Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
I have never heard it was crap. In fact, I have done a few shots with it and it is not bad at all. The real issue is that the build quality is that of a $100 lens (ballpark cost). It is also 1:2 unless used with a matched closeup filter. If one is looking for a cheap, decent macro, it is a good way to start. It is made by Cosina and there are Vivitar and Phoenix versions which include the closeup filter in the price. Just got my daughter one for Christmas. The shop I work at sells that lens under the Promaster brand and includes the closeup adapter as well. The lens itself is pretty dang sharp. I've seen some very nice 12x18 prints from it. The 1:1 adapter really softens things up, though. The very center is alright, but the rest drops off pretty badly, sharpness-wise. Still, it's a good value. John Celio -- http://www.neovenator.com http://www.newpixel.net AIM: Neopifex Hey, I'm an artist. I can do whatever I want and pretend I'm making a statement.
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Quoting Bruce Dayton [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Most manufacturers are building the APS sized lenses just on the really wide end to deal with size and cost. On the longer end, there is not much need to do so. Yep. The new pancake lens (40mm) is a 'digital only', although this hardly qualifies as 'really wide'. Still a neat way to convert an *ist-D into a compact. Although a new pancake with a 35mm image circle would be more welcome: SFAIK there isn't even an SMC-A version, only SMC-M. It's curious that in the last few months Pentax have announced the 100mm and 50mm macros, and a new version of the Pancake lens. Maybe part of their strategy is to analyse which of their SMC-M, A and FA lenses are most sought after secondhand and make new, 'digital friendly' versions? We might see a kind of 'digital repeat' of the most successful period in their 35mm history (mid 70s to mid 80s??? or is that contraversial???) Works for me ... David
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Joe, I will take some shots as soon as we get some clear weather over here and post them. Jostein - Original Message - From: Joseph Tainter [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pdml pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 7:01 PM Subject: Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) Can't tell you how the new lens behaves, but the FA 100 macro is plagued with an unpleasant chromatic aberration when used with the *istD. Like you, I never have had any gripes with this lens on film cameras. Jostein, can you post an example somewhere? I have used the FA 100 f2.8 on my D for many photos, and haven't noticed this. Have you noticed the problem in macro mode, on distance shots, or both? (I have felt that the FA 100 f2.8 has only mediocre performance for distance shots, but I love it's macro performance.) For the original poster (David): Jens may have confused you. The D FA lens you are asking about will work equally well on 35 mm. film cameras or on the D or DS. It is the DA lenses that are intended for the smaller image circle of the current digital SLRs. And welcome. That's an astute question for a first-time poster. Joe
SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If so, sorry .. David Wheatley Southampton UK
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
--- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. Can't help you much, except to tell you that in HK, it is actually cheaper than the old one which was HK$4100. The new one is HK$3680. The DFA50 is HK$3180. That means US$ 473 and 408 respectively. = Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan __ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? http://my.yahoo.com
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
On 12/1/05, David Wheatley, discombobulated, unleashed: I'm new to the list (so hello ...) Hi Dave, welcome. Cheers, Cotty (near Oxford) ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=|http://www.cottysnaps.com _
RE: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
I'd noticed this in the UK too: I was quoted me £499 for the SMC FA, and £449 for the new SMC-D FA. If the new one is optically as good as the old one (which will be a tough act to follow!) that is pretty aggressive pricing by Pentax IHMO. He also said Pentax expect to deliver it in 2-3 weeks so maybe they haven't been released anywhere yet. The guy also said he'd review the price for the old one, so there may be some bargains to be had on the FA lenses in the next few months. Dave -Original Message- From: Alan Chan [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 12 January 2005 12:39 To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Subject: Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) --- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. Can't help you much, except to tell you that in HK, it is actually cheaper than the old one which was HK$4100. The new one is HK$3680. The DFA50 is HK$3180. That means US$ 473 and 408 respectively. = Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan __ Do you Yahoo!? The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do? http://my.yahoo.com
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Hi, here in Estonia we have both FA and D-FA available at our Pentax rep's shop. I asked the same question month or so ago, but no-one could answer then. Last saturday I had an opportunity to check both lenses head-to-head. Not to TEST, but to check. I just made some shots in small studio with my Z-1p. Honestly said, my (not old, not bad) eyes can not see the difference even in Imacon scans (at 6000dpi). So, optically I would consider 'em identically great. Mechanically , the new one feels a bit plasticky (on the other hand - you probably can not find an AF lens more metal than FA100) , but has a wide focus ring, that's very comfortable. And yes, D-FA is cheaper than FA, 8490 estonian crowns versus 9750 (divide by 15.65 to get euros). BR, Margus David Wheatley wrote: Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If so, sorry .. David Wheatley Southampton UK
