Just entering the world of LF from the realm of Polaroids. Bought a Burke and James camera and am looking for a lens that I can take head and shoulder shots. One of our esteemed members suggested I'd need a lens between 500-600mm, but another working pro who makes 4x5 tintypes suggested a 300mm would do the trick.
Who's right? What size lens would be best? I'd probably also be doing some full-body shots, as well. Cropping is not really possible, as I'd be shooting instant film.
Cheers,
Jeff
Instant film in 8x10??
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
A 300mm lens is perfectly adequate for head and shoulder portraits, as well as most general photography. For even closer work you can use an even shorter lens to avoid extreme bellows length. AS you are photographing with a 300mm anything less than about 8 feet from the camera you need to include bellows factor in you exposure computation.
There are many good books out there which will explain bellows factor, as well as other essentials to good exposure.
A 300mm lens on 810 is a normal lens so you need to watch out for forshortening, that is why a longer lens was suggested. You can end up with large noses, long chins, high foreheads with a normal or shorter lens. It would be similar to shooting head and shoulders shots with a normal lens on 35 or medium format.
A 480 would be a good compromise to avoid the undesirable effects that Bob describes.
A 480 the equivalent to around 80mm in 35mm or 150mm in 6x6cm, both the classic portrait lenses.
Indeed. The Impossible Project is due to release its 8x10 instant film in the coming weeks.Originally Posted by E. von Hoegh
Jeff Ballinger
jefflballinger@mac.com
www.jeffballingerphoto.squarespace.com
Neat! In that case I'd consider a 420mm/16 1/2" lens a minimumin 8x10 lens for head and shoulders, for reasons stated above.
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
Thanks everyone for the helpful suggestions. The hunt begins.
Jeff
Not hard to figure this out.
Take a card with an 8x10 cutout.
Determine what perspective you want and stand that far away from the model (p).
Look through the cutout and see how far away from your eye looks best.
That is the distance your lens needs to be from the film (q).
Calculate your lens focal length needed (f) based on that measurement and your distance from the subject.
1/p +1/q = 1/f
It is fine from 360mm up to 480mm for only head you should go longer then 400mm.am looking for a lens that I can take head and shoulder shots.
Cheers Armin
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