twins! (babys)

[caspertodd]

Thanks for the kind words.
I use a Canon Rebel XT, and recenltly just got the 50mm 1.8.

Someone on another forum insists that there is distortion and provided this insight:
If you are making a close-up, a short telephoto is the best choice, let's say an 80mm lens. Such a lens offers normal perspective, while a standard 50mm lens would force the photographer to get too close to the subject thus altering the perspective (a phenomenon known as "foreshortening"). If foreshortening occurs, the closer parts of the subject's face (the nose, the chin) would appear greater than they are, and the opposite would happen to the back of his or her head. Or, in case of a large group, the faces of the people in front would appear much greater than those on the back.


Interesting.. but I still don't see it in these photo's?

Thanks for posting this, it is really helpful. Especialy since I have the Canon Xt and just bought the 50mm 1.8 as well.

 

[Judge Sharpe]

The other forum got it wrong- forshortening is the effect that you get with a telephoto that screws up perspective and makes it hard to tell the relitive distances between two objects. The 50 mm fl is a normal (in 35mm terms) lens and sees the same angel as your eyes. Because of the differences in digital sensor screens and the 35 mm format the normal will change a little, as has already been discussed on here.
The only distortion you would see in these with the lense you are using might be a small widening of the image. That is not present that I see. In 35mm, a 135 mm fixed lense was often used to foreshorten features some what and to provide a good working distance to the subject. But then we used grease blured lens and red filters (in bw) to reduse skin blimishes.
Judge Sharpe

 

[kellylindseyphotography]

The other forum got it wrong- forshortening is the effect that you get with a telephoto that screws up perspective and makes it hard to tell the relitive distances between two objects. The 50 mm fl is a normal (in 35mm terms) lens and sees the same angel as your eyes. Because of the differences in digital sensor screens and the 35 mm format the normal will change a little, as has already been discussed on here.
The only distortion you would see in these with the lense you are using might be a small widening of the image. That is not present that I see. In 35mm, a 135 mm fixed lense was often used to foreshorten features some what and to provide a good working distance to the subject. But then we used grease blured lens and red filters (in bw) to reduse skin blimishes.
Judge Sharpe

I didn't know that, I'm glad to have learned this. She says its particular in 2,3 and 6 on the left side of her face. JS, did you click on the paragraph I posted.. ? Just wondering if that website is inaccurate?

 

[Judge Sharpe]

I disagree with the paragraph. Her definition of foreshortening is exactly opposite to what I have learned in my 50+years of taking pictures.
She is right that too wide a focus lense will make, say the nose more prominite ( my spell check is down sorry) than the eyes. The typicale fisheye look is this exagerated. Foreshotening is when you can not tell how far it is between two points, like with a telescope. foreshortening FLATTENS features. I think in a dslr the normal lens- don't quote me- is about 35mm which is a wide angle in a 35 mm film camera, due to the size of the sensor. This would make a 50 mm a short telephoto, and perfect for portrait photographs. If you will use the fixed lenth lense you will be surpiised at the sharpness and light gathering vs. a zoom. A carefull ezamination under high magnification will bear this outThe only real advantage to a zoom is in the easy cropping you can do before you shoot.
Sorry that I tend to ramble- it my age i guess.
Bill Brower