[cendoubleu]

Hi All, I have a Pentax K70 and am thinking of improving my macro setup for this next summer. I currently have a Sigma 90mm manual focus KA mount lens, but I am finding it difficult as I get older to get spot-on sharp shots when taking, say, butterflys. I thought Pentax did a 100mm 2.8 but cant find anyone stocking it here in the UK. Do Pentax do a macro lens in the 80-100mm range or do I have to look at Tamron or Sigma. Thanks in anticipation

[bertwert]

Yep! There's the Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro which is regarded as one of the best Pentax lenses out there. And it has the bonus of being WR too, a quick Google search found it at SRS: https://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/pentax-smc-dfa-100mm-f2-8-wr-macro-lens.html

[pepperberry farm]

and Tamron's 90/2.8 AF macro isca popular lens, also....

[cendoubleu]

Yep! There's the Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro which is regarded as one of the best Pentax lenses out there. And it has the bonus of being WR too, a quick Google search found it at SRS: Pentax D-FA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro Lens

Thanks for that Bert. My first port of call when looking was SRS, I guess I must have missed it! (Senior moment!)

[ramseybuckeye]

Have you tried using a tripod with live view and magnification? It might be tough with butterflies, but I have better luck shooting them with a telephoto anyways.

[FozzFoster]

the 100 WR is an awesome lens - very sharp! one of the 'Forgotten Limited' lens IMO!

[aslyfox]

if the OP has no problem with " experienced " lenses look at the F, FA, and D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro lenses

The optical design is the tried-and-proven formula of the previous generation D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro lens, which in turn had inherited the optical design from the well-respected FA 100mm F2.8 and F 100mm F2.8 macro lenses introduced in 1991 and 1987, respectively. None of these earlier lenses had rounded aperture blades.

Read more at: Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 WR Macro Review - Specifications | PentaxForums.com Reviews

yes there are differences between those and the latest D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR

but if cost is an option perhaps one of the earlier versions might do the job for you

[Not a Number]

It won't matter to you in the UK but US Ricoh is has a special with the 100 WR for $399 plus the 100 Years of Pentax commemorative camera strap.

[biz-engineer]

Pentax D-FA 100 macro WR.

[MikeyBugs95]

There's also the Sigma 105mm f2.8 lens. I've never used it but I've heard that it's a great lens too.

[hypermodern]

The DFA 100mm is one of my top 5 lenses!

[Apet-Sure]

I bought a used Pentax-F 100mm f2.8 Macro from a forum member and have been thrilled with it. My sharpest lens.
IMGP5694 1200x800crop - Apet-Sure's Album: Nature-K5IIs - PentaxForums.com
IMGP5865 1200x800 - Apet-Sure's Album: Nature-K5IIs - PentaxForums.com

[JensE]

Using the DFA100WR with autofocus at macro distances means AF will be rather slow. I usually use my DFA100WR with manual focus + life view with focus peaking to easily judge the plane of focus. For butterflies, if you really want to use AF, you could consider using the HD DA 55-300 PLM, potentially with a 3 diopter achromat, instead. Two examples are in my bee album (and Honeybee on a thistle in France. - JensE's Album: Bees, Honey and Beekeeping - PentaxForums.com), both with a Marumi DHG 330 (+3) Achromat.

[aslyfox]

there is a section of the forums dedicated to macro

you could also check out this thread which shows what some of us have been able to do, with or without a dedicated macro lens

Pollinators in action - Page 46 - PentaxForums.com

[ warning - it is not a short thread ]

I would recommend a dedicated macro lens capable of 1:1 but I admit that I am no expert in macro just a dabbler

The Advantages of a Dedicated Macro Lens
Achieving lift-size magnification
By PF Staff in Tutorial Videos on Apr 4, 2016

Read more at: The Advantages of a Dedicated Macro Lens - Tutorial Videos | PentaxForums.com

a dedicated macro lens would be a good lens even if not used for macro

[ I have the D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro ( no WR )

[7.62lew]

I had the Tamron 90mm af. It was a good all around lens. Focus locked on good with my K5IIs and worked well as a regular lens as well as macro. I should have kept it