distance from subject wit a certain lens

I'm looking at getting a 50mm or 85mm lens. Does anyone know what is the best distance a subject should be from the camera for each lens? for example the subject is a dog in full frame shot.

With a full frame camera (you may have a smaller sensor and would need to use a crop factor), a dog would have to be about 6 feet away for the 50mm lens. - TF

depends on how you use it. The ideal portrait range has long been considered the 70-105mm range, and 85mm was the creme de la creme for portrait work. On an APS camera body things are a bit different, 85 becomes 128mm, and is very difficult to manage distance enough to use it. Within ~ 10-12 feet, I would not ever need 85mm w/APS crop.

If you're getting this for an APS camera, though you havent stated so - you most likely are, I would certainly opt for the 50.

With as moving and as un-stationary as dogs are, I would not reccomend using a prime lens to photograph them unless you are using it in a studio.

*edit - I looked at a previous post of yours which said you are using the Nikon D90, which is an APS camera. I'd definitely go for the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4.

My plan to use either lens for general shots, my son's baseball games, family photo's, and camping outs. I went and looked at both len's at a local store and just can't decide on which. The 85 would be great for the baseball do to the distance. the 50 would be great for indoor photo's. the 50 is about $130 (us dollars) and the 85 is about $500 (us dollars). i just trying to make a wise choose so i don't buy a len's i don't need or like.

Yes i do have the Nikon D90, and i really like it. I'm also getting the sb600 flash when i buy the new lens.

The 50 looks so small on a D90.................the 85 somewhat normal on the D90.

thank you, more experienced camera guys!

If you budget isn't limited I'd get the 50 and a zoom lens. Maybe the 18-105.
You should be able to get the 50 for about 100 on line.

you cannot go wrong with a 50, you can never go wrong with a 50. But, you may also find yourself wanting more reach, I agree with frog, Id go for the 50 and a zoom (ala 24-70 or 24-105), the 85 is more popular for full frame studio use, the 50 certainly is a lot more all-purpose than the 85, particularly considering hte aps crop.

i have the 18-105 lens that came with the camera

ah I see, I would bet that 18-105 will do better for a lot of the things you mentioned than either the 50 or 85. For your kids baseball, I would say something even more telephoto than either would be ideal, like a 70-210 or a 70-300. The place both of those primes really shines is in portraiture, but you'll also find plenty of other uses for the 50, like indoor/low light use.

This will explain it all and has an online calculator for what you are asking.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...era-lenses.htm

How big is the dog?

Loupey, you ask the right questions.

black lab for grown

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gocarolina95

black lab for grown

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Check.

Q2: what is it doing? (running, sitting, jumping, sleeping, etc.)


I am not trying to be facetious here. But the size of the animal and what that animal is doing will determine how close you ought to be. From there, you determine what focal length you should be using.

Not the other way around.

If you go to my website and go to the links at the bottom right of the page (titled "Rocket and Friends at the Dog Park"), you can see some dog images I have going right now.

All taken with a 70-200mm and the focal length used varies constantly with the distance and the action of the dogs. I'm moving to and fro AND zooming at the same time to achieve the desired effect.

i used the dog reference as i basic idea of my question.

I still can't decided but i do thank everyone for there comments.

I'm going to disney this coming weekend, so i have to decide what len's so i can take it with me

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Originally Posted by gocarolina95

I'm going to disney this coming weekend, so i have to decide what len's so i can take it with me

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Save some money by getting the 50mm. Take your zoom too. The prime will be nice for low light / indoor shots.

But I think you will find that the 50mm will still be too long for group situations - especially in crowds.

ok so i bought the 50mm, just waiting for it to show up tomorrow. I'm going to disney world this weekend, so i will be getting plenty of practice with it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gocarolina95

ok so i bought the 50mm, just waiting for it to show up tomorrow. I'm going to disney world this weekend, so i will be getting plenty of practice with it.

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Update?

How did the 50mm work at Disney for you? Low light situations OK? 50mm too long or short?