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Flinn · 03-05-2014, 02:25 PM

I'm thinking about getting this because it's rather inexpensive.

j2photos · 03-05-2014, 02:31 PM

If I wanted a cheap portrait lens I would do a M or A 50 f1.7

The F 70-210 is a great lens, its very sharp for such inexpensive lens but you do have to stop it down to get the sharpness.

ChristianRock · 03-05-2014, 02:33 PM

Well if you are talking about the Pentax-A 70-210mm f4 then yes, I would and I have used it

Outstanding colors, and very flattering portraits can be achieved from 70-150mm with this lens. After that, it loses some color/contrast and adds a softer look to the pictures, unless you stop down to f8.

Flinn · 03-05-2014, 03:32 PM

I'm only interested in the AF one which is f4-5.6

SpecialK · 03-05-2014, 03:50 PM

"Soft" lenses are generally flattering for portraits, unless you want to see pores and blemishes :-)

**RKKS08** · 03-05-2014, 03:53 PM

I own the SMC-A 4.0/70-210, IQ up to 170 is very near to prime quality. None of the legacy AF models are anywhere near to it.
But it is also a long and heavy beast.

**MSL** · 03-05-2014, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by Flinn

Would You Use the Pentax 70-210 for Portraits? I'm thinking about getting this because it's rather inexpensive.

What focal length range do you think you will use? If mostly towards 70, you could also use the F35-70 lens. On an APS-C camera, I would think much beyond 90-100 would be getting a bit long for portraits.

j2photos · 03-05-2014, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Flinn

I'm only interested in the AF one which is f4-5.6

This is the one I have, It should be acceptable at 70-90 for portrait. For what you pay its hard to beat it as a Tele.

Flinn · 03-05-2014, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by MSL

What focal length range do you think you will use? If mostly towards 70, you could also use the F35-70 lens. On an APS-C camera, I would think much beyond 90-100 would be getting a bit long for portraits.

I don't have a set focal length, but I'm definitely not going to be below 100mm if I can help it.

FrancisK7 · 03-05-2014, 04:18 PM

70mm is very long for a portrait lens on an APS-C sensor, you'll only be able to do shoulder and up with that.

I do use my FA77 for those type of shots, but you'll need something wider for full body and to get more creative shots as well.

Flinn · 03-05-2014, 05:19 PM

Originally posted by j2photos

This is the one I have, It should be acceptable at 70-90 for portrait. For what you pay its hard to beat it as a Tele.

How's the sharpness at higher focal lengths? Does the lens stay at f4 up until 135mm? Do you get satisfying bokeh?

Originally posted by FrancisK7

70mm is very long for a portrait lens on an APS-C sensor, you'll only be able to do shoulder and up with that.

I do use my FA77 for those type of shots, but you'll need something wider for full body and to get more creative shots as well.

I'm not going to get very good bokeh at 70mm f4. It might look decent if my background was really deep and I stick my lens in the face of my subject for a headshot, but I would never get proper background blur for head to chest or waist shots at 70mm. Your lens is 1.8 so you can probably do that.

j2photos · 03-05-2014, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Flinn

How's the sharpness at higher focal lengths? Does the lens stay at f4 up until 135mm? Do you get satisfying bokeh?

The sharpness and longer lengths is good as long as you stop it down but it does tend to get soft in the corners, I keep mine around f8 so I am not sure how long it stays at f4, I will look here in a few minutes.

SpecialK · 03-05-2014, 06:46 PM

It also depends how you define "portrait", and what qualities you are looking for.

j2photos · 03-05-2014, 07:22 PM

It stays at 4 until around 115mm then it goes to 4.5

I would still stick around the 50mm range for portraits plus you can get the DA 50 f1.8 for REALLY cheap right now.

I will also not that if you want FAST AF this is not your lens, past 100mm this thing hunts like crazy.

Here are some photos from my 70-210

normhead · 03-05-2014, 07:22 PM

personally I think it's a great lens for the money and I'd use it for portraits, at 70mm...

Some images taken with it...

03-05-2014, 02:25 PM	#1
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27	Would You Use the Pentax 70-210 for Portraits? I'm thinking about getting this because it's rather inexpensive.

