18-55mm Kit Lens vs. a Fast 50mm for Portrait Photos
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Is the 18-55mm kit lens that comes with many DSLRs good enough for portraits? For detailed info on portrait lenses, check out the Pentax Forums portrait lens guide: www.pentaxforum...
The difference between f5.6 and f1.8 is not just a different background, but you can get shorter shutter speeds (sharper pics) and lower Iso (less noise). It's more than 3 stops difference !
That's all anyone ever talks about so I have been putting off getting one. When I just learned that I could get lower ISO with my cheap lighting kit I started doing research. I can't believe no one ever mentions this to us beginners. (I'm sure it's obvious to experienced photographers)
@Kluotch
I disagree with you. While 18-55mm kit lenses aren't of the greatest quality they still get the job done, and more importantly, they are a real steal when you buy them bundled with the camera. Let's take your advice for example: if you buy the body only and only get a 50mm prime lens along with it you are stuck with that focal length. It's a great lens with great value, but at some point you will probably want to take wide angle shots to mix it up a bit.
Now...if you have a look at the common wide angle lenses around the 18mm focal length for Canon cameras (for example) you are looking at an investment of at least $200-400 as opposed to getting the kit lens together with the body for just an additional $30 - $50. Even if you decide to go for the kit lens after all later on, you'll have to pay a lot more than what you would have paid had you gotten it with the camera in the first place (usually double the money). Both of these upgrade options might be cost prohibitive for beginners.
So my advice: if you are starting out get the 18-55mm kit lens for a slight additional charge with the camera, and also get a 50mm/1.8 for all the advantages explained in this video. Later on, once you get more proficient and you start getting unsatisfied with the quality that the kit lens delivers, you can still upgrade to some expensive high-end glass, which might even have become more affordable at that point. Until then you aren't just stuck with the 50mm but also have a pretty usable wide angle lens at your disposal, granting you more flexibility for different shooting situations.
+Jigsaw407 Except that you need to use flash for any indoor shots with a kit lens. (unless you go ISO 6400 or something..)
You will never photograph any indoor event with a kit lens (if flash is not allowed)
I agree, kit lens really bad, high aperture value from 3.5 and not sharp, no you have to close more to get sharpness and impossibile to shoot without flash on low light. A specific lens is better than a zoom cheap one, NO STORY.
@calin ioan banciu you cant use tripod to shoot with longer shutter speed on low light event, if there are people involved its useless a tripod for longer shutter speed, you need flash or better light performance, no way. BTW i tested the 18-55 on my x-h1 and even stopped down at corner is bad. 16-55 2.8 wide open is more consistent and sharp than 18-55 stopped down, and in low light 16-55 2.8 handle a ton better flares, incident lights, light trails because of better glass coating. Sometimes you need good equipment, and the usual statement "only the pH is important " doesn't work at all. You have to know how to use equipment and if it is really good you can get more than using a cheap lens, gear is important expecially if used in a proper way. Can be good the 18-55 but not so good, if bought in Kit is fine, the retail price is still crazy high and not well balanced for the product. 😉👍🏻
LOVE THIS INFORMATIVE VIDEO! I happen to shoot with BOTH of these lenses, using the 50mm mostly indoors and the kit lens primarily outside: and LOVING them both!
If you think buying an expensive lens makes you a pro photographer, you're gonna have a bad time.
Well, just saying - if anyone thinks buying an expensive camera body (while sticking to the kit zoom lens) makes them a pro photographer, they're going to have an even worse time, won't they?
I guess I just got the t5 & the kit lens is all I need i don't see what the whole fuss is about
The out of focus background is due to two factors, one is the opening of the lens. The more the opening (Smaller the f number), the shallower the depth of field. Second, the distance from the subject . The closer to the subject, the shallower the depth of field. The depth of field is the distance range from the camera which is in sharp focus.
No shit sherlock
Explained very well with results compared.
Im a newbie with canon 18-55 and 55-250. Realized that both start from f3.5.
However while experimenting i got GOOD BOKEH from the 55-250 ...
I will consider 50mm 1.8 for next upgrade
You might get the same field of view as an 80mm lens by using a 50mm on a crop sensor camera, but you don't get the same perspective compression, which is what makes it flattering for portraits. That's not to say you can't get a good portrait out of one...but a lot of people seem to thing a 50 on a crop sensor is exactly the same as an 80 on a full frame. It's not. You get exactly what you would on a full frame with the outside edge cropped off.
