I'm very interested in this lens for both macro and portraits. Will this lens take a nice portrait handheld?
1652036
It will have no problem as a portrait lens. Though, the focus will be slow as it will hunt for focus sometimes through the entire distance range (due to lack of focus range lock). It can be annoying at times. However, it's relatively a small price to pay for a great macro lens that can also periodically serve as a decent portrait lens.
1652037
It's really for Close-Up for 1to1; coins,stamps,flowers,bugs and the like. It's one of the best close-ups you'll find. Portrait, yes but it wasn't thought of as a portrait lens. Ok, if you like big;eyes,lips,frame filling faces and the likes. You can surely try.
1652038
With out question this is a great lenses for portraits and close ups. For portraits that are razor sharp of your subject with booka in the background this your lense. For closeups of jewelry, and any small objects this lense excels. Also, the price is good too. Hope this helps. JRA
101689
I don't have enough information yet....what other lenses do you own, and what camera would you be shooting with? Are you the main photographer? Are you bringing lights or at least a high(er) powered flash unit? This is a great lens for macro use, but with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 this cannot be considered a fast lens at all. While a 50mm lens is fantastic for shooting in a more photojournalistic style, you will probably want something a little longer for portraits (especially if you're using a full-frame digital or film camera). Please respond with what camera(s) you'll be using and what other lenses you own and I'll give you more detail
583899
I love this lens, the quality is tremendous and it is very versatile. Excellent lens for just walking around. Color rendition and sharpness make if fine for landscape if the focal length is what you want for your shot. For macro, it is pretty specialized, not so good for tiny subjects since at 35 mm you have to get very close to be 1:1. One of the all time best lenses ever made for flower photography.
2190424
Technicly this is a wide angle to portrait size lens not a macro lens. That being said yes you can do close ups of small objects. You will however have distortion in the wide angle range. A 100mm macro lens is a better choice for macro photoography.
2236129
It's a great portrait lens. It will be wonderful on the a d40. I think that it really comes into it's own on fx though. That way you can really take advantage of the narrow depth of field as well as precise focus .
1463161
Hey Richard, I didn't get any lenshood for this lens. Its a great lens very sharp great for portrait!
464339
Absolutely!!! I use my lens for portraits also, It gives a nice flat perspective of features that you expect with a lens from about 85-200mm. Great for head shots as well as environmental shots.
1483057
YES...... I would highly recommend this lens and it is now used as my general lens of choice. To use the macro, it is necessary to stand back further than most lenses but it still produces a very crisp image. The weight of the lens helps to keep the camera steady as it is weighted well making the whole unit more sturdy. So far I have no regrets.
2075464
Yes- it is a true macro. It probably is not as sharp as a dedicated macro- like a Tamron 90mm- but it will work in a pinch. The lens is a good "all around" lens. If you do not need low light, fast action, National Geographic sharpness, this is a very good lens.
477810
It's a very nice portrait lens but how you are going to use a 120mm lens for landscape It depends on you you!! The Lens is a perfect Macro lens and I love to have it with me whenever I use my EM5.
143454
I would not recommend for portrait photography, I find it far too "long" for that, especially if you have a non full frame camera. I stick with my 85mm for portraits. It could however be used as "a telephoto lens in the day time" but there are other lenses that would be better choices for that as well. I only use a tripod if I am doing product photography, otherwise I use it handheld. Overall this is an absolutely fantastic lens, I just use it for more along what it was designed for, macro (and product) photography, but have used it as a telephoto lens once or twice in a pinch. I would not recommend for portrait photography, I find it far too "long" for that, especially if you have a non full frame camera. I stick with my 85mm for portraits. It could however be used as "a telephoto lens in the day time" but there are other lenses that would be better choices for that as well. I only use a tripod if I am doing product photography, otherwise I use it handheld. Overall this is an absolutely fantastic lens, I just use it for more along what it was designed for, macro (and product) photography, but have used it as a telephoto lens once or twice in a... » Read More I would not recommend for portrait photography, I find it far too "long" for that, especially if you have a non full frame camera. I stick with my 85mm for portraits. It could however be used as "a telephoto lens in the day time" but there are other lenses that would be better choices for that as well. I only use a tripod if I am doing product photography, otherwise I use it handheld. Overall this is an absolutely fantastic lens, I just use it for more along what it was designed for, macro (and product) photography, but have used it as a telephoto lens once or twice in a pinch. « Show Less
2156711
No this lens is not intended for macro photography. A prime lens designated as macro is good for this. I recommend the Sigma 70mm macro for Pentax, it is really sharp.
2024377
The other responders have covered the most important attributes of this lens and I agree with their assessments. If you don't plan on doing macro photography then this is not the lens for you.
464335
Absolutely. It is a beautiful portrait lens. It's actually much more than even just 2 lenses in one. It's a beautiful general medium telephoto too.
1356283
With this lens you can get really close, its similar to macro lens but still remember its not the 24mm or a proper macro so you will have some not real proportions, still it solve a lot of close up for things i would not recommend it for portraits or face details
918493
Decent is a very relative term. For an amateur photographer this lens will take some nice close up photos. I would not define them as true macro, but it will do a good job. The 19-55 dal lens is a very good all around "kit" lens.
1402684
It's a great lens for portraits. I use it all the time! If I schedule portrait sessions -it's pretty much the only lens that stays on my camera. (I use the Nikon D600.)