Macro lens suggestions please

TraciA · 11-27-2016, 01:19 PM

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I'm looking to buy a macro lens soon. Hopefully even tomorrow if I can find a good sale price. I've looked at Pentax & Tamron, 80, 100 & 105 mm. Not sure which length/manufacturer combo right now. Anyone have one they love that they would recommend to me?

**pepperberry farm** · 11-27-2016, 01:23 PM

looking only at new or are used lenses under consideration?

I am partial to the Tamron 90mm lenses; I have the Adaptall-2 72B model and it's a stunner...

jimr-pdx · 11-27-2016, 01:39 PM

No bad choices really, but a focus limiter or WR might be factors to consider.

lemonsoda · 11-27-2016, 01:47 PM

I had almost every AF macro available in PK-mount. My recommendation: take the one you find at a good price!

They all perform very well. If price ist not important, I would suggest to take the Pentax 100 WR. It's very small an a fine piece of metal.

normhead · 11-27-2016, 01:50 PM

If you can find one, an FA 50 macro 2.8 is by far the smallest.

lemonsoda · 11-27-2016, 02:00 PM

The smallest is the DA 35 Ltd.

And regarding the difference in size between F(A) 50 and DFA 100 WR: seems not to be so much.....

normhead · 11-27-2016, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by lemonsoda

The smallest is the DA 35 Ltd.

And regarding the difference in size between F(A) 50 and DFA 100 WR: seems not to be so much.....

I was just thinking that when I posted. The DFA 100 is quite small for what it is, but my wife own a Tamron 90, I didn't want two lenses that close in focal length so I got the Sigma 70 macro...which is a cheaper option, but it's so heavy (a la Sigma in general) it usually gets left home in favour of the 50. The Sigma is also a super lens, I would add it to the "if you can get it at a good price" list.

Last edited by normhead; 11-27-2016 at 02:14 PM.

**TwoUptons** · 11-27-2016, 02:16 PM

I just got the slightly odd but apparently good FA 105 f3.5 macro, and it seems to do a very good job.

A note that unlike other recent Pentax macros, it does need a matched close-up filter to do 1:1.

It was decently priced here on the marketplace...

-Eric

Paul the Sunman · 11-27-2016, 02:58 PM

The current Pentax 100mm macro has no aperture ring and so can't be used with extension tubes, if that's an issue. The Tamron 90mm and previous versions of the Pentax 100 do have aperture rings.

lemonsoda · 11-27-2016, 03:10 PM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

The current Pentax 100mm macro has no aperture ring and so can't be used with extension tubes,

It can.... I own a Soligor 25mm extension tube with full AF an aperture control. This one should be similar:

for Pentax K PK 25mm Auto Focus AF Close-up Macro Extension Tubes KOOKA KK-P25 | eBay

Nass · 11-27-2016, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by TraciA

I'm looking to buy a macro lens soon. Hopefully even tomorrow if I can find a good sale price. I've looked at Pentax & Tamron, 80, 100 & 105 mm. Not sure which length/manufacturer combo right now. Anyone have one they love that they would recommend to me?

Start by honing in on what you want to photograph. That'll tell you what mm lens to buy. For example butterflies, all over the place and hard to approach, are shot with different lenses than say relatively smaller and stationary ladybirds. There are very few bad macro lenses; as you're new to it I'd look at something cheaper at first until you're sure that macro is your thing.

TraciA · 11-27-2016, 05:53 PM

I have the Pentax DA 35mm 2.8 Macro. I really like it, but I don't like having to get so close to things. I mostly use it for photographing inside small spaces, such as family gatherings etc. I also have theTamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro. Is that one "good enough" for macro? I haven't really used it for such enough to make a determination. It is so heavy!

**Alex645** · 11-27-2016, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by lemonsoda

I had almost every AF macro available in PK-mount. My recommendation: take the one you find at a good price!

They all perform very well. If price ist not important, I would suggest to take the Pentax 100 WR. It's very small an a fine piece of metal.

+1 agreed, if price is not a factor, Iʻve found the Pentax 100mm WR the top macro of the bunch. I also shoot with a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 macro, and find the Pentax 100mm WR f/2.8 macro a tad sharper even though it is half the price and half the weight.

dave2k · 11-27-2016, 06:24 PM

Good advice above I think regarding consideration of what you wish to shoot. I like to shoot insects at times and I wouldn't want to try with a lens shorter than my Tamron 90. I've been very pleased with this lens. The focusing is a little noisy but it seems fast enough. I've shot some of my favorite shots with this lens and I think the 1:1 ratio is a must-have. I think this lens is reasonably priced for its performance. The reviews on this forum are quite favorable with an average 9.3 overall rating and a 96% recommendation rate.

**BigDave** · 11-27-2016, 08:40 PM

OK, one thing you did not tell us, which camera do you have? Assuming you have a APS-C sensor camera (K50. K3, K5, K7 NOT K1), then a 50mm macro would be nice. The FA 50 IS great. But the Tamron 90mm is legendary as is the Pentax 100. I use the Sigma 105mm and find it exceptional. Each are well wotrh what you will pay for them new and if in good shape, then great investments if used.

Keep in mind that the shorter the lens, the closer you may need to get to your subject to get a good and true macro image (1:3 or better magnification). Everything above that is a close-up IMHO. A 50mm can work well on an APS-C sensor, and a 90/100/105 will let you get further away to get the same subject size in the image. You can even put extension tubes on a telephoto lens (try it with a 300mm f2.8 if you think your 70-200mm is heavy). Macro has many options, but as was brought up previously by Nass, you need to understand WHAT you wish to photograph in the macro world and then get the lens or system that will meet these needs.

