I have found that the 135mm is often to long for portrait work, you
relly need
a lot of room to manuever with it. I have used the 100 f2.8 for a few
years and
really liked it for potraits, but just picked up an 85 f2 after having
played
with one a bit I think will be even better. In fact I am selling the 100
f2.8
as it is rather redundant now that I have the 85. Have done a little
'informal'
portrait work with my 35-70, and found that the 70 got me in just a
little to
close. It is amazing how even a subject you know well (my daughter)
tends to
'stiffen up' when you move in past a certain point.
The 85 gives me room to manuever, but keeps just enough distance, It
also produces a flattering perspective that I think you loose when you
go with anything smaller.
Jim Couch
miaim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> OK, Lex. I'll play. This discussion may be old, but it's more interesting
> to me than cars, SUVs etc.
>
> I've had the notion of getting a 100/2.8 on the backburner for months. I'll
> probably eventually do so, but for now I've been struck by how little I use
> a 135/3.5. For the vast bulk of the PhotoJ "people work" I simply used
> either a 28/2.8 or 35/2.8. Believe it or not, I also found a Vivitar 19mm
> useful for up tight and personal people shots. Perhaps these type shots are
> vastly different from formal portraits, but perhaps they're more
> interesting in that with a wider angle it's easier to place the person in
> their surroundings.
>
> This whole idea of the most useful lens focal length takes on a special
> significance for me because I've been wrestling with the idea of either
> expanding my Medium Format SLR kit to include a longer than standard focal
> length (akin to a 90 or 100mm in 35mm), or simply scrapping the whole bulky
> MF SLR kit in favor of a much lighter, more compact fixed wide lens MF
> rangefinder such as the various Fuji's .
>
> Lex, you mentioned that you'd not find much use for anything over 500mm
> because you like to get close. So why not get close to people with a wide
> angle for portraits? Sure you're intruding into their space, and sure it
> may somewhat change the interaction, but it's somewhat more fun than simply
> standing way back and clicking away. ;-)
>
> Mike Swaim
>
> < This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
> < For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
> < Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|