On Wed, 24 Jul 2002 23:53:40 +0100, T. P. wrote:

>d_ruether@hotmail.com (Neuman - Ruether) wrote:
>>
>>You might consider the 105mm f2.8 macro lens as the
>>alternative to the 105mm f2.5 - it is compact in
>>the MF version, and equally good for distant subjects,
>>far better for close work.

>Yes, it's a good macro lens, on account of its extreme sharpness, but
>it is completely unsuitable for portraiture, for the same reason.

A) You can always add a diffusing filter to a sharp
lens, but there is no sharpening filter for a soft
lens...;-)
B) People often recommend the Nikkor 105mm f2.5 for
portraiture, but it is also a very sharp lens away
from both minimum focus distance and maximum aperture
(both conditions together) - and from maybe 8' to
infinity-focus, it would be hard to tell these lenses
apart from their images...