bassman
journeyman
Reged: 19/03/2008
Posts: 53
Loc: lancashire
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When I used to take a lot of fairly close portraits of my chidren I used a nikkor 105mm lens.I was advised that this was the best lens for portraits and I was very happy with the results using film.I am confused as to what is the standard digital portrait lens,
I have a nikon d80 with 18-70 and a 50m 1.8 lenses.I am baffled by the various reports I have read on Amateur photograher.Some say a lens of say 50m is always a 50m lens but with a slightly smaller field and others that in effect it now becomes more like a 70m lens when used with the smaller sensor on the D80.
An answer to my problem would be much appreciated.
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4967
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
Some say a lens of say 50m is always a 50m lens but with a slightly smaller field and others that in effect it now becomes more like a 70m lens when used with the smaller sensor on the D80.
Both are true(ish) - the focal length of the lens does not depend on which body it's attached to, but the field of view does.
The usual "multiplier" for the Nikon DSLRs (except the D3, and the new D700) is 1.5 so a 50mm lens on a D80 remains a 50mm lens but has the same angle of view as a 75mm lens would have on a full frame body.
As for what is the "right" focal length - that's at least as much a function of the way you work as it is of the lens & camera. If you are used to working with a 105mm lens on a full frame body then try working with the 18-70 zoom set at 70mm. You may find that, even used wide open, this will give rather more depth of field than you are used to, but that is one of the compromises that a smaller sensor entails.
If you still have the 105mm Nikkor then that will work very well, but you will have to stand further back because of the smaller angle of view.
The books say that the ideal focal length for portraits is around 80mm on a full frame camera. This is very close to the same field of view on your 50mm f/1.8 lens, and by opening it up you will be able to get a shallower depth of field than you can with your zoom.
Either way, I don't think you need to fork out shedloads of cash on glass - you should be able to do a good job with what you have.
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Nod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/04/2006
Posts: 4328
Loc: Devon, UK.
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A 50mm lens is always a 50mm lens. On a MF body it will be a wide angle, on a 35mm (or a full frame digital) body it will be a "standard" lens and on an APS-C body it'll be a slight telephoto - with a similar angle of view to a 75-80mm lens fitted to a 35mm camera.
To get the same field of view you used to like from your 105mm lens using a film (35mm) body, you'll probably want a 70mm lens, although I would try the 50mm f/1.8 and see what you think of the results from that. Do you still have the 105mm? If so, see what you think of that as a portrait lens on the D80.
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MATWSIJ.....
To avoid being offended, please insert apropriate smiley.
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geepee
Reged: 26/09/2002
Posts: 1539
Loc: Bolton, Gt Manchester
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The focal length of the lens does not change, but the angle of view does with a smaller sensor than 35mm film, you are effectively getting a crop as compared to a 35mm neg and is usually referred to as a crop factor. So for my Canon 30D which has a 1.6 crop factor a 50mm lens will give the same shot as a 50 x 1.6 = 80mm lens.
I believe that most Nikons have a 1.5 x crop factor, but yuor manual should tell you this.
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Graham CRIPN 
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bassman
journeyman
Reged: 19/03/2008
Posts: 53
Loc: lancashire
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thanks to all for your assistance.No unfortunately I sold my 105m lens with my fm body when I bought digital equipment.
I am of course looking for a lens that will produce head and shoulders shots as we see the face and without distortion.As advised I will try both my zoom and fixed 50m lenses at 70m equivalent and at various f stops and see which results I prefer before giving any thought to a new lens.
Still a little confused ,if my 50m lens is now the equivilant of a 70+mlens then is my 18-70 actually 27-105 when used on my d80 with 1.6 sensor
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4967
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
Still a little confused ,if my 50m lens is now the equivilant of a 70+mlens then is my 18-70 actually 27-105 when used on my d80 with 1.6 sensor
The D80 is 1.5x crop factor. So the 18-70 mm lens has the same angle of view as a 27-105 mm lens on a film/full frame body.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
As advised I will try both my zoom and fixed 50m lenses at 70m equivalent and at various f stops and see which results I prefer before giving any thought to a new lens.
In absolute terms and certainly at anything around f5.6 or less I would very much expect the 50mm to be superior. At normal print sizes once the 18-70 is closed down by a stop or two there may not be that much critical difference.
As I said in this reply to another thread you can use almost any lens for portrait work as long as you know what you are trying to achieve. Some 'togs would never use anything other than an 85mm (on film) while others swore by 100 or even 135mm lenses and I believe 200mm was not unpopular. A lot depends on the 'tog, the subject and the relationship between them. If a subject is made uncomfortable by the proximity of a photographer using a short telephoto like the 85mm then a better result may well be achieved with a 135 or even longer. IMO there's probably no 'right' lens for portraits - only the right lens for the situation...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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bassman
journeyman
Reged: 19/03/2008
Posts: 53
Loc: lancashire
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Thanyou,I now understand the variance between full frame/film and my D80.I think I will take a few shots with my nikon film slr and then without moving the tripod I will place the same lens on my D80 then I can print the shots and the difference in angle of view will be apparant.
I would agree with the point that your subject should feel comfortable and a medium telephoto is certainly more likely to achieve this.
I very much want my potraits to look natural and in the right perspective ,it would seem therefore that as long as I steer clear of wideangles most good lenses between 50m and say 135m should produce satisfactory results.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
I very much want my potraits to look natural and in the right perspective ,it would seem therefore that as long as I steer clear of wideangles most good lenses between 50m and say 135m should produce satisfactory results.
Agreed, wide angles are generally best suited to environmental portraiture though I have seen examples where they have been successfully used for more 'formal' portraits - though you need a subject who really doesn't mind the lens practically being stuffed up their nose.......
Personally I'd still include lenses up to the 200mm (or equivalent) as they are particularly good for head and shoulder shots and shots where you really want to separate the subject from the background.
Like any subject the more you photograph it the more you learn about which lens is need to do what.
Good luck!
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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NorthernNikon
Bulls Hitter
Reged: 16/12/2005
Posts: 6167
Loc: Harrogate, North Yorks
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Quote:
Quote:
I very much want my potraits to look natural and in the right perspective ,it would seem therefore that as long as I steer clear of wideangles most good lenses between 50m and say 135m should produce satisfactory results.
Agreed, wide angles are generally best suited to environmental portraiture though I have seen examples where they have been successfully used for more 'formal' portraits - though you need a subject who really doesn't mind the lens practically being stuffed up their nose.......
This was shot on a 20mm lens on a 1.5x crop D300
In a shot like this, I feel the distortion of the wideangle adds to the image but it does depend on your subject.
To add another recommendation, I've just ordered the Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 zoom as a portrait lens. This will give me a similar angle of view as a 70-200mm on an full frame DSLR/35mm body. I should receive it before noon tomorrow so will have the weekend to try it out and report back before I head off to Edinburgh for the Festival.
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www.BarneyAllen.com the new home of ComicShots.
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bassman
journeyman
Reged: 19/03/2008
Posts: 53
Loc: lancashire
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great photograph!Just hope I figure it all out a touch faster than the guy on the right did .Adds a whole new meaning to full frame though doesnt it.
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