Somebody grab this little beauty before Lennybloke decides that:
a. Some lenses are just too good to let go; and
b. There's always a good reason to have more than one macro lens.
If I hadn't bought one last year (from SRS, paid a bit more) I'd have jumped at it. It's a very, very good lens. And for APSC users it has a classic FOV - same as what you got with the usual 105mm on 35mm film.

Go on, make Lennybloke's day!

Steve

Pentax Q range. Interchangable lens compacts. Some fine Q lenses. And you can get adapters to attach a K-mount lens if you like experimenting (can be a bit front-heavy!) .

Steve

Thanks for the nice comment. But er... I think I was called Steve last time I checked... Just checked again... Yes, must be Steve 'cos that's what Mrs L. calls me...

Pleased to have been of help .

Steve

Thanks, folks.
Lennybloke put temptation in my way when resistance was low. It's now a favourite lens for plants and flowers. If you find one, grab it, they don't seem to be very common.

Steve

Last night produced the first frost of the season. Nothing much and it melted as soon as the sun was on it. But it tempted me to take the K3 out of the house for the first time in a long time before going for a Covid jab. There was nothing spectacular to see, although summer is still trying to hang on in odd corners of flower beds. Anyway, here are the best of the bunch. All with K3 + F 135mm.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.

1. Sempervivums look good with drops of frost or dew on leaf edges.



2. This heuchera won't stop flowering.



3. A geranium still hanging on.



4. Also hanging on is the obligatory autumn leaf - a contorted hazel.



5. The bird bath was still in shadow...



Steve

First time I saw this it reminded me of something but I wasn't sure what. Now I know: Dr Brian May playing the National Anthem on the roof of Buckingham Palace at HM the Queen's Jubilee 10 years ago.

To be followed by stills from the Bohemian Rhapsody video?

Steve

YES!!!!!!!!!

And it was me who suggested Sylvanian Families - no regrets at all .

Steve

Perhaps ... link

Steve

And the mono version is let down by the lack of lovely autumn colour . The colour version for me, please, in spite of the fringing.

Steve

Personally. the main thing I'm looking for with a macro lens of this focal length is ergonomics - is it easy and comfortable to handle when hunting bugs with an ageing body (mine, not the camera!) in an unnaturally contorted position? As long as IQ is acceptable (and is there a macro lens where it isn't?), the ability to get the shot is a higher priority for me than whether IQ is very good or very, very good. I've never handled - or even seen - the A*200 but would be very surprised if it handles better than the Irix. Of course, handling is very subjective, what works best for me might not work at all for you - or even anyone else at all .

Steve