Question about Macro Lenses

[Sailor]

I have a DFA 100 on the way from Amazon/17th Street Photo. In looking over the specs on a Pentax web page, I see the minimum focusing distance is about a foot, but I also see the (to me unfamiliar) term, "working distance" (about 5 inches) cited. Can anyone tell me what the term, "working distance" means vis a vis a macro?

Thanks,

Jer

[pspentax]

Originally Posted by Sailor

I have a DFA 100 on the way from Amazon/17th Street Photo. In looking over the specs on a Pentax web page, I see the minimum focusing distance is about a foot, but I also see the (to me unfamiliar) term, "working distance" (about 5 inches) cited. Can anyone tell me what the term, "working distance" means vis a vis a macro?

Thanks,

Jer

Hi Jer,

The minimum focusing distance is the distance from the sensor plane of the camera to the subject.

The minimum working distance is the distance from the end of the lens to the subject.

Regards,

Pedro

[Marc Langille]

Originally Posted by Sailor

I have a DFA 100 on the way from Amazon/17th Street Photo. In looking over the specs on a Pentax web page, I see the minimum focusing distance is about a foot, but I also see the (to me unfamiliar) term, "working distance" (about 5 inches) cited. Can anyone tell me what the term, "working distance" means vis a vis a macro?

Thanks,

Jer

Hi Jer,

Working distance references the lens front element - the distance from the lens itself. MFD (min. focusing distance) is to the sensor/film plane.

My FA* 200/4 macro has a working distance of 11 inches, but it's 1.69 feet (approx. 20 inches) to the sensor/film plane:
Pentax Imaging: smc P-FA 200mm F4.0 ED (1:1 magnf) - FA - Macro - Digital & 35mm - Lenses - Cameras by Pentax

Cheers,
Marc

[Dana G]

Originally Posted by 35mmfilm_user

Hi Jer,


My FA* 200/4 macro has a working distance of 11 inches, but it's 1.69 feet (approx. 20 inches) to the sensor/film plane:


Cheers,
Marc

Where'd you find it? <DROOL!>

[Sailor]

Thanks Pedro and Marc - makes perfect sense.

Jer