Macro Lens Advice, Please

Later in the year I had hoped to buy the DFA 100 macro. Unfortunately, I think this lens has become rather scarce as it has been discontinued. I do not wish to pay the extra for the WR.

So, is it sensible to just wait for a used DFA 100 to turn up to buy or bid for, or are there any alternatives which would do the job just as well, such as the Tamron 90 or Sigma 105, or even another Pentax lens?

I'm sure there are enough of you with plenty of experience who can help me.

Cheers,

darkskies

You could search for a D-FA and I'm sure you'll find one somewhere.

The WR version has just been tested in a group in Advanced Photographer and holds its head high, being more impressive than the Zeiss macro...but there's more to tests and read the report in full before deciding if its characteristics are for you.

Though call but with these kind of lenses it's better to get the one you really want, you might pay a bit extra but it will be more satisfying and maybe cheaper in the long end when you sell your lens and buy the lens you actually wanted.

I think you should just try out the WR version, it might be more expensive but many thinks the build quality and the feel of the manual focus ring are worth it, since it seems to be splendid when you've it in your hands.

The biggest differnce between the current Pentax and the Sigma/Tamron macro's would be the quick-shift, when you adjust the camera so that it doesn't need a focus lock you can use MF and AF when you need it and want it. I've my camera set like that, it's like having a Manual focus camera but with AF on demand, so great

Thanks for your comments so far, folks.

John, I doubt I'll be able to find a copy of Advanced Photography Magazine where i am in France but I may ask my sister to try to find a copy in the UK. So, thanks for the tip.

I have seen many photos taken with the DFA 100 and I have been very impressed. I have seen a few by the Tamron and I have liked them, but the 2 lenses seem to be quite different. I don't really know the Sigma at all. And aren't there other pentax macro lenses?

There are quite a few Pentax macro lenses - 35mm, 50mm and 100mm in the current range, plus a wholehistory of 50mm, 100mm and 200mm lenses stretching back decades. Any of them will deliver excellent results and to ne honest you don't even need an AF macro lens. MF versions are perfectly good for macro work.

the Tamron macro is a great lens highly regarded

Which one did you have in mind Roy, or all of them?

I was thinking of the 90mm macro John I have and use this lens,it is stunning.

Actually the question is still the same Roy, because there are several different models of Tamron 90mm macro lenses. If you're not sure which one you have, then at least the maximujm aperture (f2.5 or f2. and the focusing (AF or MF) would be useful to know.

Yes, indeed, any extra information would be most helpful, Roy.

I used to use a bridge camera which had a macro facility. I always used AF. Since I bought the K-x I haven't had a macro lens, but I have been using a nifty fifty for my close-ups, which of course is manual focus. This I enjoy using, so a manual focus lens is an option, though I hadn't really thought about it before. I expect many of my macros would be manually focussed anyway.

I have the tamron 90mm sp di f2.8 macro lens,but also had the older version,which whilst heavier was just as good if slightly slower

HTH

I also have a sigma 50mm macro lens MF which produces sharp images,which is for sale

here

That's cheating .. you can't say final bump on the thread and then get round it by advertising it on another.

......and I said I'm after a macro lens......later in the year!

Well give me a shout later in the year .. I must admit I quite fancy the WR version so my DFA 100mm would have to go.

You're on!!!