Curious about the best focal length for portrait photography?

Drawing from my experience in both video and photo making, I’m here to share my insights with you.

In this article, you’ll not only learn about the ideal focal length for portrait photography but also find answers to frequently asked questions. 

TOMADA RÁPIDA

  • 50mm Lens are deal for natural-looking portraits without distortion, mimicking human eye perspective, and often comes with wide apertures for shallow depth of field.
  • 35mm Lens are suitable for environmental portraits,
  • 85mm Lens are preferred for headshots

 

What Is A Focal Length

Antes de nos debruçarmos sobre os melhores distância focal for portrait photography, it’s essential to understand what focal length is and how it affects our images.

Focal length refers to the distance between the camera’s image sensor or film plane and the lens’s optical center.

It is measured in millimeters (mm) and determines how much of the scene you can capture (campo de visão) e o tamanho do seu objeto (ampliação) no enquadramento. A distância focal também afecta a perspetiva e a distorção das características faciais do motivo.

Different focal lengths have different advantages and disadvantages for portrait photography. 

melhor_comprimento_focal_para_retratos

Como a distância focal afecta a perspetiva e a distorção

o mais curta a distância focal, o mais amplo the field of view and the closer you need to be to your subject to fill the frame.

The center of the image will appear to bulge forward, while the edges will be stretched and distorted.

This can exaggerate your subject’s nose, forehead, chin, and ears, making them look unnatural and unflattering.

o mais longo a distância focal, o mais estreito the field of view and the farther you need to be from your subject to fill the frame.

The center of the image will appear to flatten, while the edges will be compressed and reduced.

This can make your subject’s face look more proportional and balanced, but also wider and less three-dimensional.

distâncias focais da câmara

Categorias de distâncias focais

A distância focal é geralmente medida em milímetros (mm) e pode ser agrupada em quatro categorias principais:

Lentes grande-angulares

 These have focal lengths of menos de 35 mm e oferecer um amplo campo de visão.

They are good for capturing landscapes, architecture, interiors, and large groups of people.

However, they can also create distortion and exaggeration of the subject’s facial features, especially at the edges of the frame.

Lentes standard

These have focal lengths of 35mm a 70mm e oferecer um perspetiva natural that is similar to what the human eye sees.

They are versatile and can be used for different types of portraits, from environmental to headshots.

These lenses produce minimal distortion and give a realistic representation of the subject.

Teleobjectivas

These have focal lengths of 70 mm ou mais e oferecer um campo de visão estreito.

They are good for isolating the subject from the background, creating a shallow depth of field, and compressing the subject’s facial features.

Telephoto lenses are ideal for headshots, half-body shots, and full-body shots. However, they require a lot of distance between the camera and the subject and can be heavy and expensive.

Lentes olho-de-peixe

These have focal lengths of menos de 16 mm e oferecer um campo de visão ultra largo.

They create a circular vignette effect that wraps around the subject. They are not very common in portrait photography, except for special effects or creative purposes.

 

50mm Lens

Quando se trata de fotografia de retratoUma distância focal que é amplamente favorecida pelos fotógrafos é 50mm.

The 50mm lens offers a versatile focal length that closely mimics the perspective of the human eye.

This makes it an excellent choice for capturing natural-looking portraits without distortion.Retrato de 50 mm 50mm lenses often have wide maximum apertures, such as f/1.8 or f/1.4. These wide apertures allow for a profundidade de campo reduzida, resultando em fundos desfocados that draw attention to the subject.

The ability to achieve a shallow depth of field is particularly desirable in portrait photography, as it helps isolate the subject from the surroundings and creates a pleasing aesthetic.

If you own a Canon camera, here are the best lenses for portraits.

 

Other Focal Length Options

Enquanto 50mm é um escolha popularÉ importante notar que a melhor distância focal para fotografia de retrato pode variar dependendo do estilo do fotógrafo, do assunto e do resultado desejado.

