Shooting beauty with a 50mm lens on full frame?

Noob · 05-23-2011, 09:30 AM

Okay, I'm a traitor, a horrible person, i know; I will be using my Nikon for this shoot because I need the ISO performance.

Now, I only have two lenses for my full frame Nikon, a 50mm 1.4 G and an 85mm 1.8 D. I feel that with the 85mm I just won't be able to get close enough and I don't like cropping too much. The 50mm also has the advantage of being weather sealed. What should I use? My beloved 50mm?

(And yes, I know it isn't ideal but I will be getting a beauty lens for my birthday which is in quite a long time now and for the moment I need to use what I have.)

Reportage · 05-23-2011, 09:53 AM

No problem there...i also use Canon and Nikon if i feel they can do the job better and easier.

I recommend the 85mm if you have the space to move around.

enoeske · 05-23-2011, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by Noob

Okay, I'm a traitor, a horrible person, i know; I will be using my Nikon for this shoot because I need the ISO performance.

Now, I only have two lenses for my full frame Nikon, a 50mm 1.4 G and an 85mm 1.8 D. I feel that with the 85mm I just won't be able to get close enough and I don't like cropping too much. The 50mm also has the advantage of being weather sealed. What should I use? My beloved 50mm?

(And yes, I know it isn't ideal but I will be getting a beauty lens for my birthday which is in quite a long time now and for the moment I need to use what I have.)

I don't get it. You won't be able to get close enough with the 85mm so you want to use a wider, less magnifying 50mm? That doesn't make any sense. The 85mm focal length is great on FF, use it.

Noob · 05-23-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by enoeske

I don't get it. You won't be able to get close enough with the 85mm so you want to use a wider, less magnifying 50mm? That doesn't make any sense. The 85mm focal length is great on FF, use it.

The 50mm has better Bokeh and I can get more face into the image because I can get really close!

cats_five · 05-23-2011, 11:11 AM

Umm... No. What will happen is you will make her nose look huge. The 85mm will be perfect.

AntY · 05-23-2011, 11:30 AM

Oh, the horror! A traitor! Burn him! Burn him!

For FF i would vote 85, but there are no such pentax DSLR!

krypticide · 05-23-2011, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by Noob

The 50mm has better Bokeh and I can get more face into the image because I can get really close!

Whatever works for you, but if you get too close with the 50mm you will start distorting faces...

Noob · 05-23-2011, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by krypticide

Whatever works for you, but if you get too close with the 50mm you will start distorting faces...

I took a test shot of my Billingham bag, was able to get much closer with 50mm and get more as well. I don't see any distortion.

enoeske · 05-23-2011, 03:26 PM

By distortion he means the shift in perspective, not waviness. Like how a 200mm portrait usually looks better than using a fisheye, unless you are going for funny/weird.

Notice the flattening of 75mm

compared to the wider angle distortion of the 50mm

If you get in close with a 50mm like this, especially on FF, you will get unflattering distortion. If you are shooting beauty/fashion, you don't want that.

Use the 85mm

Noob · 05-23-2011, 07:53 PM

Hmm, what also kind of puts me off the 85mm is it's tendency to give me purple and green fringing sometimes. That really traumatised me. Plus it's not weather sealed... Otherwise I'd use that. Or can it resist rain?

Noob · 05-23-2011, 08:18 PM

Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this:

My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty

Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm!

Reportage · 05-23-2011, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by Noob

Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this:

My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty

Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm!

Wouldnt want to speak for the man.

"My choice for most Beauty shoots is from 40-70mm in APSC reduced format sensors or around 50-105mm in full frame full 35mm sensor camera's. As of late I have been using my FA 50mm f1.4 and DA 70mm f2.4 Limited Pentax lenses for most of my beauty stuff and on the rare occasion my DA* 16-50 f 2.8 Pentax zoom at the longer end for shots that I find it necessary to benefit by the versatility of a zoom lens."

atupdate · 05-24-2011, 04:27 AM

Originally posted by Noob

Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this:

My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty

Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm!

From Ben's post:

My choice for most Beauty shoots is from 40-70mm in APSC reduced format sensors or around 50-105mm in full frame full 35mm sensor camera's.

It would seem that your 85 is in the sweet spot for Ben's suggestions. But then again, you ask for advice and dismiss it because it doesn't match up with what you want to hear. Good luck with your shoot.

Tim

twitch · 05-24-2011, 04:34 AM

I thinking Noob = Student, that other user with a FF that fell in his lap and didn't have a clue...

extravagrant · 05-24-2011, 05:48 AM

Smells like trolling to me. Why would weather sealing be important? Are you shooting the model in a rainforest?

