anyone use a 50mm instead of an 85mm as a portrait lens on crop sensor?

fontmoss

fontmoss

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I used a 50mm for a while as everyone raves about them then tried something wider and much preferred it on crop sensor (closer to 50 field of view that started the whole thing) and started wondering about portrait lenses. 85mm is one of the standard portrait lenses but as its a fair bit longer on crop sensor and a 50 isnt far off 80mm equivalent, wondered if anyone used one instead. pointless/stupid question really but thought I'd put it out there :)
 
I use my 35 all the time but something longer to throw the background into bit more bokeh would be nice. used my 50-150 at the weekend but weighs a bloody ton after a while and would rather a prime lens than a grip to balance it.
 
I love the 85mm lens on full frame. But it is a lot better than the 50mm/1.8, which just isn't so smooth in the bokeh department and is a bit soft wide open. Also the DoF at 1.8 on the 50mm will be longer than at 1.8 on the 85mm, even taking account of the sensor difference. So overall might be better to compare it to the 50mm/1.4.
 
I'm confused by your question/statement, it's seems to be contradictory but it may be brain fade on my part because I don't fully understand the whole crop/ff issues with focal length.

But in answer to your question I use 50mm 1.4 on my crop sensor and like it, but I have never had anything else to compare it to.
 
I use my 50mm f/1.8 as it's what I've got, or the 18-70mm... I'm considering either a Nikon 85mm f/1.8 or a Sigma 50mm f/1.4 AF-S in the near future for the quality of the bokeh. I may rent an 85mm f/1.4 to give the focal length a try (plus I'll never be able to afford that one to buy).
 
ok to clarify:

i was thinking of 85mm f1.8 compared to 50mm f1.4

and I was meaning that 85mm lenses are one of the standard primes used in portraiture but given that on a crop camera this is more like 120mm in old money does anyone use a 50mm on a crop sensor (about 75mm in old money) instead.

maybe its a totally redundant question but given that ive found the field of view on my crop sensor camera is much nicer with a 35mm lens (50mm in old money) than a 50mm, wondered if anyone used a 50 instead of an 85.
 
You already have a fantastic lens in the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 - very versatile for portraits on a cropped sensor. :)
 
fontmoss said:
ok to clarify:

i was thinking of 85mm f1.8 compared to 50mm f1.4

and I was meaning that 85mm lenses are one of the standard primes used in portraiture but given that on a crop camera this is more like 120mm in old money does anyone use a 50mm on a crop sensor (about 75mm in old money) instead.

maybe its a totally redundant question but given that ive found the field of view on my crop sensor camera is much nicer with a 35mm lens (50mm in old money) than a 50mm, wondered if anyone used a 50 instead of an 85.
Click to expand...

have you tried a 135mm focal length for portrature? to be honest its my favourite focal length, the 85mm gives about that on a crop sensor and its lovely to work with.

saying that, i use a 50mm for portraits on a crop all the time and find it excellent. its not far off an 85mm equivelent and gives a nice flattering perspective.
 
I used a 50mm for the rare occasions I took portraits with crop cameras - I found the 90mm just a bit too long to use in my small house. Before that when I used film and now I have a FF body, I use the 90mm when possible, unless I want the reduced DoF that the faster 50mm gives me or the extra stop-and-a-bit of the f/1.8 over the f/2.8.
 
Ive only played with the 50-150 once as a portrait lens, as sdb said very nice althought frigging heavy after a while. 85mm isnt an immediate plan but just crossed my mind about focal lengths and thought id ask, cheers for all the responses.
 
I have always gone for something near to 135 for portraits seems to be perfect for me. Had a Nikon 135 2.8 manual once which knocked spots of anything I ever had. Won a trip to Africa in a Kodak competition with it many years ago.
 
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