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siruami · 06-25-2008, 08:06 AM

Hi Pentaxians.
I do a lot of portrait photography using my 50mm Macro Lens, I love it, it's really nice because I have a lot of aperture to play with and really makes that feeling of depth on the style of portraits that I usually do.
Anyway, there is only one BUT with this lens, and it is that it has too small angle of view, so if I have a big family, or a full body shot, I have to go really far to get them all; and if I am in a small room this is impossible, so I have to change to my 18-50mm but doing this I lose my big aperture and I have to increase the lighting... etc... everything that comes with a big aperture number.
So... I am wondering which lens will be more than great for portraits. I am wondering in get the 31mm limited or the 14mm or just the great one for portraits.
Just as additional, I use the K10D
So... what do you suggest?
Thanks in advance

tybeck · 06-25-2008, 10:55 AM

I have the 31mm Limited and find it to be excellent for individual and group shots. You only need to stand a few feet back for shots with 3 or 4 people. Consider that with 1.5 crop factor it's about 50mm, the old standard for portrait shots. If it and my 40mm to be the primes that I use the most for general photography. Additionally you just can't beat the image quality of the 31mm, very crisp. It's a great lens if you have the coin.

sharko · 06-25-2008, 11:09 AM

I recently purchased the 31mm ltd to combat this very problem where I couldn't fit a group due to the FA 50mm being a little too long. It should arrive tomorrow and am hoping it lives up to all the great things I've heard about it...it sure did cost a pretty penny!

ftpaddict · 06-25-2008, 11:15 AM

The 31mm Ltd. is a spectacular lens.

By the way, siruami

was made by me!

vizjerei · 06-25-2008, 11:47 AM

or just FA 35/2, unless you really have a big family, then DA 14mm f2.8 will be great

dkittle · 06-25-2008, 11:51 AM

The 31mm ltd is absolutely brilliant for portraits. I try to use it and the 77mm for all of my people shots, where practical.

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-25-2008, 12:11 PM

It seems most people believe 31mm is the right answer. I can advise that 14 is really the wrong answer. I caution you against the 14 mm for portraits or group shots because it will tend to distort the people at the edges.

siruami · 06-25-2008, 08:32 PM

And what about the 21mm?
Does anybody have info on this one?
Thanks for all the replies.

axl · 06-26-2008, 12:30 AM

Originally posted by ftpaddict

The 31mm Ltd. is a spectacular lens.

...

yeah, in deed it is...
... and as such it comes with spectacular price tag...
FA 35 f2 would be good solution,
DA21 is not bad either but it distorts a bit more then 35...

stevebrot · 06-26-2008, 12:35 AM

Here is another vote for the FA 35/2. (Just in case the 31 ltd is a little rich for your blood...it is for mine!)

Steve

danielchtong · 06-26-2008, 02:58 AM

Originally posted by siruami

So... I am wondering which lens will be more than great for portraits. I am wondering in get the 31mm limited or the 14mm or just the great one for portraits.
Just as additional, I use the K10D
So... what do you suggest?
Thanks in advance

I would not say it is better. But definitely from a different perspective

It is a bokeh generating combination

Daniel

Wheatfield · 06-26-2008, 06:42 AM

Either the 31 or 35mm focal length should work well for what you are after. The 21 is on the wide side, and isn't all that much faster than your kit lens.
If you can afford it, the 31mm is an excellent choice, failing that, the new DA35mm or FA35mm. If you don't mind manual focus, if you can find an A35mm f/2, it is a most excellent lens as well.

siruami · 06-26-2008, 06:50 AM

danielchtong: those are excellent pictures, just exactly what I am looking for, great dof.
what lens - aperture combination did you use?

danielchtong · 06-26-2008, 01:58 PM

Originally posted by siruami

danielchtong: those are excellent pictures, just exactly what I am looking for, great dof.
what lens - aperture combination did you use?

