C
Cathy
Guest
I want to buy a good macro lens for the *istD. Any suggestions? Anyone use the Pentax 50mm macro?
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Cathy
http://www.rememberedimages.com
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Cathy
http://www.rememberedimages.com
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Parham
Senior Member
The Pentax 100mm macro is very good, but didn't you already get that one, or is it my memory failing me?
Someday we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
http://www.pbase.com/parham
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Someday we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
http://www.pbase.com/parham
Steve-C
Active member
I would agree i use this lens virtually every day and it is superb if a bit big and unfortunately not cheap.
im not familiar with the 50mm macro but if you doing very small macro photography i wonder what effective magnification you could get and at what working distance.
If you using a ring flash this working distance if particularly important
im not familiar with the 50mm macro but if you doing very small macro photography i wonder what effective magnification you could get and at what working distance.
If you using a ring flash this working distance if particularly important
C
Cathy
Guest
The Pentax 100mm macro is very good, but didn't you already get
that one, or is it my memory failing me?
Steve and Parham...do you mean the 100mm 2.8? I bought the 100mm 3.5 and it's going back. I'm not very happy with the results.
Cathy
http://www.rememberedimages.com
Recently bought the Pentax 100mm Macro f2.8 - use it for work - with ring flash - and for recreational macro ,flowers etc and portraits . Am extremely pleased the clear sharp results I'm getting.
Good luck in your choice ,
Stimber
Good luck in your choice ,
Stimber
Robert Gonzalez
Forum Enthusiast
I have the 100mm 2.8 macro (FA). Its excellent, great sharpness, 1:1, practically zero distortion, and it works great on the new digital. I also have the 50mm 2.8, but I have not used it as much.
rg
Gonzomatic
P e n t a x - the whole gamut
rg
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Gonzomatic
P e n t a x - the whole gamut
Sophie Wilson
Senior Member
Tamron 90mm f2.8 1:1 macro. Spent the whole of yesterday shooting with it on the camera (the first really extended use I've put it to) and it is extremely good both as a macro lens and as a 90mm lens.
No, but I've the 35mm f2 1:2 macro and that's very nice too. Just not as nice as the Tamron. I bought more as a 50mm standard (effective) lens rather than for any macro prowess.
--Sophie
Parham
Senior Member
Yup, that's the one. It's supposed to be a great lens. The Tamron that Sophie is talking about is also supposed to be a great one. Most of Gaby's macros have been taken with that one and she has taken some macros, I could tell you that.
(Gaby= "gawi" on this site)
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Someday we'll look back at this, laugh nervously, and then change the subject.
http://www.pbase.com/parham
E
EJN
Guest
Cathy -
I haven't actually got one but I can say without reservation (past Tamron knowledge) that I'd not hesitate on the Tamron 90 f2.8 . By any account it is well up to their best standard..no idea of US price but let's just say that even in UK - (Not the best for prices!) it's "affordable" ..well so. It IS a bit of a length though ...slender but with the lens out , it's quite a thing. But is it not the case that for Macro maybe that's acceptable ...and it DOES keep the body a bit further away from 'shadowing' the object ??
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EJN
Choice
Forum Enthusiast
Ok, I'll bite. Where did you find "35mm f2 1:2 macro"? I've never heard of one. Both of recent Pentax 35/2 are about 1:6.
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Davidavid
Active member
One of the main things to think about is the focal length - or rather how it relates to working distance. If you think you'll be shooting mainly flowers the 50mm could do you fine. If this went to 1:1 the working distance at this magnification would be quite small - so many insects will be scared off and it's harder to light the subject.
Many people like the short tele macros - around 100mm and there is a cornucopia of these from various manufacturers. The Tamron 90mm seems to be regarded as the best value for money. IIRC the working distance at 1:1 is only about 10cm. If you're shooting a lot of insects you mightn't be happy with this, which brings me to my next point.
I'm currently using an older tamron 90mm f/2.5 with a 2x TC - for me the extra working distance makes up for the image quality loss. I've found that it's easy to light the subject with about 20cm of working distance at 1:1, even using the inbuilt flash if I'm lazy.
