I have been debating with other photographers on what is the best lens to use for doing portrait photography. I tend to lean on the 50 mm lens with the distance between me and my subject no more than 10 feet away. Do you agree? If not then any suggestion is open and suggesting is appreciated. I also use a 70-200mm for distance shots. But I also find that I can do the same with a 70-200 mm lens that I can do with a 50 mm lens expect with the distance. What do you think. I use Canon Camera's but just recently invested in nikon d80 as a beginner camera to use to get the hang of how a nikon works. Thanks for all suggestions they are greatly appreciated.
There isn't really a "best," it's just a matter of what perspective you're going for. Typically people will say an 85 is ideal for portraiture, but it's all dictated by the composition. I don't know, it's hard to answer the question without knowing what kind of work and styles you tend towards.