Lens help?

So, I literally just got my Pentax K200D and would loooove some pointers and just some general help about digital

SLRs. I'm familiar with film SLRs, but they are rather different. I'm also a huge fan of macro photography, so

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good, cheap macro lens that would work with the k200d. So far the best I'd

found is the Tamron, but that's still not quite what I'm looking for. What I'm looking for... I dont even know.

Feed back would be great! :)

one other thing - I've been playing around with my other older lenses from my film cameras, and most of them work, but I have a lens that will connect, but the camera wont take pictures with it. What's this about? Is there away around that, a way I can get pictures using that lens?

Though Anirban may have a problem with his copy...I've fallen in love with my Tamron 90/2.8 - a solid lens at a good price

for my budget. There are quite a few choices for macro lens - Pentax has a few: DA 35 Limited, DFA 50, DFA 100 (all 2.8);

Sigma makes the 105/2.8 macro. Should give you some things to think about. Figure out what you like shooting and look at the benefits of

each focal length.

 

Lee

H W - if the K200 is the same as the K100, you have to select a menu item "Allow aperture ring" to use old lenses that do not have an "A" setting. Or to use "A" lenses on other settings. Why this would not be a default, I do not know. In the K100 it is under "Custom settings".

 

A good macro lens... a long and interesting topic. If you are looking for a dedicated lens, I just picked up a Tamron 90mm F2.5 SP (Adaptall2) that totally blows me away, and I haven't even busted out the adapter to get to 1:1. If the newer Tamrons are this good, you wouldn't go wrong there. There are many other choices, too. I recently had a thread about a bellows, and Peter Zack posted links near the bottom to a great post of his about macro bellows work. Then there are reversal rings, extension tubes, close up filters. What do you already have?

 

Welcome to the Pentax club. These cameras are a lot of fun to use.

Nick

Can i put my 2 cents in here?...Well you did say cheap...Sigma 70-300 APO macro lens you can come up with some nice shots and its fairly cheap.....I have heard an read lots of good things on the lens...I have not had a chance to use it a lot but as i said i've heard a lot of good things on it...Unfortunately it sits in my camera bag most the time =/<div></div>

The film macro lenses will work fine, just with the usual 1.5x crop factor due to the smaller sensor. If you're mostly wanting to shoot flowers and objects of roughly that size, a close-focusing zoom might be enough; look for a maximum magnification of 1:4 or better. If you want to shoot insects, then you'll want true 1:1 capability with a dedicated macro lens. For macro work, autofocus isn't really a necessity, so you may find an older used lens may work well too. Similarly you'll also want to stop down so f/2.8 isn't strictly necessary either but the brighter viewfinder can be useful for focusing.

I'll second the Tamron 90. Zoom lenses with a macro setting aren't really macro at all, just close focusing. They

also have a curved field of view which can cause problems with some subjects. Another cheap way out is to get a

set of extension tubes which will allow lenses to focus closer, best used with prime lenses, probably.

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Tamron 90 DI etc on K10. A Toad.

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<center><img src="http://reyno.com.au/Photos/3256s.jpg"></center>

I have the older 1:2 version of the Tamron, which would probably fit in the "cheap lens" category. If you

can find a Kiron, Lester Dine, or Vivitar Series 1, 105/2.5, you'd have one of the sharpest macro lenses

anywhere, and it goes 1:1 without a tube. I have the Vivitar, and it has auto-aperture.

 

Cheers

I can vouch for the Vivitar Series 1. It's one heck of a piece of glass!!!

"I can vouch for the Vivitar Series 1. It's one heck of a piece of glass!!!"

 

But not cheap.

I am the only one voting for the Sigma 70 by 300 APO???....That was in terms of cheap which is what thet stated...Is the Vivitar cheap too?....

If you got a "kit" DA 18-55mm zoom, that will do some macro shots, about 1:3 I believe. It's not a bad lens. You may want to work with what you've got for a while. The SMC-M 50mm F4 macro lens is also quite nice, it only goes to 1:2 and doesn't give you as much working room as a longer lens, but can be had pretty cheaply @$100 or less, I believe). then you can put it on extension tubes or a 2X TC for more magnification. Here's a shot I took with that lens a while back:<div></div>

Sorry, forgot about the "cheap" part. I got the Viv off ebay for about $425 a while ago. But I also have the

Tamron Di 70-300 f/4-5.6. It gives me a 1:2 ratio and is IMHO a very good lens for the price.

Nick, really nice Bee Shot.

 

I mentioned the non 1:1 close-focus zooms because for many photographers and subjects they are good enough. They tend to cost less and offer more versatility than the 1:1 (or 1:2) dedicated macro prime.

Actually, even with a lens that can do it, getting down to 1:1 is rare in my experience at least. At such extreme magnification, it is for still subjects only, using a tripod, perfectly focussed, and often using MLU. So just getting to 1:3 often serves the need very well. If you bought the fine new kit lens, use that and see how it goes.

 

Image quality from a true macro prime is generally better than closeups from a zoom lens. Focal length need is what you must determine. 100mm provides more working distance from the subject, and Sigma also has a very well built model at around $400. Some prefer a shorter 50mm, and the excellent Sigma is available at around $280 or so.

I got my Viv Series 1 105/2.5 for $175 never used, still in the box, with all the paperwork. I consider that

a good deal. The problem is that people have found out about the lens and the prices have skyrocketed.

Vivitar Series 1 105mm f2.5 - 1:1 Macro - Superbly built, super images, a joy to use. Hunt one down for a fair

price and that thing will live on your camera.

 

Typically it's not super cheap but, deals come up now and again..