Portrait lens for Canon 450D?
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm a novice photographer with a Canon 450D and I'm not familiar with camera terminology, so please bear with me!
I only tend to use the camera pre-set modes and I like the effect of selecting "close-up/flower mode" and zooming into the subject so that the background goes blurry. A camera sales assistant once mentioned that I might want to explore a f1.8 fixed focus portrait lens.
I have found a f1.8 50mm lens and a f1.8 85mm which is much more expensive.
For indoor shots, would the Canon 50mm f1.8 be a decent buy for me?
If so, should i go for the mark II at about £70 or the brand new one at £85?
I'm a novice photographer with a Canon 450D and I'm not familiar with camera terminology, so please bear with me!
I only tend to use the camera pre-set modes and I like the effect of selecting "close-up/flower mode" and zooming into the subject so that the background goes blurry. A camera sales assistant once mentioned that I might want to explore a f1.8 fixed focus portrait lens.
I have found a f1.8 50mm lens and a f1.8 85mm which is much more expensive.
For indoor shots, would the Canon 50mm f1.8 be a decent buy for me?
If so, should i go for the mark II at about £70 or the brand new one at £85?
OP - Once you force yourself away from the 'settings' and play with shutter priority etc, you will really start to have real control over the final image.
Have a play on here - http://camerasim.com/apps/camera-simulator/
It really is quite simple once you understand what does what.
Have a play on here - http://camerasim.com/apps/camera-simulator/
It really is quite simple once you understand what does what.
FreeLitres said:
Hmm someone advised me that it's worth spending the extra for the 85mm f/1.8. It's looking about £250 vs the 55mm £85
Is it really worth the extra for a novice like me? Has anyone tried using both?
You can use both, but 85mm on a crop body for indoor shots is very very tight.Is it really worth the extra for a novice like me? Has anyone tried using both?
Get the new nifty fifty ( 50mm f1.8 STM) its a great lens and not expensive. You can always add the 85 later or sell the 50 and change, but tbh a decent 50 is always always usable.
RobDickinson said:
You can use both, but 85mm on a crop body for indoor shots is very very tight.
Get the new nifty fifty ( 50mm f1.8 STM) its a great lens and not expensive. You can always add the 85 later or sell the 50 and change, but tbh a decent 50 is always always usable.
Tight for what? Distance away from the object? One reviewer said you have to be 4 meters away, does that sound right?Get the new nifty fifty ( 50mm f1.8 STM) its a great lens and not expensive. You can always add the 85 later or sell the 50 and change, but tbh a decent 50 is always always usable.
I will be using it to take photos of my toddler and baby so it needs to be fairly close ~ 2 meters I would guess
FreeLitres said:
Tight for what? Distance away from the object? One reviewer said you have to be 4 meters away, does that sound right?
I will be using it to take photos of my toddler and baby so it needs to be fairly close ~ 2 meters I would guess
Tight in general. You can always move closer with the 50, you cant always move bach with the 85 (indoors).I will be using it to take photos of my toddler and baby so it needs to be fairly close ~ 2 meters I would guess
If you want just head/face shots the 85 may work, and kids/babies are easy going as they are smaller subjects. But remember longer lens means you will be further away for the same framing is all.
FreeLitres said:
Tight for what? Distance away from the object? One reviewer said you have to be 4 meters away, does that sound right?
It depends on how much you want to get in the frame. The issue here is not closest focus distance but angle of view. 85mm has less than 50mm.FreeLitres said:
I will be using it to take photos of my toddler and baby so it needs to be fairly close ~ 2 meters I would guess
OK, try to get away from the idea of 'close', what's important is how much you have in the frame. Think about the framing you want = how much angle of view you need = focal length. If you want head/shoulders then 85mm will do. But really, just save yourself the money and get the 50mm and step forwards a pace. You might struggle to get a full length photo of a toddler in, say, a bedroom, with the 85mm.I assume you have the kit lens? Put that onto 50mm and see what its like in situations you are thinking of. The 50 prime will have the same field of view ( but faster optically, sharper etc).
The 85mm will have near half of the field of view the 50mm will have ( 31 degrees for the 50, 18.8 degrees for the 85).
The 85mm will have near half of the field of view the 50mm will have ( 31 degrees for the 50, 18.8 degrees for the 85).
