20mm for people photography ?

[olivier_de_lame]

Hi,<p>

 

I would like to buy a wide lens.

<p>

I would like to know if 20mm would not be too wide for people photography.

<p>

Thanks,

<p>

Olivier.

<p>

<i>Moderator's Note: The question above has been edited to focus it on the very appropriate question about People Photography. The rest of the question pertained to specific lens choice and should be submitted to the General Photo.net forum. Photos that show the use of very wide angle lenses are certainly welcome.</i>

[emre]

It's not too wide at all; the 20mm is my standard indoor lens. My <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1024600">last</a> <a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/1009070">two</a> pictures were taken using this lens. It is not as hard to use as some would have you believe.

[fotografz]

A 20mm is a blast, but for people photography it must be used with care

in doing anything close up due to distortion. I've used that distortion for

editoral effect, but it ain't flattering unless used with great care. For wider

shots that include the environment the people are in it is great. BTW, the

Canon 24/1.4L is a world class lens, perhaps a used one can be found at a

reasonable price with a little hunting? No zoom can optically compare to

it, let alone shoot available light like it can.<div></div>

[edward_kang]

<center> <img src=http://madmilk.com/forum/20mm.jpg></center>

<br><br>

A 20mm is an awesome lens to have, and it is eminently useful for people photography. <br>You can distort on purpose (or accident), but my favorite application is environmental portraiture.

</center>

[henk]

Olivier

 

A 20mm isnt too wide, the perspective is just harder to control. I work alot with ultra-wides, there is so much you can do with the perspective and the huge amount of background you are able to capture. Heres an experiment with an 18mm Nikkor and K1 extension ring.

 

<center> <img border=2 src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/image-display?photo_id=1026706&size=lg"> </center>

 

Greetings,

[maarten_van_viegen]

jeanloup sieff used a 21mm on his leica for fashion-people-portrait photography. do a google search on him

[paulo bizarro]

Why not? Any lens will do, provided you take care with composition. Look at the corners to prevent any unwanted things poking into the frame. Check my children portfolio, there is a picture in there of my kids taken at 16mm.

[jim_ngo1]

I agree that a 20mm lens can offer a great perspective. But be careful when composing your subject near the edges of the frame because things can distort unflatteringly. I shoot a lot of candids around this focal length and I've tossed more than a few because of the dreaded "big nose" effect.

[olivier_de_lame]

Thank you for all the answers, I will buy a 20mm lens and try it.

 

Regards,

 

Olivier.