Lens swapping?

[jeffrey_aiello_photography]

How many times during a photo shoot do you typically swap lenses?

Here�s the scenario: I was shooting a model last night in a studio.

I did a lot of head shots, but also many partial-body and full body shots.

 

My lenses are the Nikkor 85mm F/1.8D portrait lens; Nikkor 70-300mm G

lens, and the 18-55mm DX G kit lens.

 

During the shoot I was constantly swapping between each of the lenses.

At this point, I really can�t remember which one I used the most, but

probably the 85mm portrait lens, but I sure swapped lenses a heck of a

lot.

 

So I was wondering what the experts do. Guys that shoot models and

that type of shoot. I don�t have a 50mm lens, so that may be the next

one in my bag.

 

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

 

Best,

 

Jeff

[gaius1]

Two (or more) bodies.

[luis triguez]

Maybe you need two bodies at least.<div></div>

[vivek iyer]

"So I was wondering what the experts do"

 

Jeff, I would like to know that as well.

 

Good to see what Luis does.

 

Would like to hear from the other experts also.

[basarab]

I'm no expert in the field, but I'll try to voice my opinion in case it will help you.

 

First it depends on the size of your studio.

 

Second, the lighting.

 

The above points are important so you can realize how much you need to move using a prime lens to "zoom" in and out using your feet. Because a tripod does not seem necessary in your case.

 

If you have enough space available use the 85 mm only. Try it out in a mock session(without a model), or if you have a model willing to help and time to do it try it out in a real test session.

 

You'll find that the 85 mm will do the job very well in such a way that you may not need at all to swap.

 

If you do not have enough space then your left with the 18-55 and maybe the 85, but you will be using the 18-55 mostly.

 

The 70-300 is not that great at portraits (a lot of regions are out of focus). You can do a nice job with it but just not too close. The 85 is good.

 

No matter what kind of camera you use (film or digital) the 50 1.8 (cheap, fast and sharp) is the best to have in such conditions. Try one and see if it is not worth to buy it.

 

Last but not least, shooting with a prime normal or medium tele requires self discipline and a different phylosophical approach. Some people say. Others say it is oldfashioned.

So it is up to you what you chose.

 

Cheers and have fun!

Cristi

[erik_loza]

I am not an expert photographer, but I am expert at changing lenses. Like the soldier who

can field strip his rifle and re-assemble it in under 30 seconds while blindfolded, I

recognize each of my lenses by feel. Now, if I could only teach them to do this by

themselves...

[jeffrey_aiello_photography]

I'm not an expert at changing lenses... but I REALLY increasd my skills last night! :-)

 

I like the idea of a 50mm lens... That way I could use only the 50mm and 85mm lenses during the shoot. A second body would be nice.. I think the wife would kill me though...

 

Thanks for the comments.

 

Jeff

[paul_baker1]

Sounds like you need an 80-200 2.8. In fashion shows I've seen on TV the photographers appear to be using an 80-200.

[Matthew Currie]

Luis, pictures like that should have a warning label to protect recovering NAS sufferers from expensive relapses.

[jim_helleck1]

Hi Jeff, First off, I'm no pro either but I was having the same delima with my prime lenses. I seemed to be missing some good oppertunitys for pictures in between lenses. It sucks having NO lens mounted on the camera when that perfect picture comes and goes. So my latest lens purchase solved a fair amount of problems for me. I bought a short (35-70 3.5 AIS) zoom for my new FM3A. It isn't the fastest but it does the job for me (unless I need an 85mm or 28mm). I'm really happy with my choice. I'll hang on to my assortment of primes for when I'm not in a hurry and can pack everything along.

[jim_helleck1]

Luis, Looks like you have too many cameras there. I'd take an F-2 off your hands. That way you wouldn't have some much to carry. A nice shot by the way.

[jeffrey_aiello_photography]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look into that lens.

 

Jeff

[bob oldendorf]

(I haven't made the jump to digital, yet, so my thinking here is from my

experience with film. A second digital body may be prohibitively expensive,

but in the film world, gear is now preposterously cheap, so YMMV.)

 

One answer is to use a second (or even a third...) body.

 

I usually do this sort of shoot with two bodies, and might have a third loaded

and ready-to-go, on 'just-in-case' stand-by. It's quite possible to set up two

bodies and _never_ need to change lenses during a session.

 

This has several advantages: less down-time swapping lenses; less

downtime reloading (well, more flexibility in _when_ to pause for reloading);

less chance of dropping a lens, or for getting dirt on the rear element or inside

the camera. (For working in digital: substitute "off-loading files" or "swapping

cards" for "changing film".)

 

Sometimes you need a fresh view, and need to see your model or subject

with a different view: you may not even have a strong prefernce for WHAT,

exactly; you just know that you want to see something different. Having a

second camera ready to go with a change-of-view is usually a solution - it

provides whatever I was looking for when I'm dissatisfied with the current lens

in use. And it's faster than swapping lenses.

 

Now, granted, this is a lot easier when you're talking about a $100 used FE-2

rather than a $500 (...or $2500...) spare D-whatever-SLR, but a spare body

really does help you keep control of your pacing.

 

And it sounds like - unless you really need the speed for candid work - you

don't much need a 50mm yet.

[gaius1]

On <i>America's Next Top Model</i> (which, ermm, I only watch for professional reasons) the usual camera is a 'blad H1 with (I think) the 150/3.2 lens, tethered to a computer. I haven't seen any lens swapping going on there.

[jeffrey_aiello_photography]

Bob,

 

Thanks for the comprehensive response. The only bad thing about photography.... and fly fishing... and offroading..... and.... well... it all costs M-O-N-E-Y!! ;-) and the wife doesn't truly enjoy me spending so much on it. That said... I really do like the second body idea, I do need to get another lens. Also, I'd like to get a laptop, I must be the last person in the world without one, so once thet's purchased, the 2nd body may be next.

 

Jeff

[jeffrey_aiello_photography]

The guy that owns the studio that I've been shooting at has a 28-70 lens for the in studio stuff.. that may be the way I go.

 

Thanks Jeff