Which lens?

Briony

Briony

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Nicki.
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I am wanting to take some nice head shots of horses etc and was wondering which lens would be the best for this and why.

Would my kit lens or my nifty fifty do?

Think some serious saving is going to be had :gag:

Thanks peeps. :thumbs:
 
The answer depends on how far away from the horses you will be and what sort of DOF and subject isolation you want. Why don't you try the kit lens (I don't know which one you have) and see how you like the results?

This was shot at 35mm on full frame, because I just happened to have my 16-35 fitted. That's equivalent to 22mm on a crop body. Really anything from there and longer will get the job done, unless you want some bizarre perspective distortion. Shame about the ears but it was just a holiday snapshot. I really wasn't bothered about making a masterpiece.

20100422_133330_3109_LR.jpg


This was shot at 330mm on a 30D....

20070909_141612_0006_LR.jpg


Pick the perspective you want (distance from horse) and then select a focal length to suit. As for aperture, the first shot above was at f/8 and the second at f/5.6. I'm not sure that you would find much use for 50/1.8 for horse portraiture unless you really want most of the head OOF.
 
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I think the 85mm 1.8 would be good for the head shots, its really sharp and throws the background out lovely
 
As above really, how close do you want to / can you get for the shot.

Are you looking for a prime or a zoom lens, if you were to purchase a new lens ?

Also are these indoor or outdoor shots or a mixture ?
 
Any other lens than kit is better ;d

Always stay away form kit lens
 
I would use my 75-300mm If I liked taking horse photos - that is or even my Sigma 105mm macro @f2.8 makes a good portrait lens too ;)

Les :thumbs:
 
Kamilbas said:
Any other lens than kit is better ;d

Always stay away form kit lens
Click to expand...

Thats not always true, there have been some really good kit lenses.

To the OP it is a case of trying and seeing what perspective you like.
 
sthwild said:
:agree: 5D2 comes with 24-105mm which is really good kit lens.
as for the lens choice, I'd go for 85mm or longer, depending how far you want to be:)
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Yeah, the new kit lenses that come with the 550d and 7d are great. The old non-IS 18-55 isn't so great though...
 
Kamilbas said:
Any other lens than kit is better ;d

Always stay away form kit lens
Click to expand...

If thats the case most people would be buying cameras and then putting them in a draw for god knows how many years while saving up for a decent lens.
 
The 50mm would make a good job of it, you have to be spot on with the focus though, it not very forgiving in that sense. Nothing wrong with the kit lens for this type of shot either though.
 
Try the kit lens. An 85 1.8 is a lot of money to shell out if you're not sure about lenses. Possibly try hiring one?
 
I don't find the kit lenses terrible, so I'd try it and see the outcome - also depends on how close you can get to the horse if you want to have a head shot.
 
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