Portrait focal length

[Noeyedear]

My reason for asking the following question is, it's been a while since I shot LF and I have never done any LF portraits. If I was using 35 mm for Portraits I would be looking around the 100 mm mark, MF about 150 mm. If I was shooting 10x8 this would put me into the 600-700mm range and 5x4 300mm. So what is the experience here of those shooting LF portraits, I know nothing is set in stone, I'm also aware of perspective being a result of viewpoint , etc.
My limited experience (landscape) of a longer lens on 5x4 which was 240 mm had a "feel" or "look" longer than a 100 mm on 35 mm.
Which lens would make a good head shot on 5x4 and which lens on 10 x 8.
Thanks,

Kevin.

[Joanna Carter]

To get an idea of LF lengths, simply multiply 35mm lengths by anything between 3 and 3.6, depending on how you measure the film area/sizes.

[Noeyedear]

Hi Joanna,
I'm aware of the maths on paper and theory, I'm wondering in practice with the larger format does that hold true to the final look of the picture.

Regards,

Kevin.

[Walter Calahan]

For head and shoulders, think in the 180, 210, to 240 mm range.

The translation from 35 mm to 4x5 or 8x10 isn't as simple as multiplying because the films have different aspect ratios.

An old 4x5 SLR Graflex does nice portraits with its standard 190 mm lens.

On 8x10, I like making full-length portraits, so a 240 mm (slightly wide from normal) works for me, and gives a little more 'feeling' of depth-of-field.

If you have the chance to borrow a few different focal lengths, before buying, do it to discover what works with how you see.

[Ash]

180mm is a good length for portraits on 5x4. I found that 150mm can be too wide (but it's my standard lens on one setup I use most, so I crop) but 180mm can give you the added zoom you need for a nice straight shot.
Then again for MF I use around 80mm, so I'm always going a bit wider than you. I shoot 35mm portraits on 50mm lenses and rarely on 90mm.

[jb7]

You're going to get a lot of answers,
so you'll be right back where you started-
210-300 on 4x5, though longer or shorter depending on the picture,
would be my less than helpful suggestion-

joseph

[Ransom]

My "standard" portrait lens is a 210 but I shoot portraits with other lenses for effect etc.

Edit: 4x5

[Peter K]

As an equivalent to an 100mm 35mm lens a 360mm lens the Tele-Xenar 1:5,5/360mm is a good choice. Also a such a tele-lens needs a shorter bellows-extension, 213mm at infinity. And for 8x10 the Apo-Tele-Xenar 1:9/600mm with a bellows-extension of 461mm ant infinity. Both lenses can be used with "normal" LF cameras.

[Frank Petronio]

Lately I've been using 135 on 4x5. It's wrong of course and my photos suck ;-)

In general you can go shorter with larger formats. I like 50-85mm range on 35mm/APS cameras, not that it matches...

[lenser]

This is a chart published in Kodaks old 'Photography with Large Format Cameras'.

Hope it helps.

Tim