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[OM] Perfect portrait lens

Subject: [OM] Perfect portrait lens
From: miaim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 08:50:16 -0400
OK, Lex. I'll play. This discussion may be old, but it's more interesting
to me than cars, SUVs etc.

I've had the notion of getting a 100/2.8 on the backburner for months. I'll
probably eventually do so, but for now I've been struck by how little I use
a 135/3.5. For the vast bulk of the PhotoJ "people work" I simply used
either a 28/2.8 or 35/2.8. Believe it or not, I also found a Vivitar 19mm
useful for up tight and personal people shots. Perhaps these type shots are
vastly different from formal portraits, but perhaps they're more
interesting in that with a wider angle it's easier to place the person in
their surroundings. 

This whole idea of the most useful lens focal length takes on a special
significance for me because I've been wrestling with the idea of either
expanding my Medium Format SLR kit to include a longer than standard focal
length (akin to a 90 or 100mm in 35mm), or simply scrapping the whole bulky
MF SLR kit in favor of a much lighter, more compact fixed wide lens MF
rangefinder such as the various Fuji's . 

Lex, you mentioned that you'd not find much use for anything over 500mm
because you like to get close. So why not get close to people with a wide
angle for portraits? Sure you're intruding into their space, and sure it
may somewhat change the interaction, but it's somewhat more fun than simply
standing way back and clicking away. ;-)

Mike Swaim

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