Originally posted by mccririck Which of the macros would you recommend getting first?
Originally posted by photoptimist Go for a long focal length macro (100 mm and up) if you want to shoot insects and other skittish creatures. A longer lens lets you be further from the subject.Go for a short focal length macro (50, 35, or shorter) if you want to go much higher than 1:1. A shorter lens needs less additional extension/bellows distance to get to high magnification.
For some reason I've happen to acquire many macros (50s mostly)... This is just some notes:
M42s:
-Preset Macro-Takumar will do 1:1 at 50mm and it is a beauty. Slow at f4 wide open.
-Vivitar (Komine) 55mm will also do 1:1 and it is faster at f2.8 (sorry, not a pentax brand)
K mount (my experience is limited to 1:2 macros here):
-K 50/4 - lovely and sharp, but slow at f4
-A 50/2.8 - really nice and faster.
-A 100/4 = it is a good lens, but be aware that the A series suffers from haziness in the front group due likely to the cement holding the elements together.
If I had to keep 2 of the bunch = the A 50/2.8 and the macro-tak preset 50/4.
Note - Sigma EX line has some good macros (Pepperberry's got great examples on these) - but again OP was looking at Pentax glass.