Thx. They are all from DA200mm. And all of them at F3.2 -F3.5. Its DoF is little and very easy to isolote the subject with bokeh.
That is the reason that I said it was a bokeh generating combination.
Fun to use if not for the long distance for portrait - like taking pict from one side of the room to the other. The good part is that it is less intimidating to the subject as I was so far away.
A stealth lens as well for candids

http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=591443&forum_id=8...893977#p893977

Daniel

daleroy · 06-26-2008, 05:17 PM

Another vote for the FA35. Fantastic lens and super sharp. It's also nice and cheap at around $269

06-25-2008, 08:06 AM	#1
siruami New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 22	Lenses for portraits Hi Pentaxians. I do a lot of portrait photography using my 50mm Macro Lens, I love it, it's really nice because I have a lot of aperture to play with and really makes that feeling of depth on the style of portraits that I usually do. Anyway, there is only one BUT with this lens, and it is that it has too small angle of view, so if I have a big family, or a full body shot, I have to go really far to get them all; and if I am in a small room this is impossible, so I have to change to my 18-50mm but doing this I lose my big aperture and I have to increase the lighting... etc... everything that comes with a big aperture number. So... I am wondering which lens will be more than great for portraits. I am wondering in get the 31mm limited or the 14mm or just the great one for portraits. Just as additional, I use the K10D So... what do you suggest? Thanks in advance

06-25-2008, 12:11 PM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	survey says 31mm It seems most people believe 31mm is the right answer. I can advise that 14 is really the wrong answer. I caution you against the 14 mm for portraits or group shots because it will tend to distort the people at the edges.

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06-25-2008, 10:55 AM	#2
tybeck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 452	I have the 31mm Limited and find it to be excellent for individual and group shots. You only need to stand a few feet back for shots with 3 or 4 people. Consider that with 1.5 crop factor it's about 50mm, the old standard for portrait shots. If it and my 40mm to be the primes that I use the most for general photography. Additionally you just can't beat the image quality of the 31mm, very crisp. It's a great lens if you have the coin.

06-25-2008, 11:09 AM	#3
sharko Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: City of Angels Photos: Gallery Posts: 278	I recently purchased the 31mm ltd to combat this very problem where I couldn't fit a group due to the FA 50mm being a little too long. It should arrive tomorrow and am hoping it lives up to all the great things I've heard about it...it sure did cost a pretty penny!

06-25-2008, 11:15 AM	#4
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	The 31mm Ltd. is a spectacular lens. By the way, siruami was made by me!

06-25-2008, 11:47 AM	#5
vizjerei Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,418	or just FA 35/2, unless you really have a big family, then DA 14mm f2.8 will be great

06-25-2008, 11:51 AM	#6
dkittle Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	The 31mm ltd is absolutely brilliant for portraits. I try to use it and the 77mm for all of my people shots, where practical.

06-25-2008, 08:32 PM	#8
siruami New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 22 Original Poster	And what about the 21mm? Does anybody have info on this one? Thanks for all the replies.

06-26-2008, 12:30 AM	#9
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by ftpaddict The 31mm Ltd. is a spectacular lens. ... yeah, in deed it is... ... and as such it comes with spectacular price tag... FA 35 f2 would be good solution, DA21 is not bad either but it distorts a bit more then 35...

06-26-2008, 12:35 AM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Here is another vote for the FA 35/2. (Just in case the 31 ltd is a little rich for your blood...it is for mine!) Steve

06-26-2008, 02:58 AM	#11
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by siruami So... I am wondering which lens will be more than great for portraits. I am wondering in get the 31mm limited or the 14mm or just the great one for portraits. Just as additional, I use the K10D So... what do you suggest? Thanks in advance I would not say it is better. But definitely from a different perspective It is a bokeh generating combination Daniel

06-26-2008, 06:42 AM	#12
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Either the 31 or 35mm focal length should work well for what you are after. The 21 is on the wide side, and isn't all that much faster than your kit lens. If you can afford it, the 31mm is an excellent choice, failing that, the new DA35mm or FA35mm. If you don't mind manual focus, if you can find an A35mm f/2, it is a most excellent lens as well.

06-26-2008, 06:50 AM	#13
siruami New Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 22 Original Poster	danielchtong: those are excellent pictures, just exactly what I am looking for, great dof. what lens - aperture combination did you use?

06-26-2008, 01:58 PM	#14
danielchtong Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 885	Originally posted by siruami danielchtong: those are excellent pictures, just exactly what I am looking for, great dof. what lens - aperture combination did you use? Thx. They are all from DA200mm. And all of them at F3.2 -F3.5. Its DoF is little and very easy to isolote the subject with bokeh. That is the reason that I said it was a bokeh generating combination. Fun to use if not for the long distance for portrait - like taking pict from one side of the room to the other. The good part is that it is less intimidating to the subject as I was so far away. A stealth lens as well for candids http://forums.steves-digicams.com/forums/view_topic.php?id=591443&forum_id=8...893977#p893977 Daniel

06-26-2008, 05:17 PM	#15
daleroy Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Perth, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 52	Another vote for the FA35. Fantastic lens and super sharp. It's also nice and cheap at around $269

Lenses for portraits

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