Where do I start

First off I feel I should say I have just ordered a Samsung GX20 with 18-55 kit lens.I hope this is close enough to a Pentax for me to ask advice on lenses.I am sure from my experience with P&S cameras that I will want a longer zoom,but I am also sure Ido not want to give up Macro shots.I have noticed that some Sigma lenses appear to do both.Would it be a sensible option to buy one of these,or buy the Pentax DA 55-300 and save for a specialised Macro lens.This is so hard for a novice.My biggest fear is trying to save a few pounds on purchase,but then having to buy all over again because I chose the wrong option.If it helps to know what point shoot cameras I own to judge my needs,I have an Olympus c-5050 main use ,Fuji 5600 with a TCON 17 and a Canon A640 wifes
cam and it is lovely.Many thanks,any pointers would be very nice but please remember I will not understand the difference between the letter designations for lenses yet,though am very willing to learn.Many thanks.

The 50 - 200 Pentax DA is a useful companion to the 18-55 and quite cheap these days

Telephoto zooms with "macro" settings probably won't provide the kind of magnification and close-focusing you're thinking of.

For real close-up photography, you need either a dedicated macro lens, or an accessory such as an extension tube set that would be good to use with an old second-hand lens such as a Pentax-A 50mm F1.7 or Pentax-M 100mm F2.8.

So I suggest choosing whichever telephoto lens you think you would like best for telephoto photgraphy, and think about macro afterwards, separately.

Tamron 70-300mm LD Di is very good for price. Pentax 55-300 should be better but is a lot more expensive. Alternatively, the Pentax 50-200 is nice when travelling light.

Thanks for your replies.I think I will start with the Pentax 55-300 and try to research and source a used lens for close up stuff.I am sure the A640 will do until then.Looks like I am on my way to Watford at the weekend.Thanks again.

Close focussing ability on a long zoom is nice for those moments when you're looking for eagles with the long lens and a butterfly lands in a flower in front of you. It's no substitute for a true macro lens.

The 55-300 will actually get you close enough for things like butterflys, and it's sharp enough at 300 to allow some cropping while you save for a proper macro lens.

You do of course mean either the Pentax "M" 100mm F4 or "A" 100mm F2.8.

I have the Tamron 70/300 and it's well worth the money imo got some great shots with it.

I've used those super-zooms with "macro" suffixed to the end of their names. Nothing wrong with them I suppose, and until recently I thought they did a great job. But if you want to do Macro, there is no substitute for a real macro lens (never tried extension tubes, perhaps as good??).
Anyway, the point is that I was shocked at the quality of the images I could get with a macro lens even though the focal length was far under the zoom+macro lenses I was used to.

Just tossing in another vote/suggestion to go for a true macro solution later on.

FYI, you might want to look at the Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro lens when the time comes. From what I've seen, the quality is up there with the Pentax 100mm but can be found for a couple of hundred dollars less than the Pentax. I am exceptionally pleased with the Tamron macro lens.

No, I did mean Pentax-M 100mm F2.8 - and use it with extension tubes. I suggested this as a low-budget alternative to a macro lens.

I have the Cosina/Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 macro, which is plastic and lightweight (270g), small enough to forget about and takes fine shots at 1:2 (1:1 with included adapter which I don't use). This is one of my default "out for a walk" lenses.

Example shot. Click on this for all my photos tagged with that lens:




Also obtained the Vivitar Series 1 105mm f/2.5 macro, which is metal and weighs far more (656g). Bigger too. But very sharp and magnifies to 1:1. This is the macro I use when I have the luxury, but I did not take it on holidays. (Though next time I might.)




I would heartily recommend either of these.

I have also reversed a 28mm lens on the kit, for super-magnification. Pretty well impossible to control except in studio with macro rails etc. So not for me.