what do you like for portraits?

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vinke
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p.1 #1 · what do you like for portraits?

the head and shoulders type? and for event photography, indoors and out. plays, baseball, soccer and tennis?

nikkor 135/2
or
nikkor 85/1.4

for use on d700.

Nov 07, 2009 at 05:30 AM

clickmepp
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p.1 #2 · what do you like for portraits?

Nikkor 85/1.4

Nov 07, 2009 at 07:32 AM

matsu131
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p.1 #3 · what do you like for portraits?

I like right in between. 105DC.

Nov 07, 2009 at 08:56 AM

Ivo Heshusius
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p.1 #4 · what do you like for portraits?

85/1.8 or 70-200/2.8

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:22 AM

gugs
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p.1 #5 · what do you like for portraits?

70-200VR, 85 1.8, sometimes 105VR

Guy

Nov 07, 2009 at 09:10 PM

like_this
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p.1 #6 · what do you like for portraits?

2/135mm DC and AF-S 2,8/24-70mm @ DX.

I sold my 1,8/85mm after I had bought the 24-70mm. 85mm is not far away from 70mm. (furthermore the closest focusing distance of the 85mm is no better than 85cm

, but the closest focusing distance of the 24-70 is 38cm!

)

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:16 PM

gugs
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p.1 #7 · what do you like for portraits?

like_this wrote:
2/135mm DC and AF-S 2,8/24-70mm @ DX.

I sold my 1,8/85mm after I had bought the 24-70mm. 85mm is not far away from 70mm. (furthermore the closest focusing distance of the 85mm is no better than 85cm

, but the closest focusing distance of the 24-70 is 38cm!

)
I agree, the focusing distance can sometimes be an issue, but using the 85mm is more discreet and much less obtrusive than using a wider lens like the 24-70 (you need to be closer, sometimes too close to the subject, that's the reason why I like the 70-200VR so much for portrait)

Guy

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:43 PM

Oasisbill
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p.1 #8 · what do you like for portraits?

105mm f/2.5. (on a D700). I find MF is fine for portraits.

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:51 PM

Guidenet
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p.1 #9 · what do you like for portraits?

I fell more in love with my 85 f/1.4 after going full frame. It's not quite as tight as a longer lens might be, but it still out-performs most anything, for me.

I also use an old AI-Converted 105 f/2.5 for portraits and it does a wonderful job with beautiful backgrounds.

All in all, if I go to someone's home for a baby shoot or portrait, which isn't that often, I bring the 35 f/2, the 85 f/1.4 and a 300 f/2.8 as well as that 105 sometimes.

But, any lens can be a good portrait lens in a given situation. I've even used a fisheye a few times and a 500mm at other times. It depends. I don't believe that the magic 85 to 135 range is as important as some make it.

Nov 07, 2009 at 10:53 PM

williamcarter
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p.1 #10 · what do you like for portraits?

Some earlier thread may provide more information:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/804371/0#7425608

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/793567/0#7315134

Nov 07, 2009 at 11:27 PM

billkoe
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p.1 #11 · what do you like for portraits?

I like the 150 on my Arca Swiss but you can see a portrait (below) shot with a 80-200 on an F4.

Bill
photo-synthesis

Nov 08, 2009 at 12:07 AM

williamkazak
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p.1 #12 · what do you like for portraits?

105 F2DC. I used to use the 85mm F1.8 but the 105DC is stellular.

Edited on Nov 10, 2009 at 02:07 AM · View previous versions

Nov 08, 2009 at 06:05 AM

trenchmonkey
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p.1 #13 · what do you like for portraits?

Oasisbill wrote:
105mm f/2.5. (on a D700). I find MF is fine for portraits.
+1 and the 58 f1.4 when choosing MF glass. Favorite AF lens is the 70-200 f2.8 VR

Nov 08, 2009 at 11:03 AM

ecidi
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p.1 #14 · what do you like for portraits?

Nikon 105 f2.5 ais lens and 85 1.8 lens

Nov 08, 2009 at 12:37 PM

nikt
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p.1 #15 · what do you like for portraits?

Between those two lenses, the 135 f2. I love the 90mm tamron on the crop bodies which gives the same angle of view. But of course there are differences.

I used a 135 f1.8 on a full frame Sony and it was pretty bloody excellent.

Nov 08, 2009 at 01:02 PM

Andre Labonte
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p.1 #16 · what do you like for portraits?

Cute kids or good looking females!

Nov 08, 2009 at 01:34 PM

dj dunzie
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p.1 #17 · what do you like for portraits?

Andre Labonte wrote:
Cute kids or good looking females!

AMEN!

For lenses, there's a lot of good ones... for me, I like:

300mm f2.8 VR Nikkor - most amazing bokkeh
150mm f2.8 EX Sigma Macro - incredible sharpness, nice OOF
85mm f1.4 - nice OOF, shorter length

... but if I had the 105VR I might throw it on this list too.

Nov 08, 2009 at 04:24 PM

HapZungLam
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p.1 #18 · what do you like for portraits?

85mm is doing extremely great when shooting the person from head to waist. I found it a little hard to control when I use it to shoot full body due to the softness at f1.4. If i want to have a clear picture at full body shot, I must step down my f stop to 2.8 or more maybe even f4.

Nov 08, 2009 at 07:25 PM

vinke
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p.1 #19 · what do you like for portraits?

HapZungLam wrote:
85mm is doing extremely great when shooting the person from head to waist. I found it a little hard to control when I use it to shoot full body due to the softness at f1.4. If i want to have a clear picture at full body shot, I must step down my f stop to 2.8 or more maybe even f4.

this was exactly what i found when i tried the lens out.

i'll go w/ the 135/2 and call it day. thanks for the opinions all.

or the 100/2. back to the store to try em out.

Nov 09, 2009 at 06:26 PM

allstarimaging
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p.1 #20 · what do you like for portraits?

On the FX sensor for head and shoulders I would have to say the 85 1.4 is tough to beat. Nice focal length, easy to handle, and balances great on the D700.
Jack

Nov 10, 2009 at 12:25 AM

Chestnut
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p.1 #21 · what do you like for portraits?

I love my 85/1.4 on film and FX. Have used the 105/2.8 before for tighter headshots, and have never tried a 135. I also use the 70-200 quite a bit for portraits, but still prefer the 85/1.4.

Nov 10, 2009 at 01:37 AM

vinke
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p.1 #22 · what do you like for portraits?

allstarimaging wrote:
On the FX sensor for head and shoulders I would have to say the 85 1.4 is tough to beat. Nice focal length, easy to handle, and balances great on the D700.
Jack

nice shots.

Nov 10, 2009 at 02:25 AM

vinke
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p.1 #23 · what do you like for portraits?

Chestnut wrote:
I love my 85/1.4 on film and FX. Have used the 105/2.8 before for tighter headshots, and have never tried a 135. I also use the 70-200 quite a bit for portraits, but still prefer the 85/1.4.

fwiw...i'm not interested in zooms or micro/macro lens like the 105.

what i am, now, interested in is the 105 f/2 dc.

Nov 10, 2009 at 02:28 AM


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