Lenses for Babies, Kids, Candids & Weddings

bobfowler · Oct 31, 2004

With 35mm, I like the manual focus 85mm f/1.8 lens for the obvious reasons - lens to subject distance and speed. If I need to use a tele-zoom, I like the 50-135 f/3.5 IF I want something that's deadly sharp. If I want something a touch softer, the 43-86 is not a bad choice. I know, I know, that lens is considered the WORST zoom Nikon ever made. Well, maybe it is if you're shooting test targets, but for shooting people, it's quite often the BEST choice.

For reportage work, I keep a 24mm f/2.8 in my bag, but I find myself more often than not using the 25-50 f/4 zoom. It's a touch slow, but it's a damn nice piece of glass. As an alternate, I sopmetimes take my 24-40 f/2.8 Tokina AT-X if I know I'll be doing a lot of available darkness shooting.

Tom Stanworth · Nov 1, 2004

I use EOS cameras and find teh 28-135 IS USM great. At the longer end you still get good selective focus and the lens performance is superb. The image stabaliser really helps in low light too. I will soon be adding a 70-300 IS too. I have really been impressed by the work of Annabelle Williams (UK based porttrait/wedding photographer) and whe mainly uses the 70-300. Not sure what make your bodies are?

Tom

Tom

Nicole · Nov 1, 2004

Tom Stanworth said:
I use EOS cameras and find teh 28-135 IS USM great. At the longer end you still get good selective focus and the lens performance is superb. The image stabaliser really helps in low light too. I will soon be adding a 70-300 IS too. I have really been impressed by the work of Annabelle Williams (UK based porttrait/wedding photographer) and whe mainly uses the 70-300. Not sure what make your bodies are?
Tom
Tom

Hi Tom, I have all of Annabel's books and am also a big admirer of her work. A friend of mine has just returned home from the UK after attending one of her workshops. Wish I was there!!!

I use Nikon gear for 35mm and digital. I prefer fixed lenses as I just can't to get the sharp, quality shots with a zoom. Maybe it's just me or I'm too picky. I believe Annabel doesn't shoot the very little, more challenging children much and unfortunately I don't have her budget - yet!

Nikon F90X - 50mm 1.4 lens
Nikon D70 - 18-70mm 3.5-4.5 lens & 50mm 1.4 lens
Hasselblad - 80mm 2.8 Planar CZ lens

Today I did another shoot with the digital as requested - it was for a website and urgent. Whilst 'processing in the digital darkroom' I kept being reminded why film is still far superior. Colour, depth and intensity and timeframe is all I can say. Yes, I love the creativity the computer allows me but ....

TPPhotog · Nov 1, 2004

Nicole I use the Sigma EX 105mm 2.8 and I think it's a little cracker and for me the perfect lens for portraits and the odd (several) street shoots. Tony

Nicole · Nov 1, 2004

TPPhotog said:
Nicole I use the Sigma EX 105mm 2.8 and I think it's a little cracker and for me the perfect lens for portraits and the odd (several) street shoots. Tony

Great to hear from you Tony. Is it sharp as a tack? How well does it work in low light (no flash here!)?

TPPhotog · Nov 1, 2004

Nicole McGrade said:
Great to hear from you Tony. Is it sharp as a tack? How well does it work in low light (no flash here!)?

Hi Nicole good to hear your after that natural light LOL It's not as razor sharp as a Nikon but close enough for people shooting where for me a lens can be too sharp. The auto-focus works very well in low light on my F100 and it's ergonomic for manual focus if you prefer. I find it's better to set the auto-focus through the center of the lens and then recompose to nail the shot in low light. This only takes a fraction of a second and I can't remember any shots that I've missed with it. You will get a lot for your money and hand on heart I don't think any 3rd paty lens is as good as the real thing.

Nicole · Nov 1, 2004

Thanks Tony!

modafoto · Nov 1, 2004

Nicole McGrade said:
no flash here!

