I agree with the various comments above. I think if you are looking for a zoom which covers the focal range approximating to a 'kit' lens (like you have already), then you could look at the sigma 17-70 macro although again this is not 1:1... , and may not offer a great deal beyond your current lens (you would have to check) - I think the pentax 17-70 focusses pretty close (as in fairness do most lenses of this focal range). If you want a lens to complement your existing lens at a longer focal length, but with a 'macro' capability then I think Charlotte's suggestion is a good one - certainly great value for money and a decent performer too, and with the bonus of actually being a 70-300mm lens, albeit not devastatingly fast. You could also look at similar offerings - I think sigma advertise the 70-200 f2.8 as 'macro' (not 1:1 I don't think).

Alternatively you could look at a 'true' macro lens, they will tend to be 'faster' I think and have the 1:1 potential - the DFA100 is great, as is the DA35 (I have both and love them). and there are offerings to be had at 50mm, 70mm, 90mm, 105mm and longer if you are prepared to hunt around on ebay

Finally, you could try using an extension tube with your current lens. If you have a manual aperture ring then this might be a very cheap option ('dumb' extension tubes can be picked up for a fiver or so I think)... if you need to control the aperture from the body then you would need a tube with the relevant contacts, which are harder to find and more expensive

Decisions decisions...

Regards

It was thanks to the forum here actually - Amazon had a number of limited offers on for Pentax lenses which members posted links to here and I was lucky enough to bag a 35mm before the offer ended

Hi Slowtour. I think it really depends what you think you'll get the most use from... In terms of people in lower light etc., the FA50 is a good choice... I would also look at the DA35, which is good value (I just got one from Amazon for £67) and really gives very good results. It's not f1.4, but with a k5 I think f2.4 is plenty fast, although you'd have to do a comparison for yourself I think. The Sigma 30mm f1.4 is certainly worth a look too. You could even go wider than you current lens for indoors/people (depending on the situation) - I like the sigma 10-20 and the Pentax 10-17 Fishy, but I know people also rave about the pentax 12-24.

In terms of longer focal length, I have the DA*300 and it is dreamy - and so is the DA*200! I believe the 60-250 is too. The big sigmas are good value I think although they are big lumps to carry around so that's worth consideration. I rather like the sigma 70-200 f2.8, which you could use with teleconverters (1.4x or 2x) to modify the focal lengths and still get decent results. Definitely worth a look, although I don't think the sigma TCs yet support HSM focussing, which the lens has...

Of course the pentax 55-300 is also worth a look. Very good quality for the money and great value. Would leave enough change for all sorts of other things too

Decisions decisions...

Hello. There are Sigma teleconverters which will fit your lens to my knowledge - a 1.4x and a 2x. However, in Pentax fit at least (I don't know about other brands), they do not support HSM as far as I am aware. Therefore they provide for the longer focal length but the lenses become manual focus with the TC attached. I assume that they were originally included in the sigma range before their lenses were made with HSM focussing and that as yet the designs have not been updated (which is a shame) - maybe there will be an updated version in the near future (who knows

Others here will know whether there are other brands of TC which work with HSM. I am fairly sure that Sigma TCs will only fit Sigma lenses, but I am unsure whether other brand TCs will also fit Sigma lenses...

Hope that helps

That's a very cool idea... I like it

Gosh that is very striking! I like it very much - well done! Nice exposure too

Regards

Wow these are great - such a fantastic viewpoint you have! The Munshir Hat pics look very seasonal - almost looks like a snow-covered landscape. I love the mountains, especially the last one taken over Turkey - that is awesome! Fantastic stuff.

Regards

Thanks folks - I like the balloons idea! the original post is actually a 'full' inverse of the pic as taken, although as the moon is pretty neutrally toned it still looks 'positive' when inverted; I thought it looked pretty striking against a white background. Here is the original in technicolour:




Looking out the window tonight I reckon it'll be a while before I see the moon again!

Cheers

Hello all, I know there have been plenty moon shots on the forum here in the past, and there was such a glorious moon last night (from where I was at least) I though I would have a crack, and then, for a bit of fun, decided to try and make it look a little different...

This was taken with the sigma 100-300 (@300) with 2x teleconverter on a (now evidently slightly wobbly) tripod (I fear I need something a little sturdier than I currently have for a 600mm lens:shock, and then a little PP.




Hope you like it. I have a number of moon 'variations' on flickr... some of them even look a little more normal.

Regards

Cool shot - excellent job and well done for winning

Regards