Portriat Lenses( which is best ?)

[GENO]

I am trying to look for a portriat lens...just wondering which one is best around?

let me start for a few before i decide if i should change lens?

Minotla : AF 85mm f1.4 --- highly effective for portraits with focus hold button.
CIR aperture with floating system that give deforcused images..

Minolta : AF 100mm f2.8 SOFT FOCUS --- unique lens that provides a soft surrounding effect. got three settings to choose from. CIR aperture with focus lock on button too.

Minolta : 135mm f2.8[T4.5] --- It has a apodization filter build in which achieve a natural shift from focused to defocused areas. The images taken are visually outstanding..Its in MANUAL FOCUS only...too bad..

Minolta : 135mm f2.8 --- Its a old lens, with no focus hold button. It is AF which makes life easier for portriats, fast and small too..

Minolta : 200mm f2.8 APO G --- Mid telephoto with focus lock button..Great pics but need to stand a little bit far away to take portriats...

Minolta : 100mm f2.8 MAcro ( D ) --- Good range distance lens for portriats, with focus hold button. Its slow as it is a Marco lens.

Minolta : 70-200mm (D) SSM --- How wrong can tis lens go? I think it was made for portriats . with 3 focus hold buttons but very expensive!

[ratboy]

if you are ok with manual focus
how about a JUPITER 9 85mm f2.0 M42 mount ?
not too sharp, not too soft
cheap enough from EBA

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by ratboy if you are ok with manual focus how about a JUPITER 9 85mm f2.0 M42 mount ? not too sharp, not too soft cheap enough from EBA

any reviews or sample photos?

[Limbang]

Minotla : AF 85mm f1.4 --- highly effective for portraits with focus hold button.
CIR aperture with floating system that give deforcused images..

Minolta : AF 100mm f2.8 SOFT FOCUS --- unique lens that provides a soft surrounding effect. got three settings to choose from. CIR aperture with focus lock on button too.

Minolta : 135mm f2.8[T4.5] --- It has a apodization filter build in which achieve a natural shift from focused to defocused areas. The images taken are visually outstanding..Its in MANUAL FOCUS only...too bad..
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these three lenses sound interesting !
same as nikon defocus lenses ?
cost ?

[GENO]

Originally Posted by Limbang Minotla : AF 85mm f1.4 --- highly effective for portraits with focus hold button. CIR aperture with floating system that give deforcused images.. Minolta : AF 100mm f2.8 SOFT FOCUS --- unique lens that provides a soft surrounding effect. got three settings to choose from. CIR aperture with focus lock on button too. Minolta : 135mm f2.8[T4.5] --- It has a apodization filter build in which achieve a natural shift from focused to defocused areas. The images taken are visually outstanding..Its in MANUAL FOCUS only...too bad.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- these three lenses sound interesting ! same as nikon defocus lenses ? cost ?

mmm should be the same as nikon lenses...

[forbytes]

A good descriptiion given by Geno for each individual lens. Ultimately, it is the dollars and cents that matters. Another issue about using 200mm lens for portrait needs to be discussed further.

It is not entirely true that you have to stand a bit far back to shoot portrait. It still depends on the minimum focus distance and magnification ratio. Traditional 200mm lens for prime and zoom require focus distance about 1.5-1.8m, hence you have to stand far back. and the magnification is low which means the face occupies a small area of the film. But new lens like 70-200 ssm lens have a minimum distance of 1.2m, which allows the photographer to stand nearer while the face occupies a large portion of the film. of coz there are some distance and magnifaction difference between 85/1.4 and 70-200.

70-200 not known for its excellence sharpness. If you already own a 10mm macro D, no need to consider getting another lens as this lens double both portrait and macro lens (AF slow I not too sure, deslim can comment on this). other lens like 135/2.8 no longer in production and can only source second hand market. if you no like fix lens then 80-200 or 70-200 is the one for you.

[GENO]

I am wondering how much a 200mm prime cost? i going to pp to ask later...

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by GENO I am wondering how much a 200mm prime cost? i going to pp to ask later...