RE: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Welcome to the world of PDML! I don't know much about the D series lenses. But optimised to digital means, the the light hits the screen/CCD/film close to perpendicular to the optic axis. The reason is that CCD's don't like if the light hits the surface any other way. Unlike film. D lenses will not make a picture (circle shaped) big enough for a full frame format (24x36). So, don't use DA lenses on the PZ-1. FA lenses can be used with a digital body, but it's not perfect. I do it all the time, though. Actaully I don't own any optimised for digtal lenses for my *ist D - yet. Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: David Wheatley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 12. januar 2005 13:15 Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Emne: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If so, sorry .. David Wheatley Southampton UK
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
David, Can't tell you how the new lens behaves, but the FA 100 macro is plagued with an unpleasant chromatic aberration when used with the *istD. Like you, I never have had any gripes with this lens on film cameras. Welcome to the list. :-) Jostein - Original Message - From: David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2005 1:15 PM Subject: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for digital'. I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If so, sorry .. David Wheatley Southampton UK
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Quoting David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm macro lens? Hello, David. Welcome! We wouldn't be bored with the list of gear, considering who we are. And that's all from me personally since I can't answer your question. :-) ERNR
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Can't tell you how the new lens behaves, but the FA 100 macro is plagued with an unpleasant chromatic aberration when used with the *istD. Like you, I never have had any gripes with this lens on film cameras. Jostein, can you post an example somewhere? I have used the FA 100 f2.8 on my D for many photos, and haven't noticed this. Have you noticed the problem in macro mode, on distance shots, or both? (I have felt that the FA 100 f2.8 has only mediocre performance for distance shots, but I love it's macro performance.) For the original poster (David): Jens may have confused you. The D FA lens you are asking about will work equally well on 35 mm. film cameras or on the D or DS. It is the DA lenses that are intended for the smaller image circle of the current digital SLRs. And welcome. That's an astute question for a first-time poster. Joe
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Hello Jens, You are incorrect on this front. There are DA lenses that are sized for APS sized sensors and there are D-FA lenses that are full frame optimized for digital. The new macros are D-FA lenses, so can be used on film cameras. Most manufacturers are building the APS sized lenses just on the really wide end to deal with size and cost. On the longer end, there is not much need to do so. -- Best regards, Bruce Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 8:43:11 AM, you wrote: JB Welcome to the world of PDML! JB I don't know much about the D series lenses. But optimised to digital JB means, the the light hits the screen/CCD/film close to perpendicular to the JB optic axis. The reason is that CCD's don't like if the light hits the JB surface any other way. Unlike film. JB D lenses will not make a picture (circle shaped) big enough for a full frame JB format (24x36). So, don't use DA lenses on the PZ-1. FA lenses can be used JB with a digital body, but it's not perfect. I do it all the time, though. JB Actaully I don't own any optimised for digtal lenses for my *ist D - yet. JB Jens Bladt JB mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] JB http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt JB -Oprindelig meddelelse- JB Fra: David Wheatley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] JB Sendt: 12. januar 2005 13:15 JB Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net JB Emne: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) JB Hi Pentax-folk, JB I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what JB pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. JB Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm JB macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are JB wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny JB compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it JB competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. JB What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 JB macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the JB same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for JB digital'. JB I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If JB so, sorry .. JB David Wheatley JB Southampton UK
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
--- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) Hello :-) I can't really be of much help with the 100mm Macro f2.8 I own the FA 100/3.5 which I have heard said is crap. I don't think so myself. It was cheap and I'm happy with what it can do so that's all that matters vbg Wendy
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Hello wendy, I have never heard it was crap. In fact, I have done a few shots with it and it is not bad at all. The real issue is that the build quality is that of a $100 lens (ballpark cost). It is also 1:2 unless used with a matched closeup filter. If one is looking for a cheap, decent macro, it is a good way to start. It is made by Cosina and there are Vivitar and Phoenix versions which include the closeup filter in the price. Just got my daughter one for Christmas. -- Best regards, Bruce Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 10:34:02 AM, you wrote: wb --- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) wb Hello :-) wb I can't really be of much help with the 100mm Macro wb f2.8 wb I own the FA 100/3.5 which I have heard said is crap. wb I don't think so myself. It was cheap and I'm happy wb with what it can do so that's all that matters vbg wb Wendy
