 Alison E. Copeland |
Choosing a Lens for Portraiture Hello, I am interested in a digital SLR for taking pictures of my baby, and possibly turning it into a business eventually. I am looking into the Minolta Maxxum 5D. I'm wondering what lens to buy. The kit lens seems to be the Minolta 18-70 mm, but I've seen another offer with the Sigma 28-200 macro. I have heard something about the focal lengths being different on digital. I'm interested in taking mostly close-up photos of little ones, including hands, ears, lips, and so on, but also entire body shots. Suggestions? Thanks very much.
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robert G. Fately |
Hi, Alison. Portraiture is typically done with a slightly longer than "normal", or telephoto, lens. This gives what most viewers see as the most pleasing effect insofar as facial features. Long telephoto lenses flatten perspective and so make a face too "2 dimensional", and wide-angle lenses, when used close enough to fill the frame with the head and shoulders, exaggerate the distances from the tip of the nose to the cheeks. Anyway, what constitutes a "normal" lens depends on the size of the film or chip being used to take the image. On a 4x5 view camera, a lens of 150 MM focal length is considered normal. On a 35MM film camera, a lens of 50MM focal length is considered normal. And for the APS-sized chip in most DSLRs, something more like a 35MM lens would be considered normal. That is, in all cases, these len/camera combinations will provide the same angle of view, so photos taken from the exact same spot will look more-or-less the same. Now, what you heard about the focal lengths being different is due to the fact that the digital chip is smaller than the size of a 35MM film exposure. Since most folks are familiar with 35MM nowadays, manufacturers like to talk about "equivalent" focal lengths with point-and-shoot cameras, but for interchangeable lens models they just tell you a "magnification factor". Say the factor for the Minolta is 1.5 - this means that a 35MM lens on that camera is about equivalent in field of view to a (35 x 1.5 =) 52.5MM lens on a film model. So, if 35MM is "normal" for the DSLR, then a 50-60MM lens is a short telephoto, the type usually used for portraiture. That said, the other thing to consider is lens speed - how fast it is. The larger the aperture (the smaller the f-stop number), the less depth of field the lens provides. So one of those zoom lenses at 50MM setting is about f2.8 or so, while a prime (non-zoom) 50MM lens can be f1.4 or so. The numbers don't seem very different, but they can have a big effect on a shot. Think of a portrait shot you like - typically the face (especially the eyes) is in razor sharp focus, but the wall behind the subject is out of focus. This is due to the narrow depth of field. If a slower aperture is used (even setting the f1.4 lens to f2.8 or f4) then that background might become rather sharply focused as well, and this may distract from the main subject (the face). So, perhaps, for typical portrait work, your best bet will be to find a 50MM f1.4 lens and use that wide open. Of course, with digital you can experiment without fearing the cost of film and all, and so you want to find a style of your own. I hope that helps ...
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Maverick Creatives |
Alison, I have a Canon 20D and use a 70-200 mm lens for portraits. Gary
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Patricia A. Cale |
I, too, have a Canon 20D and use the Canon 17-85mm IS lens for a lot of portrait shots. In tight spaces, this lens works great. If space allows, I will switch to my Canon 75-300mm IS lens. I shot my daughter's wedding portraits with the 17-85 and got great shots. Of course, it was zoomed to the 85mm or a setting that was about 1/2 way thorough the zoom settings. For years, I shot portraits with a Canon A-1 and a Tamron 90mm fixed lens. It was a great lens for portraits.
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Kathy C. Tugwell |
Allison, I take portrate shots in my studio and I have a Nikon D70 and the lens I use is a 28-300 Tamron. I can take in the whole family or I can get up close and personal. I have pictures on here and I also I a website I have a few babys on it. www.kpimpressions.com Kathy Tugwell
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Alison E. Copeland |
Thanks so much, everyone! Very informative. I don't feel blind anymore.
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Michelle Ross |
I see this question asked alot and there always seems to be mixed answers. .. but to expand on the original question here. . . those that use a 28-300 or similar? What length do you typically use and are you doing in studio work with this? How big is the studio if you are shooting inside? I use the Maxxum 7D and it has the 1.5 magnification . . . I primarily use my Minolta 50mm prime lens but have recently started to use my Tamron 28-75mm lens some also . . . I have been contemplating a 85mm prime lens? will this be too long? My studio area is approx 14 wide x 18 long?
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Kathy C. Tugwell |
Michelle, Hi,I probably only use 50mm-200mm with my 28-300 lens inside the studio. If I pan out to far(28mm) then you are getting off the backdrop. I don't use a tripod so I am able to move around and the 28-300 Tamron is very light so I don't need a tripod, I can stand back and get really close to the person if I want too. The studio is our garage converted, the space we use is pobably 12ft. by 12-15ft. Not quite sure on that because my husband is in charge of that and the lighting. I like the fact that I don't have to keep changing lens, and by the way its better that you don't change lens to often with a digital, with all the dust that will get in them. As for the 85mm NO I don't think it would be to long. You know I really think it is all in what you are comfortable with and if you like the way the pictures turn out. A wide angle isn't really nesissary in the studio because typically you can't span out to far. Hope this helps. Kathy Tugwell
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Michelle Ross |
Thanks Kathy . .. What type of lighting do you use? I'm always afraid I will be in the line of my lights and then cause shadows when I move too close. .. I like the 50mm best but just thought maybe an 85 or 90 might be more beneficial .. . I hate changing lenses(dust worries) so it would be nice to get something I can use. . . I also want the 85mm to be a 2.8 or so in order to maybe use it at my son's ball games as well!
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Kathy C. Tugwell |
Michelle, We have two side lights, a boom(not used all the time)a big main light that we put umbrellas on or a softbox. and we have another one kind of up high with an umbrella, it actually hangs from the ceiling. It depends on the picture or type of picture as to which ones we use. My husband said if he were to get a fixed lens it would be a 50mm or a 85mm. Yes, you have to watch out for the shadows if you get in close my husband watches for that and lets me know if I'm getting to close. you can also look at the picture and see if you are casting a shadow, if you have a digital. That is what is so neet about them. I have some studio pictures on my site with better photo. and on my web site. www.kpimpressions.com Hope this helps good luck. I love it, it is so much fun. :)
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Michelle Ross |
well I have the 50mm so think I will go back to using it . . even when I use my tamron 28-75 I find myself using the 50-60mm range and the Minolta 50mm is much sharper I think. Thanks for the help. . . I have a 3light set up of Novatron lights. . I use a main to the right, fill behind and sometimes a background light!
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Kathy C. Tugwell |
Sounds like you are doing OK then, if you are happy with the pictures, don't change what isn't broken. lol right? Kathy :)
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