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Archive 2017 · Lens question - New to people photography

  
 
msoomro
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Lens question - New to people photography


For people photography (including but not specifically portraits per se) like indoor family events, challenging indoor lighting, some street work and similar situations which lens would do you recommend (and why) if I can 'only acquire one lens'.

Lens will be paired with D850 and D500.

My "thinking" is 70-200 f/2.8E FL ED VR given its reach, IQ, F/2.8 and also I can use it in my landscape work. Does it make a good choice?

What other options do you suggest?

thanks
msoomro



Oct 14, 2017 at 03:22 PM
Vcook
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Lens question - New to people photography


you said indoor, that would be a tough fit for the 70-200. From your description of needs the 24-70 sounds like a better fit.


Oct 14, 2017 at 04:01 PM
sonofjesse2010
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Lens question - New to people photography


With them two bodies, what other lenses do you have currently that would help in our "pick".

What is your budget?



Oct 14, 2017 at 04:43 PM
msoomro
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Lens question - New to people photography


Budget: $3K max.
My current lineup. All nikon

14-24
24-70
70-200 f/4
16-35
80-400 VR (planning to sell this one if i get 70-200 f2.8)
200-500



Oct 14, 2017 at 05:14 PM
Dragonfire
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Lens question - New to people photography


105 f1.4 - You have the zoom range covered and I have always found 2.8 slow. Besides, from everything I have heard, it is a killer lens.


Oct 14, 2017 at 05:31 PM
story_teller
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Lens question - New to people photography


I would look at the Nikon 35mm f1.4G or the 50mm f1.4G. Here's why. With the 850's resolution, you can crop to "zoom in" almost as much as you want. You have the zooms covered, but indoors can get a bit cramped. The 35mm on the D850 gives you a great wide angle and on the D500 gives you around a 50mm prime. Both good for indoors.


Oct 14, 2017 at 09:40 PM
Dragonfire
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Lens question - New to people photography


story_teller's Nikon 35mm f1.4G suggestion should be considered because of the D850's pixel density.

Canon's 35L 1.4 and 135L 2.0 have been my primary lenses on the 21mp 1DsIII for the last 5 years and my profile contains my prior purchases.

The 35/105 combo could easily replace your first 4 lenses, I shoot my panos with the 135L.




Oct 15, 2017 at 12:07 AM
msoomro
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Lens question - New to people photography


@all: thanks for the suggestions
@dragonfire: intersting sugestion. Ill try to visit local store amd check both out and Yes on Panos. Most of mine are from 70-200 or 80-400. I really like to shoot vertical and zoomed in for my panoramic work



Oct 15, 2017 at 10:13 AM
msoomro
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Lens question - New to people photography


@all: thanks for the suggestions
@dragonfire: intersting sugestion. Ill try to visit local store amd check both out and Yes on Panos. Most of mine are from 70-200 or 80-400. I really like to shoot vertical and zoomed in for my panoramic work



Oct 15, 2017 at 10:13 AM
elkhornsun
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Lens question - New to people photography


Indoors you will need a 24-70mm focal length range. Anything longer and it will not provide enough of a view angle for indoor photographs. Download the lens listing from Nikon and look at the chart with the view angle provided.

Stand in a room and see how much of an area can be captured with the available working distances and a 24mm lens with its 84 degree angle of view (61 degrees on the D500).

There is a reason why the 24-70mm or its DX equivalents, 18-55mm and 17-55mm, are the single most popular zoom lenses with hobbyists and pro photographers.

The 70-200mm is a good outdoor people lens where its focal length range is fully usable.



Oct 16, 2017 at 05:19 PM
msoomro
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Lens question - New to people photography


@elkhornsun: I am following your logic. makes sense. I also read 85 /105mm being quite popular with people photography. Will that be true for portraits?


Oct 16, 2017 at 05:28 PM
Arka
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Lens question - New to people photography


story_teller wrote:
I would look at the Nikon 35mm f1.4G or the 50mm f1.4G. Here's why. With the 850's resolution, you can crop to "zoom in" almost as much as you want. You have the zooms covered, but indoors can get a bit cramped. The 35mm on the D850 gives you a great wide angle and on the D500 gives you around a 50mm prime. Both good for indoors.


