85mm portrait lens (Page 6): If none of our opinions mattered, the OP wouldn't have asked for advise here. A 135 isn't an appropriate lens to shoot in a tight studio environment except...

Haydon

Bill P wrote:

These posts are going in the wrong direction. There is no "perfect" or "required" lens for any situation.There are, however, lenses that do best at fulfilling your artistic aims. That is for you to decide, and none of our opinions matter a bit.

But to cloud the issue, I'll put my Nikkor 135/2 DC against your 85 any day.

If none of our opinions mattered, the OP wouldn't have asked for advise here.

A 135 isn't an appropriate lens to shoot in a tight studio environment except in use with a headshot. I own both the 85 F1.8 & 135 F2 primes. Focal length for portrait is decided by artistic and realistic application.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Cyberkinesis70 wrote:

I'm afraid I can't ask Mr. Durante anything he has been dead for sometime. However, short of a seance, he would tell you that it is "schnoz". Please try to be less rude with your replies. You nor anybody else on here is absolutely right.

The word "schnoz" is not actually a Yiddish word for "nose" of any particular size or length. It is a colloquialism (slang) term probably stemming from the ethnic and cultural mix of Itilian, Jewish, and many other immigrants in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and Brooklyn in the 1920s and 30s. The term "schnozolla" often described a prominent nose. It was not necessarily a derogatory slur. Jimmy Durante kinda theatricalized and adopted the nickname.

Bill P

Notorious T.O.D. wrote:

Saying none of the information or opinions shared matter is ridiculous. Sharing information has value and can be used by the OP or anyone else as they wish. Nobody is forcing the OP to do anything or reach a specific choice or decision.

The sharing of information is what the internet is supposed to be about, but sadly, the information is often useless or incorrect. Whatever lens you use to shoot a photo should not be a group decision. The only fair answer to that question is what is right for you.

There was a rather famous British photographer famous for her photos of famous brits. She had but a single camera and a single lens, an OM1 with a 50. Her photos were remarkable. Should she have used an 85 or a 105 or whatever? That's silly, the 50 worked well FOR HER, and the results show it. I wish I could remember her name, but I'm getting old.

The correct answer is try several focal lengths and see what works for you.

The act of crowdsourcing is sapping the creativity from our culture.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Dude, not to be mean, but that is hideous and amateurish. Definitely not an improvement on the original.

I don't know about that, but I do believe that is the way you see it.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Like I previously said no one is telling the OP to do this or that, their money, their decision.But what if a shooter can only afford one lens right now. Maybe the information helps the shooter reach a better decision than without the information. We are always at risk to get good, bad and less useful information. But by having more input one should be able to add that data to their own research and make the best decision for them at the time.

Bill P wrote:

The sharing of information is what the internet is... (show quote)

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Quick answer, set up farther away from your subject, space permitting.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Well, I do know that shnoz or shnaz is kind of a Yiddish term for a large, usually unattractive nose but I can't find any reference to snoze. Sounds like a past tense reference to a nap.

For a long nose or large nose I like the use of the word Proboscis.

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

rmorrison1116 wrote:

I know a pro photographer who also uses his 70-200 for outdoor portraiture. I hired him as 1st shooter at my oldest daughters wedding a few years ago and his D810 had the 70-200 on it all day long and he shot lots of single, couple and group portrait shots. By the way, what is a snoze? A snooze is a nap and a nose is, well, a nose, regardless of size; but I can't find snoze in any online dictionary of web site.

He probably meant "schnoz"

broncomaniac Loc: Lynchburg, VA

wpas wrote:

I read that the 85mm lens is an ideal lens for por... (show quote)

I'm happy to see this thread because I'm delving into portraiture myself. I, too, was looking at 50 and 85mm primes.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

wpas wrote:

Wow! I feel I just had a real lesson. Thanks a bunch for taking your time to answer my question. This is a recent photo I took with a Nikon 18-200mm zoom set to about 80mm. I wasn’t happy with the background.

This offers a case in point. With more than just a single subject head and shoulders portrait, 85 would require stepping back a bit. OTOH a head shot might work better with a 105. In my film days the Nikkor 105 f2.5 was considered the gold standard - tack sharp. However a 75 year old subject might not want tack sharp anymore. You need to decide what portrait formats you want to prepare for then choose the focal length; OR get a good zoom lens

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

SuperflyTNT wrote:

Dude, not to be mean, but that is hideous and amateurish. Definitely not an improvement on the original.

You did not read waht I wrote. I mention that it was just a simulation to illustrate a point- not a perfectly finished image.

The image has many faults but the OP needs a little encouragement not the kind of flack you put out! If you can create a better edit, let's see waht you can do!

What's with that "Dude" infantile stupidly. Have a little respect and grow up!

Haydon

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

The word "schnoz" is not actually a Yiddish word for "nose" of any particular size or length. It is a colloquialism (slang) term probably stemming from the ethnic and cultural mix of Itilian, Jewish, and many other immigrants in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and Brooklyn in the 1920s and 30s. The term "schnozolla" often described a prominent nose. It was not necessarily a derogatory slur. Jimmy Durante kinda theatricalized and adopted the nickname.

Ed, I like the way this was side lit in an unconventional way to accentuate his proboscis. The lighting is moved further down onto the face.

Leitz Loc: Solms

wpas wrote:

I wasn’t happy with the background.

Unless you added it later on the computer, that background was there before you released the shutter!

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

E.L.. Shapiro wrote:

You did not read waht I wrote. I mention that it was just a simulation to illustrate a point- not a perfectly finished image.

The image has many faults but the OP needs a little encouragement not the kind of flack you put out! If you can create a better edit, let's see waht you can do!

What's with that "Dude" infantile stupidly. Have a little respect and grow up!

If I was going to do a “simulation to illustrate a point” I would make sure it was an actual improvement and I would take the time to do it right. You edit has many more flaws than the original.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

SuperflyTNT wrote:

If I was going to do a “simulation to illustrate a point” I would make sure it was an actual improvement and I would take the time to do it right. You edit has many more flaws than the original.

Yeah, you're right. Too quick and dirty. I'll do better next time. "Hideous"... go get a dictionary! Get some manners while you are at it and learn to offer proper critique if you want to correct something. My name is Ed, not dude! I do,however, like one of you bird shots. Have a good day!