Lenses

[Photography_21]

50mm 1.4 vs 85mm 1.8 on a crop sensor (Rebel t3) for portraits?
(Full body+headshots)
Thanks!!

[ScottyP]

If you need full body you probably need the 50.  As you know the 50 and 85 on a crop correspond to (roughly) the 85 and 135 on full frame, which are the two supposed boundaries of the classic portrait lens focal length range.  The long end would be tough for full body if you can't back up far enough.

[ebiggs1]

No question, the 50mil.

[diverhank]

Yes...the 50/1.4 is the way to go, focal length-wise.  One thing I'm nervous about recommending this lens is its quality...its Auto Focus is  well known to fail easily at the slightest shock to the lens.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ScottyP wrote:

If you need full body you probably need the 50.  As you know the 50 and 85 on a crop correspond to (roughly) the 85 and 135 on full frame, which are the two supposed boundaries of the classic portrait lens focal length range.  The long end would be tough for full body if you can't back up far enough.

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It's worth keeping in mind that the reason there is a "classic portrait lens focal length range" is to avoid exaggerating the length of the subject's nose. In a full-body portrait you'd have to be using a very wide lens for that to be an issue.

[ScottyP]

True