Which Lens?

[fortner2009]

I will be shooting my first portrait session Thursday and was wondering if I should use my 50mm 1.8 or 55-250mm 4-5.6? I love the bokeh and DoF the 50mm gives me, but I also dont' want to be like right at my subject. I only have one body so I'd rather not be changing lenses constantly. I've read articles about getting standing back and zooming in, but will I still get a good bokeh-ish, shallow DoF look with the 55-250? And before someone tells me I know I should invest in better class, i.e 70-200 2.8, but I'm new and still learning and that's a lot of $$. Thanks for you time.

David

[OsmosisStudios]

Bring both, try both. See what kind of results you get. If you do use the 55-250, be sure to take a few steps back and use it at the 200mm range.

[flores_g57]

I've always used the 85mm-105mm range.Your 55mm-250mm is fine just stay within the 85mm-105mm range. Also try to step back 'bout 10 ft. from your subject. This will put some distance between you & subject and not feel like you're in their face.

[autofocus]

I don't know..it it were me I'd opt to use the 50. I have to believe the optics are just much better with the prime over the zoom. And the 50 is really an 80mm on your camera, and I'd bet you'd still be a fair distance away, and easily outside of your subject's comfort zone. We do (wife and I) a good deal of portrait work, and her go to lens is almost always the 50, and we never find it to be a problem. Although some people like to shoot wide open, I'd suggest, if lighting permits, to go up a stop or two from your widest