Best Portrait lens for Medium Format

[themediocreenthusiast]

For family and kids - ill prefers 35-40mm for everyday family shots, and 50 or 85mm on special occasions but my Japanese missus prefers 24mm or 28mm. a.k.a Japan's 'Small Face' Obsession lol :-D

Let's ask which is your favourite 35mm fullframe and 44x33 medium format portrait lens on medium format and why?

FF lens + GFX = I think my fav. is Canon 85mm f1.2L USM v1 and Tamron 35mm f1.8 SP VC.

Truly Medium format lens = I think ill go with Pentax-D FA 645 55mm F2.8

Using full frame as example.

Source: https://picturestoryteller.com/2015/01/03/nikon-d750-best-portrait-lens/

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Shooting On The Fly Everyday!

 

[JimKasson]

For family and kids - ill prefers 35-40mm for everyday family shots, and 50 or 85mm on special occasions but my Japanese missus prefers 24mm or 28mm. a.k.a Japan's 'Small Face' Obsession lol :-D

Let's ask which is your favourite 35mm fullframe and 44x33 medium format portrait lens on medium format and why?

FF lens + GFX = I think my fav. is Canon 85mm f1.2L USM v1 and Tamron 35mm f1.8 SP VC.

Truly Medium format lens = I think ill go with Pentax-D FA 645 55mm F2.8

Using full frame as example.

Source: https://picturestoryteller.com/2015/01/03/nikon-d750-best-portrait-lens/

110/2 GF. Fast when you need it. Sharp. NIce general single person portrait focal length.

--

the last word the last word - Photography meets digital computer technology. Photography wins -- most of the time.

Photography meets digital computer technology. Photography wins -- most of the time.

blog.kasson.com

 

[EuronGreyjoy]

For family and kids - ill prefers 35-40mm for everyday family shots, and 50 or 85mm on special occasions but my Japanese missus prefers 24mm or 28mm. a.k.a Japan's 'Small Face' Obsession lol :-D

Let's ask which is your favourite 35mm fullframe and 44x33 medium format portrait lens on medium format and why?

FF lens + GFX = I think my fav. is Canon 85mm f1.2L USM v1 and Tamron 35mm f1.8 SP VC.

Truly Medium format lens = I think ill go with Pentax-D FA 645 55mm F2.8

Using full frame as example.

Source: https://picturestoryteller.com/2015/01/03/nikon-d750-best-portrait-lens/

110/2 GF. Fast when you need it. Sharp. NIce general single person portrait focal length.

--
https://blog.kasson.com

Fully agree, thread can be closed

 

[moimoi]

I will concur with Jim, the 110 is hard to beat as a portrait lens.

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

Cheers,

Max

--
135 & 120 | Fuji GFX
http://www.maximesiegler.com/
https://www.instagram.com/maxsiegler645/

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

Best Portrait lens for Medium Format

For family and kids - ill prefers 35-40mm for everyday family shots, and 50 or 85mm on special occasions but my Japanese missus prefers 24mm or 28mm. a.k.a Japan's 'Small Face' Obsession lol :-D

Let's ask which is your favourite 35mm fullframe and 44x33 medium format portrait lens on medium format and why?

FF lens + GFX = I think my fav. is Canon 85mm f1.2L USM v1 and Tamron 35mm f1.8 SP VC.

Truly Medium format lens = I think ill go with Pentax-D FA 645 55mm F2.8

What is the best portrait lens depends heavily on what sort of framing of the portrait you want. Most (not all!) of your shots are more-or-less common 'head and shoulders' portraits for which 85mm on FF has long been the favorite because it tends to provide a pleasing perspective for many people with the desired framing. On a GFX or similar, that's about 110mm. Hence the wide support for the GF 110mm f/2 (which seems to have otherwise-favorable optical performance).

If you want a full-length standing portrait, another, probably shorter lens would be better. IMOPO the lack of a 'head shot' lens--the equivalent of a FF 135mm--is one of the more notable gaps in the GF lens lineup, with the roughly 180mm needed only sort-of covered by the 100-200mm f/5.6.

Using full frame as example.

