[junkbench]

I have several macro lenses -- DA 35mm f/2.8 Limited Macro, S-M-C Macro-Takumar 50/4, and the Tamron Adaptall 100mm f/2.8 (72B).

I use the Tamron most often. It's quite sharp, not too heavy, and has a 270-degree focus throw. It has a 1:1 magnification. My Adaptall adapter doesn't have the 'A' setting, so setting the exposure and focusing are both manual.

Tamron SP MF MACRO 1:1 (72B) 90mm F2.8 Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

- Craig

Thanks again

[boriscleto]

I have 2 copies of the Tamron Adaptall-2 SP (52B/52BB) 90mm F2.5 Lens Reviews - Tamron Adaptall Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Only 1:2 but more common than the 72B. Great lens.

I also have the Sigma 50mm with A setting. Sigma Macro 50mm F2.8 Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

And a Rokunar 90mm F2.5 1:1 with A setting. Panagor Macro PMC 90mm F2.8 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

I also have the AF version of the Cosina 100mm F3.5 (branded Phoenix). Cosina ( Vivitar etc) MC Makro 100mm F3.5 Lens Reviews - Cosina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Only 1:2 but has a matched 1:1 diopter. Pentax rebranded it as the FA 100mm F3.5 Macro...

[JensE]

I'm afraid that several answers haven't really taken the objectives into account and I'll stick to somewhat longer lenses ...

The LAOWA 2:1 100mm f/2.8 and the IRIX 150mm macro mentioned above are fairly large and heavy, but I use both. Whenever I want a lightweight setup (90mm+), I reach for the DFA100WR, usually also focusing manually (racking focus). Hard to beat: 49mm filter thread, excellent narrow hood protecting the lightweight inner plastic tube, excellent MF feel. Great as an all-around 100mm lens, just don't AF in life view. Best macro that I have in terms of high contrast handling. Bright viewfinder (/2.8), even though photographically, there's rarely a use for me at f/2.8. I mostly shoot close to/slightly beyond the diffraction limit. The two things I dislike are an unpleasant foreground blur and some LoCA/fringing.


From an optical construction, there was a gradual refinement starting from an obviously new design with the A100/2.8 and continuing to date, given the announcements for an update to the DFA100WR (some used original DFAs may thus show up in the marketplace soon). While fine stopped down, older compact designs will not perform as well wide open and/or at long distances, limiting their general purpose usefulness. The simple M100/4 or A100/4 macros fall into that category as well as many 3rd party ones from that age such as e.g. the Elicar 90mm/2.5: It is sharp stopped down, but rather soft wide open and by Pentax standards extremely susceptible to flare, but the best 'classic' that I could find in terms of nice out-of-focus transition considering both, foreground and background. Now superseded by the LAOWA 2:1 in my use.


My very lightweight travel setup is however a fitting achromat for the DA55-300plm, a combo which stopped-down performs really well, with just a little more LoCA than dedicated macro lenses and for sure some field curvature or distortion, both fairly irrelevant in my use. And, to an extent, the most usable AF at macro distances that I have come across.

[ramiot]

May I add that the Pentax FA 100 mm F:2.8 macro that is on sale in the marketplace at 175$ may just meet your demands . Go see the different pictures taken with this macro lens. Ans it is a very good lens for landscape too...

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Last edited by ramiot; 10-14-2022 at 05:48 PM.

[pepperberry farm]

since we are looking at the longer end of the spectrum, I'll throw my nickel in also...

Tokina AT-X 90mm f2.5 - the Bokina - only 1:2 without the specific extension, but an amazing piece of glass...

Tamron Adaptall-2 SP 72B - 90mm f2.8 - this is a 1:1 macro on its own and it is another stunning lens

Cosina 100mm f3.5 Macro - this is a 1:2 macro, but there is an additional diopter that was standard with the lens that brought it up to 1:1 - light and easy to to use

Irix 150mm f2.8 Macro - slightly ponderous in size/weight, but a stupendous 1:1 macro lens on its own

the current D FA 100mm f2.8 Macro WR, when purchased second-hand, can fill the bill also...

[junkbench]

Thanks everyone for your replies, lot of good lens ideas here, I'm definitely going to a snag a SMC 50 F4 macro (I ended up cancelling the one I had ordered, didnt want to risk the haze issue) as well as one of the 90-100 macros that you've listed. I have to say and I say this all the time in real life when people ask why I shoot Pentax, the Pentax community makes shooting a Pentax worth while, it really does, theres a lot of cameras out there but theres only one community like this with so many experienced people who have worked with such a preponderance of gear and know what's worth it and what isn't. Have a great weekend and thanks again.

