Another lens question--: I am mostly interested in portrait work with my children and I think a 50 or 85 mm lens would work well for me. But as I look at the 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2, the...

jknapp38

I am mostly interested in portrait work with my children and I think a 50 or 85 mm lens would work well for me. But as I look at the 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2, the price differences are staggering. What am I missing out on by getting the less expensive lenses? Can someone show me why or if its worth the extra money?I like outside work the best, but dont want to miss the occasional inside shot.

krisvictor Loc: Virginia, USA

Hi! This is a wonderful question I have asked myself! This is what I found.
If you want to take good pictures for the scrapbook, a 1.8 is fine. If you want to take great pictures for indoor with controlled lighting and outside action pictures, go with the 1.4. If you want to capture the best candid shots indoors with minimal lighting, go with the 1.2. Kids grow up fast. You only have one shot! lol! If you like to take good photos, invest on the best and you won't regret it.

les_stockton Loc: Eastern Oklahoma

I bought a 1.8 and am very happy with it. I figure that if I really need more light, I'll use a strobe. The 1.8 is great and probably the best quality for the buck.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

jknapp38 wrote:

I am mostly interested in portrait work with my children and I think a 50 or 85 mm lens would work well for me. But as I look at the 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2, the price differences are staggering. What am I missing out on by getting the less expensive lenses? Can someone show me why or if its worth the extra money?I like outside work the best, but dont want to miss the occasional inside shot.

WARNING do not use a 50mm lens for close-up portraits! That particular lens creates what is known as barrel distortion that causes unflattering portraits at CLOSE distance. I saw this tip on a n online talk show discussing why photographers don't improve their skills. The guest photographer was one of the top 10 portrait & wedding photographers on the planet and shared that tip with the host & audience. He said to use and 85mm for head & shoulder shots or longer. Scott Kelby uses a zoom lens up to 200mm.

When this tip was released dozens of photographers argued about the 50mm and sent in their "perfect" close-up. Every one was distorted yet they still continued to protest. That's why photographers don't advance, because they don't listen to an expert making $2.5 million dollars a year. Go with a longer focal length......................... or argue. :)

dixiemegapixel Loc: Salemburg, NC

I recently read a review of Nikon's 50mm f/1.8. In addition to being the least expensive, the review included comparitive data against the f/1.8, f/1.4, and f/1.2. The conclusion showed better quality with the 1.8.

I have one and can attest that it is fast focusing and captures clean, sharp images.

krisvictor Loc: Virginia, USA

I've always wondered if there is a place where one can "rent" a piece of photo equipment like body and lenses to see for ourselves what we like and purchase accordingly.
I can attest for the longer focal length for portrait shots.

I also started with a Vivitar 110. LOL

MWAC Loc: Somewhere East Of Crazy

krisvictor wrote:

I've always wondered if there is a place where one can "rent" a piece of photo equipment like body and lenses to see for ourselves what we like and purchase accordingly.
I can attest for the longer focal length for portrait shots.

I also started with a Vivitar 110. LOL

http://www.borrowlenses.com

http://aperturent.com

Bobbee

krisvictor wrote:

I've always wondered if there is a place where one can "rent" a piece of photo equipment like body and lenses to see for ourselves what we like and purchase accordingly.
I can attest for the longer focal length for portrait shots.

I also started with a Vivitar 110. LOL

In NYC Adorama on West 18th street.
I have a 24-70 f2.8 Nikon. It does a great job. For portraits I habe multiple speelit set ups and also have a 3 lite softbox setup.

anotherview Loc: California

Good morning. You left out which camera system you use. If Canon, then you may wish to check out the EF 85mm f/1.8: http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/419-canon_85_18_5d

Renting a lens to try before you buy makes sense, too: www.lensrentals.com

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8...

Migyur

I have a Nikon 180mm f2.8 (bought used 16 years ago) - it is
fabulous for portraits.

MPratter Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

The low price of fine glass is one of the things that drew me back to film. my 50mm 1.2 lens set me back 50 whole dollars, and what it does on PanF film is magic. Really helps to be able to pick a 50 or even 25 ISO speed to use such a wide lens in daylight.

Bobbee

FILM, what is this film thingie I keep hearing about?

LOL

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Like BobMielke I would like to know why a 50mm lenes all of a sudden became a portrat lens? Just looked up what Ansil Adams had to say about it in Camera & Lens and he said that the mininum should be twice the diaganol of the film (that would be sensor today) That would make it a 100mm on a 35mm format and a 70 to 80 on most digitals. Most pros on fashion shoots youse 200 and up.
Dave

MPratter Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

200 seems very long for posed portraits. I use a 200 to shoot strangers at a distance, it's much too long for me to use up close.

To be fair though, Ansil Adams' best pictures weren't portraits, and were taken with the rather different mechanism of a view camera.

I've used 80mm and 55 for portraits, in conjunction with 120 film, but find 50 on 35mm for posed portraits, 200mm for distant candids to be a great balance.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

wilsondl2 wrote:

Like BobMielke I would like to know why a 50mm lenes all of a sudden became a portrat lens? Just looked up what Ansil Adams had to say about it in Camera & Lens and he said that the mininum should be twice the diaganol of the film (that would be sensor today) That would make it a 100mm on a 35mm format and a 70 to 80 on most digitals. Most pros on fashion shoots youse 200 and up.
Dave

Simple, people don't know what they're doing.