For the last four years I have tried to put together my dream 'super extreme field macro' kit. The kit comprises the following combination:

1. FF Digital camera (K-1)
2. SMC A* 200mm f4 Macro
3. Pentax Ringflash 080C
4. Pentax T9-2X Pentax SMC close-up lens
5. Steady macro friendly tripod
6. Macro rail

I have been ever so close to completing this setup ever since purchasing the K-1 back in June 2016. The only 'fly in the ointment' was the incredibly hard to find adapter that connects the 'Pentax T9-2X Pentax SMC close-up lens' to the 'Pentax Ringflash 080C'. Of course I could have obtained the adapter by buying it with the close up lens and ringflash, but the cost for the set was very high and, after all, I already had the other bits.

Well, finally, this week I received the adapter for a reasonable price to complete the setup. Without delay I was into the garden to find a few targets to try out the gear. Oh was I pleased. A few shots to show my experience.

IMHO, reviews of the Pentax T9-2X Pentax SMC close-up lens have been very harsh and unreasonable. I suspect those who have tried this closeup lens have not used a super high quality macro, nor have they understood this lens produces a supremely thin DoF. The shots below were all taken at f29 to f32 using 1/4 flash from the ringflash. the DoF must be about 1-2 mm. SUPER EXTREME.

PS. the upload of the images has unfortunately degraded the sharpness. Pixel peaking the original jpegs shows extraordinary sharpness!!!!

[Unregistered User 8]

Well worth the wait mate. Looking forward to seeing more soon.

[smf]

Congratulations and best wishes.

[Wild Mark]

Thanks guys

Forgot to mention why it is my dream field kit. The setup allows me to go to 2:1 with a working distance of about 10-15cm from subject

[Not a Number]

Excellent. One of the drawbacks of using a ring flash are the specular highlights you can get as in the last two photos. It is difficult to add diffusion to a ring flash which would help to alleviate the highlights.

[photoptimist]

Nice rig!

You are right about the incorrectly-harsh reviews of the T9-2X. You can't blame the lens for the thin DoF -- it's baked into the optical physics of high magnification macro.

P.S. High-mag macro (with tiny apertures) is good for finding dust on the sensor. ;-)

[Wild Mark]

Yep, cleaned them out

Taken with the FA100 and close up lens on the K1 (xposted)

[csa]

Congratulations on completing your dream macro kit! The results are beautiful, and this setup will keep you busy for a very long time.

Keep posting your images with this setup, we love seeing them!

[photoptimist]

Nice wasp!

To get rid of the bright reflections from the flash, you might see if you can replicate a cross-polarizer filter on a ring flash.

[Wild Mark]

Thanks guys. Will definitely try that cross-polariser idea - sounds promising

[Wild Mark]

A couple of shots using the FA100, the first without the close up lens and the second with the close up lens. Essentially,t the close up lens makes the K1 commensurate wit h the K3 on pixel to subject.