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10/19/2004 06:52:25 PM · #1 |
A short while ago I bought a canon EOS 300D camera and I now want to buy a lense that works well for shooting portraits! From what I've read (in books) 150 and 180mm are what most portrait photographers are using BUT that's all film...
So my question is, what type of lense would you recomend?
Also what type of lenses fit my camera...I've seen FD and EF from Canon and there are probly tons of others...which can I use and which do you recomend? And do I have to use canon lenses, I've heard there are some company's that make lenses that fit all or some cameras, would you recomend any of them?
WOw I hope someone has the anwsers for at least some of these questions, I want quality but it doesn't have to be THE best since my budget probly doesn't allow that!
Thanks alot |
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10/19/2004 06:55:36 PM · #2 |
The Rebel has a 1.6 crop factor so just divide those figures by 1.6 to get the focal length for a lens to use on your Rebel.
FD are manual lenses and won't work with the Rebel without an adapter. The EF lenses will work without an adapter.
Also, you could get a macro lens at about the 100mm mark and it would work well as a portrait lens as well.
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10/19/2004 06:58:40 PM · #3 |
I don´t know if 150 and 180mm are best for portraits, at least those focal lengths don´t work well for me.
Anyway, I personally use from 50mm to 100mm on a 10D to get portraits/headshots.
Both the 50mm 1.4 (or 1.8 if you want a cheaper version but still good) and the 85mm 1.8 are great lenses for portraits on a 300D and they are going to blow your 18-55 kit lens out of the water. On a full frame camera I would rather go for the 85mm 1.8 or a 70-200 (any version will do but if you want really really short DOF go for either 2.8 with or without IS)
Just my two cents though... |
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10/19/2004 06:59:11 PM · #4 |
you need an adapter for FD lenses. I love my 50mm for portraits, but i'd like to get an 85mm for headshots. They do very well indeed!
I've got a few portraits with the 50. all of the redhead are with the 50 1.8. And the others are with a sigma lens that I find much inferior. Hope this helps.
edit: just remembered I can't post all the photos on there yet.
here are a few direct links.
here
2nd
with the sigma at around 50mm
Message edited by author 2004-10-19 19:05:14. |
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10/19/2004 07:02:25 PM · #5 |
Guðbjörg, with the 300D your choice of lens are great. I'd suggest your first purchase should be the 50mm f/1.8 (mk1 or II) for portrait shots, its a great lens and probably the cheapest purchase of your arsenal.
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10/19/2004 07:03:18 PM · #6 |
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 - fast, reasonable priced and great bokeh
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 - fast, reasonable priced and great bokeh (8 blade rather than 5 blade diaphragm on the 1.8)
Message edited by author 2004-10-19 19:11:33.
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10/19/2004 07:44:55 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by DogAngel:
A short while ago I bought a canon EOS 300D camera and I now want to buy a lense that works well for shooting portraits! From what I've read (in books) 150 and 180mm are what most portrait photographers are using BUT that's all film...
So my question is, what type of lense would you recomend?
Also what type of lenses fit my camera...I've seen FD and EF from Canon and there are probly tons of others...which can I use and which do you recomend? And do I have to use canon lenses, I've heard there are some company's that make lenses that fit all or some cameras, would you recomend any of them?
WOw I hope someone has the anwsers for at least some of these questions, I want quality but it doesn't have to be THE best since my budget probly doesn't allow that!
Thanks alot |
If you are on a budget, get the 50mm f1.8, at $70, it is a steal, and it's great for portraits.
If you have more money to blow, get the 50mm f1.4, it by all accounts a better lens, but costs quite a bit more ~$250, I think.
If the 50mm is not long enough, then the 85mm f1.8 is a good choice, it has a diaphragm specifically designed to give pleasing BG blur. It's about $330
If you really want to go top drawer, get the 85mm f1.2L. it's really nice, but really expensive too. ~$1000 (I think)
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10/19/2004 07:53:52 PM · #8 |
I would keep an eye out on this site for lenses. Great site for quality used lenses.
Message edited by author 2004-10-19 19:54:08. |
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10/19/2004 11:13:59 PM · #9 |
I read recently, here I think but someone referencing somewhere else, that 75mm is about perfect for portraits.
I have the Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro lens, which I love, for portarits and it is great. However, with the x1.6 I have to be too far away for the size of my "studio" if I want to do anything much more than head/shoulders.
I've just purchased a 50mm, got it yesterday, so have not played with it really yet. The 50mm seems far better suited to portraits ... and with the x1.6 becomes in effect an 80mm lens, close to the 75mm that some say is perfect.
