5Dmk2 Lens choice for FULL body shoot

Ok im starting to branch out my photography now and im looking to get into full body shots, ive got one setup soon in a hotel room for a valentines day type shoot.

Full body shots required obviously and some interesting scenes im sure! anyways...


My kit is: 5dmk 2, sigma 50mm 1.4 (absolutely AWESOME lens), canon 17-40L and 70-200L f4.

I like using the 17-40 but not for every shot as its going to give some weird/unnaturally exaggerated features etc (might be nice for one or two arty etc shots) but as a general full body portrait lens all i have is my 50mm! This may be fine normally but in a hotel room its quite restricted space so....

What lens would you guys suggest if the 50 is too tight? ive been looking at a 28mm 2.8(budget is a big issue sadly ) or there is the 24mm 2.8 prime as well, about the same price. Or any other suggestions?

EF 35 f/1.4L

I have both the 35L and the 50 f/1.4. The colors and the overall sharpness is much better on the 35L, if you think the 50 f/1.4 is an awesome lens, the 35 will blow you away.

DL.Photography wrote in post #11763752
EF 35 f/1.4L

oh of course, but as i say i dont have 1.5k im looking at a good deal less than that!

what's your budget?

You might look for a used EF 24-70 f/2.8 -- I really like that lens for indoor shooting for its versatility.

setsuken wrote in post #11763732
...

What lens would you guys suggest if the 50 is too tight? ive been looking at a 28mm 2.8(budget is a big issue sadly ) or there is the 24mm 2.8 prime as well, about the same price. Or any other suggestions?

50mm is too tight, IMO.

If budget is an issue, consider the 35 f/2. I bought it planning to replace it with the 35L, but I like so much that I've got no plans to upgrade at this point...

The 35 f/2 is definitely a good cheaper alternative for FF lens

Get a larger hotel room. Seriously. Exaggerated perspective is a matter of distance, not focal length, and if it's too tight to frame the full figure with 50mm, it's just too tight, period, to avoid exaggerated perspective unless you're extremely careful to keep all her limbs in the same plane parallel to the sensor, and then it will be restricted.

Get a bigger hotel room.

If you are shooting a woman for a valentines shoot you need to go longer...85mm minimum. No joke. The wider the lens the fatter the person looks. In fact people who are not fat at all can look very unflattering even at 50mm on a full frame. You want a woman to like your pictures go as long as you can and back the hell up. The longer the more flattering. If you think you are going to go wide angle and do full body you are going to hate the results. I promise.

24-70 would sound like a nice option if f2.8 is wide enough for you.

Not sure if you have the budget for it though.

budget is around £300 ish, i am considering the 35mm canon f2 lens however, what about the sigma 30mm 1.4? is it comparable?

setsuken wrote in post #11764216
budget is around £300 ish, i am considering the 35mm canon f2 lens however, what about the sigma 30mm 1.4? is it comparable?

-> that is rather limiting...
I'm sure you know this site? http://www.the-digital-picture.com/ - it has a nice lens comparison tool.

DetlevCM wrote in post #11764227
-> that is rather limiting...
I'm sure you know this site? http://www.the-digital-picture.com/ - it has a nice lens comparison tool.

it does but i prefer real world views from people here if possible! ive found a decent 30mm sigma from onestop digtal (yes i know theyre in hong kong) but their prices are reasonable and the lens is only 276 there (grey market). Alternatively the 35mm canon variant is the other choice, just need to know which is better!

Use your 17-40 between 30 and 40mm. Whatever is necessary for the intended framing. Try to stand as far from the subject as possible to avoid distorted perspectives (which is your problem in small rooms, can't really fix this by changing lenses). If you can frame a full body at around 35mm, you should be pretty safe.

DetlevCM wrote in post #11764167
24-70 would sound like a nice option if f2.8 is wide enough for you.

Not sure if you have the budget for it though.

Renting the 24-70 would be an option. It's a quality lens and, assuming there is lighting for this f/2.8 is plenty wide, and it covers the range of the 24, the 35 and the 50 (through 70 for closeups)!

I'm all for primes for a static scene that you have control of but if there is a need for a lot of changes in things like field of view and subject distance I do love me a good quality zoom!