Help choosing a macro

I'm planning to get a macro for my birthday and I've narrowed my choice down to two with a third outsider.

The Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro £389.99 from SRS

The Tamron SP 90mm F2.8 Macro at £349.99 from SRS

The outsider is the genuine Pentax smc DFA 100mm f2.8 WR Macro Lens (or it's slightly cheaper sibling) but which is £545 also from SRS and if truth be told out of my budget.

Ultimately I will go and try them in the shop before I buy but, I would appreciate any advice from anyone who may happen to own one of the above.

Thanks
Neil

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K20D

Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream

You won't go wrong with the Sigma, the Tamron is good too, If you can afford it the Pentax I would say is the best.

Jack.

Most of the comparison tests I've seen suggest the Tamron is the best macro value out there - a better performer than the Sigma. I think as you stop down, the Pentax may be sharper than the others, but having said that - you can't go wrong with any of them: they're all really good.

I'd stay within budget and buy the one with the best guarantee.

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Jon

Some occasional random stuff at The Photographers Block: link

hi neil
you should try your local currys for the dfa 100mm
if they have not got one in stock they will tell you if another store as
got one for £300 i got one last week
neil

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cheers Neil
pentax k3 k5
DA* 300 f4 DA* 50-135 f 2.8 smc DA* 16-50 f2.8 50mm f1.7 pentax1.4xhd converter





Panasonic Dmc Fz200

I (sort of) have both...

The Sigma is very sharp. The Tamron I have is the old 90mm F2.5 SP Macro F2.5 1:2, but with a 2x converter making it a 180mm F5 1:1 macro. (told you it was old)

However both are seriously good and having either will be a great addition. Cannot split them really.

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Some Cameras

Hi , Penatx can be had for £499 , I'm considering it too

http://www.devoncamera.co.uk/index.cfm/photographic/Products.Details/product_id/...

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-Pentax-100mm-f2-8-SMC-D-FA-WR-Macro-Lens/p15...

Howard

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Body: K7 of course !!
Lenses: DA18-55WR,DA50-200WR,FA50-1.4

Do you need the WR?

Think about the old version of the DFA100 - Currys online at £285

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.
K20D, *istD, MZ-S, Super-A, ME Super, MX
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, DA* 300,
DA 50-200, FA 24-90, FA 20-35,
M 400-600, A 50 f1.4, A 28 f2.8, A 70-210, M 35-80, M 50 f1.7
A x2S teleconverter and a few others ...

I can vouch for the Tamron - very good IQ & rendering. Some reviews also mark it as sharper than the Pentax.

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http://www.pbase.com/iberg

Neil
All 3 are excellent, if you have the chance to try them go with what you think feels right. (I did the same last year and went for the Tamron)
Mick

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've since found that PC world have it for £299.99 which almost makes it a no brainer. Intersestingly it appears to have an aperture ring as well which would be useful as I have a set of extension tubes but they only have a K mount, not KA or KAF which appear to be rare to non-existant.

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K20D

Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream

Before you go with the Currys option, you might want to read this thread. Yer pays yer money---

Well, after finding the DFA 100 online for £299.98 from Dixons, I decided to order one now before they sold out. I placed my order on Tuesday and it arrived on Friday. I will probably not yield to temptation and start using it straight way as it was intended for my birthday which isn't until the end of November. However, I've tried a few test shots and I'm more than happy with my purchase.

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K20D

Wave upon wave of demented avengers march cheerfully out of obscurity into the dream

It's a very good lens indeed - one of my favourites

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Joining the Q

Nestos - you have an absolute bargain.

I have the Tamron 90 and think it's a wonderful lens - however I believe the DFA 100 is, if anything, a touch sharper. The main difference is the limiters - I believe the Pentax doesn't have one whereas both the Sigma and Tamron do - but you can work around that.

A no-brainer at that price since neither the Sigma nor Tamron are WR so you've lost nothing in comparison.

Enjoy !

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http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0