Video University: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers: Using a macro lens for portraits?

VideoUniversity.com
Home	Free Library	Store
Free Catalog Please support VU by making your B&H purchases and links through this B&H ad. Doesn't cost a penny more.

See The New VU Postcard Catalog

To post in the forums see the Forum Guidelines.

Join or Renew Today.
New Benefits for all VU Members

Forum Guidelines and FAQ
Main Index	Search Posts
Who's Online	Log In

Home: Video University Forums: Digital Photography for Videographers:
Using a macro lens for portraits?

1 2

View All

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 1:58 AM

Post #1 of 26 (1523 views)
Shortcut

Using a macro lens for portraits?	Can't Post

I'm contemplating an Olympus 50mm f2 Macro (100mm equivalent in 35mm/Olympus has 2x magnification factor), but wondering if the "camera-to-subject distance and depth-of-field" numbers will make this a decent lens for close shallow DOF portraits...keeping in mind it is a 100mm equivalent? Here's the chart:

From looking at the chart, I guess that would make this lens decent for small DOF portraits with the subject out to 5 meters/16 feet? I guess that would be perfect for a 50mm(100mm eq.) lens. I really don't NEED a macro lens, but I guess it would be fun to play with.

It's either the 50mm f2 macro, or the 14-54mm f2.8-3.5. I'd like to get a DSLR before my vacation next month, and the 14-54 would be a better choice for those wide generic vacation photos, but otherwise the 14-54 is a little slower than I'd like.

I guess I just need a job. Laugh

With the now out-dated Olympus E-500 down to $425, I just can't resist blowing my rent money tonight. Tongue

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Fusion Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

(This post was edited by RustyB on Mar 20, 2007, 2:01 AM)

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 5:40 AM

Post #2 of 26 (1506 views)
Shortcut

DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

Oh well, screw it. I just ordered ANOTHER Olympus E-500, ANOTHER Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 lens, ANOTHER B+W MRC UV Filter, a FL-36 flash (couldn't afford the nice FL-50 this time around), another Sto-fen Omnibounce, a Sandisk Extreme USB CF reader for my laptop. That lens should get me through our big vacation next month...it's a great all-around lens. All of that for $1137.25 shipped, from B&H. Not too bad...nearly full kit for less than the price of a Canon 30D body alone.

Shooting film would have cost me a bundle, not to mention the issue of high-res scanning a truckload of negatives. Crazy

(Just justifying to myself that blowing the rent and food budget for the month was a really smart thing to do. Laugh

)

I guess I'll get the macro 50mm f2 when I get a real job. Then the 7-14mm f4, the 35-100 f2........ Tongue

Rusty Griswold is going on....

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 6:00 AM

Post #3 of 26 (1500 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 11:00 AM

Post #4 of 26 (1486 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

The 500 is the same camera you just sold a month or so back?

Were you tempted at all by the Fong Lightsphere instead of
the Stofen?

Yeah, I originally bought the e-500 2-lens kit. Sold the kit lenses, bought two more expensive lenses, and the better flash, and hi-power flash pack. Sold it all. I'm sure I'll be selling it all again in May when rent is due. Laugh

The Fong doesn't appeal to me. I've got the DEMB Pro, which has worked well with the limited amount of flash I've done. You don't lose any bounce with it, and you can control how much light it throws forward through the diffuser using the included Flip-It.
http://www.videouniversity.com/..._string=demb;#348779

But you can't beat the compactness of the Sto-Fen, so I have a few of those as well. They don't seem to give as much bounce, but I sure ain't carrying around a big goofy Fong or DEMB on vacation.

Of course, like we've discussed in other posts, who's to say you need a diffuser or bounce card at all? A couple of the most pro-active flash photographers I've seen, didn't use any at all, but were constantly adjusting the flash head position and power settings for every shot, to get the most from it. I questioned one about it, and he told me that he's bought all the gadgets, including the Fong, but it all boils down to knowing how to properly use your gear from experience, and rarely uses any kind of flash diffusion.

DEMB on my OMG

Shadow
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 12:35 PM

Post #5 of 26 (1478 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RustyB] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hooray! Congrats on the new camera, sounds like fun going on vacation and taking pictures.

Are you going camping? Wink

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 1:13 PM

Post #6 of 26 (1472 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Shadow] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Hooray! Congrats on the new camera, sounds like fun going on vacation and taking pictures.

