Originally posted by dlh How did you find it when using it hand-held as opposed to w/tripod? I've seen reviews that said it's practically unusable hand-held for close-up macro work.
I wouldn't go so far as to say "practically unusable", but I would say that the ease of use hand-held depends on the stability of the photographer and the confidence that you have in achieving focus.
If you are pointing downhill on rough ground, trying to capture an insect that inconveniently positions itself so that you have to twist, you are going to struggle to nail and hold focus. Your stance will not be stable enough. Add in a bit of excitement, so that your breathing adds to the problem and you will miss more than you keep.
The FOV of a D-FA 100 on a crop body is the same as the Irix 150 on FF, but the depth of field is greater. Wide open, the photographer's confidence in having achieved correct focus can be very low with a large aperture FF lens.
Hesitate and the moment is gone...
The revered A* 200/4 macro is as heavy as the Irix and has the same reputation for being hard to use (the FA* is even heavier).
So, in my view - it's a question of stance, breathing and technique. I'll spend time watching and stalking, then work out an approach to get closer (very important near water!). I try to turn my own inability to hold the lens still to my advantage by shooting three-shot stacks, but perhaps most importantly, I'll accept cropping a shot from 1m or so as an alternative to missing a shot from closer in. At 225mm on a crop body, the Irix has an advantage for this.