DA 15mm or DA 35mm macro

**GingerBeer** · 04-14-2010, 04:54 PM

For months I've been lusting after the DA35mm, but now I'm beginning to consider the FA43mm or even the FA31mm if I really want to blow my budget.

Blue · 04-14-2010, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by GingerBeer

For months I've been lusting after the DA35mm, but now I'm beginning to consider the FA43mm or even the FA31mm if I really want to blow my budget.

If you don't need 1:1 macro feature, I'd go with the 43mm if I had to pick just 1. I do need the 1:1 plus the 35mm is a good all around lens in its own right.

**GingerBeer** · 04-14-2010, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by Blue

If you don't need 1:1 macro feature, I'd go with the 43mm if I had to pick just 1. I do need the 1:1 plus the 35mm is a good all around lens in its own right.

I don't think I need the 1:1 macro, but I think it would be a nice feature to have. I think my wife, a heritage consultant, would also find it very useful when she's doing archival recordings etc (and any feature that would be particularly useful to her is useful to me when convincing her we need to buy this lens). I mainly want it as an all-around lens to replace the kit lens that sits on the camera when I go on walk-abouts.

On many walk-abouts I have forced myself to set the focal length to either 24mm, 35mm or ~40mm to get a feel for length I am most comfortable with - it is definitely 35mm. 43mm is also getting quite close to 50mm which I have "covered" with an A-50mm f/1.7 or the DA* 50-135mm. So, as far as focal length, I think 31mm or 35mm will be better (for me) than 40mm or 43mm.

I've seen many comments from people saying that they find the "normal" length of the DA 35mm to close to be much use to them for macro work. Those that have this lens, when (what scenarios) do you generally use the macro feature?

Blue · 04-14-2010, 07:46 PM

Gingerbeer,

I use the DA 35mm for general outdoor photography like this:

I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this

FHPhotographer · 04-14-2010, 07:46 PM

GingerBeer, I've cycled through several lenses, including the 43; I currently use the DA-35 exclusively. Except for that seldom needed telephoto, I offers everything I want in a walk-around lens. I find I don't push the macro to the six-inch threshold; instead, I use it at six to 18 inches, close and detailed but not really macro in the sense of shooting the hair on a bug's backside,
Brian

JeffJS · 04-14-2010, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by Blue

Gingerbeer,

I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this

Now, THAT, is brave..... or stupid..

Brave if you get a shot like that unscathed, stupid if you get their attention in the wrong way.. Nice shot either way..

**GingerBeer** · 04-14-2010, 08:35 PM

Great - thanks for the replies. I think the 35mm is definitely the front-runner but the FA 31mm is still in with a chance.

The "walk up macro" is exactly how I imagined I would use the macro capabilities but it will definitely be mainly used as a general walk-around.

So in my mind it has come down to lower price & macro (DA 35mm) versus higher price and faster (FA 31mm). I think I'll go with the DA 35mm. Perhaps one day if I'm feeling rich and not using the macro feature much I might get the FA 31mm but for now the DA 35mm makes more sense.

Blue · 04-14-2010, 10:44 PM

Gingerbeer, The reason I call it a "walk up" macro lens is because of it being a 35mm. I use an old rule of thumb regarding minimum shutter speed for hand holding which is 1 over the focal length. That would put that at 1/35 compared to 1/105 for my Sigma (1/100 for practical purposes). The SR theoretically pushes that down some. Both lenses are also 1:1 but the 105 will have a tighter FOV as well. I can get away without a macro flash a lot of the time with the 35mm as well. At least that's my experience with it.

P.S. Not firing a flash in those ladies' faces in the above image has its benefits!

**GingerBeer** · 04-14-2010, 11:06 PM

Yeah, that's pretty much how I interpreted it.

And I thought it was a very apt piece of terminology (not one that I have heard before but had a pretty good idea what you meant).

Nubi · 04-14-2010, 11:56 PM

These which one do I buy questions drive me crazy because I think in most cases eventually people end up buying both anyway??? :ugh:

**GingerBeer** · 04-15-2010, 12:10 AM

I'm not the OP so I'm not deciding between the DA 15mm and DA 35mm (previously though quite recently I made the decision between the DA 14mm and DA 15mm and see no need for both there). I very much doubt I'll own both the DA 35mm and FA 31mm - not anytime soon anyway.

gazonk · 04-15-2010, 01:02 AM

Originally posted by Blue

I can get away without a macro flash a lot of the time with the 35mm as well. At least that's my experience with it.

I've only had my DA35 since christmas (got it from my wife

), and spring is just arriving up here, so I haven't used it that much for macro shots yet, but I've already verified that it's possible to use it very close up hand-held.

I think I was at minimum focus distance for this one, shot at 1/60 (it's a really small crocus flower):

A 100% crop reveals a crazy thin DOF even at f/8, but it seems to be free of motion blur:

Pentaxie · 04-15-2010, 02:13 AM

Originally posted by Blue

Gingerbeer,

I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this

Awesome pictures there, Blue.

I like the bees picture most. The macro capability of the DA 35mm lens is superb.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers.

