I think it worth mentioning that you are referring to lenses for a full frame camera. If you use an APS-C camera you would look for different options i.e. a 50mm on APS-C would be the equivalent of a 75mm on full frame. So, on an APS-C camera I would carry a 17-50mm zoom and a 50-150mm zoom - this would give me the widest range of options for taking a portrait. If I was using prime lenses then I would have a 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lens available. I think your remarks about composition are spot on; are you looking solely at the subject of the portrait or are you trying to place the subject in a relevant and intersting background. Great video.
Let me ask you something about that, as I have an APS-C camera. I divided all the focal lengths you mentioned by 1.5 and concluded that they’re available on my kit lens, and did some test shots on a head-sized target. It seems, though, that my maximum aperture is too narrow to get much bokeh. Anything I can do? (Or what might be a more optimal lens?)
Agree with your philosophy that 35mm is about where the subject is and 85mm is who the subject is. You can shoot both wide open at f/1.4 and with 35mm you’ll often get that light background separation which shows where they are without being distracting whereas the 85mm is almost purely about them!
Thank you for a very interesting video and for your open viewpoint on portrait lenses. For children, I like to use 35 mm or wider in order to capture the roundness of the faces. For more mature people, my favorite is 105 mm or higher as I want to use the compression to catch the personality of the subject. Thank you so much for your presentation.
As a M/43 shooter I mainly use the 25, 45 and 75mm lenses. The 75mm is my favorite as I love the compression. This video by the way got me a bit puzzled. I really like all the portraits but I still haven't figured out which of the two models I find more beautiful. The one with the great skin or the one with the great fur. Let's make it a draw 🙂
Great vid! If I ultimately had to choose just one it would be the 85mm. I shoot with the RF 85 1.2 and wowza! Enjoyed your photos in this video! Nice work!
Interesting and I agree with your dividing line at 50mm (full frame) of contextual or not. Looks like the 150-600mm portrait has been edited out? Would be really interested to see it as I tend to like portraits taken with 150mm lenses.
I shoot 24, 50 and 135. I'd like to shoot 35 and 85 instead but Sony is dragging their feet on 85 f/1.2. 50mm is my favorite but I think I know why it tends to be a love it or hate it focal length. It doesn't fall neatly on either side, being environment weighted or subject weighted. It's neither here nor there! So there's some natural balance and tension but most photographers are seeking contrast of all kinds (even percentage of frame) to help tell the story.
I started with a 24-120mm full-frame equivalent lens which was great for video but pretty rubbish for photography. Now I'm on a 35mm f1.8 (full frame) and loving the experience. I think of the 35 as a "subject first"-lens, but which can also show where the subject is, making it quite perfect for environmental portraits. It's also about the widest focal range that won't distort faces too much (in unflattering ways) when you get close :)
MANY THANKS for jumping into the age old debate about the best focal length for portrait photography! Of course it's always a matter of personal choice: In my case, I LOVE my 55mm macro lens which is razor sharp and separates my subject from their backgrounds. 2nd choice is my 55-200mm zoom lens! What say ye? :)
I use 35 and 135 lenses, both I love and adore, although I am often tempted to buy 50 and 85 for this set, currently I save myself that 35 after using super 35 mode in sony gives me something close to 50, but it would be nice to have 50 though :D
My absolute favourite is my 105 mm Macro (Nikon Z) for portraits but I am warming up to the idea for the 70-200 with a bit of foot-work. 2.8 at 200 looks fantastic. I prefer 75 over 85 mil for dreamier Portraits. Now the GFX in my Scope, I might rethink all those strategies 🤣😅 looks like 110 vs 80 and I am very confused. I love 35 for whole body tight shots and 50 for running around at parties or other gatherings to get more people into the frame with enough separation.
I think it worth mentioning that you are referring to lenses for a full frame camera. If you use an APS-C camera you would look for different options i.e. a 50mm on APS-C would be the equivalent of a 75mm on full frame. So, on an APS-C camera I would carry a 17-50mm zoom and a 50-150mm zoom - this would give me the widest range of options for taking a portrait. If I was using prime lenses then I would have a 35mm, 50mm and 85mm lens available. I think your remarks about composition are spot on; are you looking solely at the subject of the portrait or are you trying to place the subject in a relevant and intersting background. Great video.
