4x5 ideal head shot focal lenght lens ?

[Terry Breedlove]

What would be the ideal or at least very good focal length lens on a 4x5 for head shots ? I have two lenses a 135 for landscapes and a 210 for portraits. I am a new LF shooter.

[David A. Goldfarb]

210mm is a very common length for portraits, headshots, and tabletop work.

[Ian Grant]

As David says 210mm but a 180mm is OK as is a 240mm, but your 210's a good choice, I like mine for landscapes as well although a 135mm/150mm or 90mm tend to be first choice.

Ian

[michaelbsc]

The 210, as mentioned.

If you just have to buy something new snap up an old 203mm 7.7 Kodak lens.

[Rick A]

I have a 210 and a 10 inch(255mm). Prefer the 10" for head shots, allows for comfortable working distance from subject, doesn't feel like I'm crawling over them for the shot. The 210mm is ideal for 3/4 length poses.

[Monito]

The ideal is based on the ideal perspective, which depends on the goal. If it is an intimate portrait head shot, then you may wish to be four or five feet away (perspective depends only on distance). If it is a corporate headshot then you may like five to seven feet. A beauty shot needs a perspective that speaks of distance, unattainability, idealization and say 7 to 10 feet might be good. These are of course only guidelines.

Then you can use this fully featured lens calculator to figure out the focal length: http://eosdoc.com/jlcalc/

[Terry Breedlove]

I am thinking of close intimate portraits. So it is more about distance which effects perspective than anything. So to be around say seven to ten feet away for a good perspective I need a lens that will fill the frame or close enough to it. So 210 or above might even be better. If I am to close with a wider lens then the nose is to big. If I use to much lens then the face flattens to much when working at a comfortable 7 to 10 feet.

[jnanian]

10", so you aren't in the face of your subject ...

[2F/2F]

I like a 360 telephoto for head and shoulders.

[SteveR]

I use a 210 for most portraits, but have occasionally wished for a 240, just for that extra bit of compression, but always end up thinking that there's not THAT much difference between 210-240, so I should just work harder with what I have