The medium format Mamiya RB67 film SLR with 50/90/180mm lenses is my favorite portrait gear. The APS-C Fuji X-Pro2 digital mirrorless with 16/23/56mm lenses is what I use for portraits. I tend to use wide-angle lenses for group portraits; normal lenses for full-length and ¾ length portraits; and telephoto lenses for half-length, head & shoulder, and tight face portraits.
Having it used my GFX 100s II now for some portrait work I find that F2 .8 -F3 is the perfect sweet spot is the perfect fall off....BUT 1.7 is still surprisingly easy I'm not a fan of blurry ears and I call it the blurry ear Photography. It's essentially where the ears are out of focus. I know it's an artistic style but lots of people like maybe I'm just a little bit too traditional but I definitely like the ears to be in focus and the end of the nose as well. The thing about GFX as well and I know everyone is into their lighting but you can shoot a lot of natural light portraits because of the dynamic range in the camera. You can definitely shoot a fair bit of natural light portraits on the beach and so forth as well, which I really like because you don't always have to lug your lighting gear down to a shoot if the light is good there's not many other camera systems that you can do that with it also makes wedding Photography a breeze because the low light performance is incredible and you don't have to get the exposure perfect each time given the dynamic range hence why I decided when I was gonna get back into weddings that GFX was going to be my camera of choice. The fuji colours OMG .... And I know you joked about this before but welcome to the medium format snob club you are officially in..ha ha Just Jokes people!! One of the reasons I chose the 55 1.7 is that you can be a little bit further back and get full body shots but you can also crop in. The other beautiful thing about Fujifilm GFX files is that you are just unlimited in what you can do with the file in post. I'm seriously you can even recover things that you just can't with other camera systems. Yes it's expensive but that's what you're paying for. Thanks for the video.
Thank you! That’s my favorite type of portrait - I get the subject set up (“bend that leg up a little, lean back against the tree”) and then sneak attack with photos while they aren’t ready!
I own the GFX, You really convinced me that I want the 110. The shots of you are great, but the one of Raymond sitting, perfect, good job Leigh. Thanks this was a great video.
I did a food menu shoot for a restaurant with the gfx 100sII and the gf80mm lens and the photos came out amazing looking. Ive also taken it out on some hikes and took some greats shots. i love shooting with this camera so much.
For my taste the GF 110 is the best portrait lens in the medium format field. The separation, bokeh rendering, compression etc is exceptionally pleasing. My personal favourite portrait combo would be the Canon R series FF cameras with the RF85mm F1.2. I used that lens on the R and then the R6 before selling it as I moved away from portraiture and it helped me produce some of my very favourite images.
Sorry back again, the portrait of Raymond sitting, the out of focus tree between the others, outstanding. There is a big differrence between depth of field with med format. To stop down to f8 is like shooting 5.6-6.3 on FF. So at F2 you are closer to1.8-1.4 on FF. Lots of fun for me anyway. Thanks again great video, keep up the great work.
I've appreciated your informative videos for many years and look forward to many more in the future. As my experience with the technical aspects of photography increases and having watched many videos about various lenses as portrait lenses I find myself thinking about portrait photography in terms of depth of field and how a lens behaves outside that field.
Love my GFX 100II and 110mm f2, among other lens. There's nothing like it. The GF zooms are phenomenal as well. 32-64, 45-100. I also have the 55mm 1.7, realizing I'm "stepping" on myself, but I could not resist having a few fast primes. Please make aware, also, that the .79 crop factor applies to aperture, too. Therefore, the f1.7 has the same bokeh effect of f1.4 (actually f1.3 FF.)
Don’t worry about a few stray grey hairs, at least it is a color. If you get to my age you’ll understand the thrill of being “Arctic Blonde” and wonder why nobody talks to you anymore. Cheers
I love how you intersperse a talk on Bokeh with your assessment of this camera body. Combining something generalized knowledge with some specific knowledge. 👍
I think that besides “easier” bokeh, the peculiar medium format effect, is the fact that you get wider angles of view with the compression of longer lenses in compare to FF. In the end as you rightly point out, you can get bokeh with many sensor formats, but this wide look plus “tele” compression is possible only with MF, even more so with the bigger “true” 645 formats like in the older digital Hasselblad H series of PhaseOnes, or on film with 6x6, 6x7 or bigger frames.
