I use Sigma's 70mm and I am very happy with it. I also have the Vivitar Series 1 105mm but tend to use Sigma a lot more... Working distance considerations do not usually apply for my type of casual shooting and I believe I will not need a longer macro.
You may also consider using software tools for stacking multiple images and a higher resolution camera. These may allow you use any macro lens available (of shorter focal length). Are you sure the promised Sigma 150mm macro is available for Pentax yet? Bulent --------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bc_the_path/ http://photo.net/photodb/user?user_id=2226822 http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/bulentcelasun 2011/6/10 Mark Cassino <markcass...@ymail.com>: > Hi Everyone - > > It finally happened - my trusty old SMC A* 200mm macro developed a problem > this > past weekend, and there is clearly an issue in the linkage between the arm > that > controls the aperture and the aperture mechanism itself. I sent it off to > Pentax > > in hopes that they can get it fixed up, and hopefully they can. But I may as > well do some contingency planning as I await to hear form them... > > The only viable option I see out there now is the Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. Has > anyone tried this lens? They state that it has a minimum focusing distance of > 15 > > inches which is 1:1 magnification. So, minus the length of the lens (5 inches) > it looks like there would be about 10 inches of working room. That's not bad - > the 200mm macro hit about 12 inches of working room at 1:1. The D-FA 100 only > has about 6 inches. > > Any thoughts about other options? The Sigma 180mm macro is long gone and the > A* > and FA* 200 macros are impossible to find. I just started playing around with > my > A* > > 300 f4 and a Canon 500D multi element close up lens - the first test were > surprisingly sharp, but the range you can focus in is very small and the > maximum > > magnification is only about .65 life-size. I plan on trying the D-FA 100 with > a teleconverter this weekend, but am not optimistic. > > > Any thoughts on the Sigma 150 or other options that might be out there? > > Thanks - > > MCC > > www.markcassino.com/b2evolution/ > > -- > 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. > -- 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.