ADVISE! (on macro lenses)

[MacroMuch]

Got a K200D about a month ago at the IT fair
So guys, i'm really in to macro photography and im thinking of getting a macro lens for the hell of it. I'm really stuck between the Pentax 50mm and 100mm macro. What do you guys think? Or probably third party lenses. Been reading around, its just hard to decide.
in any case, here is my photojournal(for fun), so please drop by http://takenoffthenet.livejournal.com/.

So anyways, I have a macro converter(which i got totally ripped off for, dont ask how much or from where because i feel so darn stupid about it), it's not too bad but I feel i need a further working distance for insect macros.

the fact that I would like my lens to double up as a portrait might help.

Seems i'm leaning towards the 50mm, im not sure, so please advise, thanks!

[flowerpot]

Tamron 90mm f2.8

[ishou80]

If u need working distance I dun tink 50mm will be good enough for u. Like flowerpot said...Tamron 90mm is a good deal if u have budget constrain as before I got mine I asked Fengwei and Longko for advise pertaining to this too.

But as for now Tamron 90mm for Pentax mount will be really hard to find due to their agent issue as I've spend 2 days searching whole of Sim Lim and checked with MS Color and I got the reply is they are out of stock for now due to the agent issue.

OP said maybe 2-3wks later might have stock so if you can wait check with them later.

[longko]

Which insects are you interested in shooting? For active insects like butterflies u are better off with a Sigma 180mm or the Pentax A 200mm. Tamron 90mm is a value for money macro lens. Working distance is abt 9-10cm at 1:1 macro.

[puraime]

I think you could try to contact Serial Snapper on his next trip to hk. See if he can get it there for pentax mount.

[skypacker]

more info on this thread
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=367964

[longko]

Tamron local agent is now JEL Corp. http://www.jelcorp.com/
http://www.tamron.co.jp/en/data/lenses/list_tid.html

[fengwei]

For the stuff you took, I'd suggest to go w/ a ~100mm macro lens. All Pentax F/FA/DFA 100/2.8 macro lenses are wonderful performers as macro lenses, and the DFA100/2.8 can be had easily from local shops. I'd go w/ the Pentax 100mm macro lens if I were you

[MacroMuch]

ah okay... thanks alot people. So would the 90mm/100mm be a good lens that doubles up as a portrait? To think about it, I have the standard kit lens which should do the trick eh...

Thanks again and you guys wouldnt believe this, my dad passed on to me my grandfather's Asashi Pentax with 2 lenses and all the filtering shiz. Pity they are all 49mm..

[yarland]

Saw a Vivitar 90/2.8 on sale(about $280) and thought of getting it.
Appreciate any advise on this lens.
Thanks

[longko]

Originally Posted by yarland Saw a Vivitar 90/2.8 on sale(about $280) and thought of getting it. Appreciate any advise on this lens. Thanks

Sounds cheap^^ Think otc bro has one, try pm him^^ But most macro lens are gd lah^^

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by yarland Saw a Vivitar 90/2.8 on sale(about $280) and thought of getting it. Appreciate any advise on this lens. Thanks

Is it PK mount or M42 mount? It's a good lens, but quite old. Make sure optically it's in good condition

And there is no bad macro lens

[yarland]

Thank you longko and fengwei for your advice.
It is M42 mount and thought of getting it because I am short of a macro lens.
http://www.fengniao.com/secforum/471016.html

[otc]

Originally Posted by yarland Thank you longko and fengwei for your advice. It is M42 mount and thought of getting it because I am short of a macro lens. http://www.fengniao.com/secforum/471016.html

Only housefly to take as sample. Shot with vivitar 90 mm f2.8 and this gives magnification 1:1. This was cropped. Reasonable lens but I prefer vivitar s1 105 with better sharpness and bokeh. here again 90 mm is going at lower cost. Mine is PK mount.

otc

[yarland]

Originally Posted by otc Only housefly to take as sample. Shot with vivitar 90 mm f2.8 and this gives magnification 1:1. This was cropped. Reasonable lens but I prefer vivitar s1 105 with better sharpness and bokeh. here again 90 mm is going at lower cost. Mine is PK mount. otc

Thanks otc for your feedback. I could not find the vivitar 105 so no fish, prawn will do.
Just want to play around with macro occasionally. Hope to learn more from all of you.

[otc]

Originally Posted by yarland Thanks otc for your feedback. I could not find the vivitar 105 so no fish, prawn will do. Just want to play around with macro occasionally. Hope to learn more from all of you.

Welcome to the world of macro. All of us are on learing curve


shot taken with vivitar 105 f2.5, cropped.


This was taken with A200 f4. I posted this before. Bokeh that makes the difference.

Pentax for-m has one Kiron for sale going at US 400plus. I think the vivitar 100 2.8 or Kiron 2.8 is a better quality than 90 f2.8 although all the max. magniifcation is the same. Here again, 90 mm is much lower in price.

otc

[faisalee]

You can have my Pentax F 100 f2.8 if you! Its the best macro lens in this range by Pentax

Check out my flickr stream for macro shots taken with this beauty!

pm me if interested

I am selling of all my stuff! So have to let go of this beauty as well...

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by yarland Thank you longko and fengwei for your advice. It is M42 mount and thought of getting it because I am short of a macro lens. http://www.fengniao.com/secforum/471016.html

I don't really suggest to buy a macro lens in M42 mount. Pretty hard to use, especially when you need to stop down, and you do need to stop down quite a bit when taking macros (the most used aperture for macros is from f8 to f16). W/ an M42 lens, the viewfinder will become very dark at F8, and you probably can't see much at F16. You have to open up the lens for focusing first, then stop it down to take the shot, not a pleasant thing to do especially if you are doing all these w/o using a tripod.

Better get a PK mount macro lens, or better yet, a PK mount w/ A setting at least

[yarland]

Originally Posted by fengwei I don't really suggest to buy a macro lens in M42 mount. Pretty hard to use, especially when you need to stop down, and you do need to stop down quite a bit when taking macros (the most used aperture for macros is from f8 to f16). W/ an M42 lens, the viewfinder will become very dark at F8, and you probably can't see much at F16. You have to open up the lens for focusing first, then stop it down to take the shot, not a pleasant thing to do especially if you are doing all these w/o using a tripod. Better get a PK mount macro lens, or better yet, a PK mount w/ A setting at least

Too late. Should have find out more earlier before I go ahead and buy it. I will try to use it and maybe can upgrade later. Thanks