Macro lenses

Hi all,

Looking for a 100mm(ish) macro lens, and at the moment, give or take a few quid the Pentax DFA 100mm, Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105mm are all available for the same price (either new or barely used).

Has anyone got experience of two (or all) of these lenses?

Regards

Rob

Hi Rob

I prefer the Tamron to the Sigma, I've owned both, it's just a personal preference regarding OoF rendering. I prefer the build of the old FA to the DFA and the DFA has no focus limiter which puts me off it somewhat.

Regards,

John

Rob,

I only have the Tammy, no experience with the other two.

I have a colleague who likes his Pentax, and swears by it.

If they are all the same price, you would not go wrong with either, I'm thinking! You will likely end up manually focussing your macro shots anyway, so the lack of a focus limiter may not be the deal breaker you think it is, should you choose to stay with Pentax.

That said, some reviews put the Tammy marginally ahead of the Pentax in terms of sharpness.

Your call.

Thanks for the swift responses guys.

Although to date, I've stuck with a Pentax-only lens policy, I'm drawn to the Tamron. Reviews seem to state that it's either as good as, if not slightly better than the Pentax.

The ultimate would be the new WR Macro from Pentax, but that is £550+, and unlikely to be that much better than the three I've mentioned.

The one nice thing about the WR Macro, which I don't think the other three have, is the curved aperture blades. Although I don't know if I'd pay an extra £250 for them!

I have a rather nice Tamron 90mm which cost me under a hundred. From what I have read there's no benefit to the newer version apart from autofocus - which I don't really miss on a macro lens.

I've just seen a new D-FA 100mm Macro for £290, which seems a cracking price. Cheapest new UK price for the Tamron is £320, Sigma about the same.

I think I might be going for the Pentax at this rate...

Hi rob,

At that price I'd be tempted too if I only wanted the lens for Macro, it's just that I use mine as a short telephoto from time to time, so it's very much a personal choice.

Regards,

John

That's a very good consideration actually, I'd imagine the Tamron might be slightly more flexible, with it being 90mm.

Sigma 70mm macro .. lovely lens, sharp as can be and my most used macro.

That was on my short list when I sold the 105mm EX but I already decided on the DA-70/2.4 Ltd at that length, the Tamrom 90mm filled the gap nicely between the DA-70 & FA-135/2.8. I'd love a DA-15/4 to complete my prime kit but at £600.... well it will have to wait

John

Oh well, taken the plunge on the Pentax D-FA 100mm, now just need it (and my K20d) to arrive!

Good choice! It was the best lens when it was nearly twice the price of the others, now they're all roughly the same it's a no-brainer IMHO.

Cheers Hefty. The only slight problem is I'm probably going to have a macro lens, but no camera to attach it to for a while!

Did you never watch Blue Peter? Make one from an old Ice cream carton and some sticky backed plastic tape.

The D-FA 100mm lens is very good indeed. I bought one of the £299 offerings in a 'tatty box' and I'm extremely happy with it.