Portrait lenses above 50mm

Regarding the crop factor and image distortion, although a 50mm lens remains a 50mm lens that has nothing to do with perspective distortion. Perspective relies entirely on the distance we are from the subject, nothing else. A 50mm lens will require us to move back to get all the subject in (compared to using it on a film camera) so the perspective will change.

The classic portrait lens would be the 55mm f1.4 (equiv 85mm approx) or the 70mm (equiv 105mm) or the 77mm (equiv 120mm) - I've rounded those comparison figures to actual focal lengths that used to be available as portrait lenses.

Thanks for clarifying that John. I think people get mixed up between lens distortion and perspective distortion.

The 70mm is great value now at £359!

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-70mm-F2.4-Limited-Lens.htm...

Thank you John, I can see that now. We have to move back with our APS-C SLR to get all of the subject in the frame, compared to an old full frame SLR camera using the same lens. Therefore, because we are further away, the perspective distortion will be less. I think that's it.

You've got it Dave!

Yes, at 50mm on a crop sensor the distortion is just about disappearing, but can still play havoc with facial features and can be unflattering.

I just need something a bit longer but not that long that I am restricted with movement if in a tight environment.

Very interested in the Voigtlander 58mm but the ones I see on eBay are new - is there a previous (cheaper) model as these aren't cheap.

The onbvious choice is the 70mm f2.4 Limited, which gives an equivalent view to a 105mm on film.

Apologies I'm a bit late coming into this thread.

Back in the summer I was looking for a decent portrait lens for my K-5 and having read a few very good reviews, including John's own excellent review (is this only available to Pentax User Plus Members?) I choose the DA70mm F2.4 limited. For performance, build quality and value for money is was for me undoubtedly the best choice.

While I have not used it a huge amount I have been very pleased with it and it is now ever cheaper (Currently on offer in SRS for £359! - I paid £385 for mine in July).

Price buster listing & graph here.

Glyn

The DA Macro 100mm is utterly fantastic for portraits, but the focus can be be annoying I usually end up switching to manual - hopefully a lot faster with less back and forth hunting on the K5

It's on ePHOTOzine as well and fully accessible there.

I love my 77mm ltd for portraits!..it's amazing!...had to save the pennies for a while but it was worth it!

If your on a really tight budget then the good old FA28-80 would fill a gap till the funds are available for something else and you could pick one up for peanuts.

I found it ideal for portraits at 80mm on a full frame film body, and lets not worry about sharpness, you dont really want to show every wrinkle and pimple do you

It looks like I really need the 70mm Ltd.... but some other cheap options to look at before I can justify the cost of the 70mm, is there such a thing as "just one more lens" as I've been saying that for about a year...

What I do like is the technical expertise on this forum, I asked a similar question on talkphotography about a year ago and then had to spend about 12 pages of posts trying to explain what perspective distortion was...

the 50 1.4 with af 1.7 teleconverter is nice...

How much is one of those teleconverters?

Have you considered to just use a bit more distance to the subject and crop the image in PP?

Difference between 50mm and 57mm is not that massively big that it can't be solved with a crop in PP.