Source: https://picturestoryteller.com/2015/01/03/nikon-d750-best-portrait-lens/

Those are not really accurate comparisons. The framing differs a lot, widest with the 35mm and tightest with the 300mm. You need to put the camera proportionally closer-to / farther-from the subject, so that each shot has the same framing. So for example, if you'd shoot an 85mm from 6 ft / 1.8 m away from the subject, then you'd need:

14 mm - 1.0 ft
20 mm - 1.4 ft
24 mm - 1.7 ft
28 mm - 2.0 ft
35 mm - 2.5 ft
50 mm - 3.5 ft
70 mm - 4.9 ft
85 mm - 6.0 ft
105 mm - 7.4 ft
200 mm - 14.1 ft
300 mm - 21.2 ft

 

[bobby350z]

It was GF 110mm f2, now a days using 80mm GF a lot more. 80mm shows more of the surrounding space compared to 110mm f2. Both are nice IMHO. I haven't tried 55mm f1.7 yet, I assume that is one good lens too depending on what you shooting.

 

[adew1]

If we're talking about Fujifilm, the GF 110mm is the One as far as I'm concerned. I use it too for full length portraits, but that can be impossible in smaller shooting spaces. I don't own one, but I understand the love for the GF 80 too, based on what I've seen people produce with it.

 

[Velocity of Sound]

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

The 63mm is the only lens I have ever owned where the lens pinched my finger.

I have the 55mm f/1.7. It's capable of very pleasing results. Unfortunately the autofocus performance is about the same as the 63mm f/2.8 - although at least the focusing is all internal and there are no moving elements outside of the lens. I guess that's a plus. Feels like a definite downgrade compared with the 110mm f/2 and the 45-100mm f/4 - both of which bear Fuji's linear motors. It's surprising to me that Fuji has this fantastic autofocus technology and isn't putting it into darn near every lens that it can. So I have little faith that a revised 63mm f/2.8 would come out with better motor design. Internal focusing would be nice but if it won't have that LM designation then what's the point? The lens size would probably increase (based on a comparison with the 45mm f/2.8). At least the 63mm collapses down to be pretty small for travel.

Autofocus gripes aside, we have some nice primes to choose from. The 110mm f/2 may be the crown jewel of the system, but it's paired up with the 80mm f/1.7 and 55mm f/1.7, which are capable of some really pleasing images and fantastic subject isolation for shallow DoF fans.

 

[bofo777]

For family and kids - ill prefers 35-40mm for everyday family shots, and 50 or 85mm on special occasions but my Japanese missus prefers 24mm or 28mm. a.k.a Japan's 'Small Face' Obsession lol :-D

Let's ask which is your favourite 35mm fullframe and 44x33 medium format portrait lens on medium format and why?

FF lens + GFX = I think my fav. is Canon 85mm f1.2L USM v1 and Tamron 35mm f1.8 SP VC.

Truly Medium format lens = I think ill go with Pentax-D FA 645 55mm F2.8

Using full frame as example

For family and kids the lens I love is the GF 45 fast focus, light in weight and is 2.8. For portrait sessions for single or multiple people esp for great bokeh and separation THE GF TRIAD 110 2.0 the 801.7 and the new 55 1.7 (Take your Pick).

 

[yogi4fitness]

GF110 for general portraits and GF45 for environmental portraits.

For comparison to FF Sony system it is

GM85 for general portraits and GM35 for environmental portraits.

 

[Rodenmg]

I don't know. I kinda like the way the 14 enhances the pendant.

 

[bobby350z]

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

The 63mm is the only lens I have ever owned where the lens pinched my finger.

I have the 55mm f/1.7. It's capable of very pleasing results. Unfortunately the autofocus performance is about the same as the 63mm f/2.8 - although at least the focusing is all internal and there are no moving elements outside of the lens. I guess that's a plus. Feels like a definite downgrade compared with the 110mm f/2 and the 45-100mm f/4 - both of which bear Fuji's linear motors. It's surprising to me that Fuji has this fantastic autofocus technology and isn't putting it into darn near every lens that it can. So I have little faith that a revised 63mm f/2.8 would come out with better motor design. Internal focusing would be nice but if it won't have that LM designation then what's the point? The lens size would probably increase (based on a comparison with the 45mm f/2.8). At least the 63mm collapses down to be pretty small for travel.

Autofocus gripes aside, we have some nice primes to choose from. The 110mm f/2 may be the crown jewel of the system, but it's paired up with the 80mm f/1.7 and 55mm f/1.7, which are capable of some really pleasing images and fantastic subject isolation for shallow DoF fans.

