Lens Decisions/Opinions

[rji2goleez]

I know these kind of questions are quite subjective but at the same time, quite helpful. I'm trying to decide on the purchase of one or two Primes for my 10D. I currently have the 50mm f/1.8, a Tamron 28-70 XR Di, and a Tamron 70-300 f/3.5-5.6 with Macro.

I love shooting macro but not sure if I'm thrilled with the Tamron above so I'm considering the Canon 100mm f/2.8 and the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8. At the same time, I've read good reviews regarding the Canon 85 f/1.8 and the 135 f/2L. The latter I would use for close in portrait shots.

Am I better off getting one of the dedicated macro lens (and which one) and double its use as a portrait? Is the 135mm on a 10D too long for portrait and candids?

Any and all opinions appreciated . . .

[rdenney]

rji2goleez wrote:

Am I better off getting one of the dedicated macro lens (and which one) and double its use as a portrait? Is the 135mm on a 10D too long for portrait and candids?

Any and all opinions appreciated . . .


In my opinion, even the 100 is too long for portraits, though it's fine for telephoto candids. I like a focal length of 1.5 to 2.25 times normal for portraits, with 1.5 for group shots and 2.25 for head-and-shoulders portraits. For a full-frame 35mm camera, that is 65 or 70 on the short end and 95 or 100 on the long end. For a 15x23 camera like the 10D, for which a 28mm lens is normal, that would be 45 on the short end and maybe 65 on the long end.

Thus, for many portrait applications, your 50/1.8 is just about ideal, it seems to me. The 1.4 might render backgrounds more smoothly, but I think you'll have to stand a long way off to get most portrait shots with even the 85, let alone a 100. That long distance to the camera will flatten perspective a bit too much, it seems to me.

Consequently, I'd abandon the portrait application for a new lens and go for something your current lenses just flat-out can't do, and that's 1:1 macro. Macro work is quite satisfying with the 10D because it requires a good bit of practice and a measure of luck, both of which nenefit greatly from the immediate feedback.

The work I see with the Canon 100/f2.8 macro lens is so good I can't imagine getting anything else if that's what I wanted to do. You'll never regret getting a lens that good. And it will do just fine if you need a longer lens for candids.

Rick "who bought a 50mm/2.5 macro to satisfy both portrait and macro applications on the 10D" Denney

[rji2goleez]

Thanks for the perspective! I guess I feel like the 50mm doesn't always get me close enough but if it serves best as a portrait, I can always use the 100 macro for candid close face shots. That seems to be a pretty good compromise. It was how I was leaning all along but I really like the reviews of the 85mm as well.