I'd agree 100% with what others here have said, go for the 50mm f1.8 or if you can afford it the better f1.4 version.
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10/20/2004 08:25:15 AM · #10 |
Wow thanks alot for all the reply's :) Well I have the 18-55mm that came with the lense and a 35-85mm zooming lense (if I remember correcly, don't have it at the moment), but I would like a lense that makes the background blurred or atleast a bit softer :) Am I looking at the wrong thing here?
I must admit that when I'm taking portraits I mostly use auto *blush* because I'm not that experienced yet that if I'm playing around with other settings I just seem to miss the moments or get the picture all wrong :/ Plus I'm not that good at working the settings yet!
BUT I am reading about a book a day heh (stop beeing able to fall asleep because I can't stop thinking of ways to photograph things LOL no joke...:S) and getting there slowly :)
I'm now thinking of saving a bit and buying an 85mm f1.8 or a 50mm f1.4 :)
thank's again
Guðbjörg |
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10/20/2004 09:09:28 AM · #11 |
For portrait photography I believe Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens is best in the world. But it?s a little expensive (!).
You can go for less expensive lens like Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L USM EF Lens. Only difference between these two lens are IS (Image Stabilizer) and about US$800.00!!!
Originally posted by DogAngel:
A short while ago I bought a canon EOS 300D camera and I now want to buy a lense that works well for shooting portraits! From what I've read (in books) 150 and 180mm are what most portrait photographers are using BUT that's all film...
So my question is, what type of lense would you recomend?
Also what type of lenses fit my camera...I've seen FD and EF from Canon and there are probly tons of others...which can I use and which do you recomend? And do I have to use canon lenses, I've heard there are some company's that make lenses that fit all or some cameras, would you recomend any of them?
WOw I hope someone has the anwsers for at least some of these questions, I want quality but it doesn't have to be THE best since my budget probly doesn't allow that!
Thanks alot |
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10/20/2004 09:21:50 AM · #12 |
I have both the 50/1.8 and 85/1.8. (Oh, and the 70-200/2.8 non-IS..) Each lens is superb in its own right.
Personally I would say the 85mm is too telephoto on a 300D for anything other than head/shoulder shots unless you're standing a good way away. The 50mm performs admirably for such a cheap price (being the same image sharpness as the 70-200/2.8).
Regarding the difference between the Canon 70-200L lenses. As well as IS, the IS version has weather sealing and circular aperture blades. The non-IS has neither. Otherwise they're very similar. I believe the non-IS is also now not being made.
There's a thread on DPC from a while ago with a long post by KevinRiggs on each of the lenses above and how he uses them in his model photography. I can't find it now, but it's WELL worth searching for.
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10/20/2004 09:42:41 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
Regarding the difference between the Canon 70-200L lenses. As well as IS, the IS version has weather sealing and circular aperture blades. The non-IS has neither. Otherwise they're very similar. I believe the non-IS is also now not being made.
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My understanding was that all L lenses were weather sealed, IS or not. |
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10/20/2004 09:43:58 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by Spazmo99:
My understanding was that all L lenses were weather sealed, IS or not. |
Not lenses designed before midway through 1999, I believe. :-(
The reason I queried it initially was my 70-200/2.8 non-IS doesn't have the rubber sealed gasket my friend's IS version has. :-(((
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10/20/2004 09:58:52 AM · #15 |
The 50mm f1.8 will certainly give you the background fall-off that you want, and it is an excellently sharp lens for what you are wanting to do. At $70 it is a great choice for a portrait lens, on a budget.
I also use a 70-200 F4L and a 100mm f2.8 macro lens for portraits, but really those lens focal lengths are more suited to head/ shoulder type
shots.
Some samples with the 50mm f1.8
 
 
Only downsides are that the f1.8 is quite cheaply made, though optically great. The focus speed isn't very fast, but being such a short focal length it actually doesn't have far to travel to focus anyway so snaps in quickly in good light. |
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10/20/2004 10:07:46 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
The reason I queried it initially was my 70-200/2.8 non-IS doesn't have the rubber sealed gasket my friend's IS version has. :-((( |
Paul, You always have your water resistant Optio to fall back on if the rain gets too heavy ;-)
On a serious note I'd go with the 50mm F1.8, you cant go far wrong for the price and you can always invest in a 85mm lens later if you want the extra reach. |
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10/20/2004 10:13:24 AM · #17 |
Tom - Ahh, but is it designer, or is it just lazy?
Gordon - excellent work on those shots, particularly the two sepias.
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10/20/2004 10:26:19 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by PaulMdx:
Tom - Ahh, but is it designer, or is it just lazy? |
Lazy - which seems to be the opinion of the "average" guy on the street. |
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