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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-22-2011, 01:07 PM
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I think over time you will go for multiple options, as I have.
I started with a vivitar series 1 70-200F3.5 zoom lens that could go to 1:2.2 (at 70mm focal length)
while that was a nice lens, the zoom suffered badly from zoom creep due to construction and had no tripod mount for the lens although it weighs in at 900+ grams (2 pounds for the metric impared) but for close focus when travelling, to avoid carrying another lens, it made some sense. Hold that thought.
Then I went for an SMC-M 100mm F4 macro, which goes to 1:2 without extension tubes, and past 1:1 with the 68mm 3 tube set I can stack together. the pro's it is light, and a good sharp lens. the cons, really only the extension tubes to get to 1:1. The real down side is you need to use a tripod and focusing rail for a lot of it.
then, I went to a bellows. I have an old miranda bellows that I have converted to a K mount rear attachment, and it has a miranda 44mm x 1 thread on the front. I have also a T mount adaptor, mirand aextension tubes, an M42 to t-mount adaptor, M42 extenision tubes, plus a 135mmF4.5 enlarger lens cemented into a T mount adaptor. the long and short of it is, I can use the bellows, with or without any extension tubes, or I can stack about 70mm of extension tubes in front, and mount my 135 mm lens, and get to 1:0.75.
I can also mount to this the M42 adaptor, another 57mm of M42 extension tubes and any M42 lens I want, including my 50mmF4 SMC-Maro Zak and get to about 1:0.2
The advangate of the bellows other than magnification is flexibility. with the 135 enlarging lens I can even attain infinity focus if I want. the down side is big and cumbersome
But, when I travel today, I leave my macro stuff at home, I pack my 28-75F2.8 tamron which can close focus to about 1:3, While not macro, and not a flat field lens, it is there for quick close ups.
The bottom line is macro takes time and is combersome, and sometimes you want the ability to get reasonable reproduction ratio, between say 1:5 and 1:3 and not have to worry about lugging all the stuff around, so keep in mind that regardless of the final macro kig, lens/ bellows extension tubes, focusing rails etc... you should always have one zoom that can close focus in a pinch as well
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