Hi Leigh and Raymond, very interesting. I guess, conversley, that if you do want an image to be sharp front to back, you'll focus stack a little more often than you would with a FF camera. As someone in the "cheap seats" for portraits I use D3500 ( my one and only camera ) and either a FF 50F1.8 ( getting somewhere near 85 in FF ) or a DX 35mm F1.8 ( nearly a 50 in FF) ... and of course steady hands!
I’ve never done focus stacking for portraits but you could certainly use a narrower aperture for a deeper depth of field. The D3500 and those two prime lenses is fantastic. I had that 35mm and adored it. :)
I use the Sony A7RV and the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM mk.II. I use that set up for most things - it’s great. I also have the 50 1.2 from Sony and I’m going to probably get the new 85 1.4 when I can afford it.
You can achieve the same amount of bokeh with fast full frame lenses ( 1.2 or 1.4 ). Medium format (0.79) just achieve the same with a vider field of view. /Lars 🤗
I would love to see a pic comparison and your thoughts after trying these two cameras together. 1. GFX100SII with GF 55mm f/1.7R WR Lens - 44mm (Full-Frame Equivalent) 2. Leica Q3 43 I would like to see which would be better. I would put my money on the GFX as I think it would outdo the Leica. They are both 43 ish mm.
Next Friday’s video will be a comparison of the GFX100S II and a couple of full frame cameras, including the Leica SL2 with a prime lens. It will definitely be one to watch for you. Both the GFX100S II and the Q3 43 would be amazing - the question is - do you want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses?
@@LeighAndRaymond I will be waiting and watching for your videos. I also really love your videos. I agree with you on the interchangeable lenses question, but Q3 43 is only cropping to fake different lenses which could easily be done in post and with the 100SII it's 102MP that could be cropped as well in post with that enormous resolution for about equal price with that lens. Also I know Fuji loves recipes - maybe input a Leica Q3 recipe into the fuji and now you got a Leica look Fuji thats also interchangeable and with Medium Format. It's like a Ferrari vs Lamborghini. LOL Hopefully someday you can do a comparison. It would be interesting.
the bokeh is so strong it makes the background irrelevant...I think there is a point where it starts to look like a green screen, or that the subject has just been cut and pasted in front of some blurry smudginess. Almost like that fake iphone bokeh. Maybe its just a different effect when the background is so far away from the subject because when i look at studio portraits or street portraits by great photographers using medium format it looks totally different. Beautiful image quality on the subject, but i feel its just too much bokeh sometimes.
Depends very much on the lens used and the settings. You can definitely tune that. I’ve a lot of the gx lens and the bokeh varies. I think the camera is exceptional just sometimes needs a little remapping of your brain when you come from full frame cameras. You can also get some simply amazing circular ball effects at night from lights with the right settings.
Wonderful video, the GF 110 is the undisputed portrait lens from FF, but i am enjoying the GF 55 1.7 these days.
The medium format Mamiya RB67 film SLR with 50/90/180mm lenses is my favorite portrait gear.
The APS-C Fuji X-Pro2 digital mirrorless with 16/23/56mm lenses is what I use for portraits.
I tend to use wide-angle lenses for group portraits; normal lenses for full-length and ¾ length portraits; and telephoto lenses for half-length, head & shoulder, and tight face portraits.
Great video, and we are looking forward to the remainder of your GFX100S II videos!!
Having it used my GFX 100s II now for some portrait work I find that F2 .8 -F3 is the perfect sweet spot is the perfect fall off....BUT 1.7 is still surprisingly easy I'm not a fan of blurry ears and I call it the blurry ear Photography. It's essentially where the ears are out of focus. I know it's an artistic style but lots of people like maybe I'm just a little bit too traditional but I definitely like the ears to be in focus and the end of the nose as well. The thing about GFX as well and I know everyone is into their lighting but you can shoot a lot of natural light portraits because of the dynamic range in the camera. You can definitely shoot a fair bit of natural light portraits on the beach and so forth as well, which I really like because you don't always have to lug your lighting gear down to a shoot if the light is good there's not many other camera systems that you can do that with it also makes wedding Photography a breeze because the low light performance is incredible and you don't have to get the exposure perfect each time given the dynamic range hence why I decided when I was gonna get back into weddings that GFX was going to be my camera of choice. The fuji colours OMG .... And I know you joked about this before but welcome to the medium format snob club you are officially in..ha ha Just Jokes people!! One of the reasons I chose the 55 1.7 is that you can be a little bit further back and get full body shots but you can also crop in. The other beautiful thing about Fujifilm GFX files is that you are just unlimited in what you can do with the file in post. I'm seriously you can even recover things that you just can't with other camera systems. Yes it's expensive but that's what you're paying for. Thanks for the video.