Are you going camping? Wink

I wish...that would be a lot cheaper. Didn't have much choice on this one...my family put a deposit down for me on a 4-day Carnival cruise to Cozumel! Crazy

"What's that Rusty, you need to borrow $650 to help pay your rent this month and get something to eat, because you've run out of things to sell? Okay. By the way, we booked you on a Caribbean cruise, and you should be getting a bill in the mail for it." Laugh

I don't handle crowded places very well, unless I'm either, 1. Drinking, or 2. Carring a camera of some kind. The thought of being trapped on a cruise ship full of germy people for 4 days is terrifying. Laugh

I figure my money will be better invested in buying a new DSLR, versus spending it on expensive cruise ship drinks.

But if I can't afford to drink, it will still be like camping, since I'll still bring a sleeping bag to put on the bed. Sobriety+yucky hotel room beds don't make for a very good night's sleep. Laugh

It will be nice, though. I don't see family much anymore, so it will be good to get a bunch of digital pictures that I can easily put into a Blurb book so that other family members can easily get a copy.

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 6:42 PM

Post #7 of 26 (1449 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 6:44 PM

Post #8 of 26 (1448 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 20, 2007, 6:53 PM

Post #9 of 26 (1447 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Whatever happened with that one guy in your building who wanted the
head shots? Did you ever do that?

Nah, he didn't call me back to set up an appointment, and I didn't push it with him. Now that I have a digital camera again, I might see if they're still interested.

BTW, seeing that pic of the Metz flash just reminded me...I thought of something else to put on eBay. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Fusion Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 2:07 AM

Post #10 of 26 (1420 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

.....This is the Metz that a lot of photogs I work with use: :

That helped me to remember I had a Sunpak handle mount flash I wasn't using anymore...it just sold on eBay for $60 within minutes. Tongue

That's more than I paid for ANY of my 35mm SLR's! Laugh

Tomorrow I eat pizza!!!

Colvin ADTR
Enthusiast

Mar 21, 2007, 2:21 AM

Post #11 of 26 (1415 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RustyB] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

All those old flashes are going for a bomb now, thanks to strobist Frown

. It's crazy! The old Vivitars are going for twice the price of the new ones Crazy

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 2:52 AM

Post #12 of 26 (1411 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Colvin ADTR
Enthusiast

Mar 21, 2007, 3:13 AM

Post #13 of 26 (1407 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

The power of the blog and the herd mentality Mad

. A site becomes popular, it mentions that something might be a "bargain" and everybody has to buy one whether they need one/ can use one/ know how to use one or not. Vivitar has re-released one of their old models; it goes for about $85 new. The old version, 20 years old, goes on ebay for avg. $120. Now where is the sense in that? People think they can buy success

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 3:28 AM

Post #14 of 26 (1401 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Colvin ADTR
Enthusiast

Mar 21, 2007, 3:53 AM

Post #15 of 26 (1400 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

285, I think. They have made it compatible with modern digitals, so it won't blow them up like the older version. I was after one of the old "potato masher" flashes to see how they handled light, not being right over the lens but since they have become the fashion on strobist.com, I might as well just pick up a few older SBs now that they are the old fashion and coming back onto ebay at reasonable prices. It's like the 50mm 1.8 E lenses. They were touted on dpreview and went from �10 to �70 overnight. Luckily, I had just bought mine. Those are 2 sites that are guaranteed to send noobs scrabbling over to ebay and buying everything in sight. Rusty should have posted there about "finding a great flash and lens set-up" and he would have doubled his price, for sure.

(This post was edited by Colvin ADTR on Mar 21, 2007, 3:57 AM)

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 2:45 PM

Post #16 of 26 (1375 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Colvin ADTR] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

...Rusty should have posted there about "finding a great flash and lens set-up" and he would have doubled his price, for sure.

