Macro Lens Tips for K-x

Looking for tips on what Macro Lenses are available on the market for shooting close up. Never used Macro on any camera so it's all new to me. Any tips would be appreciated.

You can go from close up filters to extension tubes to dedicated macro lenses.
An idea of budget would be handy.

Hi Dennis

I've done a fair bit of macro with the K-x and it is excellent for this type of work. My recommendations would be:

- Get a set of quality manual extension tubes and use them with a standard 50mm lens, something like a Pentax-A 50mm F1.7. If the tubes have black paint on the bayonet fitting you will need to scrape it off where the camera's electronic contacts are, otherwise the camera will not be able to close the lens aperture when taking a shot

- There are various macro lenses to choose from, Autofocus is not important for macro work so you could buy a manual focus lens like a Tamron SP 90mm or a Sigma 50mm F2.8 macro

- When you're ready to upgrade I can recommend both the Sigma 105mm DG EX macro and the Pentax DFA 100mm F2.8 macro. The Pentax is the better lens for macro work but I find the Sigma a better all-rounder, e.g. it is excellent for portraits

When you buy a macro lens, it is best to get one that is capable of 'lifesize' or 1:1 ratio images, as both the Sigma and Pentax are. The Pentax lens focusses a bit closer so will give slightly higher magnification.

I hope this helps.

Regards
David

Depends what you want to shoot, but a Raynox closeup lens is usually a great way to start out. This snaps on the front of your existing lens and means you can still use in-camera metering. Recommended!

To keep it very simple just get a reversing ring and connect a prime lens. will give you stunning results. Also you could use low cost macro tubes to get 1:1 or greater results. Depends on how seriously you want to get into it.

I've been thinking about macro myself, I already have the DA35 Limited Macro lens, which I find very good optically, but the working distance isn't that great on it, would using a teleconverter to up the focal length be a good idea or would it be best to part-exchange it for a longer lens?

You could give this a go as a starter link
Small outlay for a stunning lens and if you don't like macro you haven't splashed out a lot!