Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 for portraits-older people

I am interested in the HD Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited lens for portraits. All the info I can find on this lens says it is good for portaits, Pentax says it has 9 blade diaphragm for "stunning bokeh". I can not find any examples of this "bokeh". And I am especially interesed in photographing older people age 50, 60, & 70, not these smooth faced 20 yr old girls that look good no matter what lens is used! Can anybody give me their input reguiring this lens and maybe some appropiate examples. Thanks!

One of my favorite lenses I've ever used from any system! But as for samples... I only have smooth faced models >_<

These are already smoothed to give a more appealing look but still retains fine details. I can assure you that even wide open, it is damn sharp it shows of a lot of skin imperfections.

I looked at my library and I don't have a portrait of elderly people.

fakuryu wrote:

One of my favorite lenses I've ever used from any system! But as for samples... I only have smooth faced models >_<

Hello,  very nice.    

These are already smoothed to give a more appealing look but still retains fine details. I can assure you that even wide open, it is damn sharp it shows of a lot of skin imperfections.

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There is no such thing a "Pro" level gear, just Pro level work.

Thanks! But I really do need to update my gallery

Nick Pisani wrote:

I am interested in the HD Pentax DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited lens for portraits. All the info I can find on this lens says it is good for portaits, Pentax says it has 9 blade diaphragm for "stunning bokeh". I can not find any examples of this "bokeh". And I am especially interesed in photographing older people age 50, 60, & 70, not these smooth faced 20 yr old girls that look good no matter what lens is used! Can anybody give me their input reguiring this lens and maybe some appropiate examples. Thanks!

You might also want to consider the Tamron 90mm f2,8 macro. It is a great lens and also gives you a macro lens in addition to a good portrait lens. Unfortunately I don't have any older folks portraits either but the sharpness of this lens is excellent!

Sorry, but I don't understand the obsession to get the sharpest lens possible for portraits, especially portraits of older people. These lenses are absolutely brutally honest and most older people don't appreciate that. In years passed, portrait lenses used in portrait studios were intentially designed with aberrations to make them produce a soft image. If the intention is documentary style portraiture, then the quest for sharpness is understandable.

I don't remember listing myself as a pro, the fact is I am a retired professional wedding photographer. But I have to compliment the examples of your photography included with your answer, they are beautiful!

LDBOK wrote:

Sorry, but I don't understand the obsession to get the sharpest lens possible for portraits, especially portraits of older people. These lenses are absolutely brutally honest and most older people don't appreciate that. In years passed, portrait lenses used in portrait studios were intentially designed with aberrations to make them produce a soft image. If the intention is documentary style portraiture, then the quest for sharpness is understandable.

For me at least it is because I use lenses for different things I want a sharp lens. If I want to soften a particular image I can always do that with filters etc in post processing.

Bob Corson wrote:

LDBOK wrote:

Sorry, but I don't understand the obsession to get the sharpest lens possible for portraits, especially portraits of older people. These lenses are absolutely brutally honest and most older people don't appreciate that. In years passed, portrait lenses used in portrait studios were intentially designed with aberrations to make them produce a soft image. If the intention is documentary style portraiture, then the quest for sharpness is understandable.

For me at least it is because I use lenses for different things I want a sharp lens. If I want to soften a particular image I can always do that with filters etc in post processing

Exactly so - you can always soften a sharp image in PP but you can't sharpen a soft image. The sharp lens does both jobs.

Bob Corson wrote:

LDBOK wrote:

Sorry, but I don't understand the obsession to get the sharpest lens possible for portraits, especially portraits of older people. These lenses are absolutely brutally honest and most older people don't appreciate that. In years passed, portrait lenses used in portrait studios were intentially designed with aberrations to make them produce a soft image. If the intention is documentary style portraiture, then the quest for sharpness is understandable.

For me at least it is because I use lenses for different things I want a sharp lens. If I want to soften a particular image I can always do that with filters etc in post processing.

I agree that I want the very best lens I can afford for all around use, and if the FL is suitable, for portraits. My point was that an average lens is plenty sharp enough for portraits of older people.

I don't own this lens, but for various themes captured with it you can check the Pentax Photo Gallery, where you can narrow the photos based on bodies and lenses.
EDIT: the downside of PPG is that many photos were uploaded in the old gallery system - and now they look horrible (upscaled) - and also you are not able to enlarge the photos
There are ~ 500 photos right now in the SMC DA 70 f 2.4 category, shoot with various bodies.

Worth a try, you will probably find some examples good for you.

hope the link will work (this is the 70mm ltd):

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/photos/gallery/query?camera=&lens=100

http://www.flickriver.com/lenses/pentax/smcpda70mmf24/

Nick Pisani wrote:

I don't remember listing myself as a pro, the fact is I am a retired professional wedding photographer. But I have to compliment the examples of your photography included with your answer, they are beautiful!

Thanks, and that was very kind of you

SBS wrote:

It's very sharp. Good for character images such as the elderly.

Frankly your photos say to me, "too sharp, too contrasty" for a portrait lens. I can understand why you like them, but IMO most subjects, especially women, would not favor this sort of rendition.

SBS wrote:

audiobomber wrote:

SBS wrote:

It's very sharp. Good for character images such as the elderly.

Frankly your photos say to me, "too sharp, too contrasty" for a portrait lens. I can understand why you like them, but IMO most subjects, especially women, would not favor this sort of rendition.

I agree. Which is why I don't use it for that purpose anymore. But the OP was talking about doing elderly portraits, and to me that's a different scenario to shooting a bride, for example. Unless the shooter is trying to minimize age, and soften the wrinkles, elder portraits are interesting with a sharp/contrasty lens treatment that actually emphasizes the age and character of the face. Of course, this is just one man's opinion.

I agree completely. A photo that flatters the subject and a photo that flatters the photographer can be two very different things.

Good Points! Maybe I need a lens of "old" that was used for those dreamy studio portraits.