Choosing the Best Lenses for Portrait Photography with Canon 600D
The question of which lens is the best for portrait photography with the Canon 600D is complex and multifaceted. It involves understanding several key considerations including perspective, framing, bokeh, aperture, and the crop factor. This article aims to guide you through the decision-making process, providing a comprehensive overview of what makes the best choice for your specific needs.
Understanding Perspective in Portrait Photography
One of the critical factors in capturing the perfect portrait is perspective. You can choose from two main types of perspective: a distorted proportion perspective where the subject's proportions are exaggerated, and a normal proportion perspective where the proportions are closer to actual proportions.
Distorted Proportion Perspective
For a distorted perspective, you need to be approximately 1.5 to 2 meters (about 5-7 feet) away from your subject. This distance helps to create an exaggerated effect, making the subject appear more dramatic or dramatic.
Normal Proportion Perspective
For a more natural proportion, you should be at a distance of 3 to 4 meters (about 10-13 feet) away from your subject. This distance is generally used for more candid and natural-looking portraits.
Choosing the Right Lens Based on Framing
Another critical aspect to consider is the framing of your photograph. You can opt for various framing styles depending on your preference and the effect you want to achieve.
Extreme Close-ups and Headshots
For extreme close-ups and headshots, you will need a long lens such as the 120-200mm to capture a tight framing from a distance.
Environmental and Full-Length Photos
For a more environmental or full-length shot, you would need a shorter lens such as the 10-24mm to capture subjects up close.
Orientation Considerations
It's also important to consider the orientation of your shot. For the same horizontal framing, portrait orientation typically requires a longer lens than landscape orientation. This is due to the format size of your camera, with APS-C format sizes requiring wider lenses for a similar framing effect.
Shining a Light on Bokeh, Aperture, and Crop Factor
Bokeh, aperture, and crop factor are crucial factors to consider when selecting a lens for your Canon 600D. Here's a brief explanation of each:
Bokeh
Bokeh is the aesthetic quality of the blur in the out-of-focus parts of the photograph. High-quality bokeh is achieved with a larger aperture, more aperture blades, and a rounded aperture. Additionally, the ratio of the background object distance from the camera to the subject distance from the camera also plays a role.
Aperture vs. F-Stop
Aperture refers to the actual opening size of the lens, whereas f-stop is a relative term to the focal length. For example, an aperture of diameter 12mm on a 24mm lens gives an f-stop of f/2, while the same aperture on a 50mm lens gives an f-stop of f/4, and on a 200mm lens, an f-stop of f/16.
Crop Factor
Do not be misled by the term crop factor. This term is only relevant in comparison to another camera's format size. For your single-camera setup, it's the framing that matters, which you can easily visualize through your viewfinder or liveview screen. No need to multiply, divide, or perform any complex calculations.
My Recommendations for Portrait Photography Lenses for Canon 600D
Based on my experience with the Canon 600D and APS-C format size sensor, the 50-200mm zoom lens is a versatile choice, providing a range of perspectives from 120mm with f-stops between f/4 and f/8. Sometimes, I use my 50mm prime lens, particularly when working with f-stops between f/1.7 and f/4. Occasionally, I use my 18-55mm zoom lens but only in rare instances.
The Best Lens Based on Preferences
While the 50-200mm zoom lens is excellent, my typical setup for a 600D involves a quality zoom lens ranging from 50-200mm. This lens can provide a wide range of perspectives and excellent bokeh. For those on a budget, the Sigma 50-100mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art lens with a nine-blade polycarbonate diaphragm is highly recommended, priced around US$1000. Alternatively, the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, with a seven-blade circular diaphragm, is a more affordable option at around US$300.
Ultimately, the best lens for your portrait photography needs with the Canon 600D will depend on your specific requirements and budget. Whether you choose a prime lens or a zoom lens, understanding perspective, framing, and the role of bokeh in your portraits will help you capture the perfect shot.