Olympus 75mm ... general question about the focal length

[jasjb]

When using the 75mm, how many meters away from the subject would you need to be to frame a head-and-shoulders portrait shot?

Just trying to work out how useful that focal length is to me

(yes I'll be sure to try one in a shop, but they are harder to find than your typical MFT lens right now)

 

[zensu]

I get great results at about six feet distance. Please forgive my imperial units, I'm responding with my cell phone and don't have my conversion table.
PS, obviously I'm American.

 

[jasjb]

Feet units are fine, thanks for the reply

6 feet seems really close to me! Maybe I am imagining a wider shot than just head-and-shoulders.

My attraction to the 75mm was for more candid / unobtrusive street photography.

 

[sdb123]

If you can't find one in a shop to try, you could always try a zoom lens at 75mm to see if you get on with the focal length.

 

[Gary5]

3-4 meters. There is a Dimensional Field of View Calculator on this page: http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm

 

[kevinparis]

I have been known to shoot the 75 for street stuff. Its no super spy like frame filler from a great distance, to get head and shoulders you still need to be pretty close, probably in the 6-10 foot range

here are a range of my recent 75 candid street shots. I am not always convinced that the EXIF data accurately reflects focal distance... at least with Aperture, so the numbers are best of approximations from memory. Plus also I tend to crop most of my shots to a lesser or greater degree, but I have tried to indicate that

30 ft (No Crop)

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P9300038 by kevinparis, on Flickr

20ft (No crop)

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P9300062 by kevinparis, on Flickr

15 ft ( 10% crop)

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P9300060 by kevinparis, on Flickr

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P9300071 by kevinparis, on Flickr

10 ft (No crop)

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PB230359 by kevinparis, on Flickr


more 75mm examples here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinparis2007/sets/72157632975120141/

K

 

[drd1135]

Nice set, but I really like that first one. Interesting combination of subjects, good composition, and excellent technical quality, i.e., exposure/sharpness/bokeh, etc.

 

[tjdean01]

Yeah, first one is fantastic!

 

[MarkRyan]

This is at about 8-10 feet away.

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[jasjb]

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

Love this little lens from what I've seen so far. Just a pity about the non-so-little price tag

 

[aks6674]

2 meters will get you close for portrait, probably more like 6-8 to get full body shots. You'll find yourself looking for things to shoot with it though, it's just that good. I've been shooting indoor sports, and posted a tight cityscape on the 75 thread that I like a lot.

 

[walter_j]

the focus speed is somewhat slow. Sports shots are challenging with it, since there's so much lag. great lens otherwise

 

[aKilter]

You'll find yourself looking for things to shoot with it though, it's just that good.

This is a very true statement! Since I received mine, I have been doing exactly that.

 

[mattia]

It's a 'weird' focal length, but back in my Canon crop days I shot my Sigma 105/2.8 Macro a lot, for all kinds of different subjects. Lots of candids, great for compressed landscapes, etc. Then later the 135/2.0 (a little wider and a touch easier to work with), and was the primary reason I kept my 5DII as long as I did. The 75 is definitely on my list, waiting for a good deal on a (used) black one though. I just realised I don't really have anything portrait-y other than the 45/1.8, which is short for my taste - I get along great with 135 to 160mm for candid portraits, 85 to 90 doesn't gel quite as well with me...

 

[zensu]

This is at about 8-10 feet away.

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Great shot! Shooting at about 6 feet with camera in portrait orientation I'd get the top of the hair down to include his wrist in the frame. Just about the entire frame would be the individuals face and part of the shoulders with little background in the frame. The only minor complaint would be slow focus acquisition in very low light so I turn on focus assist light in those situations and it remedies the problem. It's the best lens I've ever owned!

 

[jasjb]

30 ft (No Crop)

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Am a little in love with this image.

Trying to think of a comparable lens that can pull a blurred background forward in that way?

I'm sure some of the FF zooms with f2 or f2.8 would be comparable.

But in terms of size, focal length and speed... this lens must almost be in a class of it's own? (well, in terms of modern lenses).

I guess a similar image might be obtained with a shorted prime at a closer standing distance.... but you'd end up with a wider background a loose some of the 3D effect achieved here?

 

[kevinparis]

Am a little in love with this image.

Trying to think of a comparable lens that can pull a blurred background forward in that way?

I'm sure some of the FF zooms with f2 or f2.8 would be comparable.

But in terms of size, focal length and speed... this lens must almost be in a class of it's own? (well, in terms of modern lenses).

I guess a similar image might be obtained with a shorted prime at a closer standing distance.... but you'd end up with a wider background a loose some of the 3D effect achieved here?

thanks for the kinds words

But I was in love with it first !!

This image surprised me when I saw it on the computer... I obviously hit a very nice sweet spot of distance to subject, and subject to background.

I adore the 75mm I find it a very useable focal length in many circumstances, and have always been vocal in saying that it is not to be thought of as just a 'portrait' lens.

When I started out with micro 4/3, I had an E-P1, and a Leica shooting girlfriend who had a Leica 75/1.4 (I still have both). The Leica 75/1.4 is no longer made, but it was regarded by its lens designer Mandler, as being his his crowning achievement. It cost somewhere in the region of 5 times the Oly version...but thats leica for you!

here are a few shots taken in the e-p1 with the leica 75/1.4

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Bin Man by kevinparis, on Flickr

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Eat on the Go by kevinparis, on Flickr

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Dressed for Market by kevinparis, on Flickr

so you can see for me that 75 on 4/3 has always worked well for me - of course your needs and wishes may be different


K

 

[tomtom]

Thanks everyone, very helpful.

Love this little lens from what I've seen so far. Just a pity about the non-so-little price tag

If unsure, one of the other posters suggested getting a zoom. I inherited a Zuiko 40-150 4/5.6 which I would have never bought because I thought it would be marginal. Well I am very pleasantly surprised! And, for $150 on sale they are a bargain. I subsequently bought the 75 because it is really my focal length. Even as amazing as it is I still use the zoom quite a bit. So if my experience is any guide you will not have wasted your money with the zoom even if you get the 75 later.

 

[pellicle]

Hi

Love this little lens from what I've seen so far. Just a pity about the non-so-little price tag

If you are interested in trying the focal length but are unwilling to plop down the cash on a toe dip why not try a manual focus legacy lens and see how you go... something like a Canon FD 85mm f1.8 is about a quarter of the price. I am quite pleased with my Pentax 110 type 70mm f2.8 for just $50 too...

 

[JoFT]

jasjb: Please forget the price tag. The 75mm is my best lens. And I have quite a bunch of it. period. Your will never regret

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