That sounds about as shady as someone talking up a bunch of hype about Super8 cameras, then putting up a bunch of them up for sale on eBay and posting the links in their VU signature. Laugh

The Ruger Mini-14 rifle is one of the coolest weapons out there. Especially if you could find one in mint condition, with a padded case, a bunch of 30 round Thermold magazines, and original box. That's why you see them in movies/TV so often. It would be a steal at $899...or about the price of an Olympus 50-200mm f2.8-3.5 ED lens. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Fusion Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Colvin ADTR
Enthusiast

Mar 21, 2007, 3:06 PM

Post #17 of 26 (1372 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RustyB] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm looking forward to seeing your pix from the cruise. I just hope it's not one of those Saga cruises Wink

Shadow
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 5:52 PM

Post #18 of 26 (1362 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RustyB] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ooohh a cruise sounds like fun! Even if it is filled with germy people! I went on one once, got married on the Carnival Pride, on it's second voyage.

My sister went on a cruise over march break, a guy jumped over board and was lost at sea for about 8 hours. Maybe something like that will happen and won't you be glad you have your new camera!

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 6:11 PM

Post #19 of 26 (1358 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Shadow
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 6:29 PM

Post #20 of 26 (1356 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

high seas adventure. Laugh

When I went on a cruise they had someone come around with a video camera during the boat launch and deck cocktails. People were just saying "HI" and goofy stuff. There was one cheezeball who said "Hi, my name is Mike, and any of you sexy ladies looking for a good time just come and find me." They played the video on one of the tv channels, people could buy it.

I'm not sure if Mike met any sexy ladies or not. Somehow I doubt it.

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 7:23 PM

Post #21 of 26 (1351 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 21, 2007, 10:50 PM

Post #22 of 26 (1344 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

some semi-attractive person on the cruise

Of course, this could be on a sliding scale, depending on how much alcohol
is involved. Sly

If you know what "a 2 at ten and a 10 at two" means then
you know what I'm talking about here.

With my luck, I'd deplete my checking account buying a trough of liqour to fill some East Texas trailer park bovine, only to result in one of the following scenarios:

1. I'd have to spend the next day with a cruiseship security guard, telling him how I took a complete stranger to my room, and woke up the next morning to find my new camera, my laptop, and all of cash missing.

2. I'd drink so much cheap tequila trying to get the nerve to pull off such a tremendous hiney heist, I'd stumble over the railing, and get picked up by a fishing boat full of lonely Greek sailors.

3. My entire immediate family would look on in shame, along with 2000 other cruiseship passengers, because I caught a new strain of VD so virulent that I have to be airlifted off the deck of the ship by a Bolivian Special Forces chopper and taken to a jungle quarantine.

I think I will just cash in my rent money for pennies, and stay in the casino for then entire cruise. Laugh

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Fusion Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 29, 2007, 5:28 AM

Post #23 of 26 (1201 views)
Shortcut

Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

RustyB
Veteran

Mar 29, 2007, 12:25 PM

Post #24 of 26 (334 views)
Shortcut

Re: [Brackish] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

2. I'd drink so much cheap tequila trying to get the nerve to pull off such a tremendous hiney heist, I'd stumble over the railing, and get picked up by a fishing boat full of lonely Greek sailors.

LOL So when is your vacation?

It's in late April. From watching the news last week, apparently the Galveston cruise ships haven't been doing a great job of holding keeping their drunk passengers on board. Fortunately, I don't have a balcony with my cheap state room, that I could fall over. From the looks of the deck plans, it looks like I'm sleeping in the engine room, or a janitor's closet, deep in the bowels of the ship. Shocked

Faith Poison Wedding Films Blog
Intergalactic Award-Winning Epic-Cinematic Wedding New-Doc Style Indie Fusion Bridal Movies on Hi-Definition Blu-Ray Disc

szerangue
Veteran

Mar 29, 2007, 11:48 PM

Post #25 of 26 (308 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RustyB] DEJA-VU [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Of course, like we've discussed in other posts, who's to say you need a diffuser or bounce card at all? A couple of the most pro-active flash photographers I've seen, didn't use any at all, but were constantly adjusting the flash head position and power settings for every shot, to get the most from it. I questioned one about it, and he told me that he's bought all the gadgets, including the Fong, but it all boils down to knowing how to properly use your gear from experience, and rarely uses any kind of flash diffusion.

I am sure that the photographer is right that it boils down to knowing how to use your gear,,, but who can figure all that out? Flash photography is tough and in all different kinds of situations, you would have to have a ton of experience.
Miracle Pictures
"If it's a good picture, it's a Miracle!"

"Life Productions, coming out of the dark, into the light"
4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE

1 2

View All