Hello! Need some advice for buying lenses.

Tiu · 07-12-2009, 10:40 AM

Helllo to everyone!
Started photographing about few months ago and would like to get some advice on buying new lens. I'm interested in macro lens and have looked at DA35 limited and Sigma AF 105mm F2,8/Sigma AF 70mm F2,8 EX DG Macro. I'm interested in photographing small objects, flowers, but also some bugs(i've read theDA35 isn't good for it).

As i'm also planning to get FA50, which one of these macros would you suggest?(or something else?). The price should stay lower than 650$ - sigmas are sold here for about 640$ and DA35 about 570$). Right now i prefer the DA, because its price, it's Pentax, and (and beautiful pictures i've seen here).(Btw i use K200d)

K McCall · 07-12-2009, 11:21 AM

I (key word there - "I" - this may have no bearing whatsoever for you) prefer the 100mm range for macro shooting. I generally shoot flowers and bugs, but I find the focal length useful for portraiture and landscapes as well. As others here have noted, you have to get really, really close with the DA 35 for 1:1, and then there's a good chance that you've cut off your light source. I like the lens a lot, but you're limited a bit by the number of angles you can shoot from. With the 100-ish, you have a lot more range. Also, I find it easier to blur out the entire background or to have a uniform background with a longer focal length.

You honestly can't go wrong with either lens; both render color and light and contrast and bokeh beautifully. It just comes down to a matter of your style - the angles you like, the lighting you like, how you'll use it.

ricosuave · 07-12-2009, 12:48 PM

i'd echo getting something in the 100mm range.
in your price range, try getting a used vivitar/kiron 105mm macro (~$400).

kristoffon · 07-12-2009, 12:54 PM

I have a 100mm macro and often wish it were shorter because FOV is so small... Very hard to get focus where you want and impossible to get a whole bug in focus.

Before you get the ubiquitous 50mm be sure you really want that. It was standard focal length on film but it's rather long on digital. If you're going on reading about all the "standard fifties" that applies. Rather a 30-35mm becomes the standard focal length on digital cameras. If you get a 35mm macro it'll serve as both. Or get a 50mm macro and 28-35mm prime.

bdery · 07-12-2009, 01:45 PM

There are also 50 mm macro lenses from Pentax to be had, sometimes pretty cheap! I have a FA 50 f2,8 in the mail, it cost me 150$ CND... That's another option to consider, 50 mm is a pretty useful focal length to have.

robjmitchell · 07-12-2009, 03:59 PM

Well I have the sigma 70 and Its an awesome lens both for portraits and macro. Yes you loose a bit of distance with the 70 but 100 is generally to long for indoor portraits on aps-c (100 was portrait for film) However if your planing to use it or a 100mm to do hand held macro then your going to need a good flash. The longer it is the harder it is to handhold! Also if you get a dedicated MF lens then you can use focus trap without bits of foil!

Tiu · 07-13-2009, 01:01 AM

Thanks to everyone for taking time to answer.
As i'm taking my photos handheld then i think i'll go for the 50 or 35. (and i like larger fov too)

Class A · 07-13-2009, 05:40 AM

Hi Tiu,

welcome to the forum.

I've recently asked a similar question and got some great replies with nice images to check out. I for one got my mind set on the Sigma 70mm, but everyone's mileage varies.

07-12-2009, 10:40 AM	#1
Tiu New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2	Hello! Need some advice for buying lenses. Helllo to everyone! Started photographing about few months ago and would like to get some advice on buying new lens. I'm interested in macro lens and have looked at DA35 limited and Sigma AF 105mm F2,8/Sigma AF 70mm F2,8 EX DG Macro. I'm interested in photographing small objects, flowers, but also some bugs(i've read theDA35 isn't good for it). As i'm also planning to get FA50, which one of these macros would you suggest?(or something else?). The price should stay lower than 650$ - sigmas are sold here for about 640$ and DA35 about 570$). Right now i prefer the DA, because its price, it's Pentax, and (and beautiful pictures i've seen here).(Btw i use K200d)

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07-12-2009, 11:21 AM	#2
K McCall Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 808	I (key word there - "I" - this may have no bearing whatsoever for you) prefer the 100mm range for macro shooting. I generally shoot flowers and bugs, but I find the focal length useful for portraiture and landscapes as well. As others here have noted, you have to get really, really close with the DA 35 for 1:1, and then there's a good chance that you've cut off your light source. I like the lens a lot, but you're limited a bit by the number of angles you can shoot from. With the 100-ish, you have a lot more range. Also, I find it easier to blur out the entire background or to have a uniform background with a longer focal length. You honestly can't go wrong with either lens; both render color and light and contrast and bokeh beautifully. It just comes down to a matter of your style - the angles you like, the lighting you like, how you'll use it.

07-12-2009, 12:48 PM	#3
ricosuave Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 298	i'd echo getting something in the 100mm range. in your price range, try getting a used vivitar/kiron 105mm macro (~$400).

07-12-2009, 12:54 PM	#4
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	I have a 100mm macro and often wish it were shorter because FOV is so small... Very hard to get focus where you want and impossible to get a whole bug in focus. Before you get the ubiquitous 50mm be sure you really want that. It was standard focal length on film but it's rather long on digital. If you're going on reading about all the "standard fifties" that applies. Rather a 30-35mm becomes the standard focal length on digital cameras. If you get a 35mm macro it'll serve as both. Or get a 50mm macro and 28-35mm prime.

07-12-2009, 01:45 PM	#5
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	There are also 50 mm macro lenses from Pentax to be had, sometimes pretty cheap! I have a FA 50 f2,8 in the mail, it cost me 150$ CND... That's another option to consider, 50 mm is a pretty useful focal length to have.

07-12-2009, 03:59 PM	#6
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	Well I have the sigma 70 and Its an awesome lens both for portraits and macro. Yes you loose a bit of distance with the 70 but 100 is generally to long for indoor portraits on aps-c (100 was portrait for film) However if your planing to use it or a 100mm to do hand held macro then your going to need a good flash. The longer it is the harder it is to handhold! Also if you get a dedicated MF lens then you can use focus trap without bits of foil!

07-13-2009, 01:01 AM	#7
Tiu New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2 Original Poster	Thanks to everyone for taking time to answer. As i'm taking my photos handheld then i think i'll go for the 50 or 35. (and i like larger fov too)

07-13-2009, 05:40 AM	#8
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Hi Tiu, welcome to the forum. I've recently asked a similar question and got some great replies with nice images to check out. I for one got my mind set on the Sigma 70mm, but everyone's mileage varies.