04-14-2010, 11:06 PM	#24
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	Yeah, that's pretty much how I interpreted it. And I thought it was a very apt piece of terminology (not one that I have heard before but had a pretty good idea what you meant). Last edited by GingerBeer; 04-14-2010 at 11:15 PM.

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04-14-2010, 04:54 PM	#16
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	For months I've been lusting after the DA35mm, but now I'm beginning to consider the FA43mm or even the FA31mm if I really want to blow my budget.

04-14-2010, 05:11 PM	#17
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by GingerBeer For months I've been lusting after the DA35mm, but now I'm beginning to consider the FA43mm or even the FA31mm if I really want to blow my budget. If you don't need 1:1 macro feature, I'd go with the 43mm if I had to pick just 1. I do need the 1:1 plus the 35mm is a good all around lens in its own right.

04-14-2010, 06:17 PM	#18
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	Originally posted by Blue If you don't need 1:1 macro feature, I'd go with the 43mm if I had to pick just 1. I do need the 1:1 plus the 35mm is a good all around lens in its own right. I don't think I need the 1:1 macro, but I think it would be a nice feature to have. I think my wife, a heritage consultant, would also find it very useful when she's doing archival recordings etc (and any feature that would be particularly useful to her is useful to me when convincing her we need to buy this lens). I mainly want it as an all-around lens to replace the kit lens that sits on the camera when I go on walk-abouts. On many walk-abouts I have forced myself to set the focal length to either 24mm, 35mm or ~40mm to get a feel for length I am most comfortable with - it is definitely 35mm. 43mm is also getting quite close to 50mm which I have "covered" with an A-50mm f/1.7 or the DA* 50-135mm. So, as far as focal length, I think 31mm or 35mm will be better (for me) than 40mm or 43mm. I've seen many comments from people saying that they find the "normal" length of the DA 35mm to close to be much use to them for macro work. Those that have this lens, when (what scenarios) do you generally use the macro feature?

04-14-2010, 07:46 PM	#19
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Gingerbeer, I use the DA 35mm for general outdoor photography like this: I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this

04-14-2010, 07:46 PM	#20
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	GingerBeer, I've cycled through several lenses, including the 43; I currently use the DA-35 exclusively. Except for that seldom needed telephoto, I offers everything I want in a walk-around lens. I find I don't push the macro to the six-inch threshold; instead, I use it at six to 18 inches, close and detailed but not really macro in the sense of shooting the hair on a bug's backside, Brian

04-14-2010, 07:56 PM	#21
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Blue Gingerbeer, I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this Now, THAT, is brave..... or stupid.. Brave if you get a shot like that unscathed, stupid if you get their attention in the wrong way.. Nice shot either way..

04-14-2010, 08:35 PM	#22
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	Great - thanks for the replies. I think the 35mm is definitely the front-runner but the FA 31mm is still in with a chance. The "walk up macro" is exactly how I imagined I would use the macro capabilities but it will definitely be mainly used as a general walk-around. So in my mind it has come down to lower price & macro (DA 35mm) versus higher price and faster (FA 31mm). I think I'll go with the DA 35mm. Perhaps one day if I'm feeling rich and not using the macro feature much I might get the FA 31mm but for now the DA 35mm makes more sense.

04-14-2010, 10:44 PM	#23
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Gingerbeer, The reason I call it a "walk up" macro lens is because of it being a 35mm. I use an old rule of thumb regarding minimum shutter speed for hand holding which is 1 over the focal length. That would put that at 1/35 compared to 1/105 for my Sigma (1/100 for practical purposes). The SR theoretically pushes that down some. Both lenses are also 1:1 but the 105 will have a tighter FOV as well. I can get away without a macro flash a lot of the time with the 35mm as well. At least that's my experience with it. P.S. Not firing a flash in those ladies' faces in the above image has its benefits!

04-14-2010, 11:56 PM	#25
Nubi Guest	These which one do I buy questions drive me crazy because I think in most cases eventually people end up buying both anyway??? :ugh:

04-15-2010, 12:10 AM	#26
GingerBeer Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 126	I'm not the OP so I'm not deciding between the DA 15mm and DA 35mm (previously though quite recently I made the decision between the DA 14mm and DA 15mm and see no need for both there). I very much doubt I'll own both the DA 35mm and FA 31mm - not anytime soon anyway.

04-15-2010, 01:02 AM	#27
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by Blue I can get away without a macro flash a lot of the time with the 35mm as well. At least that's my experience with it. I've only had my DA35 since christmas (got it from my wife ), and spring is just arriving up here, so I haven't used it that much for macro shots yet, but I've already verified that it's possible to use it very close up hand-held. I think I was at minimum focus distance for this one, shot at 1/60 (it's a really small crocus flower): A 100% crop reveals a crazy thin DOF even at f/8, but it seems to be free of motion blur:

04-15-2010, 02:13 AM	#28
Pentaxie Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Photos: Gallery Posts: 429	Originally posted by Blue Gingerbeer, I also use it as my "walk up" macro lens for things like this Awesome pictures there, Blue. I like the bees picture most. The macro capability of the DA 35mm lens is superb. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.