I just purchased a Canon20D for model shooting (lens sugges)

[Henry Low]

I just purchased a Canon20D and it came with a Canon EF 28-105mm F4-F5.6 lens. The reason why I purchased this camera is because I want to get in to some model shooting... I know this may not be the best camera for the purpose but this is all I could afford to get for now and I wanted to go with digital because because it would give me good workflow speed.

What i need help on is that I would like to know what kind of lens would be appropriate for my purposes... What i plan to do is some outdoor/indoor modeling shots of people... some in motion, some not moving... What would be a good lens to start out for a decent price? Something that is also under 400USD. And if you do guys have a lens suggestion for me, waht would it allow me to do that my EF 28-105 lens wont enable me to do?

Thanks in advance,

Henry

[tim]

Welcome to the forum :) Have a look at this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49519&highlight=portrait) for a few thoughts.

The 20D's a pretty nice camera, I don't think it'll be much of a problem for you :)

[Roy NN7DX]

The cheap 50mm/f1.8 is a great lens and the 85mm/f1.8 is also very popular but might be a bit too long as it acts like a 135mm telephoto on the 1.6x 20D... I'd guess your 28-105mm range covers most of what you'd want but there is more than one grade of Canon consumer lenses...

A lens that is better than the EF 28-105mm F4-F5.6 is the 28-105/f3.5/4.5... $200+ a bit new... Used ones are $150-175...

Also older generation image stabilized (but still quite good) 28-135/IS... $400 or so with $325-350 used ones pretty common...

I’m not up to speed on what 3rd party lenses are in this range and price… I’m sure others will cover them for you…

Welcome to the forum…

[Mthorpe_Davies]

Go buy the 24-70 f2.8 you know you want it.

[Olegis]

Hi Henry and welcome to the club :wink:

The 28-105 is a nice lens, a little bit on a soft side when used wide open, but still very respectable when stopped down. For moder / portrait shooting you'll usually want large aperture openings to create nice blurred backgrounds, so my advise is to look for "faster" lens, or a lens with low f-numbers. For example, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 MkII is excellent lens for shooting models - very sharp at f/2.2 and above. The 85mm f/1.8 is also a great lens - fast, sharp and allows you to compress the facial features in very flattering way. The 50mm is more sutable for full/half body portraits, because of shorter focal length and shorter working distance.

There are of course excellent zoom lenses - Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 being one of them.

[JoeTampa]

The 70-200 f/2.8 is nice for the purpose as well, depending on the type of model photography you're doing.


Personally, for my model photography, I use the 28-200 f/3.5-5.6 USM, the aforementioned 50mm f/1.8, and, in certain cases, the 100mm f/2.8 Macro.


- Joe

[Henry Low]

Hi Thanks for the overwhelming number of very helpful responses guys!

I think from what I heard so far, it would be a good idea to get the 50mm F1.8 MKII lens 4 now. Thats exactly what I will do :)

I will consider getting the other ones too after i get this one and see how useful it is :)

Thanks again :)

[Henry Low]

oh yeah.. tamron lenses... Ive read alot about them. Alot of peopel say they are great lenses, some really disliked the softness of it. From reading all those threads, i get a feeling that maybe Tamron makes some good lenses and some bad ones. Would anyone have any too Tamron suggestions for me?

Thansk

[SSA]

Hi Thanks for the overwhelming number of very helpful responses guys!

I think from what I heard so far, it would be a good idea to get the 50mm F1.8 MKII lens 4 now. Thats exactly what I will do :)

I will consider getting the other ones too after i get this one and see how useful it is :)

Thanks again :)

modeling ? the better option wld be 85mm F1.2.this vil put you in the driving seat

[roanjohn]

BUDGET:

Tamron 28-75 f2.8
Canon 50 f1.8
Canon 85 f1.8
Canon 35 f2

SPLURGE:

Canon 24-70 f2.8 L
Canon 50 f1.4
Canon 85 1.2 L
Canon 35 1.4 L

This is fun!!!

Ro1

[Henry Low]

Hi Thanks for the overwhelming number of very helpful responses guys!

I think from what I heard so far, it would be a good idea to get the 50mm F1.8 MKII lens 4 now. Thats exactly what I will do :)

I will consider getting the other ones too after i get this one and see how useful it is :)

Thanks again :)

modeling ? the better option wld be 85mm F1.2.this vil put you in the driving seat

INteresting SSA, i guess the lower Fstop would provide me even more image bluring in the background. COuld u explain to me more what u mean putting me in the driving seat please? :P

[evilenglishman]

I think the 85mm would be more suitable as a portrait lens than a general purpose "modelling" lens.

[roanjohn]

Hi Thanks for the overwhelming number of very helpful responses guys!

I think from what I heard so far, it would be a good idea to get the 50mm F1.8 MKII lens 4 now. Thats exactly what I will do :)

I will consider getting the other ones too after i get this one and see how useful it is :)

Thanks again :)

modeling ? the better option wld be 85mm F1.2.this vil put you in the driving seat

INteresting SSA, i guess the lower Fstop would provide me even more image bluring in the background. COuld u explain to me more what u mean putting me in the driving seat please? :P

........maybe because it cost as much as a down payment for a car :-)

Ro1

[Henry Low]

Oh yeah, I might also want to add that I will be doing some shots in motion. What I mean by that is that the model that i am taking pictures of would be in motion. I think that probaly would make a difference in the lens that would be appropriate. If so, what should I also consider?

Thanks again, u guys are wonderful. :lol:

[tim]

INteresting SSA, i guess the lower Fstop would provide me even more image bluring in the background. COuld u explain to me more what u mean putting me in the driving seat please? :P

I believe he means it would give you more control. A larger aperature gives more background blur, large aperature is represented by a small F number.

