Pentax Macro lens. Which one???

Hi all,

Maybe looking into getting a macro lens for flower photography.

What one can YOU recommend.

35mm limited
50mm FDA
100mm FDA
or
New 100mm WR

Personnally, im looking at the 50mm FDA lens. It looks lovely and compact and has great reviews.

Your thoughts


Kindess regards
Graham

One of the 100mm lenses, just incase you want to have a go at bugs as well.

Also look at the Sigma 70mm f2.8 .. a happy medium and a VERY sharp lens (better than my DA35mm, Tamron 90mm & Pentax D-FA 100mm macro's).

100mm. The 50mm is better suited for document copying, and the 35mm even more so, at least the way I work.

The 100mm enables a better working distance for most subjects, which is probably why the number of 100mm Macro lenses available far exceeds the number of 50mm ones.

I have just started to use a 50 macro having had a 100 for some times. It does get very close to the subject which can be a nuisance. However, it does give a different perspective on close ups and I find I use it more than the 100 but that may be novelty value. I don't shoot bugs etc. though.

Another vote for one of the 100mm versions.

I've got the DFA 100 f/2.8 and I'm very pleased with it, having said that if I was in the market for one now I would very likely go for the WR version.

I do a lot of flower photography and I own both the DA35 and the D-FA100. Most of the time you don't need true "macro", you just need close focus - when you're trying to get in contextual shots the working distance on the D-FA100 is simply far too great. For that reason the DA35 wins hands-down IMO.

completely off topic

I had almost forgotten about these link

James

I second Hefty. If you want your flowers in context, the 35 or the 50 would be best. If you want isolated flowers go for a 100 (or move closer with the 50!). The former are more flexible - apart from for bugs etc. And for that you could get extension tubes.

I just got an old MF version of the 50 macro - an A50 f2.8. I'm totally blown away by the image quality. Phenomenally sharp and with the 3D quality of the Ltds. I guess the newer version has some of the same genetics - although I seem to recall reading that the A & F versions were considered the best 50 macros. I think the DA35 would be similar, but perhaps not as good for flower shots (too much context?).

I tend to work on a fairly simple rule - 105mm outdoors and 35mm indoors