03-05-2014, 02:33 PM	#3
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	Well if you are talking about the Pentax-A 70-210mm f4 then yes, I would and I have used it Outstanding colors, and very flattering portraits can be achieved from 70-150mm with this lens. After that, it loses some color/contrast and adds a softer look to the pictures, unless you stop down to f8. Last edited by ChristianRock; 03-05-2014 at 02:41 PM.

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03-05-2014, 02:31 PM	#2
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	If I wanted a cheap portrait lens I would do a M or A 50 f1.7 The F 70-210 is a great lens, its very sharp for such inexpensive lens but you do have to stop it down to get the sharpness.

03-05-2014, 03:32 PM	#4
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27 Original Poster	I'm only interested in the AF one which is f4-5.6

03-05-2014, 03:50 PM	#5
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	"Soft" lenses are generally flattering for portraits, unless you want to see pores and blemishes :-)

03-05-2014, 03:53 PM	#6
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	I own the SMC-A 4.0/70-210, IQ up to 170 is very near to prime quality. None of the legacy AF models are anywhere near to it. But it is also a long and heavy beast.

03-05-2014, 03:54 PM	#7
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,756	Originally posted by Flinn Would You Use the Pentax 70-210 for Portraits? I'm thinking about getting this because it's rather inexpensive. What focal length range do you think you will use? If mostly towards 70, you could also use the F35-70 lens. On an APS-C camera, I would think much beyond 90-100 would be getting a bit long for portraits.

03-05-2014, 04:07 PM	#8
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	Originally posted by Flinn I'm only interested in the AF one which is f4-5.6 This is the one I have, It should be acceptable at 70-90 for portrait. For what you pay its hard to beat it as a Tele.

03-05-2014, 04:14 PM	#9
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27 Original Poster	Originally posted by MSL What focal length range do you think you will use? If mostly towards 70, you could also use the F35-70 lens. On an APS-C camera, I would think much beyond 90-100 would be getting a bit long for portraits. I don't have a set focal length, but I'm definitely not going to be below 100mm if I can help it.

03-05-2014, 04:18 PM	#10
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	70mm is very long for a portrait lens on an APS-C sensor, you'll only be able to do shoulder and up with that. I do use my FA77 for those type of shots, but you'll need something wider for full body and to get more creative shots as well.

03-05-2014, 05:19 PM	#11
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27 Original Poster	Originally posted by j2photos This is the one I have, It should be acceptable at 70-90 for portrait. For what you pay its hard to beat it as a Tele. How's the sharpness at higher focal lengths? Does the lens stay at f4 up until 135mm? Do you get satisfying bokeh? Originally posted by FrancisK7 70mm is very long for a portrait lens on an APS-C sensor, you'll only be able to do shoulder and up with that. I do use my FA77 for those type of shots, but you'll need something wider for full body and to get more creative shots as well. I'm not going to get very good bokeh at 70mm f4. It might look decent if my background was really deep and I stick my lens in the face of my subject for a headshot, but I would never get proper background blur for head to chest or waist shots at 70mm. Your lens is 1.8 so you can probably do that.

03-05-2014, 06:43 PM	#12
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	Originally posted by Flinn How's the sharpness at higher focal lengths? Does the lens stay at f4 up until 135mm? Do you get satisfying bokeh? The sharpness and longer lengths is good as long as you stop it down but it does tend to get soft in the corners, I keep mine around f8 so I am not sure how long it stays at f4, I will look here in a few minutes.

03-05-2014, 06:46 PM	#13
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	It also depends how you define "portrait", and what qualities you are looking for.

03-05-2014, 07:22 PM	#14
j2photos Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Manteca, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,653	It stays at 4 until around 115mm then it goes to 4.5 I would still stick around the 50mm range for portraits plus you can get the DA 50 f1.8 for REALLY cheap right now. I will also not that if you want FAST AF this is not your lens, past 100mm this thing hunts like crazy. Here are some photos from my 70-210

03-05-2014, 07:22 PM	#15
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	personally I think it's a great lens for the money and I'd use it for portraits, at 70mm... Some images taken with it...