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The Macro Lens debate

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Switch79

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My kit has most things covered and besides needing an extra flash the one significant gap is the lack of a dedicated Macro lens. I'm not a huge Maco shooter by any mean but that is not to say I wouldn't do it if I had one. My wife is expecting and naturally when he/she is born I'll be taking lots of pics. I'd like a macro for the close ups, feet, hands etc. I think buying a macro is one of the more difficult lens choices, plenty to consider. So to all you macro shooters - what and why?

At this stage I think the DA35 will be in the early lead, it can double as a great portrait lens. The only reservation is the need to get super close when shooting small wether that be insects and cool stuff like that.

Cheers,
 
If you are thinking of duel use as macro and potrait, I think the D-FA50 F2.8 macro would be a better duel use lens (closer to the 85 mm standard potrait lens for 35mm full frame) and give a little bit more working distance for macro over the 35.
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MichaelV
 
The biggest consideration is the focal length of the lens. Virtually every dedicated macro lens made these days performs very, very well. Focal length, for actual macro shots, primarily affects only working distance.

I'd suggest choosing based on what other lenses you have. If you don't have some sort of a fast, moderately longish telephoto lens (say 100-150 mm range, f2.8 or so) then I'd recommend a macro lens in that general ballpark. It will be very handy for things like school programs or playground activities or sports.

The DA35 makes a nice walk-around lens, but isn't really ideal for portraits; being that close in can tend to exaggerate features due to the perspective. Naturally, that's not to suggest that a very nice portrait couldn't be taken with it, but rather that it's not really ideal for that. For snapshots, though, it would be pretty quite nice, and the small size of the lens is an advantage.

Most of the shots you'd take of your baby would, I'd suspect, be more close focus than actual macro shots as such. A macro lens would work just fine for them, but a number of non-macro lenses would also be suitable.
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--DrewE
 
The DA35 is a great lens - high quality and very versatile. Others to consider would be the Tamron 90mm, DFA100 and the SMC A50mm f2.8. The A50 would be a second hand purchase and is well worth considering if you're on a budget.
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Robert
rgmwa

 
I understand what you are saying about the DA35mm Macro Limited...it does require getting up close and personal with any bugs you shoot! So if it has to be one lens then I would reach out for either the Sigma 70mm EX DG Macro lens or its bigger brother the Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro lens, both of which give you more working room. They are both good general use lenses too, as well as excellent macro glass. If you are thinking of portraiture, then the 70 mm lens might be what you are looking for. In classic terms it is the equivalent of 105mm, which is a fine head and shoulder shooting zone. The 105mm lens would be a little long perhaps at 157mm in classic terms!

I have all three lenses mentioned here and each is a prize but the DA35mm almost totally takes the cake for all around shooting! You would be surprised how close you can get to bugs once you get to know them! ;-)

Good luck choosing!
Leo
Switch79 said:
My kit has most things covered and besides needing an extra flash the one significant gap is the lack of a dedicated Macro lens. I'm not a huge Maco shooter by any mean but that is not to say I wouldn't do it if I had one. My wife is expecting and naturally when he/she is born I'll be taking lots of pics. I'd like a macro for the close ups, feet, hands etc. I think buying a macro is one of the more difficult lens choices, plenty to consider. So to all you macro shooters - what and why?

At this stage I think the DA35 will be in the early lead, it can double as a great portrait lens. The only reservation is the need to get super close when shooting small wether that be insects and cool stuff like that.

Cheers,
Click to expand...
--

K-7: Pentax DA* 200mm f2.8, Pentax DA* 55mm f1.4, Pentax DA 35mmm f2.8 Limited, Pentax DA14mm f2.8, Sigma 17-70mm Zoom, Sigma EX DG f2.8 70mm Macro, Sigma 105mm f2.8 EX DG Macro
mitch
 
I chose the DFA-100/2.8. I like taking photos of bugs so the extra length allows some tighter crops.

Not sure that I would have managed to capture this crippled wasp in as much detail with a 50mm macro:



It's a pretty versatile lens, and it stays on my camera a fair bit. It is a bit too long for taking snaps of the little one. Except maybe macros:



I do often find myself wanting to use this lens because I just love using it! But I think it is a bittoo long as a walk around.

So my suggestion, if you want to use the lens mainly for macros like bugs and stuff, get the 100. If you want a good macro lens that can double as a versatile prime, I'd probably go for the 50mm.
 
I think the macro should also double anywhere you may need extra prime coverage...

But the sigma 70 is a great portrait and close baby foot shooter...

