Hi Everyone,

Wondering which lenses you are using for your serious macro on a K1?

I've got the 31mm f1.8 limited as well as a recently purchased 28-70 mm f2.8. A fabulous lens, but due to weight, difficult to hand hold a macro. [Don't always carry the tripod during a daylight walkaround]. Have a few other Pentax FA lenses as well, but haven't tried them on the K1 yet as I'm loving the 28-70 mm and it hasn't been off the K1 body since purchasing both a month ago!
I've had a decent look through the gallery, there are some great images, so wondering what everyones lens of choice is.

Cheers

I have two Macro lenses that suit the Pentax K-1 the first being the Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG EX the other is the Sigma 180mm F3.5 DG EX, the Sigma 105MM is easy to use hand held as this lens is much lighter than the 180mm but with several weight lifting classes at your local gym you'll be able to use the 180mm hand held as well. Both are excellent macro lenses.

I have several FF macros: 50mm f2.8 SMCA; Tokina 90mm f2.5 + 1:1 adapter (purchased about 1980); DA 100mm f2.8; and 200mm f4 SMCA (purchased in early 1990's). The 50 & 90 are mostly used in my "studio," the 200mm is my favorite local field lens; the 100mm is good for traveling because it is small & light and AF is sometimes useful. The 200mm is absolutely my favorite because the FL is great for insects and the IQ holds up amazingly well to deep cropping, but the 50mm f2.8 is really good and is probably the bargain of the set.

If I were recommending a macro for use on a K1, the new DA 100mm f2.8 is hands down, by a substantial margin the lens of choice. The only possible drawback is the very large (=long) lens hood.

Like others here I have several macro lens options, all of which have fared well on other Pentax cameras. However the only one that I have had on the K-1 to date is the DFA 100mm f2.8 WR. So far I am quite pleased with the results.


Flies on a fishing pole by Chuck Campbell, on Flickr