Home » Reviews » Lenses » Sony 50mm Macro

I agree and disagree with you on this one Carl.

On March 4th, 2008 ActinicLight says:

First of all I agree with 95% of everything you say regarding the 50mm f2.8 AF macro. I have the older version, but they are all great lenses and everyone should have one, not only for macro work but when the need arises to photograph flat artwork. These macros excel at even, distortion free, corner to corner coverage because of their flat field of focus design.

Where I differ with your opinion is the use of this lens in portraiture. Technically, YES, any lens can take a portrait and a flat field of focus is not a bad idea if you are trying for a soft focus of facial features with sharp detail of the eyes. But that particular technique is almost exclusively for photographing women and infants.

A sharp portrait of a male subject is usually the preferred methodology in portraiture and almost impossible with the shallow depth of field inherent in flat field of focus macro lenses. Thusly that is why I also carry a 50mm f:1.7 which can perform the task very well and a bit longer like an 85 would be even better.

So Yes any lens can take a portrait but not all lenses can take a good portrait. ;-)

Just had to state that! It goes back forty years to my formal education. . .

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