Prime Macro Options and Opinions in the 70-105mm focal length range

Piotr · 03-07-2007, 03:04 AM

You can buy FA 100/2.8 macro from SH photo in germany.

SH Photo Pentax Lenses and Accessories

they have 3 of them for 349 Euro.

P.S> I'm not marketing this site, in fact few weeks ago they offer FA* 28-70/2.8 for 500 Euro and I ordered it

. Before they send it to me they discovered that it is broken

. They return money.

Personally I'm more then happy owner of this lens.

Best of Macro Photo Gallery by Piotr Sobolewski at pbase.com
Flowers Photo Gallery by Piotr Sobolewski at pbase.com

Dana G · 03-07-2007, 04:00 AM

I bought the 100mm A Dental Macro from someone over at the UK forums, and it's a pleasure to use.

Macro seems to work best with manual focus anyway, it's very critical to get the focus just exactly at the spot you want it to be - which may or may not be where a sensor spot is.

**Lowell Goudge** · 03-07-2007, 07:36 AM

Depending on what you already have, there are other options available.

As a carry over from film, I have an SMC-M 100mm F4 which has a 1:2 macro ratio without extension tubes and can go 1:1 with extension tubes. What I do is use it with a 1.7x autofocus adaptor.

Combined with the format of the ASP-C sensor it is just as good as the new lenses, but has one advantage, specifically the distance from subject. This is especially true with the 1.7x adaptor and is good if your subjects don't stay put when you get close.

While the comments regarding auto focus and focus limiters are interesting, this combination is the best of both, you have limited autofocus to get accurate focus within the range of the adaptor and lens, and it is not trying to focus over the entire focusing distance of the lens. You get close manually and let the camera do the rest.

I also have a set of close up lenses for my 28-105 which I can carry if I don't want to pack a lot of other stuff or if I get caught without my macro lens, but the zoom isn't as sharp for macro as a true macro lens.

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03-07-2007, 03:04 AM	#16
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	You can buy FA 100/2.8 macro from SH photo in germany. SH Photo Pentax Lenses and Accessories they have 3 of them for 349 Euro. P.S> I'm not marketing this site, in fact few weeks ago they offer FA* 28-70/2.8 for 500 Euro and I ordered it . Before they send it to me they discovered that it is broken . They return money. Personally I'm more then happy owner of this lens. Best of Macro Photo Gallery by Piotr Sobolewski at pbase.com Flowers Photo Gallery by Piotr Sobolewski at pbase.com

03-07-2007, 04:00 AM	#17
Dana G Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Masachusetts Posts: 245	I bought the 100mm A Dental Macro from someone over at the UK forums, and it's a pleasure to use. Macro seems to work best with manual focus anyway, it's very critical to get the focus just exactly at the spot you want it to be - which may or may not be where a sensor spot is.

03-07-2007, 07:36 AM	#18
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,338	Depending on what you already have, there are other options available. As a carry over from film, I have an SMC-M 100mm F4 which has a 1:2 macro ratio without extension tubes and can go 1:1 with extension tubes. What I do is use it with a 1.7x autofocus adaptor. Combined with the format of the ASP-C sensor it is just as good as the new lenses, but has one advantage, specifically the distance from subject. This is especially true with the 1.7x adaptor and is good if your subjects don't stay put when you get close. While the comments regarding auto focus and focus limiters are interesting, this combination is the best of both, you have limited autofocus to get accurate focus within the range of the adaptor and lens, and it is not trying to focus over the entire focusing distance of the lens. You get close manually and let the camera do the rest. I also have a set of close up lenses for my 28-105 which I can carry if I don't want to pack a lot of other stuff or if I get caught without my macro lens, but the zoom isn't as sharp for macro as a true macro lens.

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