Macro photography question
Posted 18/11/2010 - 21:44
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Mike-P wrote:
I think you just answered your own question.
You & I both know they're not true macro lenses, but when it's in the name, many others will get fooled. I felt it necessary to point out for the benefit of less experienced people who might read the thread.I think you just answered your own question.
If your comment was rephrased to refer to macro primes then I'd agree wholeheartedly, and add I've not heard reports of one (that wasn't faulty) either!
Mike (K not P)
Mike
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Pentax:K5ii, K7, K100D, DA18-55, DA10-17, DA55-300, DA50-200, F100-300, F50, DA35 AL, 4* M50, 2* M135, Helicoid extension, Tak 300 f4 (& 6 film bodies)
3rd Party: Bigmos (Sigma 150-500mm OS HSM),2* 28mm, 100mm macro, 28-200 zoom, 35-80 zoom, 80-200 zoom, 80-210 zoom, 300mm M42, 600 mirror, 1000-4000 scope, 50mm M42, enlarger lenses, Sony & micro 4/3 cameras with various PK mounts, Zenit E...
Far to many tele-converters, adapters, project parts & extension tubes etc.
.[size=11:].Flickr• WPF• Panoramio
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Pentax:K5ii, K7, K100D, DA18-55, DA10-17, DA55-300, DA50-200, F100-300, F50, DA35 AL, 4* M50, 2* M135, Helicoid extension, Tak 300 f4 (& 6 film bodies)
3rd Party: Bigmos (Sigma 150-500mm OS HSM),2* 28mm, 100mm macro, 28-200 zoom, 35-80 zoom, 80-200 zoom, 80-210 zoom, 300mm M42, 600 mirror, 1000-4000 scope, 50mm M42, enlarger lenses, Sony & micro 4/3 cameras with various PK mounts, Zenit E...
Far to many tele-converters, adapters, project parts & extension tubes etc.
.[size=11:].Flickr• WPF• Panoramio
Posted 18/11/2010 - 21:57
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petrochemist wrote:
If your comment was rephrased to refer to macro primes then I'd agree wholeheartedly, and add I've not heard reports of one (that wasn't faulty) either!
Mike (K not P)
As I was actually responding to Colins question as to which of the two macro lenses was the better it didn't seem necessary to complicate matters by going into detail about so called macro zooms which are not (imo) macro in any sense of the word (and have not been mentioned in the thread until you brought the subject up). I think he is clued up enough to know the difference Mike-P wrote:
I think you just answered your own question.
You & I both know they're not true macro lenses, but when it's in the name, many others will get fooled. I felt it necessary to point out for the benefit of less experienced people who might read the thread.I think you just answered your own question.
If your comment was rephrased to refer to macro primes then I'd agree wholeheartedly, and add I've not heard reports of one (that wasn't faulty) either!
Mike (K not P)
Had it been a general question about macro lenses then yes, maybe but I never find it worthwhile making things more difficult than they need to be.
Posted 18/11/2010 - 22:31
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I asked about using AF macro lenses, and used the D FA 100mm as an example. I am not interested in a macro zoom lens.
As Mike-P said "I was actually responding to Colin's question as to which of the two macro lenses was the better" and I think that he responded well.
I was trying to make sure that I could understand how to use an AF lens for macro shots before buying one.
Having struggled with a manual focus 50mm, I did not want to be in that situation again.
Regards
As Mike-P said "I was actually responding to Colin's question as to which of the two macro lenses was the better" and I think that he responded well.
I was trying to make sure that I could understand how to use an AF lens for macro shots before buying one.
Having struggled with a manual focus 50mm, I did not want to be in that situation again.
Regards
Colin
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”
Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797)
[IMG]http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad254/weldingblues/K-7userbar-red.jpg[/IMG]
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.”
Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797)
[IMG]http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad254/weldingblues/K-7userbar-red.jpg[/IMG]
Posted 19/11/2010 - 02:09
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I can vouch for the Tamron SP90AF.
It has replaced my trusted Micro-Nikkor totally now.
I almost always focus manually and I constantly use the optical DOF preview to help select the focus point as close up and at f2.8 the DOF is very thin.
Using the optical DOF preview allows you to see what you will get in and out of focus with your selected aperture.
I find that allowing the camera to choose the focus point means that you don't always make the most of the available or limited DOF.
Just my thoughts...
