apertures means that less light is passing to the camera while a lower number means the opposite.

Speed of the Lens

As an important factor while buying lenses, or shooting with any lens is the speed that it can achieve to capture images. That is also linked to the focus system that the lens owns.

Focus

As just mentioned, focus is also an important issue, in these types of sessions. As a photographer, you would want to capture any detail that catches your eye or the eye of the person, that is looking at the pictures.

Low Light Performance

Low Light performance is important on anything that has to do with photos. Cameras in general or lenses should have a great capacity for capturing images during low light. Depending on the place (mentioned above), you may have to shoot in dark environments and that’s where the capacity of working in low light is important.

Bokeh Effect

Bokeh effect has become a very usable feature nowadays and I think that most people know what that means. It is a filter or an effect with which, while shooting pictures, the subject is completely focused, and the area behind the subject is blurred. While shooting the couple’s photographs, only capture the greatest detail with a full blur of the other things that may surround them.

Place

If you are a professional then you may already know the places where you will shoot the photos, but in case you are a beginner in this field, then it is important to search for the best places so that your pictures will be shot in the best way possible!

Weather Condition

If a lens is weather-sealed it is amazing! Some engagement sessions or most of them are shot outdoors and you will definitely need a durable and strong lens so that you can finish your job on any condition!
Bonus tip for beginners on these sessions:

Most couples want authentic personal shots, and do not want to have pictures that look like they just came out of a magazine! Have a talk with the couple that you are about to take pictures of, and let them tell you their ideas! Unexpected pictures are the best thing that could happen during a session and they definitely come in the most natural way!


What lens is better for engagement photos?

All types of lenses will help you bring out the best engagement photography, but still, a lens that has an 85mm focal length, or at least a lens that can cover an 85mm focal length, is good to go!

Is the bokeh effect a good feature?

The bokeh effect is one of the greatest features that the lens you will use should own. It comes in handy, especially when you want to take photos of details while fully blurring the surroundings.

What should photographers know during engagement sessions?

The first thing that you should consider during engagement photography is that couples love to look natural! Never overdo these sessions, as I am pretty sure that in the end, the couple won’t like the pictures. You should keep in mind that it is the couple’s session and be as friendly as possible with them.


Final Words:

This article is aimed at those that work with couples photography mostly! It doesn’t mean that the lenses mentioned aren’t good for anything else but still, based on their features in general, the lenses will help you take or capture the most amazing engagement session ever. As you can see above there are lenses with different types of focal lengths and also they come from different companies, so you can choose which one fits better with your camera.