What is a potrait lens, really?

weishengg · 11th February 2008

Hi all,

I keep reading that a 50mm F1.4 lens is a "potrait lens".
But what exactly do people mean when they say a "a potrait lens"?

If it means that it gives a nice bokeh, I actually find that zoom lens give a nice effect just as well, with the added advantage that you can shoot from a further distance

But of course, it comes with a slower shutter speed too.

So, under what sort of circumstance would a "potrait lens" be favoured over a zoom lens to shoot potraitures?

Newbie here, so pardon me if this questions seem odd

Cheers,
weisheng

Rashkae · 11th February 2008

It means that it is a lens suited for portraits. A zoom lens will need the subject to stand further away from the background to get the same effect. A protrait lens, which is usually a 50 or 85 prime, will have fantastic sharpness edge to edge, minimal to no distortions and be able to have a clear DOF separation even from eye to eye of the subject if shot at an angle. A zoom lens can't get you all that, though it can come close if it's a 2.8. A high-quality zoom lens like a 70-200G can get great bokeh, etc, but you'd still be limited by a deeper DOF than, say, a 85mm F/1.4

Note: The best length for portrait photography is usually considered to be 50 to 105mm.

junkai21 · 11th February 2008

Originally Posted by Rashkae

It means that it is a lens suited for portraits. A zoom lens will need the subject to stand further away from the background to get the same effect. A protrait lens, which is usually a 50 or 85 prime, will have fantastic sharpness edge to edge, minimal to no distortions and be able to have a clear DOF separation even from eye to eye of the subject if shot at an angle. A zoom lens can't get you all that, though it can come close if it's a 2.8. A high-quality zoom lens like a 70-200G can get great bokeh, etc, but you'd still be limited by a deeper DOF than, say, a 85mm F/1.4

Note: The best length for portrait photography is usually considered to be 50 to 105mm.

My 50mm 1.7 get super insane sharp images at f2.5. Can see details on face too!

Rashkae · 11th February 2008

Originally Posted by junkai21

My 50mm 1.7 get super insane sharp images at f2.5. Can see details on face too!

Yup, the 50m 1.7 is seriously sharp...

DewaKarma · 11th February 2008

Originally Posted by junkai21

My 50mm 1.7 get super insane sharp images at f2.5. Can see details on face too!

yeah,,,but wait till u try an 85G ...then u for sure throw the 50mm one side...

boombox · 11th February 2008

I'd want to try the 85G for a day and evaluate it... it looks like a good companion to the 28-70 and 70-200G...

Rashkae · 11th February 2008

Originally Posted by boombox

I'd want to try the 85G for a day and evaluate it... it looks like a good companion to the 28-70 and 70-200G...

Talk to bro dewakarma...

tankm · 12th February 2008

You shoot lots of portrait, should get hold of one. Main headache is, which 85 ? 85 original, 85G , 85G LE, 85G(D) or CZ85.

Originally Posted by boombox

I'd want to try the 85G for a day and evaluate it... it looks like a good companion to the 28-70 and 70-200G...

Galdor · 12th February 2008

Originally Posted by Rashkae

Talk to bro dewakarma...

You've sold yours bro?

dotaboy · 12th February 2008

Simply speaking,a prime lense which is able to produce sharpe details and rich contrast.

catchlights · 12th February 2008

traditional studio portraitists practice this way, base on 35mm format, a lens has 50mm focal length are for full length portraits, 85mm for half length portraits, 105mm for bust shot, 135mm for head shot.

hope this help.

Rashkae · 12th February 2008

Originally Posted by Galdor

You've sold yours bro?

Yup. I got a CZ for christmas...

So, even though the G is fantastic, gotta use the CZ or feel guilty. :P

pai · 12th February 2008

Originally Posted by catchlights

traditional studio portraitists practice this way, base on 35mm format, a lens has 50mm focal length are for full length portraits, 85mm for half length portraits, 105mm for bust shot, 135mm for head shot.

hope this help.

so i guess on a 1.5 crop, the 50mm behaves a little more like a 75, ie close to 85, ie half length.

Galdor · 12th February 2008

Originally Posted by Rashkae

Yup. I got a CZ for christmas...

So, even though the G is fantastic, gotta use the CZ or feel guilty. :P

Wow, a CZ for X'mas.

Gunjack · 12th February 2008

Some "portrait lens" angle of view on 35mm film camera taken quite a few years back, during my film days hehe...

Minolta 50mm F1.4

Minolta 100mm F2.8 Soft Focus

Minolta 135mm F2.8

To me all has its purposes. Dont have to follow rules! Haha!

boombox · 12th February 2008

Originally Posted by tankm

You shoot lots of portrait, should get hold of one. Main headache is, which 85 ? 85 original, 85G , 85G LE, 85G(D) or CZ85.

That's the problem right now... which one is better... I definitely don't need the 85G LE because it's going to be frequently used, and not for collection purposes, I also wonder how useful the (d) version can be over the normal Gs, and I wonder if the 85 original is like the 85G...

Not going the CZ way for now, at least, because right now, only a G glass can please me...

