50 mm VS 85 mm FOR PORTRAIT??

[trek 9.8]

Hello, I' ve seen lots of thread about 50 and 85 mm lenses while talking about portrait. Isn't the 85 mm a bit much? Is it for head and shoulder only? It looks like a 50 MM would be better.


Thanks for advices

Trek 9.8

[beachbum2277]

What camera are you using?

[Sam]

If I only was able to shoot with one lens it would be the 85mm. I shoot with a 1.6 crop body camera too. If you have the room to back up 85mm is fine for more than head shots.

You'll get a varied opinion on this one I would guess. Try them both out and see what you like for your needs. If you are shooting inside a lot 50mm may be too long for you too.

[beachbum2277]

If I only was able to shoot with one lens it would be the 85mm. I shoot with a 1.6 crop body camera too. If you have the room to back up 85mm is fine for more than head shots.

You'll get a varied opinion on this one I would guess. Try them both out and see what you like for your needs. If you are shooting inside a lot 50mm may be too long for you too.


Exactly what I was going to say. The 85mm may be too much on a 1.6 crop body, but like Solinger said, if you've got the room, that lens is awesome for portraits.

[Sam]

You can find much better examples of image quality with this lens, but I had this handy. It's a full body shot with the 85mm. I cropped it down to a 4x5 crop too.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/tborquez/SSUDT/2007/040107SSUDT00.jpg

[Vinni]

On a crop body I like the 50mm for informal (full body) and the 85mm for formal (crop at chest) shots.

[Titus213]

I keep thinking I should swap my 85/1.8 for a 50/1.4 because of the distance required for the 85. But then I look at the results I get from that lens and think that perhaps I should just ADD a 50/1.4 to the kit. Or something in the 35mm range.

This image I posted recently of one of our grandsons was taken with the 85/1.8 indoors. Fortunately I'm a big fan of the close-up portrait.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=305368

[Sam]

Two more,

One recent
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/tborquez/March%202007/033107Lexi01.jpg


One not.
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/tborquez/October%202006/Tiff/102006Tiff08.jpg

I did end up buying a 35mm for wider shots that require me to be close to the subject despite the fact that I had a 50mm already. 50 really isn't that wide.

[trek 9.8]

I got a canon 30 D with the kit 18-55 & 75-300 mm.
They are ok lenses if you asked me, but not very fast.
It looks like inside there isn't always enough room to back up, though.
I think that a 50 mm would be more appropriate.
Well, I keep on reading



trek 9.8

[Sam]

try this link.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/

It may help in your search.

[beachbum2277]

I got a canon 30 D with the kit 18-55 & 75-300 mm.
They are ok lenses if you asked me, but not very fast.
It looks like inside there isn't always enough room to back up, though.
I think that a 50 mm would be more appropriate.
Well, I keep on reading

trek 9.8


You can always get the 50mm f/1.8. It's dirt cheap, $65 and the resale on it is almost 100% of what you paid. If you buy that lens you can test out the length and the speed of it.