It's probably a good idea to learn a few basics: it's all easy once it's explained. I only learned recently myself. Try this link (http://www.photoworkshop.com/canon/lessons/index.html) or a local library :)

[tim]

Oh yeah, I might also want to add that I will be doing some shots in motion. What I mean by that is that the model that i am taking pictures of would be in motion. I think that probaly would make a difference in the lens that would be appropriate. If so, what should I also consider?

Small F number = more light let in = higher shutter speed available = less blurring of the object in motion. Also have a read up on iso settings, which also reduce the amount of time the shutter needs to stay open, reducing blur of moving objects but also increasing noise in the photo.

[Henry Low]

Oh yeah, I might also want to add that I will be doing some shots in motion. What I mean by that is that the model that i am taking pictures of would be in motion. I think that probaly would make a difference in the lens that would be appropriate. If so, what should I also consider?

Small F number = more light let in = higher shutter speed available = less blurring of the object in motion. Also have a read up on iso settings, which also reduce the amount of time the shutter needs to stay open, reducing blur of moving objects but also increasing noise in the photo.

Thank you for advice. I have looked at books on ISO and apt settings and I had trouble understanding the apt setting stuff... but i think i get the jist of it. :) SO i guess i should spend as much money as i could afford to get a lower F stop lens. :)

[tim]

Thank you for advice. I have looked at books on ISO and apt settings and I had trouble understanding the apt setting stuff... but i think i get the jist of it. :) SO i guess i should spend as much money as i could afford to get a lower F stop lens. :)

If you don't understand those things i'd recommend not buying any lenses yet. Experiment with your current lens, read about photography, and make sure you understand the basics. Your current F4 lens won't do a lot of background blur unless you understand depth of field, maybe have a play with the DOF field calculator linked below.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

If you really want to buy a lens to experiment with DOF and aperatures, get the Canon 50mm F1.8 from http://bhphotovideo.com : it's cheap and you'll learn a lot from it. Even if you get something else later you can sell it, or keep it as a lightweight knockaround lens.

[DocFrankenstein]

Thank you for advice. I have looked at books on ISO and apt settings and I had trouble understanding the apt setting stuff... but i think i get the jist of it. :) SO i guess i should spend as much money as i could afford to get a lower F stop lens. :)
Precisely.

[imagesense]

Oh yeah, I might also want to add that I will be doing some shots in motion.

If that's the case and you are considering an 85mm, the 1.2 may be more difficult to handle. It is heavier and quite a substantial piece of glass to quickly autofocus for action compared to the 85 1.8.

The lens choice for movement will really depend on your camera to subject distance. If you need to follow or pan motion, you may want a wider lens to keep the subject always in your sights.

It will also depend on the look you are trying to create - subtle details or range of motion - translated: tighter shot vs. full body.

Lou

[DocFrankenstein]

Is this gonna be podium shots? When they actually walking all the time and you're having only 2-3 sec to capture them?

[Henry Low]

Is this gonna be podium shots? When they actually walking all the time and you're having only 2-3 sec to capture them?

SOme will be of the subject moving and only having a few secs to capture.. some might be closer up and still, so i guess i could just use my 28-105 F4.6 for the ones that will be closer ands till where i still need the background focused too

[jhankins]

Photography 8th Edition by Barbara London, John Upton, Jim Stone, Ken Kobré, Betsy Brill ISBN 0131896091. I'd spend the money there first (or check out from the library, before investing in a lens. Once you have a good understanding, the decision on a lens will be simple for you. Having said that, in general, with 35mm format, many photographers use an 85 to 105 mm lens (whether a prime (single focal lenth) or zoom with these in the range). This will allow you to work at a comfortable distance from the subject and provide a more flattering picture as you won't have the perspective issue of elongating a nose for example due to camera to subject distance. In your case, your camera uses a 1.6 lens factor which places a normal 50mm lens in that range. Again, read first, practice with what you have, and decide later. My personal favorite is the 70-200mm 2.8 IS L, but this is with full frame. Inside in studio, I always felt cramped when shooting with my 10D (also a 1.6 factor) but full frame was quite nice. Outside where you have a little more room to work with typically, it was a good combo for me. Also a 24-70 2.8L is quite nice. Welcome to the forum Henry!


Jim

[Henry Low]

Thanks Jhankins for ur advice, I will visit my local libirary and search for the book or any similar.

Btw... i use to be studying to become a systems engineer. :)

[jhankins]

I see you've gained some sanity in your life now. (I am in search of a kinder, gentler, less network systems engineering world myself). Good luck in your travels and enjoy the journey!

[dark_avenger]

Hi All,

Do consider the legendary Tamron SP AF90MM F/2.8 Di Macro lens for portraits.

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/90mm.asp


I own one and am very impressed with it, and best of all, where I come from, it costs half the price of the Canon 100mm Macro.



Rgds,
DA



BUDGET:

Tamron 28-75 f2.8
Canon 50 f1.8
Canon 85 f1.8
Canon 35 f2

SPLURGE:

Canon 24-70 f2.8 L
Canon 50 f1.4
Canon 85 1.2 L
Canon 35 1.4 L

This is fun!!!

Ro1

[Olegis]

Tamron SP AF90MM F/2.8 Di Macro lens - where I come from, it costs half the price of the Canon 100mm Macro.

Where is that ? The cheapest price I've found on this lens was $362 (http://deltainternational.com/store/Item_TM902%2E8C.htm), while the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro sells for about $100 more.

[Andy_T]

Henry,

I think the best advice was given in the beginning of the thread ... don't buy any lens just now, experiment with the one you have and learn as much as possible from using it and also on this forum ;-)

So along this lines, one thing more to look at would be this great comparison between the more important 2 of the 3 Canon 50 mm lenses:

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

Best regards,
Andy