After 8 years someone answers ;). The perspective compression depends only on the relative location of the camera, subject and background. Not on the lens. If you are positioned at same place and have the same place, you get the same compression independent of the sensor/ lens combination. A 50 mm lens on a crop sensor will give you the same angle of view as 80 mm on a full frame. That means in order to get the same composition you need to place yourself on the same spot, hence giving the same “compression”
Telephoto lens and putting the background far away behind the subject will help to blur the background and to give a compressed feel :)
Can you fit in frame full body for portraits on 18/55 without needing to walk away from the subject
Of course a wider aperture gives more depth of field; what I really want to know is how the 2 lenses compare at the same aperture. Is the wider aperture really the only bonus of the 1.8? If we could compare both lenses at f8, would the 1.8 lens be sharper?
+Kenmore Chalfant it should be quite a bit sharper, this isn't an insanely good lens though. with a 50mm or 55mm zeiss prime the difference is pretty enormous, zeiss and sony just have that dreamy look to them as well as extreme sharpness.
did you find any answer for this which one would be sharper if yes please reply... i have same question... if we compare both lenses kit and prime at f8 which one would be sharper and better image
I think you had it backwards.
Thanks for this vid. Was able to get a 20 year old 200mm lens working beautifully with my KR now.
Because of the angle of view on the DX makes a 50mm look like a 75mm and a 35mm look like a 50mm, would a 35mm f/1.8 be a better choice on the DX?
Also note that longer the focal length shallower the depth of field. So a 50mm lens(75 mm appox on DX body) will have a shallower depth of field than 35mm( 50mm approx) even at wide open f1.8. Cheers.
Thank you for this video. Very helpful. What would you do if you wanted to take both wide shots and close up portraits during the same photo shoot. Would it be best to bring both lenses and switch them up or is there another lens that would cater to both?
Thanks!
Try the Pentax 55mm f1.4 lens.
Am using a Nikon D40 with a kit lens but whenever I adjust the lens to 50mm my photo becomes blurred.. please what do I do?
You may need to re focus. If that doesn't help perhaps there is a problem with the lens.
I bought a 50mm lens (1.8) and cannot figure out for the life of me how to set it so I can get a full body shot. I am having a horrible time of it, and I have watched several videos on you tube. Feeling so frustrated, Ive tried everything...I have a NIkkon 3200 D
A 50mm is a fixed focal length lens, so you cannot zoom in and out unless you move toward/away from your subject.
Thanks for sharing. Can you achieve a blurred background for a full body shot( I do fashion shots) with a kit lens 18-55mm lens? If not which lens do I need to purchases that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? Thank you for any help!
You may be able to get a decent background blur if you're close to your subject at the time of image capture at 18mm. The alternative would be a longer lens, which has a shallower DoF and thus allows you to be farther away. A 85mm F1.8 would be a good choice.
Pentax... Sorry for the necro post, but you mentioned something I haven't been able to find an answer for. So a longer lens will allow for larger subjects with a blurrier background (like the full-body portrait Maple is talking about)? So if I have a zoom lens and step back and zoom in it will make the background blurrier than a fixed 40mm lens capturing the same subject? Sorry, I'm a total noob and I've been wondering this since I got my T5i. Thanks for your help!
did you get the answer bro? if you got it please post it here!!
They even look skinnier with the 50 prime lens.
does anyone know if there is any point buying a 55mm lens for my canon dos 700D if i already have the 18-55mm lens
+Life Of Libs
I started taking photos with my kit lens four days ago and i wrote a blog about my experience with it.
I have fallen in love with it!
medium.com/@luidupontbrandstrup/taking-stunning-photos-with-kit-lens-18-55mm-77a66da21eb8
I wonder if it's worth it for the average hobby photographer, or if the kit lens is fine for these users? I'm still struggling as to weather the Pentax 50-200 DA - WR lens is just as good image-wise as the 55-300 DA-WR lens (which is double the price). Don't know if I'll notice any difference in photo quality between the two. What's your opinion?
55-300 is superior, especially at the business end (300mm). Having the extra reach is helpful too. Pay the extra, it's worth it. In fact, quality-wise, the 55-300mm is almost on a par with the Sigma 120-400mm, which costs upwards of £700! another option is the Pentax 60-250mm, which is a superb lens but £1000; if you stick with photography as a hobby, and Pentax, it's THE lens to save up for long-term.
