FA100mm F2.8 Macro Price

jawsy · 10-04-2015, 01:36 AM

Quick question; is $175USD a good price for a good but used FA100 2.8 Macro?

bhairavp · 10-04-2015, 01:46 AM

that sounds like an amazingly good price.

**kiwi_jono** · 10-04-2015, 02:33 AM

If its in good condition, its a bargain. Its a great lens.

jawsy · 10-04-2015, 02:34 AM

OK, thanks.

Wild Mark · 10-04-2015, 02:39 AM

yes - very good price. Extraordinary lens too.

TaoMaas · 10-04-2015, 04:53 AM

That's pretty decent. A friend ran across one for $150 and I told him I'd buy it off of him sight-unseen. Now that I have the lens...no regrets!

Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing.

Wild Mark · 10-04-2015, 05:04 AM

Originally posted by TaoMaas

Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing.

yes, as is the F series lens

Coatings are the other difference. I absolutely love the F100/2.8 and FA100/2.8 they are so easy to use and produce wonderful images.

jawsy · 10-04-2015, 05:23 AM

Originally posted by TaoMaas

That's pretty decent. A friend ran across one for $150 and I told him I'd buy it off of him sight-unseen. Now that I have the lens...no regrets!
Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing.

It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work.

TaoMaas · 10-04-2015, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by jawsy

It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work.

Just know that there are decent prices to be had if you have patience. To my mind, $175 is a good price. Really, anything under $200 is good. The differences between the FA and the DFA version of this lens boils down to lens coatings and weather-proofing. To me, that wasn't a big enough difference to warrant paying the price for the current lens.

Driline · 10-04-2015, 07:04 AM

There are some members here who posted they prefer the color rendering from the FA over the newer D FA version. I paid $235 for my FA 100 2.8 lens and have 3 canvas pictures taken by that lens that adorn my walls.

My 3 Amigos are the FA 31, the FA 100 macro, and the venerable F*300.

BrianR · 10-04-2015, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by jawsy

It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work.

The FA and the non-WR version of the DFA have aperture rings, the DFA WR doesn't. This is handy if you ever plan to use cheap extension tubes.

No quick shift focus on the FA model though, both DFA's have it. The focus limiter might help make up for that, I don't know. As AF has improved in the bodies, focus hunting through the long distance has become less of a problem for me at least. (Cue people saying how they don't use AF for macro, followed by people saying these lenses are also terrific at 'normal' distances as well)

Dlanor Sekao · 10-04-2015, 10:10 AM

I grabbed one off Goodwill for less than $100 shipped......was prepared to go double that. You got a Good Deal !

Wild Mark · 10-04-2015, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by BrianR

Cue people saying how they don't use AF for macro, followed by people saying these lenses are also terrific at 'normal' distances as well

This is a fun debate

I actually use AF a lot in macro photography. When it is windy especially and using flash. Have I started something here?

jawsy · 10-04-2015, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by Wild Mark

I actually use AF a lot in macro photography.

I'll certainly need it. Every now and again I need to stick the whole camera into a machine without being able to look through the viewfinder or rear screen. AF and focus limiting is a must have for me.

10-04-2015, 01:36 AM	#1
jawsy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422	FA100mm F2.8 Macro Price Quick question; is $175USD a good price for a good but used FA100 2.8 Macro?

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10-04-2015, 01:46 AM	#2
bhairavp Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 399	that sounds like an amazingly good price.

10-04-2015, 02:33 AM	#3
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	If its in good condition, its a bargain. Its a great lens.

10-04-2015, 02:34 AM	#4
jawsy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422 Original Poster	OK, thanks.

10-04-2015, 02:39 AM	#5
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	yes - very good price. Extraordinary lens too.

10-04-2015, 04:53 AM	#6
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	That's pretty decent. A friend ran across one for $150 and I told him I'd buy it off of him sight-unseen. Now that I have the lens...no regrets! Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing.

10-04-2015, 05:04 AM	#7
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Originally posted by TaoMaas Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing. yes, as is the F series lens Coatings are the other difference. I absolutely love the F100/2.8 and FA100/2.8 they are so easy to use and produce wonderful images.

10-04-2015, 05:23 AM	#8
jawsy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422 Original Poster	Originally posted by TaoMaas That's pretty decent. A friend ran across one for $150 and I told him I'd buy it off of him sight-unseen. Now that I have the lens...no regrets! Edited to add: I think it's the same optical formula as the most recent macro lens, isn't it? The main difference is in weather-sealing. It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work.

10-04-2015, 06:29 AM	#9
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by jawsy It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work. Just know that there are decent prices to be had if you have patience. To my mind, $175 is a good price. Really, anything under $200 is good. The differences between the FA and the DFA version of this lens boils down to lens coatings and weather-proofing. To me, that wasn't a big enough difference to warrant paying the price for the current lens.

10-04-2015, 07:04 AM	#10
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	There are some members here who posted they prefer the color rendering from the FA over the newer D FA version. I paid $235 for my FA 100 2.8 lens and have 3 canvas pictures taken by that lens that adorn my walls. My 3 Amigos are the FA 31, the FA 100 macro, and the venerable F*300.

10-04-2015, 07:18 AM	#11
BrianR Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,332	Originally posted by jawsy It was a bit hard to tell what a reasonable price was as the net auction sites are full of overly ambitious asking prices and I couldn't find any recent sales to benchmark. As for the difference between the FA and D FA I wouldn't know. Everything I've seen suggests the differences are virtually non-existent (to someone like me anyway.) The focus limiter attracted me for my intended use at work. The FA and the non-WR version of the DFA have aperture rings, the DFA WR doesn't. This is handy if you ever plan to use cheap extension tubes. No quick shift focus on the FA model though, both DFA's have it. The focus limiter might help make up for that, I don't know. As AF has improved in the bodies, focus hunting through the long distance has become less of a problem for me at least. (Cue people saying how they don't use AF for macro, followed by people saying these lenses are also terrific at 'normal' distances as well)

10-04-2015, 10:10 AM	#12
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	I grabbed one off Goodwill for less than $100 shipped......was prepared to go double that. You got a Good Deal !

10-04-2015, 02:53 PM	#13
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	Originally posted by BrianR Cue people saying how they don't use AF for macro, followed by people saying these lenses are also terrific at 'normal' distances as well This is a fun debate I actually use AF a lot in macro photography. When it is windy especially and using flash. Have I started something here?

10-04-2015, 03:36 PM	#14
jawsy Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 422 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wild Mark I actually use AF a lot in macro photography. I'll certainly need it. Every now and again I need to stick the whole camera into a machine without being able to look through the viewfinder or rear screen. AF and focus limiting is a must have for me.