Macro lens club

Drom · 12-02-2011, 10:53 PM - **1 Like**

I think this bee has a question...

Here is the reason why bees and hummingbirds are so crazy about Eucalyptus flowers:

This is a tiny grass flower I found in my pasture. It was a little over a 1/4 inch wide.

Last edited by Drom; 12-03-2011 at 10:44 AM.

Drom · 12-03-2011, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Piotr

I have two macro lenses in my collection - they stay with me after many tests of many macro lenses (DA35/2.8, FA50/2.8, Vivitar 90/2.5, FA100/2.8).

Pentax K-5 ,Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 SL Macro APO-Lanthar
1/1000s f/5.0 at 125.0mm iso250

What a beautiful image. I am going to have to look up that lens. Why type of flies are those? Are they some type of dragonfly?

**paulh** · 12-10-2011, 03:51 PM

This was shot with a cheap Quantaray 28-90 "macro" (1:2.3). Yeah, it's not a true macro, more like a close-focus, but I like some of the results I'm getting from this bargain lens. (crop)

aliasant · 12-12-2011, 04:20 AM

I just bought an "old" FA-100mm f2.8 and need advice.
Theres an extra "Pentax Click Ring" that can be bought for this lens. Has anyone tried it and is it a good addition to that lens?

Pentaxor · 12-12-2011, 11:15 AM

Originally posted by aliasant

I just bought an "old" FA-100mm f2.8 and need advice.
Theres an extra "Pentax Click Ring" that can be bought for this lens. Has anyone tried it and is it a good addition to that lens?

just use the focus clamp and you should be alright. just don't forget to loosen it once you switch to AF.

**mattb123** · 12-12-2011, 11:37 AM - **1 Like**

K-x & M 100mm f/4

top-quark · 12-12-2011, 04:41 PM

Tamron 90mm@F4. Takes lovely portraits too.

aliasant · 12-13-2011, 04:28 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

just use the focus clamp and you should be alright. just don't forget to loosen it once you switch to AF.

Thanx. I bought it anyways

Not quite sure how it works thoug.
It looks as if it works in predefined steps only. I was hoping that it could be switched between stepped and free but thats probably not the case?

**mattb123** · 12-18-2011, 10:22 PM

K-x & M 100mm f/4 + tubes

**Digitalis** · 12-18-2011, 10:51 PM - **1 Like**

I was sitting on a park bench taking a beak from doing some jewellery photography for a catalogue. I was eating my lunch when I noticed this skittering across the bench, so I took a few shots. In retrospect should have had my ringflash but I did the best I could with the light I had at my disposal. This image is very close to a 100% crop.

Pentax K5 with Pentax FA* 200mm f/4 ED [IF] Macro -approx at 1:2 magnification- ISO 800 hand held at 1/125th f/8

wolfiegirl · 12-18-2011, 11:13 PM

I love that bee shot! But honestly, so many amazing photos on here!!

Here are some of my humble offerings, taken on the 90mm Tamron macro, all handheld on the kx

aliasant · 12-19-2011, 02:45 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

I was sitting on a park bench taking a beak from doing some jewellery photography for a catalogue. I was eating my lunch when I noticed this skittering across the bench, so I took a few shots. In retrospect should have had my ringflash but I did the best I could with the light I had at my disposal. This image is very close to a 100% crop.

Pentax K5 with Pentax FA* 200mm f/4 ED [IF] Macro -approx at 1:2 magnification- ISO 800 hand held at 1/125th f/8

LOL! Nice DOF

Is that really f8? i thought you would get a smoother transition and deeper dof at f8 but I have never had the fortune to try that lens.

**Digitalis** · 12-19-2011, 04:36 AM

Yes that is f/8 and considering the focal length, amount of cropping and that I was only focusing at 1:2 I could have made the DOF substantially thinner. The reason the OOF transitions aren't as smooth is because of the texture of the park bench, as sharp as the FA*200mm f/4 ED macro is it can sometimes be too contrasty for its own good.

I do not normally trust myself when focusing the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO EX or the Pentax 200mm f/4 ED macro manually at their widest apertures, due to the incredible shallowness of DOF but I managed quite well here. I do not rely on any manual focusing aids or after-market focusing screens on my pentax DSLR cameras. I do use live view whenever I can but it was not appropriate to use it in this situation.

