Do you use this lens for general purpose photography or is it too sharp ?
621854
I use the 100mm mostly for close-up work but it's good for portrait shots, too. I use my 50mm prime lens for "general purpose," every day type photography. The 100 brings objects too close under normal circumstances. I'm VERY pleased with this lens and highly recommend adding it to your outfit. It does come in handy.
621855
I just got this lens but so far it seem good for general purpose photography. It helps to use a smaller aperture for wider depth of field.
621856
It can be used as an all-purpose lens as long as u don't mind the long focal length. AF tends to hunt as well due to its macro nature. It's macro first with general a distant second.
621857
It has a very small depth of focus. Best to stick with macro uses and keep a normal lense handy for regular photos.
173418
Hi, I was faced with the same dilemma last year. I chose 14-45. It is a sharp lens with good auto focus and stabilization. I use it mainly as a travel lens and photograph historical monuments.Prakash
1445794
the answer is yes to both questions. It's a matter of what you were trying to shoot. It's a good lens for the 70 to 200 millimeter focal length.
1356282
It doesn't get super close, but it's really damn sharp. If you want to get closer, I'd suggest Sigma's 28mm f1.8 macro (they also have a 24, a 50, etc.)The macros are reviewed well enough, may not be as optimal in the corners, but for center-frame macro shots, everything else will be bokeh-d out anyway. This is more of a perfect travel lens- sharp as anything corner to corner for the landscape shots, and wide f1.8 for the people shots, while still being practical and relatively distortion-free.
1398787
This lens is great for portraits, and outdoors. It's a great all around lens. I use it for taking pictures of my kids and for taking pictures of my garden. I love it!
1247238
Yes, I would definitely recommend this lens. I have all the high end lens and shoot wedding photography. But this is still one of my favorite lens. So sharp and clean and great boca.
284509
It is a good all around lens, however it´s not particularly a wide angle. If you are really into landscape photography and you already have a standard zoom lens, i recomend to go for a tokina 11-16 or a sigma 10-20. I´ve owned the second one, and if you get a good copy, it´s one of the best values in the market for DX cameras.
2120237
It's a macro lens, so it's really good for taking extreme close-ups of even very small things and parts of things. But it's also an excellent standard lens, provided you like the focal length (it's equivalent of a 120mm lens on a full-frame dslr or 35mm film camera, or a 80mm lens on a crop sensor/dx dslr etc.); and because you can focus very closely, it does a great job of providing blurred backgrounds. It makes a very good head-shot portrait lens, for instance. I use mostly use mine to take photos of flowers or anything else where I like to be able to get up close and with a fair degree of magnification, but it's really very versatile (given the limitations of a fixed focal length lens, of course). It's a macro lens, so it's really good for taking extreme close-ups of even very small things and parts of things. But it's also an excellent standard lens, provided you like the focal length (it's equivalent of a 120mm lens on a full-frame dslr or 35mm film camera, or a 80mm lens on a crop sensor/dx dslr etc.); and because you can focus very closely, it does a great job of providing blurred backgrounds. It makes a very good head-shot portrait lens, for instance. I use mostly use mine to take photos of flowers or anything else where I like to be able to get up close and with a fair degree... » Read More It's a macro lens, so it's really good for taking extreme close-ups of even very small things and parts of things. But it's also an excellent standard lens, provided you like the focal length (it's equivalent of a 120mm lens on a full-frame dslr or 35mm film camera, or a 80mm lens on a crop sensor/dx dslr etc.); and because you can focus very closely, it does a great job of providing blurred backgrounds. It makes a very good head-shot portrait lens, for instance. I use mostly use mine to take photos of flowers or anything else where I like to be able to get up close and with a fair degree of magnification, but it's really very versatile (given the limitations of a fixed focal length lens, of course). « Show Less
1892824
It's a good lens: sharp (check DXOMark). I own both this lens and the Canon 14mm 2.8L. Both are great. The only thing missing with the Samyang is the AF, though often that's not a problem for wide angle anyway....
1117321
I have one. For the price... it is a great lens. Make sure it is well mounted and set camera to high contrast and max sharp. Don't run it more than 12-1500mm. Hard to focus but does a great job "for the price." On a side note: the lens mount is high maintenance and will loosen after a few uses. Make sure your camera body is supported somehow. Take the lens off when not in use.
1813090
I may be the wrong person to answer since I don't do weddings nor much in the way of people images, but it would seem to me that this lens might be a bit slow for use with people unless you are using flash. Otherwise, it is a fine lens and has the expect Nikon quality.
1929060
It is a fast, prime, fixed focal length lens of outstanding quality and sharpness, not a zoom lens. I find it to be more useful as an intermediate telephoto but is fine for close up portraits.
1804579
I'm going to say it's a little overkill, but the lens is a great value. You'll get the cropping factor, but I think that's actually beneficial in this zoom range... with my a99, I often long for more zoom! I've also used it on my a77, and it does great. If you have more questions, do shoot 'em back!
357728
It's the only lens I use for my 800. With occasional hiccups trying to focus through car window glass. It's sharp enough for my varied uses. I was sold on the lens by tests performed and published on the blog Photography Life and you'll also find info on the 24-70, but the 2.8 will give you a softer background.
1429334
Well, it's not the fastest lens, especially for indoors, but the image stabilization sure helps. It partially depends how good your photos can look at higher ASA's. Generally speaking, it is a wonderful lens, and really sharp. In open shade on a sunny day at ASA 100 I was shooting wide open at the lowest shutter speed I could manage. You're always on the edge using a lens like this in terms of available light but the results are worth fighting for.
1671727
I have several L lenses, and my sense is that this lens is not inferior to those lenses. I think it captures excellent images; but, I am not a professional photographer. And I am not rough on lenses; I take great care not to expose any lens to situations that might damage them. In other words, the build quality may or may not be L level, but I will never know. It's great for walking around and getting shots that might otherwise be inaccessible. If you want a lens that is small in size but big in reach, this is it.
583901
Long autofocus speed is an issue for landscape shots, but besides macros, it excels at portraits and close up shots. Furthermore I don't see anything either bad or good about landscape and general photos taken with this lens. I would definitely not recommend it for a general purpose lens, but as a fantastic portrait lens.