Awwwwww.....Come on....blow those 1000 watts flash heads directly at the little kids!

TPPhotog · Nov 1, 2004

Morten I've told ye before ... it's rude to flash

Blighty · Nov 1, 2004

Nicole,
For portraiture, I nearly always use a Nikon 85mm f1.8 lens. I find it incredibly sharp with a pleasing perspective and good bokeh. Some reckon the f1.4 version to be a superior performer, and if cost isn't an option then perhaps this may be your best bet. I have used zooms but nearly always at the shorter end of the scale. For some reason which I am unable explain, I always find myself using telephoto's with colour film. Conversely, I nearly always use wide angles or standards with B&W. Strange huh? Regards, BLIGHTY.

Nicole · Nov 1, 2004

Blighty said:
Nicole,
For portraiture, I nearly always use a Nikon 85mm f1.8 lens. I find it incredibly sharp with a pleasing perspective and good bokeh. Some reckon the f1.4 version to be a superior performer, and if cost isn't an option then perhaps this may be your best bet. I have used zooms but nearly always at the shorter end of the scale. For some reason which I am unable explain, I always find myself using telephoto's with colour film. Conversely, I nearly always use wide angles or standards with B&W. Strange huh? Regards, BLIGHTY.

Hi Blighty, well, I just ordered the Nikon 85mm 1.8.
What's bokeh!
Style is Style, you obviously have found what works for you.
Cheers
Nicole

rbarker · Nov 1, 2004

AF becomes much less of an issue, Nicole, if the kid is properly super-glued to the floor, or velcroed to the wall. ;-)

Although I happened on what may be an unusually sharp 28-200 "consumer grade" Nikkor zoom, the variable aperture can be a problem in the studio with flash. Not so with natural light, of course. But, you'll see a significant difference with the pro-level AFS zooms. I use both the 28-70 and the 80-200, and they're tack sharp. BUT, they are pricey, too.

I also like the 105mm Micro Nikkor for 35mm portraits, but the 85mm gets rave reviews, as well.

I've also used a 110mm (manual focus) Makro Planar on my Hassy with kids, but I had them set up with an "activity prop" so they didn't move around too much. With a little practice, follow-focus starts to become natural, and almost intuitive.

Nicole · Nov 1, 2004

Hi Ralph, great to hear from you! Just can't afford the Hassy lenses yet, will have to make do with the 80mm planar for now.
I better get out there now.
Kind regards,
Nicole

Blighty · Nov 4, 2004

Nicole,
Bokeh refers to the 'quality' of the out of focus regions, in front and behind the subject, in particular the out of focus highlights (some egghead's bound to disagree with me here!!). Regards BLIGHTY

modafoto · Nov 4, 2004

Nicole McGrade said:
Just can't afford the Hassy lenses yet, will have to make do with the 80mm planar for now.

Hi

In Denmark a used 150 mm for Hassy costs $700-$800 (US$ that is). Is that still too expensive?

titrisol · Nov 4, 2004

I'd love to have a 135mm/2.8 or so for that purpose.

But my baby loves to play with a voss 50/4 enlarging lens

Nicole · Nov 4, 2004

modafoto said:
Hi
In Denmark a used 150 mm for Hassy costs $700-$800 (US$ that is). Is that still too expensive?

Hi M, for now it is. Thanks.

Jon Luebke · Nov 4, 2004

I'll second the recommendation of the 80-200/2.8. I have used it quite often shooting candids of my two young nephews, and it has not disappointed. It's very sharp across the entire range (with very little distortion), and the fact that it goes all the way out to 200 gives you a little extra distance to offset the distraction and attention that a big lens like that creates. Plus, it's a great all-around lens that will serve you well no matter where you use it. All three versions of this lens have outstanding optical quality, with slight differences in handling characteristics.

