What lens do recommend?

[2n10]

Even though people do the 'math' of, 'well, it's a 1.4 crop factor times a 35mm focal length, so that's right about 50mm....', that is not accurate. It's still the exact same distortion of a 35mm focal length.

-dave

Distortion is due to the focal distance (except for distortions due to lens design, which is mostly in ultra-wide zooms). 35mm on APS-C = 35 *1.6 FF Equiv = 56mm. Normally this would give little to no observable distortion in adult head and shoulder portraits. But for babies you have to get much closer, and distortion might be noticeable.

I have the 35 f/2 IS and it's a great lens, but if you're doing baby portraits you probably want something tighter. Most baby photographers use an 85 f/1.2 1.4 or 1.8 on a FF camera. That's pretty close to the 50 that you already have (80mm FF equiva.). Move in close to the baby and you should get nice portraits with shallow DOF. If you need tighter, go for the 85 1.8, which is sharp and shallow wide open.

Actually the focal length is the same regardless of the size of the sensor. The sensor frames differently based on its size.

 

[hgraf]

FWIW our little one came a couple days earlier then I expected. I intended to pick up an 85/1.8, but wasn't able to pick one up in time.

So, I shot with my 50/1.8 on both my crop body and an old film camera. It delivered exactly what I was looking for (well, I don't quite yet know with the film camera, haven't developed the film yet!). 85mm would most certainly have been too tight for the situations I was in, and 35/28 would have been good, but I think the 50 was the perfect balance for what I was interested in.

Thanks to all for the advice! For now I'm a little busy, but I think I'll still pick up the 85/1.8 eventually, the thinner DOF over the 50/1.8 really appeals to me!

TTYL

 

[verysimplejason]

FWIW our little one came a couple days earlier then I expected. I intended to pick up an 85/1.8, but wasn't able to pick one up in time.

So, I shot with my 50/1.8 on both my crop body and an old film camera. It delivered exactly what I was looking for (well, I don't quite yet know with the film camera, haven't developed the film yet!). 85mm would most certainly have been too tight for the situations I was in, and 35/28 would have been good, but I think the 50 was the perfect balance for what I was interested in.

Thanks to all for the advice! For now I'm a little busy, but I think I'll still pick up the 85/1.8 eventually, the thinner DOF over the 50/1.8 really appeals to me!

TTYL

Congratulations!!! +1. While using an APS-C, I find the 50mm F1.8 quite good for portraits and 85mm F1.8 quite long especially indoors. You'll find a 24mm to 35mm focal length good for full body shots though that's why most suggested a 28mm or a 35mm. Have fun!