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Recommended lens for dogs! <Warning-contains images>


Chazphoto

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If a photographer needs to ask about the recommended lens for taking pictures of dogs (or anything) then there's something seriously wrong.

 

I know that most of us are having a bit of fun with the question, but IMO any technical query deserves a 'proper' answer.

 

The OP hasn't asked if a brown strap is acceptable to pair with a black camera (which would probably get multiple pages of serious responses and photographic examples of various black/brown combinations!).

 

For a pooch portrait, get too near to a dog with a camera and they generally like to poke their nose at it or lick it, so a 50mm lens or longer is probably best, to keep some distance between photographer and dog. A smaller aperture, f8/11, would be my suggestion to increase depth of field and keep the mutt in focus if he's moving around a bit, or looking snout on at the camera. Notice in one of the examples above, focus is on the tip of the nose and the eyes are a little OOF.

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If a photographer needs to ask about the recommended lens for taking pictures of dogs then there's something seriously wrong.
With the dog?

With the photographer.

 

It's the same, by the way, as those mindless questions that go like, "I'll travel to <enter destination here> next month, which lenses should I bring?" As if photography and lens usage depended on the place! Just bring the lenses you have, then use them. As simple as that.

 

And with dogs, it's just the same. If a 35 mm lens is what you have but cannot get a decent picture of your dog with it then I'm afraid another lens won't help. Sure—a certain focal length supports certain styles of composition and other styles not. That's trivial. To see which lens will give the kind of picture you're having in mind, simply use the M9's frame selector. With a 35 mm lens, you'll have to shoot this way, and with a 90 mm lens, that way. But the point is—any way can yield great pictures ... or poor pictures. It depends on the photographer, not on the lens.

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With dogs it's not about the lens but what's in front ...

 

Here my loved ones: first photo with Digilux and second one with 2/90 on M9-P.

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Hello Chazphoto,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

In many ways the photographing of dogs or/& their puppies is pretty similar to the photographing of people's 2 to 2&1/2 year old children. Except that dogs/puppies tend to be more horizontal while people's children tend to be more vertical. But not always.

 

In order to have a reasonably large degree of flexibility in terms of angles of coverage while at the same time minimizing equipment you might consider a 35mm lens (more or less) complemented by a a 90mm lens (more or less) as a point to start from.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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With the photographer.

 

 

Well, yes and no. Not everybody has matured in their photography to be focal length agnostic. It's like the other common question of what would be your desert island lens. Of course trying to understand what would be the most flexible lens, usable in the most situations. I have come up with the answer for myself, "The one on my camera". Knowing all well that no lens is perfect in all circumstances, but all lenses can be used (given the creativity of the photographer) in most any situation. So saying a 35mm is perfect but a 90mm is not, given any environment is silly. One just needs to change your concept for the photo. I do totally agree, that it's the photographer that takes the photo, but I don't think it's right to be so grumpy about it. Beginners need to start somewhere!

 

P.S. Welcome to the forum, Chazphoto.

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I would use a 16mm fisheye, 50mm sonnar (most), and either 90mm or 135mm for close ups when the dog is stationary.

 

And now for my silliest dog joke that you should not read if easily offended because it really is quite vulgar:

Qu. "Why DO dogs always lick their bits???"

 

An. (Deadpan) "Because they can."

 

. ....pregnant pause....

 

"But seriously folks, if you want to try that, the trick is to give the dog a treat FIRST."

 

 

(I will delete the post if any dog lovers are offended)

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For my Kasper i often use my 50 summilux ASPH.

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Sunday night question, as I think about photos I'd like to take with the M9 about which I'm so excited.

 

What lens would you use for photographs of dogs? So far, the few I've tried with the 35mm I have started with are OK, but it's not the best focal length for tight head shots. Any recommendations?

 

Thanks

 

Chazphoto

 

Welcome Chazphoto to the forum. Ignore the moderators here that dick with you. They generally don't know they are being inappropriate. Just a heads up.

 

I love dogs and photographing them also. I have a couple on my flickr site you can look at. I like to get back from my dog and use a 50 or 75. I have the 50 Summilux and the 75 Summilux. Sometimes, I like to get up close with a 35mm lens. That is when the dog is sitting or lying down and I can take some time and get up close. For longer shots that take in the rest of the scene, I like the 35. No real rules.

 

I'm going to post a set on flickr soon titled, "Dogs I've Known" of all the dogs I've taken pictures of throughout the years.

 

Good luck and welcome,

 

Rick

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Just pick up few lenses and play with them as all might give you pleasant results.

The first photo is shot with 35mm, the second with 75mm and cropped to FOV

cca. 135mm.

On the other hand Ron Scheffler made a nice photo of a dog with 21mm http://www.ronscheffler.com/techtalk/?page_id=130, however, with wider than 24mm you can get legs which are longer then they appear in real life.

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50mm works in most circumstances for me. Or 35 or 90 and sometimes 28 and even 21.

 

But 50 in most cases. This one is 50 wide open.

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Rope to tie the damn animal down is more important than the lens ....... as using a rangefinder with a moving target is the biggest problem :p

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Grandville the Dog, from Dogs I've Met. (M9 + 75/1.4 Summilux)

 

 

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All this time I thought the thread was what lens your dog would like.

 

This one seems to prefer Nikon zoom lenses.

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Rope to tie the damn animal down is more important than the lens ….... as using a rangefinder with a moving target is the biggest problem :p

 

 

 

Indeed - 90 Summicron AA on the M8:

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Blackcomb, from Dogs I've Met (M9 + 75/1.4 Summilux)

 

 

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