All perspective is set by the camera to subject distance. Period. Irrespective of the image format. If perspective is the driving factor (natural noses, ears, etc. or a specific exaggeration), then the length of the lens is selected for framing - to get the most out of the small 35mm or digital sensor frame. Sometimes perfection in perspective isn't necessary, and the lens is selected to give or accommodate a convenient photographer to subject distance. It's still all about making the most out of the available film/sensor real estate.
Regards, Bob... -------------------------------------------- "Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we then prohibit and abolish women?" -Martin Luther From: "Peter Loveday" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I've not done much portrait work, and I have a question about portrait > lenses. > > Is the 'desirable' focal length of ~85mm to get a slightly flattened > perspective, in order to de-emphasise features on peoples faces etc? Or is > it to allow a good photographer to subject distance? Or both? > > Just curious about the ideal portrait lens on a *istD. Obviously the FOV > crop factor of 1.5 means that a 50mm lens has the same field of view as a > 75mm lens, but, still being 50mm focal length has the same perspective on > any camera. If the perspective was the main concern here, then still having > an 85mm lens would be ideal, but then the FOV would be a lot tighter and > might necessitate a lot larger distance to the subject.
