[ageha]

Are there any current and legacy 1:1 AF macro lenses about 200mm for Pentax?

[neil]

Yes, there is a great resource here at PF.

Look under FA Primes to start and then continue exploring, LOTS of info and reviews...

By the way, they are rare and will cost you a pretty penny.

[TER-OR]

I'll add that the 100mm macro lenses are really very good if you don't absolutely need 200mm.

[ageha]

I'll add that the 100mm macro lenses are really very good if you don't absolutely need 200mm.

I have no experience with ~100mm macro lenses, I only owned an A-mount 30mm lens and I have a FD 200mm lens. I like the reach of the 200mm for butterflies and insects.




The FD lens isn't too bad but I'm still interested in Pentax bodies.

[sam-joseph]

Isn't there a Sigma 150mm f2.8, and a new 180mm f2.8 macro?

Regards

[RioRico]

My preferred ~200mm macro option: bellows + 2 sets of cheap PK macro tubes + Eastman Projection Anastigmat 190/4.5 (US$12 shipped). Various 8in enlarger lenses work fine too.

[ageha]

Isn't there a Sigma 150mm f2.8, and a new 180mm f2.8 macro?

Regards

I haven't seen the Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM for Pentax yet.

My preferred ~200mm macro option: bellows + 2 sets of cheap PK macro tubes + Eastman Projection Anastigmat 190/4.5 (US$12 shipped). Various 8in enlarger lenses work fine too.

Any examples?

[neil]

Isn't there a Sigma 150mm f2.8, and a new 180mm f2.8 macro?

Regards

I called Sigma about these lenses the other day. They told me they will not be coming out in the Pentax mount..."not enough demand".

He recommended emailing Sigma Japan to let them know I would want it in the Pentax mount. Maybe if enough of us request it, it can happen...

[ageha]

I called Sigma about these lenses the other day. They told me they will not be coming out in the Pentax mount..."not enough demand".

He recommended emailing Sigma Japan to let them know I would want it in the Pentax mount. Maybe if enough of us request it, it can happen...

Thanks for the update mate. Bad news...

[RioRico]

Any examples?

I can't post any pictures now. I'm on the road for a few months and I didn't bring my photo-archive drive with me. But enlarger lenses are pretty popular for macro shooting because they're built for such close work, and they're often astoundingly cheap. Their disadvantage, compared to dedicated macro lenses, is that aperture control is totally manual. I can't afford hundreds or thousands of dollars for long auto-aperture lenses, so I put up with the inconvenience.

[ageha]

I can't post any pictures now. I'm on the road for a few months and I didn't bring my photo-archive drive with me. But enlarger lenses are pretty popular for macro shooting because they're built for such close work, and they're often astoundingly cheap. Their disadvantage, compared to dedicated macro lenses, is that aperture control is totally manual. I can't afford hundreds or thousands of dollars for long auto-aperture lenses, so I put up with the inconvenience.

How portable is your setup on a trip?

[RioRico]

How portable is your setup on a trip?

No worse than using a macro lens. I haven't a 200mm macro to compare, but I *do* have a 90mm macro, and my M42 bellows + tubes + ~100mm enlarger lens (EL) setup is slightly bulkier but rather lighter. In fact on my current road trip I brought the M42 Bellowscope bellows + cheap tubes + various ELs at 75-90-105-140mm rather than the Vivitar-Komine 90/2.8 macro.

[marcusyoung]

No worse than using a macro lens. I haven't a 200mm macro to compare, but I *do* have a 90mm macro, and my M42 bellows + tubes + ~100mm enlarger lens (EL) setup is slightly bulkier but rather lighter. In fact on my current road trip I brought the M42 Bellowscope bellows + cheap tubes + various ELs at 75-90-105-140mm rather than the Vivitar-Komine 90/2.8 macro.

Are you seeking more than 1 magnification with bellows and tubes?2:1 mag? Why do you need a 200 mm macro? It is for the working distance?

I am asking becos I own A200 macro plus voigtlander macro and many other shorter focal length macro and each serves its own purposes.

marcus

[RioRico]

Are you seeking more than 1 magnification with bellows and tubes?2:1 mag? Why do you need a 200 mm macro? It is for the working distance?

A 180-200mm macro is only rationally used because of the working distance. Trying to go to or beyond 1:1 requires a LOT of extension. I've mentioned using a 400mm tele with 2x TC and tons of extension, mounted on a shoulder stock, for taking closeups of live rattlesnakes in the field from a safe distance, like 3-4m. For great magnification, use MUCH shorter glass, like 35-50mm enlarger lenses (ELs).

I am asking becos I own A200 macro plus voigtlander macro and many other shorter focal length macro and each serves its own purposes.

And I have 28-40-50-90mm macro lenses, and they all have their own roles. I use a bellows with 75-90-105-140mm ELs for moderate magnification in the field.

[bdery]

You can capture such images (like the one of your butterfly) with a 100mm macro. Heck, you can even do so with a manual Vivitar series 1 70-210





Or a FA100-300:



If you're interested in learning more about current macro lenses, I just published a comparison here on PentaxForums:

Tamron 90mm Macro vs Pentax 100mm WR: Review - Introduction - PentaxForums.com