Let me ask you something about that, as I have an APS-C camera. I divided all the focal lengths you mentioned by 1.5 and concluded that they’re available on my kit lens, and did some test shots on a head-sized target. It seems, though, that my maximum aperture is too narrow to get much bokeh. Anything I can do? (Or what might be a more optimal lens?)
Excellent video like always thank you! ♥️🙌
Where is the 150-600 shot?
Exactly!! Was wondering the same.
Seems to have been edited out?
Agree with your philosophy that 35mm is about where the subject is and 85mm is who the subject is. You can shoot both wide open at f/1.4 and with 35mm you’ll often get that light background separation which shows where they are without being distracting whereas the 85mm is almost purely about them!
I started with an 85mm and just recently purchased a 50mm and love it. I still like the 85, there is nothing quite like it.
informative. video on portrait thanks Park Cameras.
Thank you for a very interesting video and for your open viewpoint on portrait lenses. For children, I like to use 35 mm or wider in order to capture the roundness of the faces. For more mature people, my favorite is 105 mm or higher as I want to use the compression to catch the personality of the subject.
Thank you so much for your presentation.
As a M/43 shooter I mainly use the 25, 45 and 75mm lenses. The 75mm is my favorite as I love the compression.
This video by the way got me a bit puzzled. I really like all the portraits but I still haven't figured out which of the two models I find more beautiful. The one with the great skin or the one with the great fur. Let's make it a draw 🙂
Great vid! If I ultimately had to choose just one it would be the 85mm. I shoot with the RF 85 1.2 and wowza! Enjoyed your photos in this video! Nice work!
85mm for me every time for a close up portrait. nice tutorial.
Interesting and I agree with your dividing line at 50mm (full frame) of contextual or not. Looks like the 150-600mm portrait has been edited out? Would be really interested to see it as I tend to like portraits taken with 150mm lenses.
I shoot 24, 50 and 135. I'd like to shoot 35 and 85 instead but Sony is dragging their feet on 85 f/1.2. 50mm is my favorite but I think I know why it tends to be a love it or hate it focal length. It doesn't fall neatly on either side, being environment weighted or subject weighted. It's neither here nor there! So there's some natural balance and tension but most photographers are seeking contrast of all kinds (even percentage of frame) to help tell the story.
My favourite focal length for portraits is 70mm.
I started with a 24-120mm full-frame equivalent lens which was great for video but pretty rubbish for photography.
Now I'm on a 35mm f1.8 (full frame) and loving the experience.
I think of the 35 as a "subject first"-lens, but which can also show where the subject is, making it quite perfect for environmental portraits.
It's also about the widest focal range that won't distort faces too much (in unflattering ways) when you get close :)
MANY THANKS for jumping into the age old debate about the best focal length for portrait photography! Of course it's always a matter of personal choice:
In my case, I LOVE my 55mm macro lens which is razor sharp and separates my subject from their backgrounds. 2nd choice is my 55-200mm zoom lens! What say ye? :)
I use 35 and 135 lenses, both I love and adore, although I am often tempted to buy 50 and 85 for this set, currently I save myself that 35 after using super 35 mode in sony gives me something close to 50, but it would be nice to have 50 though :D
My absolute favourite is my 105 mm Macro (Nikon Z) for portraits but I am warming up to the idea for the 70-200 with a bit of foot-work. 2.8 at 200 looks fantastic. I prefer 75 over 85 mil for dreamier Portraits. Now the GFX in my Scope, I might rethink all those strategies 🤣😅 looks like 110 vs 80 and I am very confused. I love 35 for whole body tight shots and 50 for running around at parties or other gatherings to get more people into the frame with enough separation.
my gotolenses (on fullframe) are 85mm and 105mm (sometimes i may use 135 and of course i use 50 / 35 on occation to)
6:43. You never showed the final shot from the telephoto.