Do you have 80mm f1.7? I heard (no first hand knowledge) that 63mm f2.8 is the worst AF wise. I could be wrong. I have 110mm f2 and 80mm f1.7 and for shooting one person shots, I have no problems with either. Some say 110mm f2 is fast, it is maybe a little faster but doesn't matter for my shooting style. I mostly shoot models with strobes both inside and outside the studio. Outside I used to use 110mm f2 but now only 80mm f1.7. I don't use AFC mode at all. Single shot but with eye detect. For slow moving model shots where they would pose, I get 99% in focus sharp shots at f2 on GFX100s.

 

[Valued Customer]

Best, Fujinon GF 110mm F2 WR LM (88mm full frame equivalent)

See, https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/lenses/gf110mmf2-r-lm-wr/

Best for your needs, FUJIFILM GF 45-100mm f/4 R LM OIS WR (36mm to 80mm full frame equivalent)

See, https://fujifilm-x.com/global/products/lenses/gf45-100mmf4-r-lm-ois-wr/

Both these lenses are a couple of the exceptional lenses within the Fuji GFX lens system.

 

[Bags27]

Mamiya N 150 mm is really nice, though I prefer the Blad V mount 180, I think.

 

[Rich42]

This is the single most repetitive (and mostly useless) question asked on any photography forum. Tune in every so often and there's a version of this extant anywhere you want to look. (And of course, on the Internet, starting fights.)

It was worn out and over-done when I was reading Popular Photography and Modern Photography magazines monthly in the late 1950s and for decades thereafter where this was a staple feature every 3 months or so . . . forever.

Not only will all the usual responses appear touting lenses in the range of "Full-Frame Equivalent" of 85mm to 105mm, but every focal length in existence will eventually be recommended as "The Best," and there will always be the crazies who advocate microscope objectives and astronomical telescopes as their portrait lens of choice.

Personally, I favor my 8 inch (diameter) f/8 Meade catadioptric 'scope at about 60" focal length for tight head shots. Communicating with the model posing several houses away is a piece of cake with our iPhones. Unless the model has an Android phone, in which case I refuse to talk to him or her. One must maintain one's standards.

/Grumpy Sarcasm

 

[yogi4fitness]

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

The 63mm is the only lens I have ever owned where the lens pinched my finger.

I have the 55mm f/1.7. It's capable of very pleasing results. Unfortunately the autofocus performance is about the same as the 63mm f/2.8 - although at least the focusing is all internal and there are no moving elements outside of the lens. I guess that's a plus. Feels like a definite downgrade compared with the 110mm f/2 and the 45-100mm f/4 - both of which bear Fuji's linear motors. It's surprising to me that Fuji has this fantastic autofocus technology and isn't putting it into darn near every lens that it can. So I have little faith that a revised 63mm f/2.8 would come out with better motor design. Internal focusing would be nice but if it won't have that LM designation then what's the point? The lens size would probably increase (based on a comparison with the 45mm f/2.8). At least the 63mm collapses down to be pretty small for travel.

Autofocus gripes aside, we have some nice primes to choose from. The 110mm f/2 may be the crown jewel of the system, but it's paired up with the 80mm f/1.7 and 55mm f/1.7, which are capable of some really pleasing images and fantastic subject isolation for shallow DoF fans.

Do you have 80mm f1.7? I heard (no first hand knowledge) that 63mm f2.8 is the worst AF wise. I could be wrong. I have 110mm f2 and 80mm f1.7 and for shooting one person shots, I have no problems with either. Some say 110mm f2 is fast, it is maybe a little faster but doesn't matter for my shooting style. I mostly shoot models with strobes both inside and outside the studio. Outside I used to use 110mm f2 but now only 80mm f1.7.

How is the LOCA with the 80/1.7? Is it as bad as they say in online reviews? Purple fringing is one thing i can't stand even if its correctible.

I don't use AFC mode at all. Single shot but with eye detect. For slow moving model shots where they would pose, I get 99% in focus sharp shots at f2 on GFX100s.

 

[bobby350z]

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

The 63mm is the only lens I have ever owned where the lens pinched my finger.

I have the 55mm f/1.7. It's capable of very pleasing results. Unfortunately the autofocus performance is about the same as the 63mm f/2.8 - although at least the focusing is all internal and there are no moving elements outside of the lens. I guess that's a plus. Feels like a definite downgrade compared with the 110mm f/2 and the 45-100mm f/4 - both of which bear Fuji's linear motors. It's surprising to me that Fuji has this fantastic autofocus technology and isn't putting it into darn near every lens that it can. So I have little faith that a revised 63mm f/2.8 would come out with better motor design. Internal focusing would be nice but if it won't have that LM designation then what's the point? The lens size would probably increase (based on a comparison with the 45mm f/2.8). At least the 63mm collapses down to be pretty small for travel.