Vamos explorar outras opções de distâncias focais comuns e as suas características únicas:

35mm

UMA 35mm oferece um campo de visão mais amplo em comparação com uma lente de 50 mm, tornando-a adequada para captar retratos de ambiente.

Environmental portraits aim to portray the subject within their surroundings, providing context and telling a story. The wider angle of view allows photographers to include more of the background while still maintaining a natural perspective.

85 mm

Para fotografias de rosto lisonjeiras com um campo de visão mais estreito e um maior isolamento do objeto, um 85 mm lens is often the preferred choice.

This focal length helps to compress facial features, resulting in a pleasing and flattering perspective. It allows photographers to capture stunning portraits with a shallow depth of field while maintaining a comfortable shooting distance.

135mm and Beyond

Teleobjectivas com distâncias focais de 135 mm e seguintes são normalmente utilizados para captar retratos íntimos from a distance.

These lenses allow photographers to maintain a comfortable shooting distance while still filling the frame with the subject. The longer focal length also helps to compress features, resulting in a flattering and visually appealing image.

Se é um principiante, consulte: 7 câmaras com objetiva acessíveis para principiantes.

 

How To Choose a Focal Length

Aqui estão alguns factores essenciais a ter em conta:

Distância ao objeto

Think about how much space you have to work with and how close or far you want to be from your subject.

A wider focal length can help you fit more in the frame in tight spaces, while a longer focal length can help you keep a comfortable distance and avoid distortion.

Perspetiva desejada

Imagine the mood and style you want to convey in your portraits.

Do you want to show more of the background and context, or focus on the details and expressions of your subject? Try different focal lengths to find the one that matches your vision.

Luz disponível

Check the lighting conditions and the maximum aperture of your lens.

A wider maximum aperture can let more light in and help you achieve better exposure and bokeh in low-light situations. A narrower maximum aperture may require more artificial light or a higher ISO setting.

Conforto do sujeito

Pay attention to how your subject feels when you’re taking their portrait. Some people may feel more relaxed when you’re farther away, while others may feel more connected when you’re closer.

Choose a focal length that makes your subject feel comfortable and confident.

 

 Perguntas frequentes

Aqui estão as respostas a algumas perguntas frequentes sobre a melhor distância focal para fotografia de retrato:

Can I use a zoom lens for portrait photography?

Sem dúvida!

Zoom lenses offer versatility and the convenience of adjusting focal length on the go.

However, prime lenses are often preferred for their wider maximum apertures and overall image quality.

Do I need a full-frame camera for portrait photography?

While full-frame cameras have their advantages, such as better low-light performance and wider field of view, you can achieve excellent portrait results with crop-sensor cameras as well. et.

Can I use a wide-angle lens for portraits?

Wide-angle lenses can be used creatively for certain types of portraits, such as environmental or group shots.

However, they may cause distortion when used too closely to the subject’s face, resulting in unflattering proportions.

Are there any recommended lens brands for portrait photography?

Many reputable lens manufacturers offer excellent options for portrait photography, such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Sigma.

 

Palavras finais

I personally prefer the 50mm lens and it’s often considered the best focal length for portrait photography.

Its field of view closely resembles that of the human eye, providing a natural and compelling perspective in portraits.

When using a 50mm lens (or any lens, really) for portraits, pay close attention to your shooting distance.

While the 50mm lens is versatile, getting too close to your subject can cause slight distortion, which might not be flattering for close-up portraits.

Instead, try stepping back a bit and zooming in if needed. 

Veja as melhores ferramentas de edição de fotografias GRATUITAS:

 

Obrigado pela leitura! 🙏

I hope this guide helped you understand what’s the best focal length for portrait photography 🙂

 

Compartilhar é cuidar ❤️

Se você achou este artigo útil, por favor Compartilhe nas redes sociais com sua família e amigos!

Artigos relacionados: