Eifion Williams
30/09/2009, 15:06
Most of us now use zoom lenses of some discription for our photography these days, but for Portraiture have you thought of using the old 50mm 1.8 lens that we used to get as standard with our cameras in the old days of film.
50mm prime lenses in the 1.8 size are not that expensive, especially if you can get a second hand one in good condition.One fitted toa digital body with an aps sensor will give you the equivalent of around 75 - 80mm in length along with a fast aperture, enough to throw the background well out of focus. This lenght of lens is generally recognised as the ideal size for portraits , as it does not distort features and it keeps you at a good distance from your sitter , so you dont make them uncomfortable being too close.
Another use for this type of lens is in low light, as it has a large aperture ,it will enable you to shoot when the light goes down.
Of course you will have to zoom in with your legs as the lens is a fixed focal length.
Worth checking out .:camera:
50mm prime lenses in the 1.8 size are not that expensive, especially if you can get a second hand one in good condition.One fitted toa digital body with an aps sensor will give you the equivalent of around 75 - 80mm in length along with a fast aperture, enough to throw the background well out of focus. This lenght of lens is generally recognised as the ideal size for portraits , as it does not distort features and it keeps you at a good distance from your sitter , so you dont make them uncomfortable being too close.
Another use for this type of lens is in low light, as it has a large aperture ,it will enable you to shoot when the light goes down.
Of course you will have to zoom in with your legs as the lens is a fixed focal length.
Worth checking out .:camera: