[Patricia1066]

Hi I have a K5ii and want to try macro photography, flowers, insects close up.

I like using the Pentax-A 50mm f 1.7 and I believe with an adaptor it can be reversed for macro.

Is this suitable?
Pentax Genuine Reverse Adapter / Reversing Ring - Pentax K - 52mm

[FozzFoster]

The A 50 f/1.7 has a 49mm filter ring. You'll need a k-mount to 49mm adapter.

You can check out the filter sizes on the lens review:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-A-50mm-F1.7-Lens.html

[TER-OR]

One note for photographing insects. Many don't like being that close to big menacing animals like us. A reversed-lens will be good for static subjects.
For chasing live critters, 100mm lenses are a good range.

You can also look at Ranox or similar magnifying filters, I've seen good results with those. They're certainly easier to use than a reversed lens.

[ChristianRock]

I use the M 50 1.7 with an inverter ring and it works great, other than the viewfinder being quite dark because I end up wanting f11 or f16. Flash is also a need, and I use a home made diffuser to get the light at the right angle. I have also used 35mm, 28mm and 24mm lenses for even greater magnification. Grains of sugar and salt at those magnifications are quite fun...
But these days I mostly use the M 50mm f4 macro lens. It is only 1:2 macro but for me that is usually enough. That lens can be found in the 60-80 dollar range so not too bad.
The manual focus Sigma 50mm 2.8 macro can do 1:1 macro and can usually be found for less than 100 dollars.

[boriscleto]

CHEAP MACRO -- Buying or exploiting a lens for ultraclose work - PentaxForums.com

[Not a Number]

The genuine Pentax and 3rd party knock off reverse mount adapters come in 49mm or 52mm filter sizes. Some of the 3rd party adapters may even have other sizes.

Either get the 49mm version or use a 49mm to 52mm step-up ring.

The filter diameter of a lens is normal inscribed on the front of the lens as Ønn, e.g. Ø52 = 52mm filter size.

Note Ø is an engineering symbol used to denote diameter and not the Greek letter phi Φ

[Roadboat24]

I tryed a set of those "Close up" filters. They did work But left me less than impressed. Moved on to a dedicated 100mm f2.8 macro lens. The difference was startling. Sometimes cheap... is just cheap...

[Patricia1066]

You are all wonderful, thanks for so many useful links and comments.
How easy is the adaptor and converter to pop on and off?
PENTAX 49mm & 52mm Reverse Adaptor K 303320

[Wbwhit]

For the reverse adaptor, you can screw to the front of the lens and leave it there, that way you can use the 50mm as you would normally, and then quickly pop it off and reverse if you need to. I've had bad luck with the 3rd party reverse adaptors not fitting in the camera body (KS-2) and ended up getting a Pentax one from the forum marketplace. You can also combine the reverse lens with some extension tubes to get even closer, but will loose quite a bit of light in doing so, so a good flash set up will be needed too. Check out some of Thomas Shahan's youtube videos to get an idea about using a reverse lens with extension tubes etc.

[Skodadriver]

Beware the temptation to get a dedicated macro lens, for insects I have used a Sigma 50mm F2.8 MF and a Tamron 90mm F2.5 (52B and 52BB models) I have tried extension tubes and bellows but at my level of inexpertise, having the "A" setting on a macro lens is so much easier than these methods (unless the tubes have the "A" setting).
The Tamron I have is an adaptall and I have the PKA mount, Tamron dedicated tube and SP 2x teleconverter to achieve 1:1 macro with the "A" setting on the aperture. The Sigma is naturally 1:1 macro but needs to be close to insects so can often disturb them. Here are a couple of flies playing leapfrog on a flower, taken with the Sigma.

[photolady95]

I use the Raynox adapters, I have both the DCR-250 for my short lenses below 100mm and the DCR-150 for my longer lenses above 100mm.

This was taken using the DCR-150 and the kit lens 18-55mm @55mm:

[Not a Number]

The reverse mount adapters are a filter thread on one side and a K-mount bayonet on the other. Mounting and dismount procedures are the same as either a filter or lens to the body.


To confuse the matter there are also reverse rings which are used to stack two lenses front to front for macro work. These are just a ring with male filter threads on both ends. The diameters on each end can be different so you can stack lens with different diameter filters.

Reverse lens stacking can be another economical way to achieve macro if you already have suitable lenses. See the article/thread that boriscleto linked above.

[Patricia1066]

This is a complication I can do without, while I am learning the craft. I saw and purchased a PKA vivitar lens. Vivitar Series 1 (Komine) 28-90mm F2.8-3.5 Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Once I get it, I'll start posting a few images. This thread will give me lots to think about.

---------- Post added 09-27-18 at 09:01 AM ----------

Beware the temptation to get a dedicated macro lens.

Too late! 😁

[aslyfox]

may I suggest that the OP [ and others interested in these types of photos ] take some time and review this thread:

Pollinators in action - Page 36 - PentaxForums.com

note the different lenses used by those who posted the photos

I now use a SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm Macro

I find it to be a good macro lens, capable of 1:1 as well as a good short telephoto lens

[kevinWE]

Hi I have a K5ii and want to try macro photography, flowers, insects close up.

I like using the Pentax-A 50mm f 1.7 and I believe with an adaptor it can be reversed for macro.

Is this suitable?
Pentax Genuine Reverse Adapter / Reversing Ring - Pentax K - 52mm

Buy a set of extension tubes.

This photo was shot with a Nikon 100mm series E lens on a short tube. Tubes will makes all your lenses close up or macro lenses plus a set of tubes are extremely cheap.