CP offering i think about 1.5K......


rgds,
sulhan

[forbytes]

and only 200mm fix lens can use original minolta TC.

[GENO]

Originally Posted by sulhan CP offering i think about 1.5K...... rgds, sulhan

I went down there to check out if they have it, but they seem to be like very busy??? ( chatting with one another ) ...

Ho , i just go other shops to ask loh...mmm 1.5k ..sounds ok for a fast prime

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by forbytes If you already own a 10mm macro D, no need to consider getting another lens as this lens double both portrait and macro lens (AF slow I not too sure, deslim can comment on this).

Bro, I don't own a 10mm Marco D leh.. j/k

Just set the focus limiter, should be okay for still portraits. If forgotten to set, just see how the lens hunts and zoooooooooommmmmmm all the way in and out..

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by GENO I went down there to check out if they have it, but they seem to be like very busy??? ( chatting with one another ) ... Ho , i just go other shops to ask loh...mmm 1.5k ..sounds ok for a fast prime

IMO, you were to get one lens, 85G should be a better choice than 200G. 85G is more versatile and easy to use.

[GENO]

Originally Posted by deslim27 IMO, you were to get one lens, 85G should be a better choice than 200G. 85G is more versatile and easy to use.

I know the 85mm is great! ....hoo hoo great portriat lens!!

But i got the 50mm and 135mm now....just hoping to zoom alllllll the way for a longer prime zoom mah... btw 85mm cost ?? $1100???

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by GENO But i got the 50mm and 135mm now

Oh.. in that case, your choice liao..

[GENO]

Originally Posted by deslim27 Oh.. in that case, your choice liao..

I did try out the 85mm once...but with a film body....

wonder who got one here??? how is it on the 7d hah??

[ricohflex]

Geno

You can take prize winning portraits with a standard or wide angle lens.
I have seen some. You need a talented photographer's eye to spot the picture potential when other photographers cannot.
The subject need not fill the frame.
The subject can be a small part of the picture, but the surroundings tell something about the person.

I used to read Minolta Mirror before they discontinued it.
Many pictures inside it were environmental portraits and well taken too.
With the Minolta MD manual focus lenses.

[Magnus Wedberg]

Originally Posted by Limbang Minotla : AF 85mm f1.4 --- highly effective for portraits with focus hold button. CIR aperture with floating system that give deforcused images.. Minolta : AF 100mm f2.8 SOFT FOCUS --- unique lens that provides a soft surrounding effect. got three settings to choose from. CIR aperture with focus lock on button too. Minolta : 135mm f2.8[T4.5] --- It has a apodization filter build in which achieve a natural shift from focused to defocused areas. The images taken are visually outstanding..Its in MANUAL FOCUS only...too bad.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- these three lenses sound interesting ! same as nikon defocus lenses ? cost ?

I have all three of these lenses

I'd rate the 135 as "best", but the 85 as most versatile by far, and the 100/Soft is mostly just... weird. You can acheive great soft focus effects in Photoshop post-processing, and there is little need for buying a soft focus lens if using digital or scanning film... at least that's my opinion.

The 135/STF (which is not "soft focus") is not using the same technology as the Nikon DC lenses. In the latter, you shift elements around manually to over- or undercorrect for spherical aberration, allowing you to control the depth of field and optimize it for front/back bokeh. The Minolta lens uses its apodization element to achieve perfect bokeh, both front and back, all the time -- but you will lose 1.5 stops of light (wide open = 4.5 as light transmission, but 2.8 depth of field).

As usual I plug my review:
http://www.magnuswedberg.com/docs/stf-review/

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by Magnus Wedberg but you will lose 1.5 stops of light (wide open = 4.5 as light transmission, but 2.8 depth of field).

Now I understand F2.8 T4.5 means

[GENO]

Originally Posted by deslim27 Now I understand F2.8 T4.5 means

opps paiseh.... i forgot to explain the F2.8 [T4.5]!!!

[TME]

Yeah.... same here... finally understood it too.....