In my experience, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is the equal (or better) of the Nikon version, but for less money. I've owned both and prefer the Sigma by a wide margin - faster AF and sharper. Others have suggested the 105mm f/1.4E, and that is a solid choice... easily my favorite Nikon lens at this time.



Oct 16, 2017 at 06:54 PM
elkhornsun
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Lens question - New to people photography


The 85mm to 135mm are preferred for portraits for two important reasons. First is that the perspective compression with a longer than 45-50mm lens is flattering for people's faces. The second is that it provides a good working distance between the photographer and their subject(s).

Think about how people react when you stand 2-3 feet away from their faces. In most cultures it would be offensive and threatening. At 8-10 feet people are more comfortable and that they are more relaxed shows in their faces.

A third aspect is that with more distance between the camera and the subject it is much easier to properly position lights and reflectors to add light to the face, and for the eyes, to add catchlights that make a subject come alive.

For me 105mm is ideal with a full frame camera. For a crop camera I would want something in the 60mm focal length (like a 24-70mm zoom).



Oct 17, 2017 at 09:05 PM
JBPhotog
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Lens question - New to people photography


msoomro wrote:
Budget: $3K max.
My current lineup. All nikon

14-24
24-70
70-200 f/4
16-35
80-400 VR (planning to sell this one if i get 70-200 f2.8)
200-500


I'd ditch the 70-200 F4, 16-35 and the 80-400 as you are and recoup that coin for some new fast glass. No need for redundant focal lengths.

Replace the 70-200 F4 with the F2.8
Buy some fast glass in the F1.4 range. I own and am absolutely hooked on the 105mm F1.4E, great headshot lens and ridiculously sharp. Maybe the 58mm F1.4 for some full length and short DOF, or the 35mm F1.4.



Oct 21, 2017 at 06:26 PM
BodhiPaul
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Lens question - New to people photography


I shoot a D750 and a D7200. My street and indoor people lenses are the new Nikon 28/1.4E and the Sigma Art 50/1.4, but my use of them may be a bit idiosyncratic.

As well as being really good lenses on FX, both lenses appeal to me on DX. The 28/1.4 becomes an exceptional 42/1.4. I like that angle of view, which a bit more relaxed and naturalistic than a 50 on FF. I've never been a fan of the 35mm FOV, for some reason, the 28 and 42 speak to me more clearly.

The 50/1.4 on DX becomes a hyper-sharp 75/1.4 equivalent. Again, I love the field of view - it allows me to pick people out of groups without closing in on them so far that I lose all the context. As a bonus, the 50 on DX is a killer-sharp close-up lens.

My long outdoor people lens is a no-brainer, the 70-200/2.8E.



Oct 22, 2017 at 06:13 PM
Smousefam5
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Lens question - New to people photography


Vcook wrote:
you said indoor, that would be a tough fit for the 70-200. From your description of needs the 24-70 sounds like a better fit.


It kind of depends on your "indoors" and subject. I have a pretty open floor plan and have found my 80-200 has allowed me to photograph my grandkids playing without disturbing them. I have captured some wonderful shots of them indoors with that lens.



Oct 24, 2017 at 01:13 AM
msoomro
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Lens question - New to people photography


Thanks all. It has been good information.


Oct 24, 2017 at 06:29 AM
Dragonfire
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Lens question - New to people photography


A bit of frosting - https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1443427


Oct 24, 2017 at 06:57 AM
Vcook
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Lens question - New to people photography


Smousefam5 wrote:
It kind of depends on your "indoors" and subject. I have a pretty open floor plan and have found my 80-200 has allowed me to photograph my grandkids playing without disturbing them. I have captured some wonderful shots of them indoors with that lens.


I don't disagree but you're describing the exception not the rule. For most indoor work the 24-70 would be a much more manageable focal range than 70-200(80-200).



Oct 24, 2017 at 08:19 AM
kp_duffy
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Lens question - New to people photography


50mm Sigma Art. can't go wrong with this focal length


Oct 24, 2017 at 08:32 AM





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