The Correct Focal Length For Portraits
Perspective depends upon camera and subject location, not lens focal length. All focal lengths in this blog entry are based upon the 35mm full frame (Nikon FX) format. If you are shooting with a camera that has an APS-C sized sensor (Nikon DX) you will need to do the mental conversions. For example if you put a 50mm lens on a DX Nikon camera it ends up having an equivalent 35mm focal length of 75mm.
In real life photographers normally try to fill the frame with the subject in order to maximize quality and resolution. This means that if you are using a 16mm super wide angle lens, you need to put the camera right up in the face of the subject. This does tend to annoy the person being photographed. It also distorts reality gr
eatly by making the person's nose appear very large in relation to their ears.
If you are using a standard 50mm lens you move somewhat further back and still fill the frame, but your camera is still close enough that the subject's nose is somewhat enlarged. An 85mm takes you further back, and a 105mm even further.
You will hear old and wise photographers say that an 85mm lens or a 105mm is best for portraits. But whether they know it or not, these are just conventional wisdom and old wife's tales. These focal lengths are chosen more for their cost, availability, or convenience.
When shooting with a 35mm film camera, or a digital camera which has an FX full sized digital sensor, using “a 135mm lens the perspective and amount of subject matter are just right for a pleasing portrait.” That is a quote from the 1955 edition of the famous Leica Manual And Data Book as recommended by Ansel Adams.
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Most of the concepts related to light, perspective, lens distortion, focal lengths, aperture, and shutter speed are determined by physics and the laws of nature, and they are the same now as they were a half century ago. So when shooting with a digital camera that uses an APS-C sensor this would mean shooting with a lens which has a focal length of 90mm.
So your 105mm lens would be good for DX cameras like the Nikon D40, D70, D80, and D300 but if you have a full sized FX sensor like in the Nikon D700 you should use a focal length of 135mm if possible. These focal lengths are long enough that you should either use a tripod or a fast shutter speed – say 1/200 second or shorter. Vibration reduction would be helpful too. Choosing a fairly large aperture like f/2.8 or f/2.0 will lower the depth of field thus blurring the background.
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In real life photographers normally try to fill the frame with the subject in order to maximize quality and resolution. This means that if you are using a 16mm super wide angle lens, you need to put the camera right up in the face of the subject. This does tend to annoy the person being photographed. It also distorts reality gr
eatly by making the person's nose appear very large in relation to their ears.If you are using a standard 50mm lens you move somewhat further back and still fill the frame, but your camera is still close enough that the subject's nose is somewhat enlarged. An 85mm takes you further back, and a 105mm even further.
You will hear old and wise photographers say that an 85mm lens or a 105mm is best for portraits. But whether they know it or not, these are just conventional wisdom and old wife's tales. These focal lengths are chosen more for their cost, availability, or convenience.
When shooting with a 35mm film camera, or a digital camera which has an FX full sized digital sensor, using “a 135mm lens the perspective and amount of subject matter are just right for a pleasing portrait.” That is a quote from the 1955 edition of the famous Leica Manual And Data Book as recommended by Ansel Adams.
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Most of the concepts related to light, perspective, lens distortion, focal lengths, aperture, and shutter speed are determined by physics and the laws of nature, and they are the same now as they were a half century ago. So when shooting with a digital camera that uses an APS-C sensor this would mean shooting with a lens which has a focal length of 90mm.
So your 105mm lens would be good for DX cameras like the Nikon D40, D70, D80, and D300 but if you have a full sized FX sensor like in the Nikon D700 you should use a focal length of 135mm if possible. These focal lengths are long enough that you should either use a tripod or a fast shutter speed – say 1/200 second or shorter. Vibration reduction would be helpful too. Choosing a fairly large aperture like f/2.8 or f/2.0 will lower the depth of field thus blurring the background.
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