All Forum Comments
Comment by JAK posted on Whatcha get?! at 28/12/2016 - 12:13
A true macro / portrait lens would be something like a Tamron 90mm, Sigma 105mm or Pentax 100mm
As for macro work, around 100mm is fine as it allows keeping a reasonable distance from the miniature subject. 35mm is really too close for that, though OK for flowers which don't take fright easily!
Comment by JAK posted on Best portrait lens macro at 28/12/2016 - 12:00
If you already have an 18-55mm zoom you can get some idea from that as to what the prime lenses will give you at their respective focal lengths. In fact an 18-55 might well suffice for your (people) portraits.
The 35 & 50mm macros allow focusing much closer than the standard zoom which is useful if your subjects are small insects and maybe stamps and coins where the standard zoom cannot focus close enough. They focus to infinity too!
Both the 35mm ltd & 50mm macro are very sharp lenses. The 50mm macro is full frame and APS-C compatible, The 35mm Ltd is just APS-C (it vignettes on full frame.)
I don't know what lenses you have but worth considering is the newish Pentax 16-85mm or 18-135mm if you are in the market for a new lens. The Sigma 17-70 isn't a true macro, it just focuses fairly close, but what you describe as a requirement for portraits it doesn't sound like you really need a macro lens at all. By the way, Pentax make a 17-70mm too.
Have a look a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_photography to find out what macro lenses are for and see if they are what you really would like.
Comment by JAK posted on Best portrait lens macro at 28/12/2016 - 00:08
The k50 is about 1.5 yrs. old, and failed after 1050 or so shots which seems to be the norm for failure.
Comment by JAK posted on K50 pictures completely dark at 27/12/2016 - 14:27
Comment by JAK posted on What's this one got in it??????????????????????? at 27/12/2016 - 11:31
Comment by JAK posted on SRS Winter Sale - Now on! at 24/12/2016 - 23:55
Comment by JAK posted on Serif Affinity Photo at 24/12/2016 - 22:57
http://nationalgridconnecting.com/storm-in-a-teacup/
Comment by JAK posted on Lots of activity on the Sun at 24/12/2016 - 22:55
Comment by JAK posted on Serif Affinity Photo at 24/12/2016 - 22:26



But I'm trying not to jump in at the moment as a DJI Drone is tempting too.