There are certain situations when taking portraits where the subjects either don't want the photographer close to them or don't want to be photographed at all. I just encountered such a situation while taking portraits on a trip to one of my favorite places. Most of the shots, if I were to get any at all, were unauthorized portraits. The 300 Takumar can be used for portraits but it did not give me enough standoff distance in many cases. The 300 is good for travel portraits when the people will let you shoot them. But, where I really needed the distance in the unauthorized shots, the 400 Takumar worked great. The 400 ED would have been better because of the auto diaphragm but I can't afford that lens. I used Provia F pushed to 200 speed. The 400 Takumar can be used as a portrait lens, especially in travel portraits. This lens worked surprisingly well and I shot most work at 1/125 sec. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), November 26, 2000

Answers

Rolland, when there are crowds around, a big lens is not that noticible to the subject but when there are only a few people, it sticks out like a sore thumb. Even though the lens is big, the distance between me and the subject is large enough where I can shoot without being detected most of the time. As far as using the waist level finder is concerned....no way for handheld 400mm work, at least not for me. Used the TTL. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), November 29, 2000.

The Pentax 67 with 400mm lens is so big you'd have to be blind not to notice sometone taking your picture! Did you use a waist level finder?

Didn't you have people staring at you and wispering stuff like "His cameras really big!"

Happens to me all the time when I'm out and about with my Pentax.

Peace, Rolland

-- rolland elliott (rolland_elliott@yahoo.com), November 29, 2000.