Which lens for portraits similar style to those that venture do

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missmoloko

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Hi

What is a good lens for taking portraits. I want to do portraits like the ones venture do. Has anyone got any tips on the right lens at the moment I'm using sigma 28-300 f5-6.3. I find it sharp on when taking close ups but when I zoom out not so good.

Any advice grateful.

Missmoloko
 
Hi Missmoloko,

Which body is this for? There is no correct answer for this as a lot of it depends on personal shooting preference. A common answer is using maybe a 50mm on a cropped body to get 85mm equiv. Others prefer something longer at maybe 100-110mm.

If you're looking to buy a new lens and budget is an option then personally I'd opt for a 50mm 1.8 as it's cheap but very usable.

Hope that helps.
 
It depends on what camera you are using. I see you have a 5D which is full frame and a 20D which has a crop factor. That will give you two equivalent focal lengths for any given lens.

I've had a look at venture website and a lot of them look to be quite tight portraits. That gives you the choice of shooting with a shorter focal length and getting quite close or using a longer focal length and staying further away.

That will be dictated by lighting. Will you be using studio lights? If you are I'd recommend a longer focal length such as 70-200mm or an 85mm f1.8 (absolute bargain lens) on the 20D. That way you can shoot from slightly further back and not get in the way of the lighting.
 
an ideal lens for this type of sitting is a sigma 24-70 f 2.8. The 24 -105 canon zoom would be another on
 
Hi

Yes I am using studio lights as well. I have four interfit stella lights. I have been using two at the front and two to try and light the background. I have been using my 5d camera. I have a sigma 18-50mm f2.8 lens also. Do you think then I should use this on my 20d for group shots and then use the other on my 5d just for the close up shots. I can't get that far back either as I am limited on space.

Missmoloko
 
Hi

When I say venture style what I actually mean is with the white background and fun photographs not your old fashioned posed one. Sorry should have made myself a bit more clear. I don't mean with the colours looking awful though.

missmoloko
 
artona said:
an ideal lens for this type of sitting is a sigma 24-70 f 2.8. The 24 -105 canon zoom would be another on
Click to expand...

I've got both of these on a 5D and to be honest I'd be way too close for the head shots that venture produce. They're great for 3/4 but not really tight portraits unless you crop in pp. The 24-105mm would be Ok on the 20D.

I'd be looking at 70-200mm for that kind of tight shot from about 8ft away.

Try the Sigma you have on the 5D at about 180mm and see if that would work for you range wise. :)
 
Hi the 18-50 is'nt compatible with my 5d. I do have a canon 28-135 lens also. I will have to have a fiddlw with them all. I just tend to put the 28-300 on because of the focal range. But as I am finding its not any good when I zoom out. THanks for the advice I will have a play them all. I do have a 70-200 f2.8 lens but I find it so big and heavy I don't like using it.

missmoloko
 
yes of course no problem. I must get over my problem of things being too heavy I know its crap.

Missmoloko
 
If you have decent lights and a seperately lit white background, set the the camera at F8 and 1/125 sec and you should get decent sharp photos with even a kit lens.

Or am I talking rubbish?
:shrug:
 
missmoloko said:
yes of course no problem. I must get over my problem of things being too heavy I know its crap.

Missmoloko
Click to expand...

im just around the corner from you! ill take it from you :thumbs:

i got a 24-70 2.8 L for portrait work and its awesome for that kind of thing! super sharp! its a little heavy but quality glass!
 
well, I've looked through this thread and there are some good suggestions.

I will add, that space constraints could mean you'd need something wider than a 70-200. So a 24-70 or 24-105 on your 5D would be a good all round lens. You can get some wide shots and zoom in and physically move closer to your subject for the tighter shots. If you find the 70-200 to heavy then you can cross that off your list straight away. If the subjects don't mind you getting a bit closer to them.

If you have good quality glass, the rest is down to the photographer. I recently done a studio session all on 24-70 (on a 1.3 crop body). I had a 70-200 but didn't need it on the last occasion.
 
By the looks of it you have most length ranges covered at the moment, so see what focal length suits and buy a lens based around that!
 
Hi

I've been shooting on F8 1/200sec does this sound ok to you guys. Would it make much difference if I shoot at 1/125 sec instead.

Missmoloko
 
missmoloko said:
Hi

I've been shooting on F8 1/200sec does this sound ok to you guys. Would it make much difference if I shoot at 1/125 sec instead.

Missmoloko
Click to expand...

F8 will give a good DoF for non-linear family portraits.

The only time you would need the difference between 1/125 and 1/200 is if the subjects were running and flapping around as you took the picture. Even then, 1/250 or above would be more suitable if you wanted to freeze the image.

If people are moving at 'normal' speeds, 1/125 is fine.
 
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