[Patriot]

Factory Butte, Hanksville, Utah
Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 EX DG OS

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Last edited by Patriot; 08-19-2017 at 06:52 AM.

[Geodude]

Factory Butte, Hanksville, Utah
Sigma 70-200mm 1:2.8 EX DG OS

Hanksville is certainly a cosmopolitan place, especially the convenience store in a cave...

[Weldon Berger]

These are all with a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Most times I would use the 18-135 WR rather than this, but I wanted a fast zoom for concerts and it's what I could afford. Had it out a lot this week to get accustomed to its quirks.



Young people jumping from the pier



Surf lessons



Jetty at Queen's Beach in Waikiki



Kaneohe Bay

[wuzet]

K-3, DA 20-40

[RAART]

with Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM

[Doundounba]

Wow! Those first two... just... wow. (...)

I agree: just ... wow!

LOVE the eyes on the 1st two!

That first one looks like it might have fisheye lenses in its eyes!

Thanks for the comments! It's, of course, very satisfying to get such a reaction for one's shots!

I don't own any actual macro lenses yet, but on a whim 7 years ago I bought my Raynox DCR-250 to dabble in macro. I love it and although it would be nice to add a D-FA 100mm WR to my collection the DCR-250 is very satisfying.

Dollar for dollar, and gram for gram, the Raynox is probably my single best photographic investment.

If cost is a factor, and when isn't it, consider whether you can live without WR and other features
look at the non WR versions of the 100 macro lenses
The optics are the same I believe

Although the optics are identical, the difference is not just the WR, IMHO: the build quality is really in a different league, at least between the WR and non-WR D-FA lenses. (Never tried the F or FA 100mm - they seem much beefier than the non-WR D-FA.) Although I never had an issue with my non-WR 100mm, I would actually recommend the Tamron 90mm Macro above it just for that reason (unless you can't live without quickshift). Although the Tamron is also plastic, it feels quite a bit more solid. And I would recommend the 100mm WR above both of these (if your budget permits of course). I thought I couldn't live with a macro lens that doesn't have an aperture ring, but I've been super happy with the D-FA 100mm WR.

Here are a couple more focus stacks with that same combo: D-FA 100mm WR, Raynox DCR-250 and off-camera diffused Godox V850ii flash. The first is just three frames, and the second is eight.

[aslyfox]

never have tried the other lenses

as far as the " feel " or " looks " go,

I am more concerned about function over form.

as well as what I can afford

if I don't need a feature, and I can live with limitations, I go for x instead of y

how does the lens work regarding taking photos
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you will note that I did not say the lenses under discussion were the same, I just repeated what I had learned from the forum info regarding the optics

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it is ultimately up to the purchaser, what I or someone else thinks is of little concern

good luck

BTW



this isn't with a macro lens but is an extreme crop of an image captured with my K 3 + HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm F4.5-5.6 ED DC AW

hand held, natural light

to show that good results, altho not true macro results, can be found without true macro lenses if necessary because of cost or lack of equipment

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Last edited by aslyfox; 08-20-2017 at 03:26 PM.

[RAART]

Field of Dreams

[aslyfox]

some images from earlier this year of

Tiffany the 49 year old low land gorilla at the Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center known to countless visitors,

who I shall never photograph again

she is no more, she has died of cancer

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her last illness was news in the AP and the Washington Post

Topeka Zoo's lowland gorilla, Tiffany, dies of cancer - The Washington Post

one of my two comments:

"I had the privilege to see Tiffany and photograph her over the years

I am quite sure she is missed by her keepers, the staff, and those who saw her at the zoo.

There is no complete prevention of death, it comes to us all, animal or human in due time, it is part of nature

from what I can gain from a quick research effort, Tiffany died after reaching an age where death of a low land gorilla in captivity is to be expected."

the other comment was to another's opinion and needs not be repeated here

[Rondec]

Not a great shot, but did my best with the eclipse with my DA 55-300 (not a complete eclipse here, either).

[tuggie76]

I found the 'interval composite mode', set to 2 minute intervals did a nice job, but trying to look at the screen while pointing at the sun had it's challenges. This is 2 sets, the first through a 10 stopper, the second through welding glass. Not great, but I had fun and learnt for next time!

[Canada_Rockies]

I found the 'interval composite mode', set to 2 minute intervals did a nice job, but trying to look at the screen while pointing at the sun had it's challenges. This is 2 sets, the first through a 10 stopper, the second through welding glass. Not great, but I had fun and learnt for next time!

Amazing work, tuggie. Thanks for posting these.

[normhead]

My first time in the blind all month.
K-3 and Tamron SP AF 2.8 LD [IF] and HD DA 1.4 TC

















What are the grackles doing you might wonder?









Mr. Crow is watching from a distance.


An immature Starling hanging with the Grackles? It's my best guess.


Something weird going on with the sun...ƒ45 and Live View comes in handy occasionally.

[wuzet]

K-3, FA 24/2.0

[Weldon Berger]

Not a great shot, but did my best with the eclipse with my DA 55-300 (not a complete eclipse here, either).

The various beams of light are quite cool.