Portrait lens help!

twitch · 12-06-2011, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I like to be creative with my work and for me the Pentax 50mm f/1.2 is my lens of choice..but I have used plenty of lenses for portraiture over the years and I always kept coming back to 50mm. With my full frame DSLR cameras I use 75~80mm prime lenses for portraiture. On my Leica M9 the Leica 75mm f/1.4 Summilux-M is an excellent choice, on my Canon 1D MKIII I use a modified Leica Summilux-R 80mm f/1.4 - mainly because I cannot stand the manual focus on the canon 85mm f/1.2L

OK OK, that may be so, but when are you going to shoot with some decent quality equipment?

**Digitalis** · 12-06-2011, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by twitch

OK OK, that may be so, but when are you going to shoot with some decent quality equipment?

I do have a pentax 645D on order.

joe.penn · 12-06-2011, 06:07 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I do have a pentax 645D on order.

The Limited Edition I hope...

**Digitalis** · 12-06-2011, 06:28 PM

You mean the urishi laquer 645D? Hell no, i'm settling for a regular 645D - though I have some extraordinary lenses to use with it like the pentax-M* 67 800mm f/6.7 ED

Laurentiu Cristofor · 12-06-2011, 09:51 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

... because I cannot stand the focus by wire mechanism on the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L*

* I cannot believe that the canon lens still has that "feature", I worked with an Olympus DSLR once - and that had the same focus by wire mechanism and I absolutely hated it.

Is that similar to how the 50/1.4 focuses? Never saw the 85/1.2, but I played a bit with the 50/1.4 and I thought it was feeling really weird.

**Digitalis** · 12-06-2011, 10:12 PM - **1 Like**

this thread has really gone off the rails...

But to answer question posted above : No, the canon EF 50mm f/1.4 focuses using cams - which could be seen as a crude helicoid.Using cams for focusing is never as smooth or as precise as a well oiled helicoid is, but it doesn't get in the way of the AF mechanism. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L focuses by wire - the AF motor moves the lens elements even when you are in manual focus mode. The reason why I do not like this is because you get absolutely no tactile feedback on where you are in the focusing range, for instance when you hit infinity (and often these lenses go beyond it) the focusing ring keeps turning. The feel of manual focus on the EF85mm f/1.2L is very, very loose and you get no feedback on how much the lens elements are moving - that is the price you pay for such a fast lens, at least with the canon EF mount.

danielchtong · 12-07-2011, 02:23 AM

Originally posted by nick52

I may look into that M135, I have heard tales....

This was from an 135mm angle which is very handy in close up. If I use 50mm I would have been almost in your face towards the model. While shooting closer has the advantage in interacting with the model, shooting a little further away does at time contribute to less 'staged' outlook

Daniel

12-06-2011, 10:12 PM - 1 Like	#66
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	this thread has really gone off the rails... But to answer question posted above : No, the canon EF 50mm f/1.4 focuses using cams - which could be seen as a crude helicoid.Using cams for focusing is never as smooth or as precise as a well oiled helicoid is, but it doesn't get in the way of the AF mechanism. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L focuses by wire - the AF motor moves the lens elements even when you are in manual focus mode. The reason why I do not like this is because you get absolutely no tactile feedback on where you are in the focusing range, for instance when you hit infinity (and often these lenses go beyond it) the focusing ring keeps turning. The feel of manual focus on the EF85mm f/1.2L is very, very loose and you get no feedback on how much the lens elements are moving - that is the price you pay for such a fast lens, at least with the canon EF mount. Last edited by Digitalis; 12-07-2011 at 06:14 PM.

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12-06-2011, 05:47 PM	#61
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Originally posted by Digitalis I like to be creative with my work and for me the Pentax 50mm f/1.2 is my lens of choice..but I have used plenty of lenses for portraiture over the years and I always kept coming back to 50mm. With my full frame DSLR cameras I use 75~80mm prime lenses for portraiture. On my Leica M9 the Leica 75mm f/1.4 Summilux-M is an excellent choice, on my Canon 1D MKIII I use a modified Leica Summilux-R 80mm f/1.4 - mainly because I cannot stand the manual focus on the canon 85mm f/1.2L OK OK, that may be so, but when are you going to shoot with some decent quality equipment?

12-06-2011, 06:03 PM	#62
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by twitch OK OK, that may be so, but when are you going to shoot with some decent quality equipment? I do have a pentax 645D on order.

12-06-2011, 06:07 PM	#63
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by Digitalis I do have a pentax 645D on order. The Limited Edition I hope...

12-06-2011, 06:28 PM	#64
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	You mean the urishi laquer 645D? Hell no, i'm settling for a regular 645D - though I have some extraordinary lenses to use with it like the pentax-M* 67 800mm f/6.7 ED

12-06-2011, 09:51 PM	#65
Laurentiu Cristofor Banned Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: WA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,055	Originally posted by Digitalis ... because I cannot stand the focus by wire mechanism on the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L* * I cannot believe that the canon lens still has that "feature", I worked with an Olympus DSLR once - and that had the same focus by wire mechanism and I absolutely *hated* it. Is that similar to how the 50/1.4 focuses? Never saw the 85/1.2, but I played a bit with the 50/1.4 and I thought it was feeling really weird.

12-07-2011, 02:23 AM	#67
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by nick52 I may look into that M135, I have heard tales.... This was from an 135mm angle which is very handy in close up. If I use 50mm I would have been almost in your face towards the model. While shooting closer has the advantage in interacting with the model, shooting a little further away does at time contribute to less 'staged' outlook Daniel