Just a portrait of me.

The Pana/Leica DG 45mm Macro is capable to do some portrait work, if you don't need the dOf so much.

Attached Images

 

DOF is a good thing!

I know. But there have been so many negative comments about the Pana/Leica not being able to do portrait work. I just think it is very well able to do so with its restrictions regarding the aperture. It is very sharp though if you're out there for head shots only! Maybe a tack too sharp!

The people that say that either have never used one or don't know how to use one.

R

An apprentice here:
Why not buying the Zuiko 50mm f2,0 instead?
Its brighter, cheaper and has a bigger DOF, right?

thanks in advance
Z

Much much bigger.....AF is quite slow (compared to PL45).......hunts on macro is you want to use AF (racks in and out).

Don't get me wrong.....I had one .......sold it.......and just bought another. However, for a light, well balanced, relatively fast focusing 90mm equivalent lens, you can't beat the PL45 for quality and versatility.

(And it's quite beautiful too....)

R

Just a comment which I hope will be taken in a positive vein. A portrait photographer needs a widely variable light source if DOF is to be effectively controlled with any one lens. If you are shooting candid portraite/available light portraits, you can change lenses when you need more aperture or increase your ISO. In a portrait studio with good lighting, you normally do not need to change ISO because good lighting is easily varied by four or more f-stops. The bottom line is that the PL 45mm DG is a good lens for portraiture if your available light falls within an optimum intensity range for this lens to work the way you want it to work. Because post-1870 designed lenses typically eliminate barrel distortion, it is no longer necessary to take portraits with lenses falling in the focal length range of 84mm to 150mm. Frankly, I often used the newer Nikon 24-70mm zoom lens for portraiture and achieved suberb results. Finally, some folks care and do not want a photographer in their face when their portrait is being taken. With these folks, a 40mm to 60 mm lens(35mm equivalent) is bound to rattle the subject whereas an 85mm or longer lens may not. Then again, one has to have sufficient room to use a longer focal length and space can be a problem these days. It all comes down to personal preference, in my opinion.

Regards,
Tom

I just took, among the best portraits ever with this 45mm Panny/Leica 2.8 lens yesterday in light that was not optimal. In fact, I was blown away with the results. I hope you take this in a positive light, but this is an exceptional portrait lens (in my judgement). The eighty five Nikons or Canons, 90mm Leica and 105 Nikon's are classics portraits lenses. In the past I have owned Leica 50mm, 75mm and 90mm and sold them when digital came in. Before then had various Nikons, including the stellar 105mm.

Currently, I have newer 24-70 Nikon. I was considering putting it on Ebay after looking at my shots yesterday, but I decided to keep it around. (I don't know why). Micro Four Thirds camera are not really for Full Frame studio work. But I don't believe an APS-C camera is either.

So, I just don't agree with you assessment unless you are a pro in a studio. That is about it. They way I see it is that I just bought a ticket on the train of photographic modernization.

__________________
Olympus E PL2 /VF 2 Viewfinder
45mm Panasonic/Leica 2.8
20mm 1.7 Panasonic
Olympus 14mm-42mm

Fastcar,

Please reread what I wrote. I believe that most of what I wrote states the same as you wrote with respect to portraiture and to lenses. I did have a full portraiture studio with very large relative light sources which I just sold. I also had a near perfect copy of the Nikon 24-70 mm. I only used the latter lens in the studio and I did achieve excellent results. I do own the PL 45 DG lens and it is superb. So, overall we agree and do not disagree. Perhaps I did not write clearly.

Regards,
Tom

Got it. We are on the same page. I am so extraordinarily enthusiastic about MTF equipment because of the small size and quality. Take care...

__________________
Olympus E PL2 /VF 2 Viewfinder
45mm Panasonic/Leica 2.8
20mm 1.7 Panasonic
Olympus 14mm-42mm