24mm PK-A Macro

Well, my addiction to fast glass has brought me a lovely Sigma 18-50mm EX DC Macro f2.8, so I've got a lot of overlap on my wide end now. Up for sale because of that is my Miranda 24mm f2.8 Macro. It's in great shape, aperture clicks at every stop, and has fully functional auto aperture functions. Focusing is silky smooth, but there is what looks like a few engraved scratch markings on the body. There are no depressions into the metal based on this, so I'm not sure if the original person just wanted to mark his/her lens. Cosmetic only.

I try to brutally honest with my lenses, so I took care to photograph it from the back with sunlight behind me to illuminate any specs. There are, as you can see, some very small specs of dust between the elements, but there is no fungus or haze. It's on par with any other older MF lens I have, but I had to mention it. Does not affect the IQ, and can't be seen looking from most angles.

I love the IQ of this lens, but I'm posting pics so you can be the judge. When I first got it, it was glued to my camera then took a hiatus as my LBA expanded. The flower is wide open @ f2.8 and you can make the pollen out on the husks.

55GBP including P&P to the UK. That's just less than half what someone has it listed on ebay for.

Comes with front/rear caps, but rear is not original - it's an old Pentax lens cap, so it's probably worth more than the Miranda variant.






















100% crop of above image. No pp other than clicking auto WB, and auto tone in Lightroom 3 beta 2 and then exporting.

Excellent photos. Very tempting.

Hrm 55GBP may be too much for this, esp for the forum. If I were to put it on eBay I would put it at that.

So how bout 45GBP, including P&P. Another shot from this lovely lens @f6.7.

The sun is setting on this sale... 39GBP including shipping! I'm also putting this up on ebay, but will cancel my auction for a forum member.

I guess this lens doesn't have the rep that the pentax does, but the IQ is stunning. It weighs nothing and I'm pondering keeping it now.


Shot @ f22 on May 25th from my balcony. Damn, I need to clean my sensor! I'll just pretend those are birds. EDIT: Just noticed that i took that with SR set at 500mm. By looking at the picture I'm sure you can see that it's not really shot @ 500mm, but figured I mention it!

If you are not going to make £50 on it I would just keep it!,,,,looks a cracking lens!.....Ken

When it says macro just how macro is that?

If the numbers/guide on the focus ring is something to go on it would be around 1:6 and that's just under 0,2 meter focus distance 1:5 would be 0,175 meter.

If Whelmed would give me an exact number I could tell you precisely.

Come to that Stefan if Whelmed gave me a number I could work it out

I suspect he may have sold it.

Mike

PM sent ref lens, cant resist!

Yeah, I've got 3 people who wrote with interest in buying. So sale pending from one of these individuals. First come first served. If all three waffle I'll let you know.

As for minimum distance, I'm not entirely sure how to measure it. The last marking prior to macro is 0.2m, and there is movement afterwards but not as much as the gap from 0.20 and 0.22 so I'm not sure if it would reach 0.175. So that put it somewhere under 1:6, but probably not quite 1:5.

So putting a tape measure starting at the mount point on a slight angle, set the lens to macro, and I took this shot @f2.8 to find the actual focal distance. The tape measure isn't completely perpendicular to the frame (otherwise you couldn't see it!), so the 14.75cm focal point is probably more like 13.5-14mm. Add a PK registration distance of 45mm and your at 0.18m - 0.185m.

Not the most scientific test, but figured it'd you'd be interested.

With 18cm it would be 1:5,31 with 18,5cm it would be 1:5,53 sadly not much macro but close enough

24mm you only need a small extension tube or reverse mount it and you can get very close.

And sold. Thanks for looking all!

Should this be measured from the film/sensor plane?

I always thought so.