G3- what lens should I get for shooting portraits?

I have a G3 and don't shoot much other than portraits. I don't have a single lens. What should I get? Recommendations?

Your message couldn't be more confusing to me:

* Your subject says "what lens should I get for shooting portraits?" then your message says "I dont shoot much other than portraits," implying that you shoot only portraits. Which is it?

* What does "I don't have a single lens" mean? Are you talking about add-on lenses?

* The G3 is a fixed lens digital -- why are you looking for an add-on lens to shoot portraits?

Kim, shoot with the lens fully zoomed out (tele).

That should be all you need - unless you're after something special.

As "superkully" said said with some telephoto effect on the built in lens. This will tend to flatten the perspective. If you shoot toward the wide angle setting you will introduce distortion to the subject. An extreme example would be pictures taken with a fish eye lens - that is just an extreme wide angle lens.

Then are you saying stand back and zoom in for better portraits? Because if you shoot with the lens 'fully zoomed out (tele)" as "superkully" says, you'll get distortion on portraits.

Is this correct: If you stand back and ZOOM IN (tele) you'll blur the background more on the potraits right? ZOOM OUT (tele) means you may get more distortion of the subject generally.

Oh wow.. Hungry.. your post would make perfect sense if you did not have the word (tele) in brackets after you mention both zoomed in.. and zoomed out.. they can't both be the telephoto end of the zoom. (well at least not with a G3 built in lens)

I realize you did this because you were quoting what Superkully posted.. but now it's all confusing!!

The common vernacular would have;
Zooming "in" is increasing focal length.. or telephto.

Zooming "out" is decreasing focal length, or wide angle.

I beleive Superkully means Zoom in all the way tio the telephoto end for best portrait results with the g3.


Now.. Kim,
The G3 will offer the best results for portrits using the built in lens.. which is not removeable.
For a dedicated protrait lens.. you would most likely be looking at a camera that uses removeable lenses .. like an SLR.. which is what we discuss in the EOS forum.

Thank you! I just always read about people getting new lenses for their cameras and thought it "must be something I need to get!" I'm glad I get to save some money this time! LOL

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't you get better photos with the G3 only zoomed in to about X4 (the limit of the optical zoom) I have noticed that the digital zoom (beyond X4) really does the photo no justice. Maybe thats just me. I only zoom in to about X4 and thats about it...... Also just bought the Rebel XT a while back so now I have more options.... But I still LOVE my G3... GREAT camera.

Everybody is meaning to zoom in with the 4x optical zoom. The digital (or software) zoom is of poor quality and very bad for portraits.
You can take your portraits (or other pictures) and crop in PP for achieving the same effect as digital zoom and IMHO with better results.

Digital zoom is very bad for EVERYTHING -- not just portraits. Turn it off and forget it's there.

Todd

I assume you have an editing program, so just take your shot and crop to fit. Then if it needs a few tweaks like a touch of sharpening or blurring the background, that should do it. The G3 only has 2 auxiliary lenses. Telephoto and wide angle. Check the manual for details.

Todd - I aggree with you 100 %.

Just experiment. Rotate the camera to portrait mode and frame your subject in the viewfinder as you wish. Take a shot at 1X (no zoom) then back away from the subject, go to 2X zoom and frame the subject just as you did at 1X. Repeat for 3X and 4X ( if you can back up far enough, of course) and evaluate the results on your computer or prints. You will probably find a preferred setting. You will also find the results will vary with aperture, especially background blur.

Jim

On the G5, when I did portraits with that camera, I always set the camera to "M", manual, set the aperature to its most open end (3.0 I believe) and stood far enough away to fill the LCD monitor up with the subject... this provided enough background blur and compressed the image nicely. You can get some outstanding shots with your G-cam if you learn all of the options available. You won't need a Tele-extender for portraits.... so you can save your money there unless you want a more "artsy" type shot from farther away to include some of the surrounding scenery. And, can't be stated enough... shut off the digital zoom.... it is completely worthless (Canon should really just remove this option alltogether from their cameras as it is terrible).