I live and work outside of the US so trying to purchase both a lens hood and a 37mm UV filter, I use them to protect all my lenses, is nee impossible

This is one of the best camera lenses I have had and the speed at which it works is well beyond the abilities of the standard lens that comes with the camera

You still have to know what you're doing to get the shot to look the way you want, just like with any gear, but this lens really does have an aesthetic that my cheaper lenses just don't offer

Now this 45mm lens gives the equivalent focal length of a 90mm on a FX sensor and those lenses are more expensive.

There's some very good portrait lenses available

Let me emphasize that these are both great lenses

It has become my favorite lense.

One of my favorite lenses, EVER

Lens mount is metal unlike cheaper kit lenses

Seriously, the zoom lenses lose a lot of clarity you gain with this lens.

This is really a wonderful portrait lense

Very very good portrate lense

but I think these grey market prime lenses are worthy of a look.

At the price....... one of the great lenses