Portraits Pictures

lewong · 29th April 2006

Hi all
Would need some advice what would be a reasonable lens for taking portraits and giving a nice shallow depth of field. I am using a 30D and currently owned a 24-105 f/4.0L Lens.

Would a 50mm f/1.4 be a good addition for portraits? or maybe a 3rd party lens?

kelccm · 29th April 2006

Your 24-105L can be used for portraits.

An alternative choice can be the 85mm f/1.8.

lewong · 29th April 2006

Would my 1.6 crop be a problem if I use the 85mm?

kelccm · 29th April 2006

If you are going for headshot, it should not be a problem. Even half body shot is ok. For full body shot, you may have to stand some distance away. Actually, any focal length also can, just need to know how far or how near you want to your subject. If you can stand some distance away, the 135mm f/2 will give very nice bokeh.

lewong · 29th April 2006

Heard its a good lens and cost only S$600+. So between 50mmf/1.4 and 85mm f1.8, the latter would be recommended esp for a get a nice bokeh? And idea if the 3rd party lens would offer the same result? any recommendation?

grantyale · 29th April 2006

Depends on the shooting style. Narrower angle and shallower DOF makes it easier to bush away the background and gives the subject a flatter look. For my liking, 50 has too much perspective distortion for head shots and doesn't compress the scene enough for full body, but is very versatile in shooting angle for half body shots. 85 makes up the two ends - head and full body.

lewong · 29th April 2006

Thank you for your advice. I would like to clarify : A-DEP (auto depth of field) function - when do you use that? for taking landscape when you need a wide DOF?

grantyale · 29th April 2006

Originally Posted by lewong

Thank you for your advice. I would like to clarify : A-DEP (auto depth of field) function - when do you use that? for taking landscape when you need a wide DOF?

It's meant for this but the usefulness depends on the AF point coverage. If a relatively close part of the sence is not under any AF point, chances are you may get insufficient DOF.

honda · 30th April 2006

The 85/1.8 or 100/2 will give a pleasant out of focus background and also act as a fast telephoto lens. Something the 24-105/4 will not give.
http://singaporephoto.blogspot.com

Moxy · 30th April 2006

Why not give the 50mm f1.8 a shot, it's a low cost lens and on the 1.6 aps sensor gives amazing results for the price.. then if you decide later to upgrade to an 85mm f1.8 or even the 135 (too long for my liking) you still have a useable prime lens for a range of situations..

just my 2c.

moxy

Ren_Hao · 30th April 2006

Agree that getting the 50f1.8 is a better idea if you wan to go prime. It is cheap. If you find that using primes is not your cup of tea, you can still sell if off with a "lost" of only a few dollars. Not so painful when compared to selling the 50f1.4

It will depend on a lot to see if 135 is too long. If you are in a group shoot, than 135 might be too long is everyone is using a medium focal length lens. But it might be just right if eveyone is using the 70-200 or longer focal lengths. In a 1 to 1 shoot, than it boils down to the photographer.

Although i do not own the 24-105L, I am not too convience that it cannot give good bokeh. Of course it is only f4, but if you know how to use the lens, think it will still give pretty good bokeh.

unseen · 30th April 2006

Originally Posted by kelccm

If you are going for headshot, it should not be a problem. Even half body shot is ok. For full body shot, you may have to stand some distance away. Actually, any focal length also can, just need to know how far or how near you want to your subject. If you can stand some distance away, the 135mm f/2 will give very nice bokeh.

135 f2 is gooooood... The bokeh is stunning..

unfortunately the price is v good too.. T.T

29th April 2006	#1
lewong Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 67	Portraits Pictures Hi all Would need some advice what would be a reasonable lens for taking portraits and giving a nice shallow depth of field. I am using a 30D and currently owned a 24-105 f/4.0L Lens. Would a 50mm f/1.4 be a good addition for portraits? or maybe a 3rd party lens?

29th April 2006	#2
kelccm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere near a chinese lake Posts: 1,109	Re: Portraits Pictures Your 24-105L can be used for portraits. An alternative choice can be the 85mm f/1.8. __________________ My Flickr Gallery

29th April 2006	#3
lewong Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 67	Re: Portraits Pictures Would my 1.6 crop be a problem if I use the 85mm?

29th April 2006	#4
kelccm Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somewhere near a chinese lake Posts: 1,109	Re: Portraits Pictures If you are going for headshot, it should not be a problem. Even half body shot is ok. For full body shot, you may have to stand some distance away. Actually, any focal length also can, just need to know how far or how near you want to your subject. If you can stand some distance away, the 135mm f/2 will give very nice bokeh. __________________ My Flickr Gallery

29th April 2006	#5
lewong Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 67	Re: Portraits Pictures Heard its a good lens and cost only S$600+. So between 50mmf/1.4 and 85mm f1.8, the latter would be recommended esp for a get a nice bokeh? And idea if the 3rd party lens would offer the same result? any recommendation?

29th April 2006	#6
grantyale Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Pioneer Posts: 1,392	Re: Portraits Pictures Depends on the shooting style. Narrower angle and shallower DOF makes it easier to bush away the background and gives the subject a flatter look. For my liking, 50 has too much perspective distortion for head shots and doesn't compress the scene enough for full body, but is very versatile in shooting angle for half body shots. 85 makes up the two ends - head and full body.

29th April 2006	#7
lewong Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 67	Re: Portraits Pictures Thank you for your advice. I would like to clarify : A-DEP (auto depth of field) function - when do you use that? for taking landscape when you need a wide DOF?

30th April 2006	#9
honda Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 489	Re: Portraits Pictures The 85/1.8 or 100/2 will give a pleasant out of focus background and also act as a fast telephoto lens. Something the 24-105/4 will not give. http://singaporephoto.blogspot.com

30th April 2006	#10
Moxy Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Orchard Rd Area Posts: 107	Re: Portraits Pictures Why not give the 50mm f1.8 a shot, it's a low cost lens and on the 1.6 aps sensor gives amazing results for the price.. then if you decide later to upgrade to an 85mm f1.8 or even the 135 (too long for my liking) you still have a useable prime lens for a range of situations.. just my 2c. moxy

30th April 2006	#11
Ren_Hao Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 293	Re: Portraits Pictures Agree that getting the 50f1.8 is a better idea if you wan to go prime. It is cheap. If you find that using primes is not your cup of tea, you can still sell if off with a "lost" of only a few dollars. Not so painful when compared to selling the 50f1.4 It will depend on a lot to see if 135 is too long. If you are in a group shoot, than 135 might be too long is everyone is using a medium focal length lens. But it might be just right if eveyone is using the 70-200 or longer focal lengths. In a 1 to 1 shoot, than it boils down to the photographer. Although i do not own the 24-105L, I am not too convience that it cannot give good bokeh. Of course it is only f4, but if you know how to use the lens, think it will still give pretty good bokeh.