What a wonderfully natural portrait of Raymond! That's great.
Thank you! That’s my favorite type of portrait - I get the subject set up (“bend that leg up a little, lean back against the tree”) and then sneak attack with photos while they aren’t ready!
@LeighAndRaymond I must use those tactics in future! 😄
I own the GFX, You really convinced me that I want the 110. The shots of you are great, but the one of Raymond sitting, perfect, good job Leigh. Thanks this was a great video.
I use a Nikon D850 with a Nikon 24mm F1.8, a Nikon 105mm F1.4, and a 70-200mm Tamron f2.8. thanks for the amazingly informative discussion
Probably one of the best cameras I ever shot with and that 105 F1.4 superb.
Raymond has the easiest job in the world shooting such a drop dead gorgeous model 😍😅
I did a food menu shoot for a restaurant with the gfx 100sII and the gf80mm lens and the photos came out amazing looking. Ive also taken it out on some hikes and took some greats shots. i love shooting with this camera so much.
For my taste the GF 110 is the best portrait lens in the medium format field. The separation, bokeh rendering, compression etc is exceptionally pleasing.
My personal favourite portrait combo would be the Canon R series FF cameras with the RF85mm F1.2. I used that lens on the R and then the R6 before selling it as I moved away from portraiture and it helped me produce some of my very favourite images.
Let’s see some more Raymond !
Sorry back again, the portrait of Raymond sitting, the out of focus tree between the others, outstanding. There is a big differrence between depth of field with med format. To stop down to f8 is like shooting 5.6-6.3 on FF. So at F2 you are closer to1.8-1.4 on FF. Lots of fun for me anyway. Thanks again great video, keep up the great work.
Fav portrait rig is the Z8 with the 135mm f1.8 Plena. Outstanding....
I'd offer the suggestion that the Lumix 42.5mm Nocticron offers similarly delicious bokeh for M43 shooters. I use it for nature photography.
I usually prefer more context in my photos but it's certainly nice to have the option to completely blur out your backgrounds.
I've appreciated your informative videos for many years and look forward to many more in the future. As my experience with the technical aspects of photography increases and having watched many videos about various lenses as portrait lenses I find myself thinking about portrait photography in terms of depth of field and how a lens behaves outside that field.
Thank you for being a long-time viewer! :)
Love my GFX 100II and 110mm f2, among other lens. There's nothing like it. The GF zooms are phenomenal as well. 32-64, 45-100. I also have the 55mm 1.7, realizing I'm "stepping" on myself, but I could not resist having a few fast primes. Please make aware, also, that the .79 crop factor applies to aperture, too. Therefore, the f1.7 has the same bokeh effect of f1.4 (actually f1.3 FF.)
Don’t worry about a few stray grey hairs, at least it is a color. If you get to my age you’ll understand the thrill of being “Arctic Blonde” and wonder why nobody talks to you anymore. Cheers
Thank you for your comment. I don’t actually mind that much about the greys. They sparkle! Also, “Arctic Blonde” sounds like something I would love!
My favourite portrait rigs:
Leica SL (Typ 601) plus Zeiss Planar 85mm 1:1.4 ZF
Leica M8 plus Summarit-M 75mm 1:2.4
I love how you intersperse a talk on Bokeh with your assessment of this camera body. Combining something generalized knowledge with some specific knowledge. 👍
Thank you so much! I think a lot about how to join technical, art and practical aspects of photography in my videos. :)
I think that besides “easier” bokeh, the peculiar medium format effect, is the fact that you get wider angles of view with the compression of longer lenses in compare to FF. In the end as you rightly point out, you can get bokeh with many sensor formats, but this wide look plus “tele” compression is possible only with MF, even more so with the bigger “true” 645 formats like in the older digital Hasselblad H series of PhaseOnes, or on film with 6x6, 6x7 or bigger frames.