Dogsey said:
I've just ordered the new Yongnuo 35mm f2 lens as generally I find my Canon 50 f1.8 too long for casual shots indoors (on a crop body). It's had some pretty reasonable reviews for a lens that's available for less than £70.
I was just about to say exactly the same thing.The f1.4 50mm was my first prime when I had a crop body, and I was always 'leaning back' to frame things.
I found that the Sigma 30mm prime was a better 'fit' for shooting indoors. If you're slightly too wide you can always crop, but you can't stitch back someone's chopped off head when you miss the moment as your lens is too long. Especially important if you are shooting kids as the blighters always move.
Out of left field, I have a 6D now, and my new favourite lens is the Canon 40mm f2.8.
I say 'favourite', in that I've got the superb 85mm Sigma f1.4, 50mm Canon f1.4 and the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 for portraits, but the 40mm was the weapon of choice to make the 6D compact enough for hand-luggage, and carrying round all day.
It's tiny at about 1.5cm thick, so the camera hardly looks like it's got a lens on it. The glass at the front is small, and recessed away from the front so you don't have to be anal about putting the cap back on. I'd stop down to at least f2.8 for most things with the other lenses so f2.8 is not a problem.
In terms of IQ and sharpness it's at least the equal of the Canon 50mm f1.4, and the Sigma 30mm f1.4 (both £300 lens) and it only cost me £110 from Amazon. A bargain.
Yes, at f1.8 you could get more light into the 50mm prime, but shooting indoors in a normal sized room at f1.8 the sweet spot is so thin that even if you do manage to get decent focus, if your child's nose is in focus, the rest of their face will be slightly out. If you're slightly out to begin with, you'll end up with a very soft shot.
JustinP1 said:
Dogsey said:
I've just ordered the new Yongnuo 35mm f2 lens as generally I find my Canon 50 f1.8 too long for casual shots indoors (on a crop body). It's had some pretty reasonable reviews for a lens that's available for less than £70.
I was just about to say exactly the same thing.The f1.4 50mm was my first prime when I had a crop body, and I was always 'leaning back' to frame things.
I found that the Sigma 30mm prime was a better 'fit' for shooting indoors. If you're slightly too wide you can always crop, but you can't stitch back someone's chopped off head when you miss the moment as your lens is too long. Especially important if you are shooting kids as the blighters always move.
Out of left field, I have a 6D now, and my new favourite lens is the Canon 40mm f2.8.
I say 'favourite', in that I've got the superb 85mm Sigma f1.4, 50mm Canon f1.4 and the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 for portraits, but the 40mm was the weapon of choice to make the 6D compact enough for hand-luggage, and carrying round all day.
It's tiny at about 1.5cm thick, so the camera hardly looks like it's got a lens on it. The glass at the front is small, and recessed away from the front so you don't have to be anal about putting the cap back on. I'd stop down to at least f2.8 for most things with the other lenses so f2.8 is not a problem.
In terms of IQ and sharpness it's at least the equal of the Canon 50mm f1.4, and the Sigma 30mm f1.4 (both £300 lens) and it only cost me £110 from Amazon. A bargain.
Yes, at f1.8 you could get more light into the 50mm prime, but shooting indoors in a normal sized room at f1.8 the sweet spot is so thin that even if you do manage to get decent focus, if your child's nose is in focus, the rest of their face will be slightly out. If you're slightly out to begin with, you'll end up with a very soft shot.
I'd concur with that Mr Will.
The 24mm and the 50mm - the new f1.8 STM one can both be had for £100ish. That would be more flexible than the one 40mm.
I'd use the 24mm inside, and the 50mm when you've got more space outside, or when can sit at least 2-3 metres away inside. Then you can also start considering using the wider apertures of the 50mm.
The 24mm and the 50mm - the new f1.8 STM one can both be had for £100ish. That would be more flexible than the one 40mm.
I'd use the 24mm inside, and the 50mm when you've got more space outside, or when can sit at least 2-3 metres away inside. Then you can also start considering using the wider apertures of the 50mm.
Bear in mind that the shorter the lens, the harder it will be to achieve a flattering photo.
Have a look at:
http://www.stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/lensdisto...
to see examples of the distortion you could get.
Have a look at:
http://www.stepheneastwood.com/tutorials/lensdisto...
to see examples of the distortion you could get.
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