Using a Nikon 600mm f/4 lens for portraiture: How unusual portrait lenses can deliver great results

 

 

There are lenses which are traditionally considered to be "portrait lenses," such as fast 50mm, 85mm and 105mm primes. There are, of course, many other lenses you can use to capture nice portraits, such as 24-70mm and 70-200mm f/2.8 zooms. Tony and Chelsea Northrup decided to do a portrait shoot with a very different kind of lens, a Nikon 600mm f/4 super telephoto prime.

How does this $12,000 lens stack up as a portrait prime? Well, we know that it's a very sharp lens, so that won't be an issue, but as we can see very early in the video below, there are some challenges. Firstly, it’s not easy to handhold. Secondly, you need to be so far away from your subject that communication can be challenging. Obviously this portrait shoot is mostly for the fun and novelty of it, but it's worthwhile to consider non-traditional lenses for portraiture. For example, you can capture some really wonderful portraits using something like a 150-600mm zoom or a 300mm f/2.8 or f/4 prime. These lenses offer excellent background separation and sometimes impressive close-focus distances. You will need a bit of area to work, but if you're outdoors, they're a solid option.

Readers, what are some of the most unusual lenses you've used for portraiture? Do you ever use very long lenses for portraits? Let us know in the comments.

(Via Tony & Chelsea Northrup)