Im wondering what all the other peeps are using as portrait lens. A good frined of mine, who has more photography qulifications than i remember has recommended that that i get a set 50mm f1.4 for portraiture for clarity and aperture controll.
We our style of photography is the same and she let me play with hers, and im in love. So, this is going to be my new save ( when ever i want new toys, all my change goes into a coffee jar and within a few months, vala, I have enough money ).
I a, just wondering what other people use, whether your using similar, or if you have ideas or suggestions.... or if you like having the zoomage if you want/need it...
thanks, kristal
Nikon or Canon?
I shoot Nikon and this is what I use/love/lust after :)
I use a 50mm/1.4
I have 2 zooms and never use either.
I would love the 60mm/2.8 micro & the 105mm/2D...but have to save up for those.
If you are on a budget the 50mm/1.8 is lovely and just over $100
Im a pentax girl.. what i grew up with and im sorta stuck on it ( i know the settings and dont have to relearn, and its sorta like a car thing... holden vs ford vs mitsubishi....) im looking at a 50mm 1.4....
I shoot Sonys and my fav right now is a 35mm f1.8. Sometimes, I find the 50mm is too long for indoors. I'm also debating (with myself!) over a 28-75 f2.8 or 15-70 f2.8 or a Carl Zeiss 16-80.
I have a Canon 7D and always use my 50mm f1.4 for portrait sessions. It's by far the best lens I've ever used for portraits! This is an example of the soft artistic quality of the lens and the clarity of the focus ability.
I shoot with canon t2i, and I love my 50mm f/1.4 lens. LOVE it! but the kits lens that I got is also pretty great. I do get lens envy from time to time, but I just remind myself I'm not a professional, just a hobbyist.
I personally use a Nikon with a 50 1.4 and am in loveeeee
It actually never really comes off my camera unless I'm photographing sport events where I do need some zoom so I use a 300mm telephoto.
Nonethless, for basic portraiture, I'd definitely suggest 1.4
If you would be able to get your hands on an 85, and are willing to save up, then just go all out!
I have a Canon 450 and use the 50mm f1.8 and love it, actually I pretty much use it non-stop for everything. You can see some of my portrait photos in my project. I would have loved the f1.4 but that was a lot more money sadly.
I prefer the 85mm f1.8 to the 50mm f1.4 for portraits. Perhaps because I have had to have the autofocus on my 50mm f1.4 repaired not once, not twice, but THREE times!!! The 50mm is a nice lens, but I like the reach of the 85mm more.
However if you are on a crop camera and shoot inside a lot, you may find the 50mm more useful.
i use my 18-55mm for studio shoots... =) they're very very useful... but i'd wanna try my 35mm f 1/.8 in an outdoor shoot.... sounds fun... FASHION MEETS LANDSCAPE.. =)
i haven't taken many portraits, but, for my nikon d3000 i use my 35mm f1.8, however, i just got a 40mm f2.8 for christmas, and that works pretty good for a portrait lens too
I have read many times that 85mm is an ideal length for a portrait lens. But don't many of the digital cameras have a different kind of sensor (or something), which do automatic cropping x 1.6, unless you have one of more expensive, professional camera bodies...
Does that mean that for many of us the "ideal" lens would be 50mm, because that would translate to 80 (50 x 1.6) mm, pretty close to the traditional 85mm ?
@bonniebouman Sort-of. 50mm is certainly easier to use than 85mm, on a crop-frame DSLR, because the 85mm makes you stand further away. That said, it is only a crop, so the other lens characteristics remain identical (no matter what camera you use) - such as compression (distortion characteristics).
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I shoot Nikon and this is what I use/love/lust after :)
I use a 50mm/1.4
I have 2 zooms and never use either.
I would love the 60mm/2.8 micro & the 105mm/2D...but have to save up for those.
If you are on a budget the 50mm/1.8 is lovely and just over $100
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 for individuals
Would LOVE to have the Nikon 200mm f/2
Pentax Da* 50-135mm f/2.8 - Crop
Pentax FA 50 1.4 - 35mm (not portraits per say... but what I use?!?)
It actually never really comes off my camera unless I'm photographing sport events where I do need some zoom so I use a 300mm telephoto.
Nonethless, for basic portraiture, I'd definitely suggest 1.4
If you would be able to get your hands on an 85, and are willing to save up, then just go all out!
However if you are on a crop camera and shoot inside a lot, you may find the 50mm more useful.
Does that mean that for many of us the "ideal" lens would be 50mm, because that would translate to 80 (50 x 1.6) mm, pretty close to the traditional 85mm ?