Quick question about portraits

[PJ]

I have a EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro

I was wondering if it would be any better for Portraits than the 50mm 1.8.

thanks

PJ

[drisley]

I would say no.

However, it should still be very good.

[leony]

same compression. different appereture, hence different DOF. There's not much difference in DOF between 2.5 and 1.8 - they're almost identical for all practical purposes.

Be careful when shooting portraits wide open - your DOF is very shallow... if the nose is sharp, eyes might be blurry. just something to keep an eye on.

[DaveG]

I have a EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro

I was wondering if it would be any better for Portraits than the 50mm 1.8.

thanks

PJ

As silly as this will sound, if there's a problem it's going to be that the lens is too sharp! Most people don't want to see the detail in their skin and it's likely that you will with this lens. Still that's why god made Gaussian Blur.

As for the aperture I don't think that it matters. I usually shoot portraits with studio lighting at around f5.6-f8. That gives me enough depth of field so that the subject's entire head is in focus but the background isn't. With any of the 50mm lenses their widest aperture is moot when you stop it down.

[PJ]

I appreciate the info all.
If it wasn't for these forums I woulden't know a damned thing about equiptment.

Thanks again