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<blockquote data-quote="Horoscope Fish" data-source="post: 373343" data-attributes="member: 13090">Just to clarify, when I say the 50mm is not a portrait lens I'm referring specifically to shooting head, head &amp; shoulder shots on up to about half-body portraits. It wouldn't be my first choice for three-quarter body shots either but it's passable. Anything beyond that, as in full-body shots or wider, sure; use your &quot;Nifty 50&quot; (with alacrity!) The main reason I say this, again, is because the 50mm focal length simply does not create enough compression. That lack of compression creates perspective issues and introduces unflattering distortion, especially in head/H&amp;S shots. The other issue is working distance. To get good H&amp;S portraits with a 50mm you need to be about six feet away from your subject and that's simply not enough. It's awkward for the photographer and it's too &quot;all up&quot; in your subjects personal space. Using an 85mm you should be able to get good H&amp;S shots ten or twelve feet from your subject; a much more comfortable working distance for all....</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Horoscope Fish, post: 373343, member: 13090"] Just to clarify, when I say the 50mm is not a portrait lens I'm referring specifically to shooting head, head & shoulder shots on up to about half-body portraits. It wouldn't be my first choice for three-quarter body shots either but it's passable. Anything beyond that, as in full-body shots or wider, sure; use your "Nifty 50" (with alacrity!) The main reason I say this, again, is because the 50mm focal length simply does not create enough compression. That lack of compression creates perspective issues and introduces unflattering distortion, [I]especially[/I] in head/H&S shots. The other issue is working distance. To get good H&S portraits with a 50mm you need to be about six feet away from your subject and that's simply not enough. It's awkward for the photographer and it's too "all up" in your subjects personal space. Using an 85mm you should be able to get good H&S shots ten or twelve feet from your subject; a much more comfortable working distance for all. [COLOR=#ffffff]...[/COLOR] [/QUOTE]

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