Portraits

[capturedexpressions]

Is there a huge benefit to bringing a tripod with you while doing portratis outdoors? I never bring mine unless I want to slow the shutter down for water or traffic type shots. Just curious if the benefit was good enough to justify caring it around. I normally shoot with the 17-55 IS lens and recently bought the 85 mm.

[rowdyred94]

If you want to use your lens in its 'sweet spot' aperture for sharpness, and use low ISO speed, you'll probably want it.

Please use more descriptive thread titles so 5,000 people don't have to come in to see what you're after. Thanks.

[jwtex]

does any one know what the "sweet spot" is on the 17-55?

[CrazyStang]

I may be wrong, but I think it's f/7.

[Mark_Cohran]

You typically have to find it for your particular copy of a lens. MTF charts can tell you what it should be, and as a rule of thumb it usually is 1 to 2 stops down from full open.

Mark

[capturedexpressions]

If you want to use your lens in its 'sweet spot' aperture for sharpness, and use low ISO speed, you'll probably want it.

Please use more descriptive thread titles so 5,000 people don't have to come in to see what you're after. Thanks.


Will do, sorry about that. I'm new to this. Thanks! :eek:

[PhotosGuy]

Is there a huge benefit to bringing a tripod with you while doing portratis outdoors? For one person, you probably don't need it. But for 2 or more people, it does make life easier as you don't have to look through the viewfinder (much) to see what's happening. And if you need to adjust hair or something, you don't have to reframe (much) when you get back to it.

[gasrocks]

Great portraits need the photographer to react to instant changes in expression, lighting and such. If I saw someone outside using a tripodfor a portrait, I'd fell sorry for the person that is posing.