On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 7:24 PM, Larry Colen <l...@red4est.com> wrote: > On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 07:13:20PM -0500, Adam Maas wrote: > > # > So, I just thought I'd check out the level of interest in the 50 and > # > see if anyone as a 100 that they're thinking of selling. > # > > # > > # > # Buy a Kiron/Lester Dine or Vivitar 105mm f2.8 in KA form for much cheaper? > > OK, what are the options for 100mm-ish macros that also work well as > general purpose lenses? What are their strengths and weaknesses? >
There's a few options. All have long focus throws which is the biggest issue in using a macro as a day-to-day lens. The Kiron/lester Dine and Vivitar 105's are superb macros that make very good general purpose lenses. They're at their best at macro distances but still very good at normal distances The Tamron 90's are rightly legendary as the 'Portrait' macro. Great macro, great portrait lenses. Available most commonly as a adaptall-2 f2.5 version that does 1:2 or an AF f2.8 version that does 1:1. they do well at infinity, but not as well as their <10' performance. The Zeiss ZK Makro-Planar 100/2 is probably the best option available. Unfortunately it costs more than any 3 other options combined. Which is too bad since its worth every penny. The various Pentax 100/2.8's are all excellent. The FA is probably the best of the lot, with the D-FA's coming second. The FA 100/3.5 is good but not nearly as good and somewhat poorly built as its a SMC-coated version of the common Cosina design usually seen from Phoenix or Vivitar. 100/4's are older designs but rather good in their own right although the slow aperture makes them less useful for general use. The Tokina and Vivitar 90mm's are also excellent, but rather more rare and difficult to find in the KA versions that are better suited to digital use. The Sigma 105's are good all-round lenses but I'd consider them only if the other options aren't available. You could also convert a Leica or Contax 100/2.8 via a Leitax adaptor. The Leica 100/2.8 APO is the sharpest ~100mm macro ever made. The Contax is merely excellent and much cheaper. And last of all is the Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 125/2.5. It's a bit long and a bit rare, but is second only to the Leica in performance. Used copies go for serious money though ($700-1000 typically) as it's rare and it didn't make its reputation until after production ceased. -- M. Adam Maas http://www.mawz.ca Explorations of the City Around Us. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