Im a canon user, but i love pentax lenses, the optics are just excellent, i have one pentax vintage lenses their are great 📷
Which lens is better for nikon d5300?
18-55mm, 50mm or 85mm..
Thank you
Depends on what you shoot. You should definitely have an everyday zoom like the 18-55mm, and whether or not you'll benefit from a prime is answered in the video.
Thanks i understand better now you really helped make it sound easier.
interesting when looking at the closup two images the 50-mm prim look softer, when looking at the full body shot tell me why both look like same photo, as one is meant to be 55mm and one 50mm yet came field of view
Best answer is a 17 - 55mm IS f/2.8 constant lens
Best, yes, but not always affordable for many people. The 50mm f1.8 is, by comparison, dirt cheap and should make a good "first prime", especially for someone who needs a fast lens at low cost. Once upon a time, all SLR cameras would have come with one of these attached from the get-go. Zoom point-and-shoots put an end to that; people trading up wanted their first SLR to have the same flexibility (or at least an attempt at it) out of the box, but those with neither an inbuilt nor hot-shoe flash were the first to discover the price they had to pay, especially when the ISO available to them was often no more than 400.
yup, i totally agree. the perspective view of a 50mm is definietely different to other focal length whatever the crop factor is.
great video! I was woundering which one is better for video on nikon d7100? 50mm f1.8 or 35mm f1.8 knowing that the d7100 is a crop sensor camera, so it crops the frame... please answer and thanks! :)
Depends on what you're looking for. For portraits I would take the 50mm. In fact, I just recently switched to Fuji and the only lens I currently own is their 56mm 1.2
Don't forget that a slower aperture can somtimes give you a nicer image, you just need the right background.
Good one and very educational. Thanks 😊
Wait isn't fstop lower when aperture is heigher? And makes good for bokeh?
Smaller f-stop number = bigger opening = stronger bokeh, and vice versa
this is a very good video bro.... nice job showing the difference and doing it for the new users most of which are shooting crop camera's.
Thanks for the video. Good explanation of the reasons for using the 50mm. Also, a 50mm f1.8 lens is fairly inexpensive.
Hey , I like to capture portraits & also night photography , so which lens should I buy 50mm prime lens or 55-200mm lens
+Satwik Arora For low like the 50mm prime is still going to be the way to go, for the faster aperture.
my d3200 came with the 55-200mm lens i can tell you this without any hesitation its a kit lens so with night photography its not the best you'd need to use a flash pictures still come out great but its not sharp like the 50mm lens but have you also looked at the 35mm prime lens?? its better then the 50mm prime lens lowlight shooting is more better with or without the flash bokeh on both lens are amazing the only cons the 35mm it doesn't zoom like the 50mm but if you don't make mind moving around that lens is for you but the 50mm lens is just as good the price is very legit the 35mm just a lil expensive but its worth it as well
+Satwik Arora For portraits, the 50mm prime would be the way to go, mainly for the faster aperture (which allows for nicer bokeh).
Just focus on the lager aperture like 1.4 or 1.8
I recommend you a prime or a short zoom lens with an f 2.8. I use a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 with a Sony Alpha. With that 17-50 I have a Wide angle and a "normal" focal lenght.
sorry am a learner and I know nikon is not silly to produce an 18-55mm and later make a 50mm but am still not convinced I need a 50mm, I mean the only difference ws the background blur, something you can do in photoshop, is that really the difference, I don't mean to challenge you, I ask for advice that will convince me, thank you by the way
The background blur is actually very difficult to make appear natural in photoshop. In addition to the background, a wide aperture can smoothen facial features and make for a much more successful image overall. In addition, prime lenses are generally sharper and exhibit fewer optical issues, though this isn't as big of a deal as modern zooms are quite good.
The 50mm also let's more light into your camera by using a higher aperture - perfect for low light / night photography. I'm into this kind of thing so it's perfect for me
Does anyone know a good 50mm lens for Nikon d3300? I've seen some but they are not cheap. What would be the cheapest option compatible with this camera?
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G DX is the DX equivalent of a 50mm prime lense for FX cameras. I got one on ebay for $135 bundled with a UV filter, about $30 cheaper than anywhere else.
