Reader's Comments - Index of - Free

Portrait Photography
think each case what kind of the lens will be useful. For the case 1), Something like 85mm/1.8 or 100mm/2 will
be useful. For2), 300mm focal length is minimum. For3), lens like 24mm 28mm 35mm will be ideal For4),
Dedicated macro lens, or medium telephoto lens with extension tube For5), 24mm or at least 28mm will be ideal.
this one should be single focal prime For6),35mm or 50mm will be ideal.
next set the budjet.and study the which brand is ideal for me
My choice for portrait lens was -->
24mm/2.8 Eos USM(35mm format) 34mm/2.8 Sekkor manual(medium format)(this is 35mm equivalent focal
length) 50mm/1.4EOS USM(35mm format) 93mm/3.5 Sekkor manual(medium format)(this is 35mm equivalent
focal length) 135/2 EOS USM(35mm format)+Et-25 300/4IS EOS USM(35mm format)+1.4X
I think this is minimum for the portrait. My point is this is almost every kind of the lens. I can shoot with this lens
almost any kind of situation not just portrait nature, concert, indoor or outdoor event,sport, action etc.
-- joon um, October 24, 1999
I think it's a good idea to use a medium format camera for people pictures. I use a Pentax 645 with a 150 lens
often. I do 100% black and white because I do it myself. I like having proof sheets that are viewable and 15 shots
is economical but still greatly superior to 35 mm for portraits. I have a square "clunker" camera which is a
Bronica S2A and a 75 mm Nikkor-Q lens, both 30 years old. That's nice for group shots or full-body shots. Like I
said, the quality is superior to 35 mm and the proof sheets are easy to view. I like to use a medium-speed film
like Plus-X or my all-time favorite is Agfa APX 100 which is sharper and gives a lovelier image than Plus-X, and
it's generally cheaper.
Another thing about people shots, I like to do the old-fashioned type of portrait that is mainly window light. Onehundred
years ago, portraits were made with a soft north light from a window and I love that look in black and
white. I generally make my pictures sharp too, or I'll use a very minor diffusion filter that barely alters the image.
-- Paula Swaim, April 27, 2000
http://www.photo.net/portraits/intro (14 of 37)7/3/2005 2:16:41 AM