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DA* 50-135 or DA* 55 for portrait?

testdasi
Posted 31/03/2011 - 08:00 Link
I originally planned to buy the DA* 55 f1.4 for portrait but now debating whether to get the DA* 50-135 f2.8 instead.
For 55: lighter, more compact, larger aperture, cheaper
For 50-135: more versatile
The versatility is quite an important factor for me (e.g. I bought the 35mm macro limited because it is both normal - good for my style of street photography and a macro) but I'm quite concerned about the f2.8 aperture which is 2 stops slower than the 55 so harder to isolate subject.
What are your opinions?
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jules
Posted 31/03/2011 - 08:20 Link
If you plan portraiture in a studio (Controlled) setting I'd say go 55 F1.4 but you have already answered your own question because you say you want versatility, Which means the 50-135 gets the nod? They are both different lenses of course but if you can afford the 50-135 now I'd say get it! The 55mm is cheaper and you could pick one of those up later for shots that must have F1.4? There are shots that must have F1.4 (When you can't foot zoom or get better seperation using distance with the 50-135), that said I feel that you will manage 95% of the time with the 50-135, I am however biased because I've just bought Davex's...
Cheers Jules...

My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.

www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
LennyBloke
Posted 31/03/2011 - 08:35 Link
They are both amazing lenses, but they are very different. The key difference for me (as you have suggested) is the aperture speed, when focusing on the subjects' eyes I find that f2.0 is often the "look" I am after, I know f2.8 isn't massively different, but that slightly shallower depth of field can be the difference between a "nice" portrait and a "special" portrait".

If you go for the 55mm I would suggest it is from a retailer who is flexible enough to swap it over for another if you are not happy. My first copy was never right - contrast was not good, focus was erratic, my second copy still needs focus adjustment (on a K20D) but is a pleasure to use.

Hope this helps
LennyBloke
DrOrloff
Posted 31/03/2011 - 09:03 Link
I have the 50-135 but I think my choice for portraits would be between that and the 77.
bretti_kivi
Posted 31/03/2011 - 11:16 Link
I have a job for work coming up, taking stills at an event. For that I really, really want a 50-135. Why? Because I can get the candids from a distance, it's f2.8, and the focus will be close enough that with that, a macro, and a 28 or so, I have pretty much every base covered.

For portraits I tend to use my 50, it allows me to get close enough to do nice head / shoulders without needing to be far away.

Bret
my pics: link
my kit: K3, K5, K-01, DA 18-55, D-FA50 macro, Siggy 30/1.4, 100-300/f4, 70-200/2.8, Samsung 12-24/f4, Tamron 17-50, and lots of other bits.
simonkit
Posted 31/03/2011 - 11:56 Link
As an alternative to the DA 55mm it's well worth considering a used FA 50mm 1.4 - at least one review I read suggests there is little difference IQ wise, I'm very happy with the one I've just picked up too.

Simon
Edited by simonkit: 31/03/2011 - 11:57
thoughton
Posted 31/03/2011 - 12:33 Link
Don't forget that the DOF (which gives you the subject isolation you desire) will get smaller the longer your lens.

So for a subject 10 feet away, the 55mm @ f1.4 will give you a DOF of 0.56 feet.

For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet.

You could also save a fair bit of cash by looking at the Sigma 50-150 f2.8.
Tim
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
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Stuff - Metz 58 AF1, Cactus v4, Nikon SB24, Raynox 150, Sigma 1.4x TC, Sigma 2x TC, Kenko 2x macro TC, Redsnapper 283 tripod, iMac 27”, Macbook Pro 17”, iPad, iPhone 3G
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jules
Posted 31/03/2011 - 13:29 Link
thoughton wrote:
Don't forget that the DOF (which gives you the subject isolation you desire) will get smaller the longer your lens.

So for a subject 10 feet away, the 55mm @ f1.4 will give you a DOF of 0.56 feet.

For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet.

You could also save a fair bit of cash by looking at the Sigma 50-150 f2.8.

Seconded, get one while you can, the new one won't be four hundred quid!
Cheers Jules...

My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.

www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
MrCynical
Posted 31/03/2011 - 14:14 Link
thoughton wrote:
For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet

True, but to get the same composition (e.g. to get the person's head and shoulders in the frame) you'd need to be roughly twice as far away.

EDIT: Torn over whether to get the Sigma 50-150 before they disappear. I liked the handling (and especially the AF speed) when I had two, but I did go through two without getting one that focused properly. Plus I already have the 100 macro. Isn't LBA lovely?
Edited by MrCynical: 31/03/2011 - 14:19
Posted 31/03/2011 - 17:53 Link
I have the 50-135 and do a lot of portraits, both available light and studio.
I also have a 55mm (not a DA but an F1.8 M model)
Yes the 55 is a nice length but it is limited in its application, but gives you that shallow DOF (also it may give you the effective FOV of an 83mm, but it is still a 55mm lens and will act as such)
Personally, I would go for the 50-135 as it is a lot more versatile and it is'nt a compromise. In fact I would go to say it is the finest Portrait zoom out there.
Some Cameras
beginner
Posted 31/03/2011 - 18:12 Link
Has to be the 50/135....A superb lens!....Ken
K20D...ist DS ,DA18/55,DA16/45.DA* 50/135,"A"1.7 50MM..."A" 70/210..M 50mm f2...Tamron 90mm macro,28/300 Tamron,200/500 Tamron 6.9....A Pentax DA*300... Sigma10/20,FA31mm 1.8 Ltd*********,FA 77mm Ltd!
jules
Posted 31/03/2011 - 22:24 Link
Offertonhatter wrote:
I have the 50-135 and do a lot of portraits, both available light and studio.
I also have a 55mm (not a DA but an F1.8 M model)
Yes the 55 is a nice length but it is limited in its application, but gives you that shallow DOF (also it may give you the effective FOV of an 83mm, but it is still a 55mm lens and will act as such)
Personally, I would go for the 50-135 as it is a lot more versatile and it is'nt a compromise. In fact I would go to say it is the finest Portrait zoom out there.

Agreed! I seem to be agreeing with a lot of people today
Like I say though I am a bit biased currently toward the 50-135...
Cheers Jules...

My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.

www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
Smeggypants
Posted 31/03/2011 - 22:48 Link
50-135 is a stunning lens
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
Mannesty
Posted 01/04/2011 - 00:04 Link
Don't forget that the DA* 55mm 1:1.4 is a SDM only lens. It has no screw drive AF so it'll be an MF lens on older bodies.
Peter E Smith - flickr Photostream
Don
Posted 01/04/2011 - 01:04 Link
I am content to use the 35 2.4 (my new favorite) the 50 1.4, 85mm 2.2 soft and 100mm macro... for primes, and the 10-17, 16-45, and 28-70 f4 for zooms... for most portrait shoots.

if I had to choose between the two the op mentioned I'd grab the 50-135.
Fired many shots. Didn't kill anything.

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