First Macro lens

Just picked up my first macro lens this weekend. Although I hadn't seen much point with having something like the 28-300 or 18-200 with "macro" ability. But been rather disappointed in bokeh of closeups with those lenses so I thought I'd try one out... ended up buying it.

Wow! Now I see what real macro is about. The images are so sharp, and you can get so close that the object is truly magnified with some really super fall-off of the DOF! Things you simply cannot possibly do with the all-in-one "macro"-capable lenses.

Even for portrait, the subject are crisp and clear. Maybe not good for all portrait, but with animals you want that sharpness. I may have to figure out how to make that work, but with 100mm it is a bit long.

I picked up the Tamron SP F Di 90mm 1:2.8 Macro this weekend.
Not sure how it compares with the Pentax 100, but for $200 less it seems to produce some really nice images.
There is some CA when open wide, but for the most part I can live with what I've seen.

Had to share some photos. See if you can figure out what they are
Its raining pretty fiercely, so my outdoor tests will have to wait.

Anyway, the images posted are not 100% crops, but they are 1:1 macros.

ISO 100, F/4, 1/125s, (w/ flash)


Hint: related to the second image.

ISO 100, F4, 1/125s, (w/ flash)





ISO 100, F2/8, 1s (no flash)


OK, this one is easy. But I love the paper thin DOF and the complete smearing of the object as it goes out of focus.




Image1: Close up of one of my rottweiler's toes and nearby fur.
Image2: A couple of her whiskers.
Image3: Is of course a house-key.

Hi amoringello,

Are the first two taken of a dogs nose and whiskers?

I was thinking of buying a true macro lens myself. I had thought of the Pentax 35mm macro limited but have not managed to see any sample shots taken by it yet. Did you research this lens before buying?

Really good shots you made here.

I would guess on a dog or perhaps a cat.....Really shallow dof....

Actually the first is one of the the toes on her paw. They didn't appear that rough, guess Ill have to break out the hand cream.


I haven't looked at the lower range macros. I really like the 1:1 size and really shallow DOF, so I've only looked at the 100mm range. I had mainly investigated the Pentax macro lens before going out to buy one.

I did try the Pentax 100mm but didn't see that much difference. I suppose if I had them to study side by side, I'd find something.
From what I read and have seen in a few tests hots, the Tamron has a peak quality at or below f8. I see noticeable falloff of sharpness at f11 compared to f8. Normally for macro, as I understand it, some are looking at using smaller apertures (f16-f32?), and some negative comments were with respect to where the peak image quality was found.


Anyway, for my personal uses, I just love the wafer thin DOF. And for more than $200 difference, I am quite happy with the lens.