Thanks guys.

I've now contacted intro2020 and am sending the lens off to their service department. The rates per hour (around £42) seemed reasonable + parts so hopefully will be fixed at a reasonable cost. They'll give a free quote before doing anything as well.

I didn't realise how much I relied on it for butterfly shots - it's hard to see what would be a replacement. If Sigma did the 180mm macro for pentax I'd go for that - but they don't! I was thinking about the 70-200mm but it's a lot more expensive - and I don't know if I'd really get any better images!

The zoom ring on my Tamron 70-300mm suddenly stopped working in the middle of an outing today, for no apparent reason.

Question now is... do I get it fixed, or get a replacement lens?? It only cost me about £90 in the first place, so I doubt a repair would be cost effective.... unless you can tell be different???

Now listed on e-bay with a starting price of £ 125.

22,155 shutter count.


Martyn

I've got a K10D which I'm about to put up for sale... no lens though. But I would expect to get rather less than that for it. If you might be interested pm me and I'll sort out details, actuations etc.

Martyn

It depends on what you want the macro for... but as people say, there aren't many long ones around.

I use a tamron 70-300 macro for butterflies/dragonflies but I currently exploring the possibility of putting an extention tube on my sigma 120-400mm to try using it for the same purpose. If you've got a decent long zoom, that might be a cheaper option?

Martyn

I have the lens Lee... and it can be REALLY bad...as John says in high contrast situations.

It depends what you want it for - if it's for birds in flight or much else against a sky then it's really a no-go - but it's a GREAT macro lens for butterflies and dragon flies.

I got a Sigma 120-400 for the birds.. but still use the Tamron for butterflies.

Martyn

They look the best quality I've seeen Mat... but as you say, very expensive! Will sleep on it!!

Martyn

Is there anyone that produces good quality extention tubes for Pentax ? I got one set off eb which I would not trust on my lens!

Apologies John.. I jumped into this discussion without looking at where it was!

I've just purchased the 8-16mm - and also several 72mm filters, which are now pretty much a waste of money.

I was told there was a filter adapter with the lens - and the lens hood does have a screw thread for 72mm filters - but as the Liang said, these filters don't work - except at 16mm and even then there's vignetting.

What I've now got to do is decide whether to keep the lens and manage without filters - or not !!

Martyn