Originally posted by pentxfun Hi guys !
Need some help please.
After six months using my kit lens 18-55 ALII ive decided to buy a new lens. (not in a hurry as u see)
It will be used for shooting jewelries and minerals, thats the main reason.
Though i like shooting landscapes as well, maybe the 35 mm better for that purpose, i dont know really...
At my local store these lenses have the same price.
SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro
What do u think ?
thanks\peter
Hi Peter,
I have had both DA 18-55 II and DA 35 Ltd Macro. I have also had DFA100 Macro and Voigtl'a'nder 90mm Close-Focus.
The DA 35 is a really excellent lens, maybe the best all-purpose lens. Great image-quality, build-quality.
The DA 18-55 II is inferior to the DA 35, but still quite good especially between 24~35mm range and stopped-down. The 18-55 II is also quite useful as an all around lens because of the 18mm end and it can close-focus.
Therefore, I think a longer lens is more suitable, it will complement the 18-55 II instead of overlapping it.
If you are worried that 90mm will be too long, then consider also the Pentax DFA 50mm Macro or the Sigma 70mm Macro. (The Sigma 70mm is really desirable to me...if I didn't already have the Voigtlander 58mm and 90mm lenses which are both also good at controlling CA, it would be on my
need-list instead of my
want-list).
No matter which Macro lens you choose, one thing that will benefit you greatly is most are are very good at reducing CA (chromatic aberrations) and purple-fringing very well. This is really important for shooting metal subjects, or other very shiny products. But from what other PF'ers are saying, the Sigma is great.
Some jewellry examples from the Sigma 70:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/60138-sigma-ex...rst-macro.html
and comparision Sigma 70 vs. 90:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/32308-sigma-70...0mm-macro.html