What's the widest angle lens you would use for portrait?

9 years 5 months ago #407712 by Scott Innes
At what point (focal length) does distortion start coming into play with wide angle lenses?  


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9 years 5 months ago #407763 by KCook
Distortion of the form of the face is a function of the distance between the camera and the face.  So as long as that distance is the same, the field of view can be as wide as you want.

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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9 years 5 months ago #407768 by Ben Vanderbilt
:agree:     generally speaking, I don't take out anything smaller than 35mm for portraits.   


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9 years 5 months ago #407807 by Hassner
Full or crop sensor camera?

What type of portrait? ID? Somewhat wider? Half body? Full length? Environmental portrait?


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9 years 5 months ago #407836 by Number 7
:goodpost:  More info please


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9 years 5 months ago #407843 by Stealthy Ninja
14mm full frame
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9 years 5 months ago #407847 by hghlndr6

Stealthy Ninja wrote: 14mm full frame


Perfect choice ... for the Pinocchio effect.
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9 years 5 months ago - 9 years 5 months ago #407850 by Stealthy Ninja

hghlndr6 wrote:

Stealthy Ninja wrote: 14mm full frame


Perfect choice ... for the Pinocchio effect.


LOL not every portrait needs to be traditional. Ultra wide works really well with kids and action style shots.



From one of my first portrait sessions :kmonst:  16mm FF I think.  I would have shot it 14mm if I could have.
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9 years 5 months ago #407900 by ShadowWalker
I think the right answer is that there's a time and place for every lens.  The shot above is a good example of where you can get away with a wider lens on a portrait.  


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9 years 5 months ago #407923 by Hassner
I would file that shot under Sport or Action, not Portraiture.


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9 years 5 months ago #407985 by garyrhook
-1. I would not agree with that assessment. It's a static photo that incorporates a skateboard, and makes effective use of a certain focal length. No one is moving. It's not journalistic. For me, it's a portrait.


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9 years 5 months ago #408278 by Scott Innes

Hassner wrote: Full or crop sensor camera?

What type of portrait? ID? Somewhat wider? Half body? Full length? Environmental portrait?



Full frame - Nikon D610, indoor and outdoor, let's say 8 to 15 feet from subject 


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9 years 5 months ago #408287 by Scott Innes
Actually reading through all these answers I think gives me the answer that I was after.  Thank you all for your help.  


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