[gary1952]

I shoot wildlife and am really getting into the flowers and landscape where i shoot. Also butterflys and small insects.
I currently only have big glass. What would you guys suggest for an excellent lens fot this work.
At present i only have Sigma.. Go figure....
Thanks in advange...

[hangu]

I'd recommend a dedicated 90mm-105mm macro lens and a wide angle (15mm) for landscape. If you're short on budget, a manual focus 50mm f2.8 macro lens would double up for both functions. Most of them are 1:2 so you may need to buy extension tubes to reach 1:1, but they're relatively inexpensive (under $50) for the good ones.

[northcoastgreg]

For landscapes, either the DA 12-24 or the DA 16-45 can work, depending on your budget and focal range needs. Flowers, butterflies, and insects will need something more along the lines of the Tamron 90mm or the Pentax DFA 100.

[Blue]

I shoot wildlife and am really getting into the flowers and landscape where i shoot. Also butterflys and small insects.
I currently only have big glass. What would you guys suggest for an excellent lens fot this work.
At present i only have Sigma.. Go figure....
Thanks in advange...

Which Sigma? The 50mm macro, 70mm macro and 105mm macro will work well on flowers. For both landscape & flowers, the DA 35mm ltd is an excellent choice.

[stover98074]

I use manual focus lenses for landscapes and macro. Recently I picked up a M42 Tokina 17mm 3.5 lens for $100. Wider lenses have generous dof and are relatively easy to focus and work well when stopped down a few stops – I do not miss shots due to focus and do not need autofocus for landscapes.

I use enlarging lenses for macro and they run about $35 / lens. You could have a wide angle landscape lens, a few enlarging lenses and M42 tubes for about $200.

Here is an article on inexpensive manual focus macro if this is of interest.

http://sites.google.com/site/inexpensivemacrophotography/

[mattb123]

I also like to shoot macro and landscapes. I have the DA15 if I want to go wide but I have found a really nice combo in a DA40 and a Vivitar PK-A/R-PK which is a "Macro focusing tele adapter".
So if I take that combo on a hike I can get both this with just the 40:


And this when I include the PK-A/R-PK:


With a pretty small package. The disadvantage is having to change lenses in the field but that is just often the case. Especially if you shoot with primes. I've also had good closeup results with this converter behind my A 50mm too.

That TC is no longer made but they show up on ebay fairly regularly. It allows for auto aperture but manual focus only. For macro that's fine.

[KxBlaze]

I shoot wildlife and am really getting into the flowers and landscape where i shoot. Also butterflys and small insects.
I currently only have big glass. What would you guys suggest for an excellent lens fot this work.
At present i only have Sigma.. Go figure....
Thanks in advange...

I would have to say the DA 35mm Ltd Macro. This way you can save a little by buying only one lens that will suit both needs instead of 2, also you would be carrying 1 less lens around and the DA35 is a great lens.

[mtngal]

I really like the DA 35 Ltd macro, but it's not so good for small bugs - they tend to fly off before you get to 1:1. I've been using it for landscape and close-up and really like it. When I want to do 1:1 I use a 105 macro lens, it gives you more space to work. I also use the 12-24 for landscapes, but I find I have to think about it more (I'm not naturally a wide-angle type of person so I have to think about composition more). It's great to have all that extra dof though.

[germar]

You didn't actually say if budget was an over-riding factor, but....

If you're okay with money:

DA 21 for landscape and FA 100 Macro for bug macros.... the 100 is better because you can stand away and not frighten them off.

If you're on a shoestring budget:

SMC Macro Takumar 100mm f4 and a SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5. Older, less much less costly lenses. Fully manual and screwmount, but this glass has a reputation for returning images that are simply amazing! You can probably find both for about a third of the price of a DA21. I suggest these fully manual lenses as I find that I am "taking my time" usually while shooting landscapes and macros, so the speed of auto focus and auto exposure are not critical.

germar

[Blue]

I really like the DA 35 Ltd macro, but it's not so good for small bugs - they tend to fly off before you get to 1:1. I've been using it for landscape and close-up and really like it. When I want to do 1:1 I use a 105 macro lens, it gives you more space to work. I also use the 12-24 for landscapes, but I find I have to think about it more (I'm not naturally a wide-angle type of person so I have to think about composition more). It's great to have all that extra dof though.

Small bugs can fly off with a 100 or 105mm macro at 1:1 as well. I sometimes actually prefer the 35 ltd for more dangerous insects anyway because I'm less likely to have to use the ring flash. Plus, the OP asked about flowers and landscape. My Sigma 105mm is that last lens I would reach for for that.

[Blue]

. . .

DA 21 for landscape and FA 100 Macro for bug macros.... the 100 is better because you can stand away and not frighten them off.



germar

You guys that keeps saying stuff like this cracks me up. What and inch? To make a major over all difference you are talking about a 180 to 200mm macro lenses or maybe the Sigma 150 that isn't available in Pentax mount. The DA 35mm is also more hand-holdable at 1:1 than the 105mm. I also pick the lens based on the perspective I want.

Da 35mm ltd



Sigma 105mm

[gary1952]

Thanks alot guys... I think I have a good idea what i need now.
Nice pics by the way....

[stillshunter]

It might just be me Blue, but getting that close to wasps - especially here in Australia - is pretty game!!!

So how you finding the DA35 beyond the macro and out past about 6 feet? Or for infinity shots for the matter of landscapes.

[hcc]

I agree with a number of earlier posts. For flowers, I have used successfully the Tamron SP90mm macro, and I use both MF and AF.

[mokey]

I've got a SMC Pentax-M 100mm macro f4. Absolutely amazing lens for closeups of insects and flowers. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=66188&stc=1&d...1&d=1278988134