Is M50 Mark II even enough for portrait photography

[lolson1512]

My current camera is the M50 Mark 2 (yes, I know I'm pretty limited) and am trying to take some outdoor portraits of family but am not getting the 'look' that I want in my portraits. Sometime I do plan to upgrade to a full frame, which I know will help with the professional quality of portrait photography. Currently I have been using my 22mm f2 which creates great bokeh, but I'm wondering if I should just try some different lenses in my possession.  I also have the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. Should I try one of those? Does anyone else use the M50 Mark 2 for portrait photography?

Thank you!

Laurie 

[normadel]

What is the "look" you are not getting?

[lolson1512]

Hello there!  I see portraits posted from other photographers, of let's say, senior photos, and they have that high quality, somewhat softened look to them. I can achieve that somewhat with the PP4 program that I use, but I keep thinking I'm missing elements in my photo taking. I'm currently taking senior pictures of my daughter. And though she seems happy with them, I myself am seeing little flaws here and there. For now I will keep using the M50 II but am 'pining' for the larger sensor camera.  I've also been researching quite a lot on the right lighting.

[normadel · Accepted solution]

Pine all you want for a full-frame sensor for whatever reasons you have. But it is not going to work magic on your portraits. That is up to your skills with lens length selection, positioning  the camera, lighting, exposure, post-processing out "little flaws", overall retouching, etc etc. I suggest you read all you can on the area of portrait photography.

[shadowsports · Accepted solution]

Greetings ,

Portraiture is often best achieved with focal lengths between 85mm and 135 mm.  A full frame sensor does offer a shallower depth of field and better subject background separation. However, you can still achieve this to some extent on an aps-c sensor depending on the lens.  Faster lenses with an aperture that goes below f4 are the easiest to obtain subject separation and a degree of background blur.  At F4 and above, the background will have to be much farther from your subject for there to be much enhanced bokeh and blur.  

With that said, a 22 mm lens has a rather large field of view.  You probably noticed that you had to get pretty close in order to get the composition and level of detail you were looking for.  It's a fixed focal length with a constant aperture of f2

Your other lenses are variable aperture meaning the maximum aperture changes depending on the set focal length.  Here's an example (18-55)

18-20mm = f/3.5

21-27mm = f/4.0

28-34mm = f/4.5

35-45mm = f/5.0

46-55mm = f/5.6

So essentially your 22 mm lens with f2 is probably going to give you the best bouquet, but you'll have to stand pretty close to get the level of detail for a head shot.  

The 18-55 will give you a little more versatility but at the expense of separation between subject and background.  

You are absolutely correct considering a full frame sensor.  The M series was great.  Small compact, great for travel and the ability to switch lenses.  Canon does make an adapter that allows you to use EF and EF-S lenses with your EF-M body, but I would not recommend investing as the adapter is not interchangeable and would ultimately die with your M series body.  It would also require you to buy EF or EF-S lenses which would have you investing in another technology Canon is no longer developing.  It could however open some doors for you stretching the life out of your M series body.  

A nice full frame upgrade for you would be the R8.  Of course, if you could swing the R6 Mark II that would be fabulous.  Either would allow you to use RF glass.  Or, with another adapter (EF to EOS R) you could adapt any EF lenses you purchased for use in the M series body.  Again however there are differences between the lens mounts EF-M and EF which is why you would need a second adapter to adapt EF lenses to a newer full frame mirrorless body.  Let us know if you have any questions, we can help you navigate the various technologies and ensure compatibility depending on which direction you decide to go in.  

[lolson1512]

This is all excellent information, thank you so much!

[shadowsports]

Greetings,

My pleasure.  We are happy to help.  🙂