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02-25-2016, 02:39 PM   #1
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Which Macro, smc P-D FA 50 or HD 35 Limited?

Which Macro do you all prefer? The smc P-D FA 50mm 2.8 or the HD DA 35mm 2.8 Limited?
I read the ratings here on the site and it would seem the 35 is a better lens. But the 50 will work with the K-1 if I ever get one of those right?
What lens do you all use for your macro work?

02-25-2016, 02:44 PM   #2
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I have 35mm, 50mm and 100mm. 100mm is used 75% of the time. I really like the 50mm, I have the F version but the focal length is a bit short for what I do. The 35mm is a very nice 35mm lens but I've never found much use for it as a macro. just my style I'm sure, it is a great lens.
02-25-2016, 03:13 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by sarge Quote
Which Macro do you all prefer? The smc P-D FA 50mm 2.8 or the HD DA 35mm 2.8 Limited?
None of the above.

But I do use the SMC DA 35 Ltd Macro, as well as third-party 50 and 100mm macros.
Both the 35 and 50 get a lot of general use on APS-C, along with macro jobs.
02-25-2016, 03:28 PM   #4
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I also have the DA35mm, DFA50mm and DFA100mm (along with several 3rd party ones) and like Jatrax I would say that I use the 100 for probably 75% of my macro shots and the 50 most of the rest of the time (I find the 50 is really excels for flower shots) The only time that I use the 35 for macro is when I'm traveling light I will sometimes through the 35 in as a 'just in case' macro lens. Don't get me wrong, the 35 is a very good lens, it's just that I personally find the longer focal lengths more useful for what I shoot.

02-25-2016, 03:39 PM   #5
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I'll add in a vote for the 50. I have the HD 35 and an FA 50/2.8 macro, and on the whole for macro shots the 50 is more useful. The 35 is great as a normal that focuses as closely as you want. perfect for walking around when I might stumble upon a macro shot; but if going out specifically for macro I'd take a longer lens.
02-25-2016, 04:22 PM   #6
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I had the DFA 50 Macro and sold it to get the DA 35 Macro Limited, I later bought the DFA 100 mm WR. They are all great sharp lenses and serve somewhat different roles. The DA 35 Macro is an APS-C only lens that is very versatile as a walk around normal lens on the K-3 as well as macro for still objects such as stamps, coins and flowers. Its too short for living things such as butterflies, dragonflies, birds or frogs. This is where the 100 mm is the best choice. The DFA 50 is a compromise between the two but if you only want one macro and/or plan to get the K-1, this may be a good choice. For dedicated macro, overall, I would say the DFA-100 WR is the best of the three.
02-25-2016, 04:27 PM - 1 Like   #7
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I use SMCP DA35 Macro Limited f2.8, on K-3.

I don't do insect shots, and 35mm is a good macro focal length for me.

This lens is excellent for product shots, where you get close up to small objects. Anything from a button to a brick, say.

It renders images with the typical "DA Limited look", deep contrasts, superb micro contrast, and just gorgeous colours.

The level of fine detail is jaw-dropping. It just has a way of extracting fine detail I don't see elsewhere. Macro range bokeh is superb.

I also use it as a general walkabout lens; it's very versatile indeed, and fairly fast @f2.8 (and sharp wide open). Stopped down, the sharpness is, again, just stunning. Bokeh ranges from acceptable to very good. And all this with the "DA Limited look" mentioned above.

Mechanically speaking, it's compact, robust, has Quick Shift focusing, no WR.


Last edited by KDAFA; 02-25-2016 at 04:38 PM.
02-25-2016, 04:51 PM   #8
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Many threads about DA 35mm macro already. It is a very special macro lens, usually not recommended to macro-beginners. Usually we recommend a longer macro lens to start with, like Tamron 90mm, DFA 100mm, Sigma 105mm. So if you are a macro beginner, I would suggest the 50mm to start with, if not something longer still. Why? Because with 35mm macro you need to be really really really close to the subject you are photographing. Just a couple centimeters. Almost touching it. But it can give a more dramatic look than longer macro lenses.

That said, all Pentax macro lenses are really great in terms of optics (and pretty much everything else, as well). I can't even remember when anyone complained about the DA 35mm macro. That DFA 50mm is great, too - some say its the sharpest 50mm lens Pentax made. Ultimately, the answer is "buy both."
02-25-2016, 05:55 PM - 1 Like   #9
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personally I wish their macro lineup were more like: 35mm, 70mm, and 140mm (more like what Olympus used to do back in the OM days)

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02-25-2016, 07:22 PM   #10
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I've owned nearly all of the Pentax AF macro lenses, as well as a few Sigmas, and the Tamron 90. Longer FL always dominated my usage. %0 on crop was just fine for flowers, and while I liked my HD 35, same sentiments as some of the other posters. Super-sharp, great rendering, all of that stuff, but just not nearly as useful a FL for macro, for me. Onboard flash up close is tough too. I sold mine, and never looked back.
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