Macro help please

I am currently doing a digital photo. course and have nominated macro as my next subject to produce a portfolio from. I use a K20, which I am very happy with, usually use it it in "manual" and am looking for advice on what lens would be best suited for my macro task and where are the best prices for these. Any help would be very welcome. Many many thanks in anticipation.

No doubt forum members will be able to advise on the best (expensive) macro lenses, but this weekend I got some astonishing results from some cheap extension tubes (20 quid) on a 50mm Pentax-A lens (about 20-50 quid and essential in any case!)

The most popular lenses, mainly on a cost v flexibility basis, are normally those in the 90-105 mm range from Pentax, Sigma and Tamron, all of which produce current models for Pentax. On the K20D, these equate to around 157 mm (in 35 mm film terms). They are widely availble from companies such as SRS, Park Cameras, etc. The cost will be from around £370. Many secondhand ones, particularly the Sigma are often available from various forums, at around £200 for the Sigma, depending on condition. These lenses handle a wide range of subjects, hence the flexibility. If you are specialising in insects, where you need greater distance to avoid spooking them, then a 180 macro is probably a better buy, but at a cost (around £750 for the Sigma). For still life, there are a number of shorter lenses (70 mm or lower) but the prices on these are likely to be more than for a 105 mm. I have used a Kenko 1.5x converter with my 105 with good results, but not as sharp as my 180 mm which has now supplanted my 105.

You can get good results from the combination suggested by Pentaxophile, but for insects, you would need to be quite close which they often won't tolerate. Also, when using a 50 mm lens with extension tubes, the lens performs better if reversed, if the magnification exceeds 1:1! However, I have been through all the combinations - extension tubes, reversing rings, magnifiers, etc., and nothing beats a dedicated macro lens, if you can afford it.

Macro work is very challenging, particularly wildlife, but is very enjoyable. Best of luck.

John

Many thanks guys. I do have a Sigma 105 already thanks to a long suffering wife and Xmas. I am really not at all sure exactly what I will be shooting. regrettably I am a bit crocked around the knees so dont get about as much as I used to (wifey pleased about that too)so I reckon that still lifes will be more in the frame than insects but who knows. With a handful of painkillers many things are possible. I do appreciate all you offerings.

The Sigma 105 is an excellent lens and will cover most of the subjects you are likely to attempt.

John

I personally use the Sigma EX 105mm and have never had any problems with it
Yes dedicated macros are relatively expensive, but you a paying for the quality, this one is from SRS link
Like John states above, these lenses come up in the forums and ebay quite often. I bought mine from ebay for just under £200

Having never used extension tubes I can't comment.
All I know is that the dedicated lenses are very well built and produce fantastic shots.

I am glad to hear that you use manual focus as I find macro very difficult trying to use auto focus.

Please have a look at my portfolio for some examples of my macro work using the Sigma 105 link


Paul

I was writing my comment when I read John's first comment, then I had a call and got distracted. So apologies if my comment looks like I haven't read the others first.....does that make sense...
I blame Mondays


Paul

A Sigma 105mm macro will be fine for what you want unless you are thinking of a magnification of more than 1:1. I would suggest you get hold of a cheap external flash and a diffuser of some kind (or ring flash if you are feeling well off) as lighting is an important part of macro and can make the difference between an ordinary shot and a great one.

A simple close up lens or extension tubes might well do the trick.

Lowrer cost options will be manual focus macro lenses from eBay. A screw thread Pentax one went quite cheaply recently, but to be honest most macro lenses should give good results for your project.

These are done with extension tubes: link

If you are shooting indoor still lifes, you may have sufficient lighting equipment in your house in the form of anglepoise lamps, torches (the LED ones are good), makeshift snoots and reflectors made of tinfoil etc. Some of the most amazing creative shots are done with stuff people have just lying around the house!

Whether you invest in kit or cobble stuff together and 'make do', it's still up to you to have the vision and control the results.

Many thanks to all you guys who have been so kind with your advice all of which is invaluable.Pentaxophile and paullucas have both got really terrific if not terrifying images. Right now wifey is under a blanket in case a spider should appear. Once again many thanks for the advice and I think I will be looking forward to my macro times. Just got to get a macro ring flash now but that will take some negotiation.

BTW the images were not mine, wish they were lol!

what have you got for lighting equipment?
I'd happily help you out with some ideas for your macroshots...

Hi Don
As things stand I do not have any specialized macro lighting. I was considering a twin flash set up or maybe a macro ring flash. I would be obliged if you can offer some guidance on that front. I do have a prety reasonable studio set up lighting wise in as much as I have in interfit kit but to date I have only used this indoors though if its dry I see no real problems for the garden.

Hi Hamilton good luck with your course.

Macro is an ace subject to learn and is probably one of the hardest also.My type of macro photography is generally flowers and maybe a few insects.With the flowers manual focus is a must but if you are trying to catch a bumble bee or other insect auto focus is the key.

The depth of field on macro subjects can be really shallow because everything is so small so if you need to use a small aperture you will get a long or longer shutter speed so a tripod is also essential.Don't be put off by the fact that if you take a load of shots and then upload them to your pc you probably won't like any of them at first but as you practice things definately become much easier.

One of the good things about using manual focus you could keep the cost of lenses down by using old manual focus film lenses and using a reversing ring.

Macro lenses i've used in the past are the sigma 70-300mm 1:2macro / Tamron 70-300mm 1:2macro / sigma 50mm 1:1macro

All of theses lenses are great tools for macro work and are at the cheaper end of the scale.

Once again good luck