Best portrait lens for closeup headshots ?

[Silverbeam]

Dear Clubsnappers,

I'm a newbie in photography but trying to learn as much as I can and would love to hear your views and opinions on the above. I'm using a 450D with a 50mm f1.4 for my current portraits mostly of my family under indoor lighting conditions. The lens is great, nice bokeh and quite sharp from f2.0 and up. However, I find the lens less satisfactory for closeups or perhaps it is more likely that I'm not doing something right.

When I try to get closer for more intimate shots of the face and head, the 50mm f1.4 prime has a very narrow DOF and parts of the face or hair will lose sharpness. The lens is also soft wide open which is the tradeoff for producing the best bokeh. When I stop the lens down, there is better DOF and sharpness, but then motion blur comes in with the slower shutter speed -- basic problem as children will never sit still. What's the solution ?

I've been thinking about using a 100mm f2.8 macro lens instead of the 50mm f1.4. Is this the best solution ? On a cropped camera, it would function like a 160mm telephoto. Is that likely to be too long for the 450D and I'll have to stand on the opposite side of the room ? How about the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM ? Not clear to me how this would be different from the macro lens other than being a bit faster at f2.0. What about zoom lenses ? Are any of them good for closeup headshots ? How would the 24-105mm f/4L IS perform at the telephoto end ? Too slow for indoor shots of moving kids ?

Sorry I'm only asking about Canon lenses, I just know even less about other manufacturers but I'm fully open to suggestions. If assuming there's a budget of up to $2000, what would you suggest is the best lens for closeup work ? If there is no such thing as the "perfect" lens, then I would rather sacrifice bokeh for sharp pictures of the face which would cover most of the frame and have little background to blur anyway.

Thanks very much for your time and patience, greatly look forward to hearing from your experience and expertise.

All the best,

Silver

[Headshotzx]

My indoor portraits nowadays are 85mm + 580EXII flash. 50mm + flash also works, but a bit slow (1.8 version) to focus.

[calebk]

With a longer lens, you are getting:

i) shallower DOF
ii) more evident camera-shake

so how does a longer lens solve your problem?

Honestly the 50mm is your best working solution for headshots. If you really want something longer (very low chance of actually solving your problems), go for the 85mm. Anything longer than that is really quite unworkable indoors (unless you have a very big house).

[amosfoo]

i've got the 50mm f/1.8 and its pretty alright. been thinking of getting another prime for portrait so i reckon that it'd be the 85mm f/1.8 USM. that'll probably be equivalent to roughly 135mm on a FF.

since you've got a healthy budget of 2k, you've alot of choices. go rent a few lenses to try them out to see which best suits your shooting requirements and/or restrictions. might wana get a flash with that money too! =)

[pictureperfect]

Get a better body that can produce low noise images with high ISO? =)

[engrmariano]

theres nothing wrong with your 450D & 50 1.4 combo. the problem is your LIGHTING.

go get an EXTERNAL FLASH.

[engrmariano]

Originally Posted by pictureperfect Get a better body that can produce low noise images with high ISO? =)

totally disagree.

[Doughnuts]

Hey, this is an interesting argument? does a high end body give better noise reduction as to compared with a crop camera? I'm always thinking its the lens that does the magic in low light?

Originally Posted by engrmariano totally disagree.

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by Doughnuts Hey, this is an interesting argument? does a high end body give better noise reduction as to compared with a crop camera? I'm always thinking its the lens that does the magic in low light?

High-end body has better noise reduction compared to low-end. D300 vs D80, for example, or 5D/40D vs 450D. Plus you got higher ISO range too.

[CaptainBarbel]

i thought its only because of the high ISO range, that is why those type of bodies have an advantage, other than that, the combination of 450D and 50mm should suffice for portraits.

[catchlights]

To TS,

you need high shutter speed, use additional light, get a flash or install more lamps in the room.
you need hair and ear also in focus, use smaller aperture,
you need more blur background , use longer focal length lens

you need to use longer focal length lens, find a indoor place has bigger area

[kitfox-sg]

hi,

I'm interested to know too, what sort of a focal length is good for this? 85? 100? 135?

[ferrai]

Originally Posted by kitfox-sg hi, I'm interested to know too, what sort of a focal length is good for this? 85? 100? 135?

It all depends on your own personal preference. for me, i find that a 50 1.4 is good enough on my 20D

[Silverbeam]

Dear all,

Thank you for your valuable insights, I am beginning to think as well that solving the lighting issue will be most critical aspect. Time for me to go learn about all the different flashes etc. So far my newbie experience has been that flash can be quite harsh, but I'll look around to see if there are now versions that give a more "natural" effect. Kids also don't like flash that much and can find a strong one painful to the eyes. I did try switching on all the lights indoors but it just isn't enough. Better lighting should indeed allow me stop down, get everything in focus, do a closeup on the subject, lower the shutter speed and reduce blur etc.

Always wondered how they did it in the glamour magazines and cosmetics advertisements, with all the nice closeups of the face sharply in focus. Just realised they always use loads of lighting.

Much appreciated and all the best,

Silver

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by Silverbeam Dear all, Thank you for your valuable insights, I am beginning to think as well that solving the lighting issue will be most critical aspect. Time for me to go learn about all the different flashes etc. So far my newbie experience has been that flash can be quite harsh, but I'll look around to see if there are now versions that give a more "natural" effect. Kids also don't like flash that much and can find a strong one painful to the eyes. I did try switching on all the lights indoors but it just isn't enough. Better lighting should indeed allow me stop down, get everything in focus, do a closeup on the subject, lower the shutter speed and reduce blur etc. Always wondered how they did it in the glamour magazines and cosmetics advertisements, with all the nice closeups of the face sharply in focus. Just realised they always use loads of lighting. Much appreciated and all the best, Silver

professional photographers, plus professional models, with professional gear, also professional lighting set up, together with professional stylist and not forgetting professional DI, and all and all come with a very professional rates.

[charlesleong]

in studio, they meter the light to shoot at f8. that requires a lot of pLofessional equipment and expertise.

[GavinTing]

Originally Posted by charlesleong in studio, they meter the light to shoot at f8. that requires a lot of pLofessional equipment and expertise.

Must remember though, pLofessional equipment without the pLofessional expertise may not give pLofessional results.

[photofreek]

Originally Posted by GavinTing Must remember though, pLofessional equipment without the pLofessional expertise may not give pLofessional results.

Agree

[alternatve]

Originally Posted by catchlights professional photographers, plus professional models, with professional gear, also professional lighting set up, together with professional stylist and not forgetting professional DI, and all and all come with a very professional rates.

Don't forget the three Ps

Professional

Post

Processing

Great to eliminate all those blemishes... No need for plastic surgery!

Samuel

[kencfk]

I use my 100mm Macro for close up head shots. Tack sharp!