11-27-2016, 01:19 PM	#1
TraciA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 149	Macro lens suggestions please Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I'm looking to buy a macro lens soon. Hopefully even tomorrow if I can find a good sale price. I've looked at Pentax & Tamron, 80, 100 & 105 mm. Not sure which length/manufacturer combo right now. Anyone have one they love that they would recommend to me?

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11-27-2016, 01:23 PM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,766	looking only at new or are used lenses under consideration? I am partial to the Tamron 90mm lenses; I have the Adaptall-2 72B model and it's a stunner...

11-27-2016, 01:39 PM	#3
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	No bad choices really, but a focus limiter or WR might be factors to consider.

11-27-2016, 01:47 PM	#4
lemonsoda Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: near Munich airport Posts: 60	I had almost every AF macro available in PK-mount. My recommendation: take the one you find at a good price! They all perform very well. If price ist not important, I would suggest to take the Pentax 100 WR. It's very small an a fine piece of metal.

11-27-2016, 01:50 PM	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	If you can find one, an FA 50 macro 2.8 is by far the smallest.

11-27-2016, 02:09 PM	#7
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by lemonsoda The smallest is the DA 35 Ltd. And regarding the difference in size between F(A) 50 and DFA 100 WR: seems not to be so much..... I was just thinking that when I posted. The DFA 100 is quite small for what it is, but my wife own a Tamron 90, I didn't want two lenses that close in focal length so I got the Sigma 70 macro...which is a cheaper option, but it's so heavy (a la Sigma in general) it usually gets left home in favour of the 50. The Sigma is also a super lens, I would add it to the "if you can get it at a good price" list. Last edited by normhead; 11-27-2016 at 02:14 PM.

11-27-2016, 02:16 PM	#8
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,225	I just got the slightly odd but apparently good FA 105 f3.5 macro, and it seems to do a very good job. A note that unlike other recent Pentax macros, it does need a matched close-up filter to do 1:1. It was decently priced here on the marketplace... -Eric

11-27-2016, 02:58 PM	#9
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,847	The current Pentax 100mm macro has no aperture ring and so can't be used with extension tubes, if that's an issue. The Tamron 90mm and previous versions of the Pentax 100 do have aperture rings.

11-27-2016, 03:10 PM	#10
lemonsoda Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: near Munich airport Posts: 60	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman The current Pentax 100mm macro has no aperture ring and so can't be used with extension tubes, It can.... I own a Soligor 25mm extension tube with full AF an aperture control. This one should be similar: for Pentax K PK 25mm Auto Focus AF Close-up Macro Extension Tubes KOOKA KK-P25 \| eBay

11-27-2016, 04:21 PM	#11
Nass Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The British Isles Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,402	Originally posted by TraciA I'm looking to buy a macro lens soon. Hopefully even tomorrow if I can find a good sale price. I've looked at Pentax & Tamron, 80, 100 & 105 mm. Not sure which length/manufacturer combo right now. Anyone have one they love that they would recommend to me? Start by honing in on what you want to photograph. That'll tell you what mm lens to buy. For example butterflies, all over the place and hard to approach, are shot with different lenses than say relatively smaller and stationary ladybirds. There are very few bad macro lenses; as you're new to it I'd look at something cheaper at first until you're sure that macro is your thing.

11-27-2016, 05:53 PM	#12
TraciA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 149 Original Poster	I have the Pentax DA 35mm 2.8 Macro. I really like it, but I don't like having to get so close to things. I mostly use it for photographing inside small spaces, such as family gatherings etc. I also have theTamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro. Is that one "good enough" for macro? I haven't really used it for such enough to make a determination. It is so heavy!

11-27-2016, 05:57 PM	#13
Alex645 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kaneohe, HI Photos: Albums Posts: 3,527	Originally posted by lemonsoda I had almost every AF macro available in PK-mount. My recommendation: take the one you find at a good price! They all perform very well. If price ist not important, I would suggest to take the Pentax 100 WR. It's very small an a fine piece of metal. +1 agreed, if price is not a factor, Iʻve found the Pentax 100mm WR the top macro of the bunch. I also shoot with a Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 macro, and find the Pentax 100mm WR f/2.8 macro a tad sharper even though it is half the price and half the weight.

11-27-2016, 06:24 PM	#14
dave2k Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 419	Good advice above I think regarding consideration of what you wish to shoot. I like to shoot insects at times and I wouldn't want to try with a lens shorter than my Tamron 90. I've been very pleased with this lens. The focusing is a little noisy but it seems fast enough. I've shot some of my favorite shots with this lens and I think the 1:1 ratio is a must-have. I think this lens is reasonably priced for its performance. The reviews on this forum are quite favorable with an average 9.3 overall rating and a 96% recommendation rate.

11-27-2016, 08:40 PM	#15
BigDave Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,626	OK, one thing you did not tell us, which camera do you have? Assuming you have a APS-C sensor camera (K50. K3, K5, K7 NOT K1), then a 50mm macro would be nice. The FA 50 IS great. But the Tamron 90mm is legendary as is the Pentax 100. I use the Sigma 105mm and find it exceptional. Each are well wotrh what you will pay for them new and if in good shape, then great investments if used. Keep in mind that the shorter the lens, the closer you may need to get to your subject to get a good and true macro image (1:3 or better magnification). Everything above that is a close-up IMHO. A 50mm can work well on an APS-C sensor, and a 90/100/105 will let you get further away to get the same subject size in the image. You can even put extension tubes on a telephoto lens (try it with a 300mm f2.8 if you think your 70-200mm is heavy). Macro has many options, but as was brought up previously by Nass, you need to understand WHAT you wish to photograph in the macro world and then get the lens or system that will meet these needs.