Really it would truly help to know what our other lenses are.
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Gus --- There are none so blind as those who had no chance to see... stop censoring photos!
 
All the responses as to which macro lens have been good suggestions as they basically all the suggested macros give excellent results.

It really comes down to which focal length would suit you best.
  • The DA35 Limited macro is great for standard view lens with close focusability. It has superb rendering capabilities.
  • The DFA50mm f2.8 macro is basically a portrait length macro with close focusabilty and superb rendering.
  • The Sigma 70mm macro by all accounts is also a great macro with a longer portrait focal length and gives you a more reasonable macro legnth for bugs etc.
  • The Tamron 90mm macro gives excellent results from what I have seen and this is a better length for bugs etc as you can get further away from them.
  • The DFA100mm f2.8 macro is an excellent performer too. I have this lens and it has superb overall IQ. The bokeh from this lens is very underrated.
  • there is also the Tamron 180mm, but this is really a specialist lens for bugs etc.
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Lance B
http://www.pbase.com/lance_b

 
Lots of good responses, for those who asked my lens line up is as follows:

DA*16-50
DA*50-135
DA18-250
DA16-45
FA501.4
Sigma 10-20
Bigma 50-500
SMC A50 1.7 (Manual)
Ricoh 135 2.8 (Manual)

Looks as though there might be a gap in a smaller wider prime and the sigma 70 sounds intruiging.
 
With that really nice lens line up... (you are lucky)

I would look at the Sigma 70 or the Tamron 90... both very nice lenses and I think a good fit for your kit.
--

Gus --- There are none so blind as those who had no chance to see... stop censoring photos!
 
Switch79 said:
Lots of good responses, for those who asked my lens line up is as follows:

DA*16-50
DA*50-135
DA18-250
DA16-45
FA501.4
Sigma 10-20
Bigma 50-500
SMC A50 1.7 (Manual)
Ricoh 135 2.8 (Manual)

Looks as though there might be a gap in a smaller wider prime and the sigma 70 sounds intruiging.
Click to expand...
.

I'd do this, seriously - sell your 16-45 (you already have the 16-50) and the 18-250 and buy both the 35 macro and Sigma 70 macro.

Both lenses are incredible, and both can do double duty as one of the best of not the best AF walkabout D-normal's you can buy (35 ltd) and a great f/2.8 portrait lens and medium telephoto that might also happen to be the sharpest macro you can buy (Sigma 70)

.
 
the 16-45 will be on the block shortly. So to will my K10 as I re-up to the K7.

I will never part with 'Penny' the 18-250 - its my favourite lens. We've been all over the world together. I must have won the quality stakes with this lens. It has its limitations but I know what makes her tick and it does the right thing by me! About 80% of my PPG photos are taken with her.

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/mattstreatefild

It is a toss of the coin for the DA35 & The Sig 70.
 
Switch79 said:
Lots of good responses, for those who asked my lens line up is as follows:

DA*16-50
DA*50-135
DA18-250
DA16-45
FA501.4
Sigma 10-20
Bigma 50-500
SMC A50 1.7 (Manual)
Ricoh 135 2.8 (Manual)
Click to expand...
[Serious envy attack...]
What a great line-up of lenses!

Wide landscapes - streets & bulidings: Sigma 10-20, DA* 16-50
Portraits: FA 50, A50, DA* 50-135
General walkaround / snapshots: DA* 16-50
Candid portrait - Telephoto: DA 18-250
Wildlife: Sigma 50-500

However...
Lightweight walkaround normal: ?
Close focus (flowers, still-life, details): ?
Serious Macro (bugs!): ?

I doubt you will find just one lens to fill all three of those missing slots.

The DA 35 Ltd will fill the 'lightweight walkaround normal' slot and the 'close focus' slot brilliantly, so would be much the best option for your immediate baby photo duties. It is not really suitable for bugs though (believe me, I have tried!) you need to get too close and lighting is a problem.

The Sigma 70 or 90 macros, or the FA 100 macro, mentioned elsewhere in this thread would be great for the close focus and bugs roles, but do not fill the "lightweight walkaround" slot and would not be much use for the close focus on baby role.

In your position I would get the DA 35. Taking succesful photos of bugs is very time consuming, intricate, specialist skill requiring endless patience. The lens is only part of the cost. Factor in a powerful flexible flash / ring flash, diffusers, reflectors and expensive tripod and head at a minimum. Are you really prepared to get into all of that?

With a little one on the way, I would be surprised if you will have the time or energy!
 
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