I've recently discovered the Tamron 180mm Macro lens which appears to be very sharp (think tamron 90mm sharp) and I think it'd keep me happy for a long while IF tamron decides to make it for Pentax mount (see my thread somewhere down there regarding this lens). I think it'd be similar to use to my current setup but image quality would be tip-top. There's also a pentax 200mm macro and a Sigma 180mm macro - both seem quite good although the Tamron would be nicer. I'd possibly want to have a shorter macro for when I'm shooting frogs and such in the field.
David
Many people like the short tele macros - around 100mm and there is a cornucopia of these from various manufacturers. The Tamron 90mm seems to be regarded as the best value for money. IIRC the working distance at 1:1 is only about 10cm. If you're shooting a lot of insects you mightn't be happy with this, which brings me to my next point.
I'm currently using an older tamron 90mm f/2.5 with a 2x TC - for me the extra working distance makes up for the image quality loss. I've found that it's easy to light the subject with about 20cm of working distance at 1:1, even using the inbuilt flash if I'm lazy.
I've recently discovered the Tamron 180mm Macro lens which appears to be very sharp (think tamron 90mm sharp) and I think it'd keep me happy for a long while IF tamron decides to make it for Pentax mount (see my thread somewhere down there regarding this lens). I think it'd be similar to use to my current setup but image quality would be tip-top. There's also a pentax 200mm macro and a Sigma 180mm macro - both seem quite good although the Tamron would be nicer. I'd possibly want to have a shorter macro for when I'm shooting frogs and such in the field.
David
Shotgun187815
Well-known member
Hi Cathy,
I recommend the 100mm f2.8. I've used this for over 6 years already and I'm very happy with it. Used it for portraits too, and results have been fantastic! Just don't use it at extreme wide apperture as it tends to get softer there (well, for macro work you need lots of DOF). At f4.5 and above, this lens is very sharp.
http://www.photonski.com/shotgun/santiago3
http://www.pbase.com/santyluib/first_istd_sample_photos
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'It's only a PENTAX!'
I recommend the 100mm f2.8. I've used this for over 6 years already and I'm very happy with it. Used it for portraits too, and results have been fantastic! Just don't use it at extreme wide apperture as it tends to get softer there (well, for macro work you need lots of DOF). At f4.5 and above, this lens is very sharp.
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http://www.photonski.com/shotgun/santiago3
http://www.pbase.com/santyluib/first_istd_sample_photos
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'It's only a PENTAX!'
YES!!
I have decided for this lens. it's a nice one.
examples:
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/15272/display/1041592
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/15272/display/1041583
ciao h.
I have decided for this lens. it's a nice one.
examples:
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/15272/display/1041592
http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/15272/display/1041583
ciao h.
Steve-C
Active member
Sorry Cathy
The lens i was recommending was the f2.8 100mmPentax lens not the 3.5
I have no regrets
The lens i was recommending was the f2.8 100mmPentax lens not the 3.5
I have no regrets
training_editor
Leading Member
I LOVE this lens. In spite of my collection of nice zooms, this is the one that stays on my istDee the most.
Just one word of warning - it is WAY too sharp for a self-portrait. I could see inside every single PORE, and this lens painfully showed me that my 'Troy McClure' features that I see in the mirror every morning are in reality much more like 'Moe Sizlack.'
D'oh!
Sophie Wilson
Senior Member
http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/primes/wide-angle/FA35f2.html probably confused me when I was writing its details into the email... Still a nice lens, though.
--Sophie
I have a sigma 28-80 Aspherical macro zoom. it has a switch that puts it in macro mode at 80 mm. I alos have the 70-300 DL macro zoom. I love them both.
I just got my istD and am having a lot of fun. Here are a couple of macro shots I took this weekend. forgive the first subject, but I like shooting bugs. Both were taken with the 28-80. I used the internal flash on the bug.
I just got my istD and am having a lot of fun. Here are a couple of macro shots I took this weekend. forgive the first subject, but I like shooting bugs. Both were taken with the 28-80. I used the internal flash on the bug.
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