What prime for portraits on a crop body?

skyline_kid

skyline_kid

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Chris
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Looking at getting some new glass, really like my prime lenses and was looking at the 85mm F1.4 as i've heard amazing things about it, and i really like the narrow DOF. Thing is would this be too long on a crop sensor and i'd be better off going for a 50mm 1.4 or is 85 ok?

Chris.
 
It depends where you intend to shoot. I'd go with the 50mm to be safe if you're planning on shooting in relatively cramped places indoors. You can always move closer in if you want to get tighter.
 
I think 85mm is better for portrait work outdoors in good light even on a crop body makes for a great wedding lens, it's on my shopping list.

Indoors both the 35mm & the 50mm for those tighter shots.
 
50 is more flexible will let you shoot longer portraits or get closer for tighter

85 will be better for headshots/ longer ranges
 
im thinking about the same thing, as said the 50 will give you equiv of about 70mm lens whilst an 85 is like an 135mm lens. depends what you want to do and space you have. 85 will be great for headshots and having a lot more (better? blurrier?) bokeh in the background whilst 50 is more versatile and better for full body etc


or get a 50-150 lens :D
 
Isnt the whole 85mm thing to do with making more flattering face shapes?

An 85mm on a crop body is still going to give you the same effect, just your field of view is going to be smaller.
 
Cheers guys, might just go for the 50mm AF-D the 60mm AF-S would have been ideal i think but want a wider aperture.

Chris.
 
on a d300 - i'd go for a 50 1.4. the 85 is a bit too long for portraits on a crop. on FF its something stunning

Hugh
 
It amuses me when people talk about portrait lenses on crop bodies and start talking about 85 to 100 mm lenses,for the 70 odd year history of 35mm it has been accepted that the perfect portrait length is around 80mm so on a crop body you are surely looking at a 50mm lens to give you a 75-80mm equivalent
 
the 50mm 1.4 on a D300 is fantastic.

not tried others to pass comment but the DOF at 1.4 is stunning
 
desantnik said:
Isnt the whole 85mm thing to do with making more flattering face shapes?

An 85mm on a crop body is still going to give you the same effect, just your field of view is going to be smaller.
Click to expand...

Have a look at this:

http://photo.net/nikon-camera-forum/00QSIy

Thats describing some of the things I have read before... I'm sure its been discussed on here (probably here because I read more on here than I do elsewhere on the net about photography!)

Its not about the quality of the glass, there is more to it than that.

As for having enough room, I guess when they talk about portrait photography in its classical sense, they mean in a studio, which should be sized accordingly!
 
I have a similar dilemma.

I have a D300, 50mm f/1.8 and just got myself a 17-55 f/2.8. I agonised over buying that because I've always considered the 90-105 (35mm eqiv) range to be ideal for portraits.

So, 50/55mm seems a little short but 85mm seems a little long. Is there a good, wide portrait lens somewhere in between?
 
CaptainPenguin said:
It amuses me when people talk about portrait lenses on crop bodies and start talking about 85 to 100 mm lenses,for the 70 odd year history of 35mm it has been accepted that the perfect portrait length is around 80mm so on a crop body you are surely looking at a 50mm lens to give you a 75-80mm equivalent
Click to expand...

50mm gives you the foreshortening/compression of a 50mm lens on any sensor.

What changes with sensor size is the amount of image you capture - its like looking into your house through your letter box (crop sensor view) compared with standing in the same position with the front door open (full frame view) - its the angle of view that changes not the focal length.

Using an 80mm lens on both cameras will give a pleasing level of subject foreshortening/compression - i.e. more flattering portraits than at wider focal lengths.
 
Hurrah! Someone has actually mentioned what I was on about!
 
nfulcher said:
50mm gives you the foreshortening/compression of a 50mm lens on any sensor.

What changes with sensor size is the amount of image you capture - its like looking into your house through your letter box (crop sensor view) compared with standing in the same position with the front door open (full frame view) - its the angle of view that changes not the focal length.

Using an 80mm lens on both cameras will give a pleasing level of subject foreshortening/compression - i.e. more flattering portraits than at wider focal lengths.
Click to expand...

So basically it's a compromise whichever length you go for on a crop body? :shrug:

Chris.
 
I'd move away from a prime and look at something like the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8. Cracking lens and you get the scope of being able to adjust the focal distance dependant on the situation/your requirement. :)
 
gresleysteve said:
I have a similar dilemma.

I have a D300, 50mm f/1.8 and just got myself a 17-55 f/2.8. I agonised over buying that because I've always considered the 90-105 (35mm eqiv) range to be ideal for portraits.

So, 50/55mm seems a little short but 85mm seems a little long. Is there a good, wide portrait lens somewhere in between?
Click to expand...

a zoom lens would be an option, the 24-70 or 50-150 or anything that covers most of the focal range:thumbs:
 
skyline kid: no, not compromise, you just really don't want to use a short lens...

sdb123: Or something a little sharper, like say the 70-200VR... but perhaps 2.8 glass isnt actually fast enough for indoors, unless you are lighting it up and of course the shallow DOF from even wider apertures will give that soft bokeh that this style of photography requires.
 
The reason i'm looking at primes it the wide aperture for narrow DOF, tbh i'm interested in the kind of stuff luke does, the street photography. capturing people unposed, doing what they do, i may just go for both. i have a sigma
24-70 F2.8 which is fine for studio work.

Decisions, decisions.:shrug:

Chris.
 
go out and use the 24-70, then review your images and see what you use the most, then get the closest prime to suit:)
 
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