What is the best digital camera for professional portraits?

How much money have you got?

The Hasselblad H3D-39 might be the best for $32,000. It's medium format, which has been the film standard for portraits forever. Oh yeah. Lenses are in the $1,000 and up range.

If that's too much, look into almost any top brand 10 MP SLR camera. The lighting probably has more of an influence on the quality of portrait photography than anything else. Check this review for the top names.

http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/3569/10m...

It is true to say that the desired equipment should be the one that costs more and, as suggested, the Hasselblad digital is currently not only the most expensive but provides the greatest resolution quality.
That said, it is also a given that it is the brain behind the camera and not the camera itself that provides the best photography.
Therefore, a current SLR digital providing at least 10 mega pixels ought to provide sufficient quality.
Look at the Sony Alpha 100 as a starting point?

slr cameras with zoom are the best.

A Sinar P3 (4x5 camera) with a digital back. If you want something smaller Nikon makes a AF105 f2 DC and 135 f2 DC (Defocus Control) lens,which will allow you to control background and foreground blur it will work on all Nikon DSLR only with the D40 and D40x there will be no auto focus.

No dought the Hasselblad H3D-39 might be the best for $32,000 would be nice. However the Nikon D-200 or Nikon D2xs or simular Canon will do nicely. Now if you are making poster sized prints you may want the Hasselblad H3D-39.