[GUB]

it's a 90-230 M42 on an extension tube with a separate aperture to pull the aperture further back and add blades

Interesting. Obviously a rounder aperture has an effect but do you see effect from the placement?

[junkbench]

Interesting. Obviously a rounder aperture has an effect but do you see effect from the placement?

Yes, basically (and others may chime in here to explain the why better than I can) my reasoning was that by pulling the aperture backward I could run the (old, no MC, and crappy sharpness wide open) zoom wide open on its own aperture (7 blades, IIRC but might be 6) and then use the aperture further back (12 bladed) and thereby somewhat help defraction while also getting a better bokeh. You can check the images I posted here, all of those were taken with this lens setup. I really like it for bug hunting because it has a really generous working distance and it's relatively sharp, but I would prefer something sharper of course. Since it's an M42 lens I was able to add in a helicoid easily so I can adjust the extension from roughly 30 at minimum all he way up to, well (?)) about 60 or so depending upon which helicoid I put on there and extend.

irix 150mm 1:1
https://irixlens.com/photo-lenses/150mm/

[tryphon4]

I currently own several macro lenses but are almost never use some of them.

I currenltly use mostly:
1 - Laowa 100mm F2.8 APO 2x Ultra-Macro - This is my main macro lens: rather good bokeh, very sharp, no CA, goes to 2:1, not too heavy, useful working distance. Drawback: none.

2 - Irix 150mm F/2.8 macro - This is my second choice : very good bokeh (according to me), sharp, no visible CA, rather good working distance. Drawbacks: rather heavy and big.

3 - Bresser/Oshiro (Laowa copy?) 60mm macro F/2.8 - This is my third choice : very good bokeh (according to me), very sharp, few CA, goes to 2:1, lightweight. Drawbacks: no automatic aperture, short working distance.

I rarely use my Tamron 90mm macro Di (it is not bad but the Laowa 100mm is just more flexible), my Sigma 180mm F3.5 APO EX DG IF macro (too heavy, too long, working distance generally too long), my Zhongyi Mitakon 85mm F2.8 1-5x super macro (needs lots of PT in order to correct low contrast and visible blooming), my Panagor Macro PMC 90mm F2.8 (no automatic aperture), my enlarging lenses (no automatic aperture, hard to use in the fields).

[jjdgti]

I am very surprised that no one recommended the Vivitar Series 1 105mm 2.8 and its sibling versions Lester Dine 105mm 2.8 and the Kiron 105mm 2.8.

All of these are excellent Macros. I find those better than the Pentax FA 100mm 2.8.

The only macro that in my opinion is better than this trio is the Pentax A 100mm 2.8. A real classic and very hard to find.

[rvandenbrink]

I’m looking at the Pentax 100mm WR, I plan to buy in late winter (and start using it in the spring). I am hopeful that the new 100mm macro will be out before that day comes - I hope buy the new one, but the price on the current model will likely drop then too, it’lll make for a fun decision

[tryphon4]

I am very surprised that no one recommended the Vivitar Series 1 105mm 2.8 and its sibling versions Lester Dine 105mm 2.8 and the Kiron 105mm 2.8.

All of these are excellent Macros. I find those better than the Pentax FA 100mm 2.8.

The Vivitar Series 1 105mm 2.8 is very sought (and maybe quite overpriced). I never tried this lens but could see lots of photos taken using it. Some of them show some CA, yet this lens is very sharp.

The Pentax 100mm F/2.8 lenses show some CA and some PF, which I find unsightly.

There are lots of good or excellent macro lenses (the Tokina "Bokina" 90mm F/2.5 is another one). I think there is no perfect macro lens, you just use the one that will meet your needs, so it is better to own at least two (e.g., one for sharpness, one for bokeh+colors).

As this topic is about MF lenses, AF lenses like the Tamron 90mm Di are not in the scope.

[junkbench]

Ended up going for a Vivitar Series 1 105mm F2.5 Macro, I checked out CA's and stuff, none of that bothers me, it looks like exactly what I want, got a good deal on it. Now, lets hope it arrives and is as described (crossing fingers)

[PilotJohnPE]

In the distant past I used enlarging lenses mounted on bellows as macro lenses. Was pleased with the results. Haven't scanned any of the Kodachrome slides into digital to provide examples.