05-23-2011, 09:30 AM	#1
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127	Shooting beauty with a 50mm lens on full frame? Okay, I'm a traitor, a horrible person, i know; I will be using my Nikon for this shoot because I need the ISO performance. Now, I only have two lenses for my full frame Nikon, a 50mm 1.4 G and an 85mm 1.8 D. I feel that with the 85mm I just won't be able to get close enough and I don't like cropping too much. The 50mm also has the advantage of being weather sealed. What should I use? My beloved 50mm? (And yes, I know it isn't ideal but I will be getting a beauty lens for my birthday which is in quite a long time now and for the moment I need to use what I have.)

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05-23-2011, 09:53 AM	#2
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	No problem there...i also use Canon and Nikon if i feel they can do the job better and easier. I recommend the 85mm if you have the space to move around.

05-23-2011, 09:56 AM	#3
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by Noob Okay, I'm a traitor, a horrible person, i know; I will be using my Nikon for this shoot because I need the ISO performance. Now, I only have two lenses for my full frame Nikon, a 50mm 1.4 G and an 85mm 1.8 D. I feel that with the 85mm I just won't be able to get close enough and I don't like cropping too much. The 50mm also has the advantage of being weather sealed. What should I use? My beloved 50mm? (And yes, I know it isn't ideal but I will be getting a beauty lens for my birthday which is in quite a long time now and for the moment I need to use what I have.) I don't get it. You won't be able to get close enough with the 85mm so you want to use a wider, less magnifying 50mm? That doesn't make any sense. The 85mm focal length is great on FF, use it.

05-23-2011, 11:06 AM	#4
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	Originally posted by enoeske I don't get it. You won't be able to get close enough with the 85mm so you want to use a wider, less magnifying 50mm? That doesn't make any sense. The 85mm focal length is great on FF, use it. The 50mm has better Bokeh and I can get more face into the image because I can get really close!

05-23-2011, 11:11 AM	#5
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	Umm... No. What will happen is you will make her nose look huge. The 85mm will be perfect.

05-23-2011, 11:30 AM	#6
AntY Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Västerbotten Posts: 23	Oh, the horror! A traitor! Burn him! Burn him! For FF i would vote 85, but there are no such pentax DSLR!

05-23-2011, 11:41 AM	#7
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Originally posted by Noob The 50mm has better Bokeh and I can get more face into the image because I can get really close! Whatever works for you, but if you get too close with the 50mm you will start distorting faces...

05-23-2011, 01:15 PM	#8
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	Originally posted by krypticide Whatever works for you, but if you get too close with the 50mm you will start distorting faces... I took a test shot of my Billingham bag, was able to get much closer with 50mm and get more as well. I don't see any distortion.

05-23-2011, 03:26 PM	#9
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	By distortion he means the shift in perspective, not waviness. Like how a 200mm portrait usually looks better than using a fisheye, unless you are going for funny/weird. Notice the flattening of 75mm compared to the wider angle distortion of the 50mm If you get in close with a 50mm like this, especially on FF, you will get unflattering distortion. If you are shooting beauty/fashion, you don't want that. Use the 85mm

05-23-2011, 07:53 PM	#10
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	Hmm, what also kind of puts me off the 85mm is it's tendency to give me purple and green fringing sometimes. That really traumatised me. Plus it's not weather sealed... Otherwise I'd use that. Or can it resist rain?

05-23-2011, 08:18 PM	#11
Noob Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 127 Original Poster	Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this: My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm!

05-23-2011, 10:11 PM	#12
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	Originally posted by Noob Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this: My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm! Wouldnt want to speak for the man. "My choice for most Beauty shoots is from 40-70mm in APSC reduced format sensors or around 50-105mm in full frame full 35mm sensor camera's. As of late I have been using my FA 50mm f1.4 and DA 70mm f2.4 Limited Pentax lenses for most of my beauty stuff and on the rare occasion my DA* 16-50 f 2.8 Pentax zoom at the longer end for shots that I find it necessary to benefit by the versatility of a zoom lens."

05-24-2011, 04:27 AM	#13
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	Originally posted by Noob Oh, I am a happy bunny, I found this: My Favorite Focal Length Lenses for Shooting Beauty Benjamin Kanarek, Pentax Forum's Fashion Photographer shoot beauty with a.... 50mm! From Ben's post: My choice for most Beauty shoots is from 40-70mm in APSC reduced format sensors or around 50-105mm in full frame full 35mm sensor camera's. It would seem that your 85 is in the sweet spot for Ben's suggestions. But then again, you ask for advice and dismiss it because it doesn't match up with what you want to hear. Good luck with your shoot. Tim

05-24-2011, 04:34 AM	#14
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I thinking Noob = Student, that other user with a FF that fell in his lap and didn't have a clue...

05-24-2011, 05:48 AM	#15
extravagrant Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Chicago Photos: Gallery Posts: 121	Smells like trolling to me. Why would weather sealing be important? Are you shooting the model in a rainforest?