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FORUMS General Gear Talk Flash and Studio Lighting 
Thread started 27 Mar 2006 (Monday) 01:14
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18-55 use for portraits

 
o2happpy
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Mar 27, 2006 01:14 |  #1

Can the 18-55 lens be use for portraits with the correct lighting? Does anyone has pictures using this lens only. As they say, it takes a great photography to take great pictures no matter what equipment that is used. Right?


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tjburns
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Mar 27, 2006 01:19 |  #2

I would suggest this only if its your only option...but that aside, ive seen some great portraits shot with this lens. just give it a go and let us see some results


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tim
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Mar 27, 2006 06:42 |  #3

This lens flares quite badly at times, apart from that it's ok. Use F8 and make sure there's no direct line between your light and your lens and it'll be fine.


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Andy_T
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Mar 27, 2006 06:55 |  #4

What is a portrait ... just a picture of a person (as opposed to a building) or a picture that captures a persons mood, puts him/her in contrast with the environment and makes him/her 'pop'? Both are possible.

Use F8 and backdrops/studio lights in the studio ... or invest 75$ in the EF 50/1.8 and use f/2.8 to isolate your subject from the background.
Be warned, however, this is just the 'entry drug' :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

PS: regarding your signature line ... the EF-S 18-55 is not a lens kit (you can't build other lenses from it), but rather a kit lens :wink:


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SuzyView
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Mar 27, 2006 07:10 |  #5

Picky, Picky! :) It is kit lens, but we were all new once. :)

I have the kit lens and it is fine for portraits in good conditions. If you want to invest in a good lens that isn't so expensive, the 50 1.8 is quite capable and it's only around $80.


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Curtis ­ N
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Mar 27, 2006 09:24 as a reply to  @ tim's post |  #6

tim wrote:
This lens flares quite badly at times, apart from that it's ok. Use F8 and make sure there's no direct line between your light and your lens and it'll be fine.

It might be worth the investment to get a hood for it.

I used it for some party shots yesterday at f/8 and was quite pleased with the sharpness. It doesn't compete with a prime lens, but unless you're making very large prints and want to see every vericose vein in Grandma's cheeks, it should serve you well. You'll need to pay attention to the background, since it doesn't have a large enough aperture to give you nicely blurred backgrounds.


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DocFrankenstein
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Mar 27, 2006 12:21 |  #7

My 18-55 can do 8*12 prints of very fine print quality. I very rarely print larger than that.

As for learning studio lighting and portraiture, you don't need anything else beside this lens. IMO it's better to stop down anyways when you're learning to say f/8 f/11 so that your whole subject is in focus and you're concentrating on lighting/shadows only.

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o2happpy
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Mar 27, 2006 19:11 |  #8

thank you everyone for the responses!! I will try it out!!!


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18-55 use for portraits
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