If you don't have quite so much working distance an/or the light is less than ideal, I'd say go with the 85/1.8. It's smaller, lighter, equally sharp, and that extra 1.3 stops can really make the difference between capturing that special moment and just another blurry kid photo.

tbm · Nov 5, 2004

I use 50mm, 80mm, 100mm, and 135mm lenses to photograph children. Below are two examples I recently acquired with Delta 100 film developed in Microdol-X 1:3 for 17 minutes at 75 degrees. The shot of the baby being held up by her father was acquired with my Leica R8 and 100mm lens and the second shot of the baby on a blanket was acquired with my 50mm Summicron lens. The original prints are gorgeous and the parents of the baby were shocked when they first viewed the prints, not only because of the wonderful tonality the compensating effect of the Microdol-X concoction created but also because of the great sharpness, lack of grain, and tight composition. The first time I photographed a child 6 months ago, I mistakenly used my 180mm lens and was horrified upon discovering that that lens flattened and enlarged the 1-year-old child's head horridly. That does not happen with the aforementioned shorter focal lengths.

Nicole · Nov 5, 2004

85mm 1.8 lens

Hi All, thank you all very much for helping me make up my mind on a new lens. Well, I picked it up and took it straight for a workout - on my DIGI! I wanted instant gratification to test it out. I will give you some examples here shot with the 85mm 1.8 lens. These are digital, so I won't upload them into the gallery out of respect to all us APUG's. Thanks to you all. I'm so happy wiht this lens!!!
Kind regards from West Australia
Nicole

Nicole · Nov 6, 2004

Thanks Jon and TBM! I really appreciate your input! I'm very happy with my newbie!
Kind regards,
Nicole

benjiboy · Jun 7, 2005

Nikon 85mm Lenses

Nicole Boenig-McGrade said:
Thanks Morten! I'm currently tossing up between the one of these:
Nikon 85mm 1.8
Nikon 85mm 2.8
Sigma EX 105mm 2.8

Has anyone used any of these?

Hi Nicole,
I had an 85mm 1.8 Nikkor, the manual focus version of the lens ,until some burglar relieved me of it, I am mainly a portrait photographer, and I loved the natural perspective it produced, and the placticity it gave to the human features, it was my favorite lense. In portrait shots I find, especially in the studio, where space can be limited, and longer focal length lenses tend to flatten perspective, it was perfect.

JohnArs · Jun 7, 2005

Hi Nicole

Your decision was exatly perfect. On german color mag the 1,8 is on the MTF the sharper lens then the f1,4 and the 1,4 would be to heavy for a long shooting for you!
I have the 1,8 also and also love it. I also have the f2 135mm DC wich I use for weddings for to kill the background sometimes! I found the Sigma on a list from a german photog to have bad bokeh!
You did the right thing and a f2,8 80-200 zoom lens is much to heavy for such work in my opinion!

burn1138 · Jun 8, 2005

i love my nikon 85mm f/1.8 af-d. i use it for candids, i dont do much pose portraiture. my personal preferance is towards prime lenses, i wont even pick up a zoom if i dont have to. here is my friends daughter shot with the 85.

sterioma · Jun 8, 2005

I was also tempted to buy the 85 1.8 AF for my F100. Right now I am using a 105 2.5 AIS which is manual focus and sometimes it's really difficult to "catch the moment" (I wonder how people did before AF was introduced ). Not that it's impossible to take candids, of course, it's just so much more harder for me especially when I'm shooting at wide open (which is, most of the times for this kind of shot).

The example in the attachment is with my 105 (Kodak Tri-X in Rodinal, a poor scan from the negative). My 3 months old daughter

Lenses for Babies, Kids, Candids & Weddings

bobfowler

Tom Stanworth

Nicole

TPPhotog

Nicole

TPPhotog

Nicole

modafoto

TPPhotog

Blighty

Nicole

rbarker

Nicole

Blighty

modafoto

titrisol

Nicole

Jon Luebke

tbm

Nicole

Nicole

benjiboy

JohnArs

burn1138

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