MZ
It has replaced my trusted Micro-Nikkor totally now.
I almost always focus manually and I constantly use the optical DOF preview to help select the focus point as close up and at f2.8 the DOF is very thin.
Using the optical DOF preview allows you to see what you will get in and out of focus with your selected aperture.
I find that allowing the camera to choose the focus point means that you don't always make the most of the available or limited DOF.
Just my thoughts...
MZ
K5, K7, Nikon FA.
AF Lenses: DA15mm Ltd, DA21mm Limited, DA35mmAL, DA50mm f1.8, DA18-55mmWR, FA28-70mm f4AL, DA50-200mmWR,Tamron SP70-200mm f2.8, AF70-300mm LD Di, SP10-24mm, SP90mm Macro.
MF Lenses: SMC-A 50mm, Adaptall 24mm(CW-24), 135mm(03B), 35-70mm(17A) 80-210mm(03A), Micro-Nikkor55mm, Soligor I-S 200mm f2.8 AIS
My Flickr - link
My Photobucket - link
AF Lenses: DA15mm Ltd, DA21mm Limited, DA35mmAL, DA50mm f1.8, DA18-55mmWR, FA28-70mm f4AL, DA50-200mmWR,Tamron SP70-200mm f2.8, AF70-300mm LD Di, SP10-24mm, SP90mm Macro.
MF Lenses: SMC-A 50mm, Adaptall 24mm(CW-24), 135mm(03B), 35-70mm(17A) 80-210mm(03A), Micro-Nikkor55mm, Soligor I-S 200mm f2.8 AIS
My Flickr - link
My Photobucket - link
Posted 19/11/2010 - 06:23
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Hi Colin, Im using the Sigma, and can only say that is an excellent choice, both for build quality and results. Although I soon found that it is almost a total MUST to be tripod mounted, it does produce excellent results after a little practice. As Alge says I find better sometimes to use MF to finish off.
Paul
Paul
K5's (2)both gripped, K10d gripped, Pentax 28-90 f3.5, Sigma 18-250mm, Sigma 150-500mm. Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, Sigma 10-20 f.4-5.6.EX DC, Hoya 135 f2.8, Take on 28mm f2.8 Pentax AF360 flash, 2 fill in slaves. 30 metre remote release, Rt angle viewfinder, Giotto NOT 3261B Tripod with Manfrotto 808Rd4 ball head, Manfroto 4861RC2 monopoly, shoulder stock, various filters etc, Panasonic SET HBS HD Video cam, Tamrac Explorer 8x backpack and a sore back.....
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Photography is an index for measuring futility and pride.......
Paul
:wink
http://s743.photobucket.com/home/pg20_photos/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pg20
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Photography is an index for measuring futility and pride.......
Paul
:wink
http://s743.photobucket.com/home/pg20_photos/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pg20
Posted 20/11/2010 - 17:15
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I use the AF to move the AF over big distances (I'm lazy) and the final adjustments are made MF and/or by moving your body.
I don't value AF too high for macro, the placing off focus is quite critical and not something the AF is designed to do.
I don't value AF too high for macro, the placing off focus is quite critical and not something the AF is designed to do.
Stefan
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
Posted 20/11/2010 - 21:58
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paulgee20 wrote:
Hi Colin, Im using the Sigma, and can only say that is an excellent choice, both for build quality and results. Although I soon found that it is almost a total MUST to be tripod mounted, it does produce excellent results after a little practice. As Alge says I find better sometimes to use MF to finish off.
Paul
I too have a Sigma 105 EX and it is extremely sharp. It is quite heavy with a metal body. The screw drive is very noisy (the noisiest of all my lenses) and it tends to hunt unless you use the limiter switch. These are not problems as I tend to use manual focus anyway. I think Mike-P is right in saying that all the macro primes are good and the choice is down to personal preference, price etc.
Hi Colin, Im using the Sigma, and can only say that is an excellent choice, both for build quality and results. Although I soon found that it is almost a total MUST to be tripod mounted, it does produce excellent results after a little practice. As Alge says I find better sometimes to use MF to finish off.
Paul
Archie
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13627 posts
18 years
Hythe,
Hampshire UK
IMO there is no such thing as a bad macro lens.
Not that I've ever met one that actually meets the technical definition of macro (1:1 or better reproduction on the film/sensor)
I don't mean to imply 'macro' zooms are all bad...