Macro

I need a bit of help. i'd like to get more involved in macro photography, mainly in the plants and insects field. I currently have a K10D and have historically used my sigma 70-300 macro which has some pretty decent results but i'd like to get a better lens to improve my shots.

I'm considering either the sigma 105mm or the 150mm macros. The 150mm is twice the price but seems to be the better choice. Is this right? This will be the most expensive lens i own so wan to make the right decision. are there any other lenses I should consider? will they work well with my K10D as well?

They will all work fine but Sigma do not make the 150mm in Pentax mount.
Depending on what sort of macro you intend to shoot look at the Sigma 70mm/105mm, Pentax 50mm/100mm (WR & non WR 100mm) and Tamron 90mm macro lenses.

Mike's suggestions are sound, so I won't elaborate on the choice of lens.

Macro photography images are as much influenced by lighting as the lens IMHO, so I'd look at what additional lighting and light modifiers you might need also.

A ring flash is ideal, but expensive. A hot shoe flash mounted on a bracket to get the flash head further forward, together with a diffuser of some sort is a good second choice.

Many members here use home made light modifiers to get the light where it is needed, at the subject.

Thanks for your help. i've done some more research and the Pentax 100mm f2.8 SMC D-FA WR Macro Lens gets really good reviews. As it's only 100mm i was thinking of getting extension tubes as well to help with smaller insects/distance issues. Do you think this is a good idea and what make would you go for?

If you are after extra working distance then you need the opposite of tubes .. in other words a teleconverter. I use the Pentax 1.7x with my D-FA 100mm (non WR) and it works well.




Dragonfly by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr



Spider by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

You showing off again Mike?

What lighting did you use on these?

Davex

Just an old manual Pentax AF200T flash with a bit of plastic milk bottle attached to the front used as a diffuser. Brilliant flash for macro as it has 1/8th 1/4 1/2 and full output settings.

You can't beat DIY Diffusers. If I am ever stuck with just on camera flash I am usually seen runnyning to the toilet for toilet tissue to wrap round the flash. Get funny looks but it works....

Out of interest, do you have any particular method of securing it (the toilet tissue) in place? I have been known to line a very small plastic bag with kitchen paper and pop it over the flash.

A rubber band works for me, but I use a tissue. I never use toilet paper, because that would just be a flash in the pan....

Regards