Best Focal Length for Portaits

vize · 04-08-2010, 12:40 PM

What focal length do you prefer for portraits and why? Post your best portaits along with EXIF data.

I am sure a lot of us have this question in mind. If we can see portraits at different focal lengths in a single thread, maybe it will help for comparison.

enoeske · 04-08-2010, 01:13 PM

Depends on the shot.

Whole body/Family: wide 28mm or 35mm.
Upper half/Couple: 35mm or 50mm
Head and shoulders/Single: 50mm or 75mm

Of course, you have shoot fun headshots at 15mm if you want or full body shots at 75mm. I don't think there is one perfect focal length for portraits. Use what you have creatively and your shots will be great.

Model: PENTAX K20D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/180 sec
Aperture: 3.5
Focal Length: 28mm

Model: PENTAX K200D
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/60 sec
Aperture: 8.0
Focal Length: 75mm

Model: PENTAX K20D
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/60 sec
Aperture: f/5.6 I think (manual aperture)
Focal Length: 50mm

Model: PENTAX K20D
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/180 sec
Aperture: f/5.6 I think (manual aperture)
Focal Length: 50mm

Model: PENTAX K200D
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: 4.0
Focal Length: 75mm

patrickw · 04-08-2010, 01:25 PM

Love those 75mm shots, enoeske. Is that with the long end of your Tamron zoom?

Recercare · 04-08-2010, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by enoeske

Depends on the shot.
Whole body/Family: wide 28mm or 35mm.
Upper half/Couple: 35mm or 50mm
Head and shoulders/Single: 50mm or 75mm

My list:
Whole body/family: 28-40mm
Upper half/Couple: 35-70mm
Head and shoulders/Single: 55-135mm.

However, distortion/compression is not the main reason for suggesting these focal lengths. The point is to have a comfortable working distance to the people you're photographing.

Kind regards
.lars

vize · 04-08-2010, 01:46 PM

Those are some amazing shots enoske. I also like the 75mm shots the most, but the others are also superb.

tokyoso · 04-08-2010, 01:54 PM

Originally posted by vize

What focal length do you prefer for portraits and why? Post your best portaits along with EXIF data.

I am sure a lot of us have this question in mind. If we can see portraits at different focal lengths in a single thread, maybe it will help for comparison.

there are quite a few magazines out there that sports nothing but portraits.

i think 50-135mm on APS-C is a nice lens to have. plus the 16-50

**rparmar** · 04-08-2010, 02:56 PM

enoeske: wow, amazing shots.

I use the FA43 for head and shoulders of up to three people in a group or more contextualised shots of individuals. I use the FA77 for dance or stage, when I cannot get closer.

**rparmar** · 04-08-2010, 02:59 PM

Roisin model shot

FA77 shot of my daughter. Highly processed but you get the idea.

**rparmar** · 04-08-2010, 03:00 PM

Schweppes in a serious mood

That's with the K50/1.2 which is great stopped down.

twitch · 04-08-2010, 03:02 PM

I prefer my DA70 for portraits, but then I don't own a FA77 or DA*50-135.

**rparmar** · 04-08-2010, 04:07 PM

Heck, the DA70 is a great lens. Nothing at all to worry about there! But I do like the extra speed and shoot at f/2 often.

enoeske · 04-08-2010, 05:31 PM

I'm trying to save up for a da70 because I do tend to shoot at 75 on the tamron so much. I don't know if I want to get the da15 first though. I don't have a wide, while the tamron is covering the 70 okay for now.

omega leader · 04-08-2010, 06:50 PM

I'm a sucker for longer lenses, I shoot at 105mm for portraits and I know if I could afford a 180mm or 200mm /2.8 I would be using that. But I normally shoot partial face crops.

Ira · 04-08-2010, 07:35 PM