Will a 24mm lens on APS-C distort faces for seated environmental portraits and interviews?
Asked 7/30/2013
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I shoot portraits and interview-style video on a Sony A77 APS-C camera. I usually use an 85mm f/1.4 around f/1.7-f/2, but for a seated subject on a balcony I want to include much more of the background while still framing roughly from the top of the head to around the knees.
I'm considering a 24mm prime at about f/1.8, but I'm worried it may make faces look unflattering. On APS-C, 24mm gives a field of view similar to about 36mm full-frame. Would that be suitable for this kind of environmental portrait/interview shot, or would 35mm be a safer choice? I'm also trying to keep some background blur while keeping the face sharp.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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My questions is - will 24mm will not distort the humans face (sitting in left 1/3) so that in videos or photos it will look bad?
As you noted, on a crop-sensor camera a 24mm lens will effectively be about 36mm. 35mm is a very common focal length for "environmental portraits" -- not "head and shoulders," but showing some of the surroundings, too. So, if you use a 24mm lens on a crop-sensor body to take environmental portraits, I'm sure you won't have any distortion concern. If, on the other hand, you want to do "head and shoulders" portraits you will see less flattering results with the 24mm lens. It won't look bad and it won't really appear distorted, but it will be less flattering to the subject.
Originally by user8473. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user8473
13y ago
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On your APS-C camera, 24mm behaves roughly like a 36mm full-frame view, which is a common choice for environmental portraits. For a seated subject framed with some surroundings, it should work well and generally won’t look obviously distorted.
The main issue is perspective: if you move too close for a tight head-and-shoulders shot, facial features can look less flattering with a wider lens. For a wider composition that includes the setting, 24mm on APS-C is usually fine. If you want a more traditional portrait look, 35mm would be safer, but it may not show as much background in a tight space.
Background blur depends on focal length, aperture, and subject distance. A wider lens at the same framing usually gives less blur than an 85mm, so you may need to use a wide aperture and place the background farther behind the subject. A depth-of-field calculator can help you compare setups.
A 30mm f/1.4 on APS-C can be a good middle ground: wider than 85mm, easier to use in limited space, and still capable of strong subject separation.
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