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Yes, but you don't carry it around fully extended. And the weight doesn't change as you focus in: the D FA lens is about 350g .. the FA is about 600g. The new lens also seems to have a 49mm filter thread which is very civilised for such a fast lens ... ... I really hope they haven't sacrificed the sharpness/contrast of the old one. If it's as good on 35mm, I'm really going to have to have one of these. Dave Quoting Joseph Tainter [EMAIL PROTECTED]: I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny compared with the FA. It is compact only at infinity. As you focus closer the barrel extends. At closest focus it should be about the size of the FA 100 f2.8. Joe
RE: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
Yes, I forget the macro lenses/didn't read the sybject line carefully - obviously. I guess these two macro lenses are exceptions. So, for short facal lengths (below 100mm ??) there's still a need for optimized for digital? Not for longerr focal lengths (above 100mm)?? Jens Bladt mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt -Oprindelig meddelelse- Fra: Bruce Dayton [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sendt: 12. januar 2005 19:05 Til: Jens Bladt Emne: Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) Hello Jens, You are incorrect on this front. There are DA lenses that are sized for APS sized sensors and there are D-FA lenses that are full frame optimized for digital. The new macros are D-FA lenses, so can be used on film cameras. Most manufacturers are building the APS sized lenses just on the really wide end to deal with size and cost. On the longer end, there is not much need to do so. -- Best regards, Bruce Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 8:43:11 AM, you wrote: JB Welcome to the world of PDML! JB I don't know much about the D series lenses. But optimised to digital JB means, the the light hits the screen/CCD/film close to perpendicular to the JB optic axis. The reason is that CCD's don't like if the light hits the JB surface any other way. Unlike film. JB D lenses will not make a picture (circle shaped) big enough for a full frame JB format (24x36). So, don't use DA lenses on the PZ-1. FA lenses can be used JB with a digital body, but it's not perfect. I do it all the time, though. JB Actaully I don't own any optimised for digtal lenses for my *ist D - yet. JB Jens Bladt JB mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] JB http://hjem.get2net.dk/bladt JB -Oprindelig meddelelse- JB Fra: David Wheatley [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] JB Sendt: 12. januar 2005 13:15 JB Til: pentax-discuss@pdml.net JB Emne: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello) JB Hi Pentax-folk, JB I'm new to the list (so hello ...) and will bore you to death with what JB pentax gear I own/use/have owned/love/hate/dropped another time. JB Meanwhile, has anybody got any information about the new SMC-D FA 100mm JB macro lens? I know all about the SMC-A and SMC-FA 100mm 2.8 (which are JB wonderful) but I like the look of the new one, especially that it's tiny JB compared with the FA. It also looks like Pentax are going to price it JB competitively, as I've seen it offered for $564 US already. JB What I'd like to know - is it optically as good as the A and FA 100mm f2.8 JB macros? Has anybody seen/tried one? Heard reports? It *seems* to have the JB same optical formula and focus system, but to have been 'optimised for JB digital'. JB I checked the archive, but expect there was a thread on this last year. If JB so, sorry .. JB David Wheatley JB Southampton UK
RE: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
--- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'd noticed this in the UK too: I was quoted me £499 for the SMC FA, and £449 for the new SMC-D FA. If the new one is optically as good as the old one (which will be a tough act to follow!) that is pretty aggressive pricing by Pentax IHMO. He also said Pentax expect to deliver it in 2-3 weeks so maybe they haven't been released anywhere yet. The guy also said he'd review the price for the old one, so there may be some bargains to be had on the FA lenses in the next few months. The price cut could be due to cheaper material because the FA100/2.8 is basically a full metal lens. But strangely enough, the DFA50/1.8 is more expensive than the FA50/2.8. = Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 12:15:20 -, David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Pentax-folk, I'm new to the list (so hello ...) snip I don't know anything about that lens, so I'm no help there. Just wanted to say hi back at you, and send along Graywolf's ever-so-helpful FAQ that was compiled (relatively) recently. It may answer any questions you have, offer a few friendly suggestions, and tell you a few things about this list: http://graywolfphoto.com/pentax/pdml-faq.html Welcome! cheers, frank -- Sharpness is a bourgeois concept. -Henri Cartier-Bresson
Re: SMC D FA 100mm Macro f2.8 (er, and hello)
I'd expect it to be more expensive at f1.8... Alan Chan wrote: --- David Wheatley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'd noticed this in the UK too: I was quoted me £499 for the SMC FA, and £449 for the new SMC-D FA. If the new one is optically as good as the old one (which will be a tough act to follow!) that is pretty aggressive pricing by Pentax IHMO. He also said Pentax expect to deliver it in 2-3 weeks so maybe they haven't been released anywhere yet. The guy also said he'd review the price for the old one, so there may be some bargains to be had on the FA lenses in the next few months. The price cut could be due to cheaper material because the FA100/2.8 is basically a full metal lens. But strangely enough, the DFA50/1.8 is more expensive than the FA50/2.8. = Alan Chan http://www.pbase.com/wlachan __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250 -- I can understand why mankind hasn't given up war. During a war you get to drive tanks through the sides of buildings and shoot foreigners - two things that are usually frowned on during peacetime. --P.J. O'Rourke
