What kind of digital camera do I need for shooting portraits?

What kind of digital camera do I need for shooting portraits?

Mark Comon (Vice President, Paul's Photo, Torrance, CA) gives expert video advice on: What kind of digital camera do I need if I'm a novice shooter?; What kind of digital camera do I need for shooting sports?; What kind of digital camera do I need for shooting portraits? and more...

To shoot portraits, you really need a camera with a good, high quality, mid-level telephoto lens. So, in 35 millimeter terms, that would be an 85 to 120 millimeter lens. You can do that with your compact digital cameras if you want, but I have zero control over my aperture for focus or my exposure with a compact camera. So, you're generally better off with a mid-level or higher compact camera, or a single lens reflex type digital camera, like a 28 to 105 style lens. If you want the best portrait pictures, you're going to pick a fixed portrait lens, like an 85 millimeter 1.8 or 85 millimeter 1.4 portrait lens, to go on your digital SLR. That will give you the best portraits you can get.