This is just part of the physics of how a macro lens achieves its close focusing, there is really nothing the manufacturers can do to prevent it. Nikon reports this in camera to let you know what is happening (which might make a new macro user think their lens is not working properly), Canon does not share this information in camera. This problem is further compounded by 1:1 macro lenses as they lose maximum aperture as they focus closer than infinity. The fastest macro primes on the market are f/2.8 wide open. In general, macro lenses tend to be an f-stop or so darker than a non-macro equivalent at the same focal length. Unfortunately, macro lenses also include a few rather steep downsides which cannot be ignored when evaluating whether they will be your next portrait lens.

Why Macro Lenses Make Poor Portrait Lenses You will never be even remotely close to pushing the limits of how near a macro lens can focus when shooting portraits. Have you ever been in a situation when shooting with one of your normal lenses where your camera is hunting for focus with no success only for you to realize you are a few inches too close? I've run into this problem frequently, the composition that I'm aiming for is just a hint closer than what my lens allows. The most common macro focal length is in the 100mm neighborhood which many headshot photographers characterize as being the perfect headshot focal length. While there are some macro lenses which break this mold, the majority of macro lenses on the market represent focal lengths that are characterized as having a perfect balance of telephoto properties to create flattering portraits. Macro Lenses Often are Available in Wonderful Portrait Focal Lengths This helps create extremely clean, razor sharp images, that make for wonderful prints. When focus is on point, a good macro lens will resolve a crispness that few lenses can match. Macro Lenses Have Outstanding DetailĪs a lens that is designed to capture the tiniest of details, macro lenses are notorious for rendering some of the sharpest detail. Especially for photographers who primarily are aiming to shoot relatively close portraits such as headshots.

Why Macro Lenses Make Great Portrait LensesĪ true 1:1 macro lens makes for a phenomenal portrait lens in many ways. Thus, I purchased the Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro, which I used for shooting itty bitty things briefly until I started experimenting with portraits, which quickly led me to leaving nature photography in my rearview mirror. Despite that lens making for a terrible macro lens, I quite enjoyed the new experience of shooting tiny nature instead of massive nature. At the time I had borrowed my dad's old Nikon 35-70mm f/2.8 macro to experiment with shooting nature much closer than I was used to. Before I ever pointed my camera at a human, I was an obsessive, hobbyist, nature photographer who mostly shot landscapes. For me, a macro lens begun my career as a portrait photographer.

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