Sigma 105mm Macro?

Can't decide on next lens - the 50-135 is my preferred option but a touich expensive for me at the moment. I don't have anything that has a proper macro option and quite fancy playing with that. I've seen a second hand Sigma 105mm f2.8 which gets excellent write ups and its a focal length that I quite fancy using for the odd landscape.

Anybody compared the various 100mm lenses out there?

I've got the 105 and it is a v good lens. However the consensus seems to be that ANY of the macros are nigh on equally as good as the others. The 100mm Pentax lenses and the 90mm Tamrons. So if you see any at a decent price snap them up. You won't loose money as you can sell for what you paid. Even the manual variations are good as mostly (it seems) macro work requires manual focusing,

I'd guess that 105mm is a bit limiting for landscapes. I use 58mm as it's the best lens I have and its a bit long some times. I'm looking to start panoramic stitching 58mm images to create some bigger images.

Mark,

The Sigma 105mm Macro is a stunning lens. I have one and is very sharp.
Comparing it to my DA*50-135mm at the eqv focal length and aperture, there is not much difference. The DA* probably just edges it, but only because I consider it the finest Portrait zoom out there. However, for Macro, no contest
If it is a good price, go for it. You will get an excellent lens.

You may want to consider the Samsung Xenon 100mm 2.8 Macro which is essentially a rebadged version of the same Pentax lens. I think Park Cameras have it on clearance on their website, and on their eBay page.

Cheers folks - just need to work out what a decent price will be. I'll look at the Park Cameras site as well for the Samsung.

Sometimes I just want a little bit of the landscape - the 10-20 can sometimes make a good view disappear and occasionally even the 50 is too wide. I have a F 28mm which is quite handy and I'm starting to use it on longer walks or on wet walks where its easier to keep hidden away in a waterproof section of my bag.

Telephoto lenses make stunning landscapes - it's much easier to eliminate unwanted details or bland sky.

The Sigma 105mm 2.8 is an excellent macro lens, very sharp, almost too revealing for portrait use. It is a noisy lens as it is screw drive and does tend to hunt unless you use the limiter, but optically it is hard to beat. I have not used it for landscapes but I am sure it would produce very sharp detailed images.

My copy is the older EX not the more recent DG version but I understand there is little difference in performance though the older lens may be cheaper second hand.

Decided to go for the Sigma which was on the 2nd hand section of SRS but itby the time I went back in it had gone. The Samsung is 275 on ebay with Park - which Pentax does it equate to?

Pentax D-FA 100mm f2.8 macro (not the WR version).

Thanks Mike

Do you need autofocus and macro. There are plenty of cheap 135mm available. If you need don't need autofocus but do need macro the Tamron Adaptall 90mm, the Pentax M 100, Vivitar (or Cosina) 100 (I think its 100 anyway) can be had for about £100 or less on ebay.

The 55-300 zoom can be had on ebay for £133 too

Not fussed about the autofocus Alan but I fancy the macro.

I do have the 55-300 - got 2 kit lenses with the K-X.

I've also bought the M 135mm and the A 35-105 f3.5 from Ebay. I probably need to investigate the 35-105 a bit further to be honest. I tried it a few times when I first got it and the focusing didn't seem to be right - the ring was showing that it was at a focusing distance of a few feet when I was focusing on a hill a couple of miles away.

while you wait for the right lens to appear at the right price, you could alway buy a cheap £10 extension tube set from ebay. The 135 should be suitable for this.

Camera in to M. Use the green button to stop down meter.

At least you can start to play and don't have to pay top whack for the lens you want.

Have look at Sigma70mm macro lens as well, I have posted some photos using this lens.