Pentax K5 with Pentax FA*200mm f/4 ED macro - approximately 1:2- f/4 ISO3200 @ 1/125s hand-held - 100% crop- mild NR used

aliasant · 12-19-2011, 05:16 AM

Originally posted by Digitalis

Yes that is f/8 and considering the focal length, amount of cropping and that I was only focusing at 1:2 I could have made the DOF substantially thinner. The reason the OOF transitions aren't as smooth is because of the texture of the park bench, as sharp as the FA*200mm f/4 ED macro is it can sometimes be too contrasty for its own good.

I do not normally trust myself when focusing the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO EX or the Pentax 200mm f/4 ED macro manually at their widest apertures, due to the incredible shallowness of DOF but I managed quite well here. I do not rely on any manual focusing aids or after-market focusing screens on my pentax DSLR cameras. I do use live view whenever I can but it was not appropriate to use it in this situation.

Pentax K5 with Pentax FA*200mm f/4 ED macro - approximately 1:2- f/4 ISO3200 @ 1/125s hand-held - 100% crop- mild NR used

Razer thin for sure!

Im getting my new toy later today. The FA 100 f2.8.
Im planning some kind of shootout between the FA and my ol Kiron 105.
The loser will be sold on ebay or similar. Not rich enough to run around with a spare lens

What I have read about the FA100 is that it is sharp all the way to f22 and if that is true that is quite unique. None of the macros I have had has been sharp after f13 if that even. Well. The Kiron is still sharp but the diffraction is there after f11/f13.
Being able to get a deeper DOF without loosing resolution should help in getting better shots next season.
So.
The Q.

Hows that FA 200 performing DOF wise?

**Digitalis** · 12-19-2011, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by aliasant

What I have read about the FA100 is that it is sharp all the way to f22

Don't believe everything you read, every macro lens loses resolution as it is stopped down. The best performance you can get from a lens will be at the optimum aperture, the optimum aperture for an f/2.8 lens that should be about f/5.6 and two stops after that diffraction will set in. Lenses can bend light, but they cannot bend the laws of physics.

Even the venerable FA*200mm f/4 ED macro noticeably softens up around f/22~f/32

12-02-2011, 10:53 PM - 1 Like	#1051
Drom Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 210	FA 100mm 2.8 I think this bee has a question... Here is the reason why bees and hummingbirds are so crazy about Eucalyptus flowers: This is a tiny grass flower I found in my pasture. It was a little over a 1/4 inch wide. Last edited by Drom; 12-03-2011 at 10:44 AM.

12-18-2011, 10:51 PM - 1 Like	#1060
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I was sitting on a park bench taking a beak from doing some jewellery photography for a catalogue. I was eating my lunch when I noticed this skittering across the bench, so I took a few shots. In retrospect should have had my ringflash but I did the best I could with the light I had at my disposal. This image is very close to a 100% crop. Pentax K5 with Pentax FA 200mm f/4 ED [IF] Macro -approx at 1:2 magnification- ISO 800 hand held at 1/125th f/8* Last edited by Digitalis; 12-19-2011 at 01:42 AM.

12-19-2011, 04:36 AM	#1063
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Yes that is f/8 and considering the focal length, amount of cropping and that I was only focusing at 1:2 I could have made the DOF substantially thinner. The reason the OOF transitions aren't as smooth is because of the texture of the park bench, as sharp as the FA200mm f/4 ED macro is it can sometimes be too contrasty for its own good. I do not normally trust myself when focusing the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO EX or the Pentax 200mm f/4 ED macro manually at their widest apertures, due to the incredible shallowness of DOF but I managed quite well here. I do not rely on any manual focusing aids or after-market focusing screens on my pentax DSLR cameras. I do use live view whenever I can but it was not appropriate to use it in this situation. Pentax K5 with Pentax FA200mm f/4 ED macro - approximately 1:2- f/4 ISO3200 @ 1/125s hand-held - 100% crop- mild NR used Last edited by Digitalis; 12-19-2011 at 05:05 AM.

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12-03-2011, 06:08 AM	#1052
Drom Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 210	Originally posted by Piotr I have two macro lenses in my collection - they stay with me after many tests of many macro lenses (DA35/2.8, FA50/2.8, Vivitar 90/2.5, FA100/2.8). Pentax K-5 ,Voigtlander 125mm f/2.5 SL Macro APO-Lanthar 1/1000s f/5.0 at 125.0mm iso250 What a beautiful image. I am going to have to look up that lens. Why type of flies are those? Are they some type of dragonfly?