Hi Leigh and Raymond, very interesting. I guess, conversley, that if you do want an image to be sharp front to back, you'll focus stack a little more often than you would with a FF camera. As someone in the "cheap seats" for portraits I use D3500 ( my one and only camera ) and either a FF 50F1.8 ( getting somewhere near 85 in FF ) or a DX 35mm F1.8 ( nearly a 50 in FF) ... and of course steady hands!
I’ve never done focus stacking for portraits but you could certainly use a narrower aperture for a deeper depth of field. The D3500 and those two prime lenses is fantastic. I had that 35mm and adored it. :)
Camera and lens choice runs about $7700 at B&H today. As much as I drool for a medium format camera, it's beyond my means for now.
I use the Sony A7RV and the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM mk.II. I use that set up for most things - it’s great. I also have the 50 1.2 from Sony and I’m going to probably get the new 85 1.4 when I can afford it.
70-200mm f/2.8 is a great portrait lens - I’d used one many, many times because it allows for quick flexibility when zooming. :)
Leigh, have you tried the Voigtlander 75mm F1.5 Nokton? The shallow depth of field is crazzzzzzy. Keep shooting and you and Raymond stay inspired! :-)
Fuji GFX would be fun to use.
If i had the cash, id get a Hasselblad X2D.
I used a predecessor to the X2D - it was also an amazing camera. Maybe I should reach out to Hasselblad to try the new variant!
How is the noise at very high ISO compared to the R6MKii?
Are the portrait photos from raw files using adobe color or file simulation?
0:00 you look happy
You can achieve the same amount of bokeh with fast full frame lenses ( 1.2 or 1.4 ). Medium format (0.79) just achieve the same with a vider field of view. /Lars 🤗
I would love to see a pic comparison and your thoughts after trying these two cameras together.
1. GFX100SII with GF 55mm f/1.7R WR Lens - 44mm (Full-Frame Equivalent)
2. Leica Q3 43
I would like to see which would be better. I would put my money on the GFX as I think it would outdo the Leica. They are both 43 ish mm.
Next Friday’s video will be a comparison of the GFX100S II and a couple of full frame cameras, including the Leica SL2 with a prime lens. It will definitely be one to watch for you. Both the GFX100S II and the Q3 43 would be amazing - the question is - do you want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses?
@@LeighAndRaymond I will be waiting and watching for your videos. I also really love your videos. I agree with you on the interchangeable lenses question, but Q3 43 is only cropping to fake different lenses which could easily be done in post and with the 100SII it's 102MP that could be cropped as well in post with that enormous resolution for about equal price with that lens. Also I know Fuji loves recipes - maybe input a Leica Q3 recipe into the fuji and now you got a Leica look Fuji thats also interchangeable and with Medium Format. It's like a Ferrari vs Lamborghini. LOL Hopefully someday you can do a comparison. It would be interesting.
Someone didn't forget leg day. 😂
the bokeh is so strong it makes the background irrelevant...I think there is a point where it starts to look like a green screen, or that the subject has just been cut and pasted in front of some blurry smudginess. Almost like that fake iphone bokeh. Maybe its just a different effect when the background is so far away from the subject because when i look at studio portraits or street portraits by great photographers using medium format it looks totally different. Beautiful image quality on the subject, but i feel its just too much bokeh sometimes.
Good thoughts - thank you for sharing. We all have different preferences. I even have different preferences from project to project!
Depends very much on the lens used and the settings. You can definitely tune that. I’ve a lot of the gx lens and the bokeh varies. I think the camera is exceptional just sometimes needs a little remapping of your brain when you come from full frame cameras.
You can also get some simply amazing circular ball effects at night from lights with the right settings.
Looks like you're not using the back brace anymore. Hopefully that means your recovery is going well. Keep well 🙏
Yes, thankfully no more back brace! :)
You are a gorgeous woman, Leigh!
The gfx is apsc compared to proper 645 format like my leaf digital back.
😊
It's nice but really way too much blurr for my taste!
Thank you for commenting! It’s SO important to remember that we each have our own preferences.