Ludwin Stevens nikkor AF-S 50mm 1.8D (about 100€) or nikkor AF 50mm 1.8G(about 180€)
or the nikkor AF-S 35mm 1.8 DX (about 160€)
all nice and cheap lenses, but i prefer the AF-S 50mm 1.8G for portrait shootings
Ludwin Stevens I would buy a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1,8G (about 180€ or 215$ on Amazon). You won't be able to use the autofocus of the Nikon AF 50mm 1.8D as your camera doesn't have an integrated AF-engine. These lenses are the cheapest you can get I guess.
I was checking your suggestions, and now I want to know if you know good 50mm lenses for the Nikon D5300. Does this one have AF-engine integrated?
yees, the af-s nikkor 50mm 1:1,8G, got the same for the d5100
I started taking photos with my kit lens four days ago and i wrote a blog about my experience with it.
I have fallen in love with it!
medium.com/@luidupontbrandstrup/taking-stunning-photos-with-kit-lens-18-55mm-77a66da21eb8
+lui brandstrup you miss focus more than i miss my dead girlfriend
+lui brandstrup I checked your blog and I found an awesome photos with the kit lens, I also have a kit lens and I thought that it is not the best lens to take an awesome photos .. till u came and this is make me more encourage myself to take more photos with my kit lens. Thanks dude :D
Just passed by your photos. Very good job.
:)
THIS! This is what pro's forget when talking to amateurs/noobs like myself. They talk like my $700 out-of-the box kit will only get us crap. Keep in mind we are probably on a budget and have emptied our wallet for awhile. AND the people we are taking photos for (or us) have probably never seen a DSLR in person so they're going to be blown away. It's all relative. Having a Cadillac to learn to drive on would be nice but when all you have is a Civic, it sure beats riding a bike. The kit lens takes amazing photos when you come from a flip phone or a point and shoot. Thanks for proving that if you know what you're doing, you can still take respectable photos on the kit lens.
great review . thank you
DA*55mm is the best in term of image quality. Seriously, it is on par of my Canon 85mm L Lens. Ask who has them, they will share with you.
"do you want dthissssss". yaaaa I dooouuu
damn quite a few photos have the eyes and face out of focus, that 1.8 makes it hard to get the focus right
Hello, I need help for canon 18to55mm IS to take great pics
+Kazim gardezi pay me 200 euro , on my paypal and i help you friend
www.paypal.me/KoningBas
+Kazim gardezi Just check Jared Polin chanel
not a single mention of the main advantage of a fast fifty? seriously? you couldn't spend a few seconds extra mentioning faster shutter speeds / lower iso / better low light performance?
with canon eos 50D please
lol the first photo was a little bit out of focus that shallow depth of field can be tough
Simpe and informative,.. Explained well for the Beginners. :-)
anybody know of a good affordable 50mm prime lens for the t3i?
50mm 1.8 is the most afforable. Price varies, but you can get on new for about $100, which is a great deal.
+Michael Khan
I started taking photos with my kit lens four days ago and i wrote a blog about my experience with it.
I have fallen in love with it!
medium.com/@luidupontbrandstrup/taking-stunning-photos-with-kit-lens-18-55mm-77a66da21eb8
Great video!
hey man cool review is this the kit lens that comes with the K70
No. Currently (as of Nov 2020), it's the 18-135mm f3.5-f5.6 WR zoom.
You messed up on the 50mm and didn't focus right. It can perform better
At 1:20, by which lens ?
That one is from the 18-55mm.
thanks man really appreciated both lens i have... beautiful ladies also.
Camera strap ! Use it !
Too much moving around causing annoying blur. Hard to analyze pictures when they are not seen as stills.
These poses make me cringe.
Hey Trump you wanna bomb more ppl than Obama? :D
ohhh nice :D pls bombing more facebook ppls thats a stupid contry on the internet
They are regular girls... Not models. Don't bash.
man a very good review
FA50/1.4
Will it work well on my nikon D3200?
No, you need a Nikon mount !
The 18-55mm comes with the D3200...
Iyebaka They were probably referring to the 50mm 1.8 and since this channel is a Pentax channel the commenter before you was just pointing out they'd need to get the Nikon equivalent 50mm 1.8 for it to work with their D3200
good video, nice comparison
2:37-2:50 looked like an awkward intro to a pron scenethough lol
ok :(
He's not watching porn, he's watching pron. Very different. :D
"The lower the aperture number, the easier it is to get a nice out of focus background.....That's all you need to know for this comparison"
What sense does this video/comparison make then?