Rashkae · 13th February 2008

Originally Posted by boombox

That's the problem right now... which one is better... I definitely don't need the 85G LE because it's going to be frequently used, and not for collection purposes, I also wonder how useful the (d) version can be over the normal Gs, and I wonder if the 85 original is like the 85G...

Not going the CZ way for now, at least, because right now, only a G glass can please me...

The 85 original is pretty close... Try asking DewaKarma, he might be able to help.

tankm · 13th February 2008

something to get you started

CZ85 Field report... http://dyxum.com/columns/articles/le...4CZ_review.asp

CZ85 vs Minolta 85G(D)...
http://dyxum.com/columns/articles/le...nolta_85mm.asp

"D" version is useful if you using ADI flash.

Originally Posted by boombox

That's the problem right now... which one is better... I definitely don't need the 85G LE because it's going to be frequently used, and not for collection purposes, I also wonder how useful the (d) version can be over the normal Gs, and I wonder if the 85 original is like the 85G...

Not going the CZ way for now, at least, because right now, only a G glass can please me...

boombox · 13th February 2008

Originally Posted by Rashkae

The 85 original is pretty close... Try asking DewaKarma, he might be able to help.

Thanks for the heads up bro.

Originally Posted by tankm

something to get you started

CZ85 Field report... http://dyxum.com/columns/articles/le...4CZ_review.asp

CZ85 vs Minolta 85G(D)...
http://dyxum.com/columns/articles/le...nolta_85mm.asp

"D" version is useful if you using ADI flash.

Thanks for the link

, those two lens are almost identical optically... though haha, I cannot afford the CZ... might go for the 85G should I really decide to buy it...

Agetan · 18th February 2008

one word of warning though... 85mm G could be too sharp for female subject. You might end up PP those unwanted lines and blemishes... It gets really bad when you shoot "older" female subject and it is under studio lighting.

Better go with cheap consumer grade lens if you don't want any complaint or less PP work. (cheap tamron 28-200 seems to do the job).

Other than that.... the 85mm is a very sharp lens...

Regards,

Hart

11th February 2008	#1
weishengg Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Eastern Singalalapore Posts: 516	What is a potrait lens, really? Hi all, I keep reading that a 50mm F1.4 lens is a "potrait lens". But what exactly do people mean when they say a "a potrait lens"? If it means that it gives a nice bokeh, I actually find that zoom lens give a nice effect just as well, with the added advantage that you can shoot from a further distance But of course, it comes with a slower shutter speed too. So, under what sort of circumstance would a "potrait lens" be favoured over a zoom lens to shoot potraitures? Newbie here, so pardon me if this questions seem odd Cheers, weisheng __________________ Snap snap away!

11th February 2008	#2
Rashkae Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,288	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? It means that it is a lens suited for portraits. A zoom lens will need the subject to stand further away from the background to get the same effect. A protrait lens, which is usually a 50 or 85 prime, will have fantastic sharpness edge to edge, minimal to no distortions and be able to have a clear DOF separation even from eye to eye of the subject if shot at an angle. A zoom lens can't get you all that, though it can come close if it's a 2.8. A high-quality zoom lens like a 70-200G can get great bokeh, etc, but you'd still be limited by a deeper DOF than, say, a 85mm F/1.4 Note: The best length for portrait photography is usually considered to be 50 to 105mm. __________________ Alpha

11th February 2008	#6
boombox Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,136	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? I'd want to try the 85G for a day and evaluate it... it looks like a good companion to the 28-70 and 70-200G... __________________ www.chaoxangel.com

12th February 2008	#10
dotaboy Deregistered Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Woodlands Posts: 296	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? Simply speaking,a prime lense which is able to produce sharpe details and rich contrast.

12th February 2008	#11
catchlights Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Punggol Posts: 10,775	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? traditional studio portraitists practice this way, base on 35mm format, a lens has 50mm focal length are for full length portraits, 85mm for half length portraits, 105mm for bust shot, 135mm for head shot. hope this help. __________________ Shoot to Live, Live to Shoot www.foto-u.com \| www.benjaminloo.com \| email

12th February 2008	#15
Gunjack Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Zimbabwe Posts: 996	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? Some "portrait lens" angle of view on 35mm film camera taken quite a few years back, during my film days hehe... Minolta 50mm F1.4 Minolta 100mm F2.8 Soft Focus Minolta 135mm F2.8 To me all has its purposes. Dont have to follow rules! Haha! __________________ My Nikon Blog My Sony Blog Last edited by Gunjack; 12th February 2008 at 09:07 PM.

18th February 2008	#20
Agetan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 2,595	Re: What is a potrait lens, really? one word of warning though... 85mm G could be too sharp for female subject. You might end up PP those unwanted lines and blemishes... It gets really bad when you shoot "older" female subject and it is under studio lighting. Better go with cheap consumer grade lens if you don't want any complaint or less PP work. (cheap tamron 28-200 seems to do the job). Other than that.... the 85mm is a very sharp lens... Regards, Hart __________________ www.tomato.sg www.bambiniphoto.sg