12-10-2011, 03:51 PM	#1053
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	This was shot with a cheap Quantaray 28-90 "macro" (1:2.3). Yeah, it's not a true macro, more like a close-focus, but I like some of the results I'm getting from this bargain lens. (crop)

12-12-2011, 04:20 AM	#1054
aliasant Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 634	I just bought an "old" FA-100mm f2.8 and need advice. Theres an extra "Pentax Click Ring" that can be bought for this lens. Has anyone tried it and is it a good addition to that lens?

12-12-2011, 11:15 AM	#1055
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by aliasant I just bought an "old" FA-100mm f2.8 and need advice. Theres an extra "Pentax Click Ring" that can be bought for this lens. Has anyone tried it and is it a good addition to that lens? just use the focus clamp and you should be alright. just don't forget to loosen it once you switch to AF.

12-12-2011, 11:37 AM - 1 Like	#1056
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	K-x & M 100mm f/4

12-12-2011, 04:41 PM	#1057
top-quark Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks Photos: Albums Posts: 492	Tamron 90mm@F4. Takes lovely portraits too.

12-13-2011, 04:28 AM	#1058
aliasant Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 634	Originally posted by Pentaxor just use the focus clamp and you should be alright. just don't forget to loosen it once you switch to AF. Thanx. I bought it anyways Not quite sure how it works thoug. It looks as if it works in predefined steps only. I was hoping that it could be switched between stepped and free but thats probably not the case?

12-18-2011, 10:22 PM	#1059
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	K-x & M 100mm f/4 + tubes

12-18-2011, 11:13 PM	#1061
wolfiegirl Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mystery Bay, NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,111	I love that bee shot! But honestly, so many amazing photos on here!! Here are some of my humble offerings, taken on the 90mm Tamron macro, all handheld on the kx

12-19-2011, 02:45 AM	#1062
aliasant Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 634	Originally posted by Digitalis I was sitting on a park bench taking a beak from doing some jewellery photography for a catalogue. I was eating my lunch when I noticed this skittering across the bench, so I took a few shots. In retrospect should have had my ringflash but I did the best I could with the light I had at my disposal. This image is very close to a 100% crop. Pentax K5 with Pentax FA 200mm f/4 ED [IF] Macro -approx at 1:2 magnification- ISO 800 hand held at 1/125th f/8* LOL! Nice DOF Is that really f8? i thought you would get a smoother transition and deeper dof at f8 but I have never had the fortune to try that lens.

12-19-2011, 05:16 AM	#1064
aliasant Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 634	Originally posted by Digitalis Yes that is f/8 and considering the focal length, amount of cropping and that I was only focusing at 1:2 I could have made the DOF substantially thinner. The reason the OOF transitions aren't as smooth is because of the texture of the park bench, as sharp as the FA200mm f/4 ED macro is it can sometimes be too contrasty for its own good. I do not normally trust myself when focusing the Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO EX or the Pentax 200mm f/4 ED macro manually at their widest apertures, due to the incredible shallowness of DOF but I managed quite well here. I do not rely on any manual focusing aids or after-market focusing screens on my pentax DSLR cameras. I do use live view whenever I can but it was not appropriate to use it in this situation. Pentax K5 with Pentax FA200mm f/4 ED macro - approximately 1:2- f/4 ISO3200 @ 1/125s hand-held - 100% crop- mild NR used Razer thin for sure! Im getting my new toy later today. The FA 100 f2.8. Im planning some kind of shootout between the FA and my ol Kiron 105. The loser will be sold on ebay or similar. Not rich enough to run around with a spare lens What I have read about the FA100 is that it is sharp all the way to f22 and if that is true that is quite unique. None of the macros I have had has been sharp after f13 if that even. Well. The Kiron is still sharp but the diffraction is there after f11/f13. Being able to get a deeper DOF without loosing resolution should help in getting better shots next season. So. The Q. Hows that FA 200 performing DOF wise?

12-19-2011, 04:15 PM	#1065
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by aliasant What I have read about the FA100 is that it is sharp all the way to f22 Don't believe everything you read, every macro lens loses resolution as it is stopped down. The best performance you can get from a lens will be at the optimum aperture, the optimum aperture for an f/2.8 lens that should be about f/5.6 and two stops after that diffraction will set in. Lenses can bend light, but they cannot bend the laws of physics. Even the venerable FA*200mm f/4 ED macro noticeably softens up around f/22~f/32

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