Just thought I might mention, to the "Macro Newbies", you don't need to rush out and buy the latest 'hot' kit to give macro photography a try. I bought a second hand 100mm f4 screw fit Pentax Macro lens about 25 years ago for my Spotmatic, and believe it or not I can still use it on my "brand new'" DS, so 10 out of ten to Pentax. I know ebay is 'the latest thing', but last year I got some extension tubes and a bellows, all screw fit, at a car boot sale in Ingliston Sunday Market, Edinburgh for £3.50, the guy originally wanted £12.00, so I think I got a good deal. The other cheap try-out, is to mount your camera lens backwards on to another lens that is fitted to your camera, you can get adaptor rings for this that will only cost a few pounds. The picutres below show an old tattie, ( potato ), that started to sprout shoots. The first is taken with the 18-55mm kit lens, the next with the 100mm screw Pentax macro, then the last with my £3.50 'super' extension kit + the 100mm Macro. Ok, I will admit it took me about 5 or 6 tries to get the exposure right, but I was well pleased with results. The kit is still being adapted, and I want to try some field use, but as development continues, I have a little change left for a wee bottle of 12 year old Dalmore malt. I think if I can join 25 meters of extension tubes together, I should be able to pick out individual atoms, allowing, of-course, for the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in quantum physics. Thinks . . . . . ( I could sellotape toilet rolls together for the same result ... ??? ) No, John that's the Dalmore taking !!!

My Profile :- Well I used to be 6'1" , now I seem to 5' 11", I'm sure Earth's gravity is getting stronger and the Gov'mt are keeping it a secret, cause I'm shorter and wider than I used to be. I'm into Pentax, Apple Mac's, love my KTM and I'm on the lookout for a late 70's Bultaco 350 trials bike. I am on the right forum, am I ?

Ok girls, pm for the date, or maybe you could just give me a little info about ND filters ?

I have been known to rant and post pics here,

http://web.mac.com/john_md/

Daniel, my head hurts ! I know what your saying, I understand most of what I think you are trying to say, but what you are trying to say is, I think difficult for me to think about what you said !

Would I be correct in thinking, ( be aware I live in the 6th dimension and I have no idea what I am talking about ), that if I compare picture to picture, from 35mm and digital, with a 1:1 Macro, the magnification would be the same, but the picture from the digital would appear to be a higher magnification because it is a tighter crop ?

p.s. You and I both know what I'll be doing tomorrow,


where is that bloody Macro lens .......



p.p.p.p.s you know we want to see more of your macro shots . . . . . please . . . . . . .

Just had another look at the f4/100mm screw Takumar I have and it has SMC ! Stupid mistake. I was using it with the K-mount insert, which can be a bit of a pain to get in and out of the DS. Had a look around in my camera junk box a found an old T-2 'k' mount. Much easier to get in and out, but as it acts like a small extension ring, I loose focus at infinity, but probably get a little bit better than 0.5x magnification. But it will make it more convenient to use for Macro shots. So it may be a quick and easy solution for others.

Got my screw-mount f4/100mm Macro Takumar second-hand in the mid 80's to go with an old Spotmatic that I also got second-hand, loved them both at the time. The f4/100 fell out of use as I went to the ME, MX and then the Z1. Tried a few Macro shots with it when I got the DS, found it a bit 'fiddley' to use, so it went back in the bag. As I mentioned, it got a bit of fresh air at the weekend, when I was taking some waterfall shots. Found it a little bit akward to stop-down after focusing, but the results were worth it. I think the more I use it the easier it will become. Some may say, 'sell it and get the latest', but I'm on a very limited budget, and if the quality is there I'll stick with it. Gotta eat, you know !!!

I gave my DS a little workout over the weekend, using the 18-55mm kit lens, a Tamron 28-200mm and a Macro Takumar f4/100mm, ( not the SMC ), all the shots looked good, until I did some editing, could not believe how sharp the pictures from the Takumar screw lens were when I uploaded them to the computer screen. So, yes I agree with you, I must get this out of the bag more often.

Daniel, love the 'fungi' pics. Sharp and subtle !!!


I was talking on another thread about buying 'cheap' stuff to give macro photography a try, and I stand by it. Go on, sellotape a toilet roll between your camera and your favourite lens !!! But be warned, as soon as you do, and you see the results that can be achieved, you will want more.
I got my bellows and 1/2 dozen extension tubes out over the weekend, and captured a bit of an onion. This set up is ok for kitchen-top macro photography, and I am pleased with the results, but I want a system for field use.








Pentax ist*DS, 100mm screw fit Takumar, 1/250 @ f22, bellows, 4 or 5 extension tubes, with FTZ500 fired through my white T-shirt


You seem to like the 105 Sigma, so could I ask you a couple of questions, ??
1. People say Sigma lenses "almost" work with Pentax cameras. Do you think the 105 would be ok with my DS ?

2. What is the magnification ratio with the lens, do you get 1:1 without tubes, ( or toilet rolls ).

3. There is also a 150mm Sigma macro, do you have any knowledge ? Good - Bad - Rumors ?

I hate to perpetuate the myth of Scots people being 'tight with money', but, you may notice in the picutre, I used a plug from the kids headphones and 2 x clothes-pegs as a remote release, but I would be willing to part with cash money for the Sigma 105 after seeing you pics.

Don, how did you know these were cheap polarisers ? I paid a full £1 for them at a car boot sale

Thanks Matt, this explains the pic below. Tried to use 2 polarisers as a ND filter. As you turn one, there is virtually no difference, till suddenly it goes almost black, then total black. May try it again if I can get hold of a 'linear', then again I should just get the proper ND filter.

Love the macro shots, sharp, moody and not 'over-stated'. 10 out of 10. The "Toadstool" , 11 out of 10. Infact, the grass shot with the water droplet, also 11 out of 10. Just looked back at 'Toadstools', go on then, 11 out of 10.