Autofocus gripes aside, we have some nice primes to choose from. The 110mm f/2 may be the crown jewel of the system, but it's paired up with the 80mm f/1.7 and 55mm f/1.7, which are capable of some really pleasing images and fantastic subject isolation for shallow DoF fans.

Do you have 80mm f1.7? I heard (no first hand knowledge) that 63mm f2.8 is the worst AF wise. I could be wrong. I have 110mm f2 and 80mm f1.7 and for shooting one person shots, I have no problems with either. Some say 110mm f2 is fast, it is maybe a little faster but doesn't matter for my shooting style. I mostly shoot models with strobes both inside and outside the studio. Outside I used to use 110mm f2 but now only 80mm f1.7.

How is the LOCA with the 80/1.7? Is it as bad as they say in online reviews? Purple fringing is one thing i can't stand even if its correctible.

I don't use AFC mode at all. Single shot but with eye detect. For slow moving model shots where they would pose, I get 99% in focus sharp shots at f2 on GFX100s.

 

[yogi4fitness]

I do like the 63 for environmental portrait. Minimal distorsion. I am still waiting for Fuji to update that lens with a more modern motor design. Maybe I am dreaming

Overall, 63 and 110 is a great combo for portraiture. Don't think I would need more. Maybe the new 55 1.7?

The 63mm is the only lens I have ever owned where the lens pinched my finger.

I have the 55mm f/1.7. It's capable of very pleasing results. Unfortunately the autofocus performance is about the same as the 63mm f/2.8 - although at least the focusing is all internal and there are no moving elements outside of the lens. I guess that's a plus. Feels like a definite downgrade compared with the 110mm f/2 and the 45-100mm f/4 - both of which bear Fuji's linear motors. It's surprising to me that Fuji has this fantastic autofocus technology and isn't putting it into darn near every lens that it can. So I have little faith that a revised 63mm f/2.8 would come out with better motor design. Internal focusing would be nice but if it won't have that LM designation then what's the point? The lens size would probably increase (based on a comparison with the 45mm f/2.8). At least the 63mm collapses down to be pretty small for travel.

Autofocus gripes aside, we have some nice primes to choose from. The 110mm f/2 may be the crown jewel of the system, but it's paired up with the 80mm f/1.7 and 55mm f/1.7, which are capable of some really pleasing images and fantastic subject isolation for shallow DoF fans.

Do you have 80mm f1.7? I heard (no first hand knowledge) that 63mm f2.8 is the worst AF wise. I could be wrong. I have 110mm f2 and 80mm f1.7 and for shooting one person shots, I have no problems with either. Some say 110mm f2 is fast, it is maybe a little faster but doesn't matter for my shooting style. I mostly shoot models with strobes both inside and outside the studio. Outside I used to use 110mm f2 but now only 80mm f1.7.

How is the LOCA with the 80/1.7? Is it as bad as they say in online reviews? Purple fringing is one thing i can't stand even if its correctible.

I don't use AFC mode at all. Single shot but with eye detect. For slow moving model shots where they would pose, I get 99% in focus sharp shots at f2 on GFX100s.

I see no LOCA anywhere. These are amazing portraits.

 

[themediocreenthusiast]

Thanks all for your reply.

So much good food for thought. I know ...GF 110mm f2 has been on my wish list for too long.

I'm surprised 28mm or 24mm lens seems unpopular for portrait or casual family shooting... makes the face smaller! :-D

 

[NAwlins Contrarian]

I'm surprised 28mm or 24mm lens seems unpopular for portrait or casual family shooting... makes the face smaller! :-D

You've said that twice now, and at first I thought it was some kind of joke, but now I'm not so sure.

To be clear, it is not true.

A wide-angle lens does not make faces smaller. What it does is encourage you to get closer to the subject (to fill a reasonable fraction of the frame), which makers nearer elements in the frame look relatively larger, compared with farther elements in the frame. For example, in a head-shot, a wide-angle lens plus a perspective close enough to fill the frame tends to make the subject appear to have a larger, more bulbous nose and smaller ears.