Which Lens

[MGonda]

I am a beginner photographer with a Olympus E-510. I am interested in purchasing a lens for taking portraits. Does anyone have any recommendations or advice?

[jdepould]

What's your budget?

The 50mm f/2 might be a good place to start.

[MGonda]

I don't want to go to big yet. More just something to experiment and play with.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by MGonda

I don't want to go to big yet. More just something to experiment and play with.

Everybody has a different definition of "big" so a specific number will get you much better recommendations.

[Stuggi]

I wonder if a 50mm is such an exellent choise considering the 4/3-format... :/

[inkista]

Good point. With a 2x crop factor, a 50mm becomes a 100mm lens, which is a bit long for portrait work.

Maybe the 25mm f/2.8? It's a little slow for portrait work, and it is a kit lens, but it is a pancake lens, which makes it ideal for travel and street photography.

If you don't mind making life hard for yourself, and you're on a shoestring budget, you could also consider getting an OM to 4/3 adapter ring and buying an old 50mm f/1.8 kit lens for <$25. The drawbacks are many (manual aperture setting, manual focus, screwed up EXIF), but the savings are huge.

[jdepould]

Originally Posted by Stuggi

I wonder if a 50mm is such an exellent choise considering the 4/3-format... :/

It's not a bad choice for portrait work, provided you have enough working distance. A lot of people like 85mm and longer for portrait work, so with the 2x crop you're in the ballpark.

[velvet4269]

I'm pretty happy with my Sigma 105mm macro lens, and it ran me $25 less than the Olympus 50mm lens. The only other 2 lenses I have are the kit lenses that came with my e500.

[Slushie]

I'm quite happy with the 50mm F2.0 lens even with the crop factor. I like the added reach as I don't feel like I'm in the face of the subject so much. It is however a prime lens and it does cost a bit... BUT, it's an amazingly sharp lens and I love it to bits!

If you do find yourself in very close quarters and if you're just experimenting, you might also just consider upgrading the kit lens to the 14-54mm F2.8-3.5 too. A costs a bit less than the 50mm but you should definitely notice an improvement over the kit lenses as it's faster and sharper. Aside from just upgrading from the kit lens, it'll give you a chance to experiment more too and can be used in a few more situations than the 50mm might.