Archive 2013 · Lens Choice

deinfaces
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens Choice

Most recent blog post: How to Choose a Lens for Street Portraiture
Bob
http://deinfaces.com/blog/2013/8/10/how-to-choose-a-lens-for-street-portraiture-381-08-11-13

Aug 11, 2013 at 06:26 AM

CW100
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens Choice

deinfaces wrote:
Most recent blog post: How to Choose a Lens for Street Portraiture
Bob
http://deinfaces.com/blog/2013/8/10/how-to-choose-a-lens-for-street-portraiture-381-08-11-13

yes, a prime between 45 - 90mm on a crop are good choices for "street" portraits

Aug 11, 2013 at 11:15 AM

Charlie Shugart
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens Choice

Interesting thoughts.
May I add my $.02:
The only thing that affects perspective is the distance between the camera and the subject- in this case, a person.
The lens choice does not affect perspective.
The "ideal" distance for a typical head/shoulders portrait is usually between 7-12 feet.
Any closer and you get distortion (i.e. a big nose).
Any farther and you lose the "depth" part of a person, and the face flattens out.
This makes a mid-range zoom the perfect lens for most photogs.
The optimal position of the photographer is between 7-12 feet (whichever looks best to you, i.e. if you want a tight head shot, or if you want a shot from the waist up).
Then zoom to make the composition you want.
Of course, people can stray from this model if they want- but distortion will always accompany the straying- no matter what lens is used.
Getting in tight (say 3-feet) and low- and using a wide-angle lens- may or may not be "artistic," but it definitely will not flatter the subject.
Unless the subject is a clown

.
And that changes everything

.
Charlie

Aug 12, 2013 at 03:14 PM

deinfaces
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens Choice

Thanks, CW.

Thank you, Charlie, for your observations. Yes, the problem with a wide angle lens is that the photographer will get closer to fill in the frame, thus distorting the face.

Aug 12, 2013 at 06:35 PM

Evan Baines
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lens Choice

Just something to note:

A prime lens is a lens of fixed focal length.

A telephoto lens is a lens where the focal length is longer than the physical length of the lens. Note that while most long lenses in 35mm land are telephoto, not all long lenses are telephotos, so the terms are not exactly interchangeable.

A zoom lens is a lens with multiple focal lengths.

You seem to be conflating telephoto and zoom in your article. Many of the best telephoto lenses are also prime lenses.

Aug 12, 2013 at 06:46 PM

Adam73
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lens Choice

I like my 70-200mm F2.8 on a full frame.

Aug 12, 2013 at 06:51 PM

deinfaces
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lens Choice

Adam, with that rig, you are the envy of a lot of photographers. I wouldn't want to tote that around on the streets for hours, but I'm sure that you get terrific images with it.

Aug 13, 2013 at 06:27 AM

Adam73
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lens Choice

The new Nikon 70-200 F4 is very nice as well. A little smaller and more manageable.

Aug 20, 2013 at 06:10 PM

Langran
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lens Choice

I find another factor in my work (admittedly not street photography) when it comes to lens choice is how I want to be viewed by the subject. If I want to stroll into a job and look like a big shot to 'prove' I was worth hiring I'll start with a 70-200 f2.8. Big lens and it's white, makes an impact. If my subject is shy I'll start with a 50mm prime, much less intimidating. It's not the be all and end all but it's a definite consideration.

Aug 21, 2013 at 12:06 AM


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