The names of the lenses already tell the outcome of this "comparison", so there's actually no point for it to exist.
You are talking too fast, I hardly understood the camera names that you are giving, I have to litsen again a few times.
anyone want to see this with Canon? Let me know.
yes, I would love to see the difference on canon.
cheaper version: use an old m42 for example :)
very very nice
I guess this video might be aimed at people who don't even know what ISO or shutter speed is and the only thing they care about is "nice blurry background".
nice
Sweet
It's not fake ... her facial expression is silghtly different.
He did say he was going to avoid those technicalities to make his point very simple.
A 50mm will never be a portrait lens. On a 2/3rd, it is like if you take a part of a full frame shot. You still have the big nose-small ears effect. Nothing you can do about it, you have to start from 77mm (Pentax), going upwards and take more distance from your subject.
+Monfils christian this is completely wrong, a good 50mm prime on full frame and reliable lens correcting software is perfect for portait.
Yeah you're pretty off man.. 50mm 1.8 lens are pretty much one of the most perfect portrait lens you can have. Even more so if you're using a crop sensor camera because then the 50mm becomes almost 80mm in range. I actually prefer using my DX D5500 with my Af-s nikkor 50mm 1.8g for all of my portrait shoots.
I am sorry about the confusion I create. Of course I was talking about the use of old film lenses (or full frame), not the ones specifically designed for an APSC size. The diameter of sharpness circle at sensor/film level, on full frame should be of at least 45mm. To capture a certain amount of information, the glasses should have a certain amount of curvature, resulting in a "big nose-small ears" effect. To capture with specifically designed APSC the same amount of information, the sharp circle at sensor level being 30mm, a 35mm lens will have the same (theorical) curvature. It means that a 50mm for APSC size is designed like a 75 mm "full frame" lens, with a lesser degree of curvature. With a full frame lens you capture a part of information on sensor with the same aberrations. With a specifically designed lens, you're right, you have a beautiful portrait lens.
or just talking about the lens.
Yuriaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
who cares...he's confident in those shoes and that's all it matters.
Those girls look like they just rolled out of bed.
Naahh come on man, their gorgeous. Why r u g@y?🤣
I can't recommend the 18-55 to anybody, if anything you should avoid it. You are better off buying the body only option of whatever camera of choice and spending less than $100 for the 50mm F/1.8
A few years back I jumped from a 2001 era Canon G2 to Rebel XS with a kit lens but if I could go back I would have skipped that clunker entirely. Good bokah was a challenge at best and they are bloody useless in low light.
What if you arent sure if you like landscape photography or portrait more and you cant afford one lens for each thing? :P
this thumbs up is for the cuties at the end of the video!
Were you seriously wearing Velcro shoes in the presence of women?
A 50mm is a 50mm no matter the crop factor. All the crop factor does is this: it changes the angle of view (NOT the compression) and it makes the depth of field less shallow). So no, a 50mm lens is not a portrait lens, no matter which camera you put it on.
simplicity over accuracy and educational value. good call. :P
just because I need to blur backgrounds I invest 50, 60 euros or even more.
why not I buy some coffee for 2 euros and make blur in Photoshop by blur option in that with music listening for free :p ;)
Why does everybody think it's so easy to blur the background in photoshop? Have you tried it? Have you tried it on a set of photos? It's very hard to do, especially on 15 photos.
@@staticklingon2182 Really? I find it quite easy to do... And yes, on multiple photos.
bitch got some really soft looking hands
ващпе не поняно, че на русском не можешь глаголить что ли...???
Save yourself a bunch of money and use Gaussian blur on your photoshop
janet sers I don't know where did you get your facts but a fast prime is cheaper than a kit lens :) and also lets you shoot with a faster shutter speed.
***** Gimp is free ! ha ha
***** Very True Sir!!!
+janet sers Gaussian blur looks completely different from bokeh... You can kinda simulate it with gaussing blur on dark backgrounds for sure, but when it contains reflections, lights sources, etc... Just good luck with that.
Also for 1-2 pictures it might worth to use photoshop, and mess around with cropping the person, but good luck doing it for a 100 pic portrait shootout. (even if you just send 20 pictures)
o
another amateur comment...thanks uploader