PORTRAIT Lens question: Calling all portrait photographers of PEOPLE. what is your favorite portrait lens and why. Thank you.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Calling all portrait photographers of PEOPLE.

what is your favorite portrait lens and why.

Thank you.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

For 135 format (35-mm film) I like 85-mm lens. Same for FX format digital.
For DX format digital, I like 50-mm to 60-mm.

A short telephoto lens provides enough working distance from subject for decent DOF, and keeps facial features in correct proportions.

Dria Loc: Ohio

Nikonian72 wrote:

For 135 format (35-mm film) I like 85-mm lens. Same for FX format digital.
For DX format digital, I like 50-mm to 60-mm.

A short telephoto lens provides enough working distance from subject for decent DOF, and keeps facial features in correct proportions.

Thank you.
I have 50mm 1.4 (manual focus) and 1.8 ..maybe I don't "need" something different. I know they "used" to say not to use 50mm for portrait but the key is "used too" now 50 is ~75mm on crop sensor

PhotoJosh Loc: Brighton, UK

I use my 24-70 on a crop sensor, and I'm often finding that I want to go a little bit longer than that. I'm going to pick up a 85mm 1.8 on the cheap soon, until I can splash some cash on an L-Series lens.

Dria Loc: Ohio

PhotoJosh wrote:

I use my 24-70 on a crop sensor, and I'm often finding that I want to go a little bit longer than that. I'm going to pick up a 85mm 1.8 on the cheap soon, until I can splash some cash on an L-Series lens.

I hear you... I was dreaming about hinting for a 24-70 f2.8 L
or 24-105 f4 L but I don't think f4 will help me with People Portraits.

PhotoJosh Loc: Brighton, UK

Dria wrote:

PhotoJosh wrote:

I use my 24-70 on a crop sensor, and I'm often finding that I want to go a little bit longer than that. I'm going to pick up a 85mm 1.8 on the cheap soon, until I can splash some cash on an L-Series lens.

I hear you... I was dreaming about hinting for a 24-70 f2.8 L
or 24-105 f4 L but I don't think f4 will help me with People Portraits.

I think the extra range would help a lot, and so long as you're not planning on shooting with a very wide aperture too much, your should be alright. The image stabilisation helps to make up for the slower lens as well.

Dria Loc: Ohio

PhotoJosh wrote:

quote=Dria quote=PhotoJosh I use my 24-70 on a c... (show quote)

BUT little kids don't work well with a slower lens :)

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

100mm f2.8. Dreamy. Second choice, 24-70mm f2.8.

Dria Loc: Ohio

skidooman wrote:

100mm f2.8. Dreamy. Second choice, 24-70mm f2.8.

question--with a 100mm on a 60D wouldn't I have to be 40ft away to get a head and upper body shot?

randymoe

I have owned a D700 and Nikkor AFS 135mm F2.0. The combo was wonderful for portrait. Unfortunately, I sold them for rent money. I now have a manual focus Nikkor 135mm F2.8, I paid $100 and use it with a F5 that was also affordable. Ken Rockwell calls it Real Raw. ha ha

We are in the age of recycle. Sure I want a D800, but most likely not going to happen.

randymoe

I like the distance. It makes the model more comfortable and using a long lens makes people thinner. A short or wide angle lens is not flattering for most women.

Dria wrote:

skidooman wrote:

100mm f2.8. Dreamy. Second choice, 24-70mm f2.8.

question--with a 100mm on a 60D wouldn't I have to be 40ft away to get a head and upper body shot?

skidooman Loc: Minnesota

40 ft?? Nobody said anything about math, lol. I have never been that far away, and before my full frame, I used it on my 40D.

Dria wrote:

skidooman wrote:

100mm f2.8. Dreamy. Second choice, 24-70mm f2.8.

question--with a 100mm on a 60D wouldn't I have to be 40ft away to get a head and upper body shot?

randymoe

Of course, the trend is wide angle, great if you are shooting Victoria's Secret models full length from low down, makes the legs longer, and since they are so skinny they are not bloated as normal people are under wide angle.

randymoe wrote:

I have owned a D700 and Nikkor AFS 135mm F2.0. The combo was wonderful for portrait. Unfortunately, I sold them for rent money. I now have a manual focus Nikkor 135mm F2.8, I paid $100 and use it with a F5 that was also affordable. Ken Rockwell calls it Real Raw. ha ha

We are in the age of recycle. Sure I want a D800, but most likely not going to happen.

tommyest Loc: N. Hollywood, CA

For DX format, I like the 85mm, for FX, the 105mm.

Michael O' Loc: Midwest right now

I've gotten consistently the best portrait type shots with a film Rolleiflex, both the viewing and taking lenses are Schneider 75 mm. They are the perfect fit with the 21/4 X 21/4 film. I use a 180mm on my Linhof for portraiture, but the Rollie is so much easier to maneuver ! With my Cannon EOS 35mm outfit the ideal lens length is 85mm, so that's what I use -- it's an fl 1.8 so works well in questionable light for informal portraiture-type shooting. If you're using a full-frame digital capture camera, 85mm is the optimum for portraits. If you're using the smaller APS-C capture area type camera the 50mm (technically 54MM) is the optimum ratio for portraits. All that being said, playing around with special posing, depth of focus for special effects or just to accent or just to block out the superfluous background or getting pleasing natural backgrounds will enable you to work toward exceptional head or torso shots. Good luck, and have fun experimenting.