Portraits

Can I ask you guys? Which is your preferred lens for portraits and why this is? If you could add the odd photo for further interest so much the better. Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards Ian

Any lens can be used for portraits, depending on the type of portrait that we want.

However, for a realistic and flattering result the preferred length would be a fast (bright) short telephoto. On full frame that would be 85mm (the classic portrait lens), 100mm (my favourite choice) or 135mm (getting a little long).

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Best regards, John

For my pooch portraits my go-to lens is the FA* 85mm 1.4. It never fails me.

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Peter



My Flickr page

I tend to use anything from a 45mm / 85mm F4.5 zoom ot a 150mm F2.8 on medium format or an 85mm F1.2 on full frame.

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Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

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K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM

FA* 85 for me too. I'm an idiot for selling mine (in anticipation of the new D-FA* 85) and I'm putting the feelers out for a replacement.

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All the gear with no idea

Pentax are masters of the portrait length lens (IMO) - the FA77, FA*85, A*85 are probably the pinnacle, but the K and M 85's are no slouches either. I have to say that since the DFA*50/1.4 arrived I tend to use this one for portraits rather a lot

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LennyBloke

I'd also like to add that the FA77 didn't really impress me on my recent trip with the KP. It felt very challenging to use and wasn't so great in high contrast areas. It's quite long on APS-C which also reduces its usefulness.

On the K-1 it's a completely different animal and really shines on the larger format.

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All the gear with no idea

It seems given the degree of perspective compression that occurs when shooting a face with a lens greater than 50mm focal length that 80-100 mm is most flattering.

So that says it all, in formal portrait photography the positive enhancement of prominent facial features is real; prominent noses and chins, for example can subtly benefit from the perspective compression of a longer focal length. Candids portraits are better taken with a medium length zoom

So I shoot portraits on primes at 80 to100 mm as a rule but will shoot up-to 200mm.on candids.

Eg’s in my portfolio

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Daronl

Fish-eye lenses can prove quite interesting for the opposite effect!

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John K

For me it is the 50mm f1.7. On both the istd and K70 this seems to give the best results. Probably best on istd as can be a little too sharp on the K70.

Paul

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Paul

K1000, Espio 140, ist, istD, K70, K3iii and numerous lenses, just don't tell my wife.

Are you talking of the 1.7 50mm lenses the old manual focus lens?

Some cracking photos there thank you for sharing

ian

The Sigma F1.4 50mm was very good when I owned one.

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Andrew

"I'm here because the whiskey is free" - Tyla

PPG link
Flickr link

I often use a Sigma 70mm macro lens with good results.

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The older I get the faster I was.
Dave
K-3 II, K10D, DA16-85, DA*50-135, DA12-24, DA18-55, DA 50, Sigma EX DG 70mm Macro, Sigma 70-300mm, Sigma DG 120-400mm APO HSM.
Metz 58 AF-1.

My Flickr link

DA 70mm Limited?

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Just passing thru