RE: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Hey All, Thanks for your comments on the Tamron and Pentax mid-length macros. This was very helpful information. Cheers Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
Re: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
HI Barry - I have an older version of the Tamron - the 90mm f2.8 auto focus - and the DFA Pentax 100mm Macro (non WR). Both are excellent lenses but the biggsest difference I notice is the the Pentax has the quick-shift focus adjustment which makes manually fine tuning focus very quick and easy. With the Tamron I have to both pull the lens focus ring back to put it in manual focus mode *and* disable AF on the body. The two step process if very clunky (would be better to be able to juse disengage AF from the body.) Like I said, I have the film era Tamron lens, maybe the latest versions offer something more like the Pentax quick shift. To me that would be a significant issue. Optically both lenses seem to be excellent, though I bought the Tamron last year to use with film bodies and have not really tested it with a digital body. Mark On 6/16/2014 10:04 AM, Barry Rice wrote: Hey Brian, Thanks for your input. You answered what was perhaps my most critical question. Good to see that Tamron has graced Pentax with a dedicated model, instead of just Canon and Nikon. How does the focus on the AF Tamron feel? Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
Re: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Hi Barry Quoting Barry Rice bamr...@ucdavis.edu: Hey Folks, Long time reader to this list, although I tend to be very sporadic. (By the way, sorry if this is a duplicate posting, but I reposted in plain text in case it was necessary.) It is! I had the 90mm f2.5 adaptall for many years, using it for much the same purpose as you - wildflower photography. Eventually I decided I wanted autofocus so I sold the adaptall lens and replaced it with the Tamron AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di. I haven't regretted the decision even though I haven't used it quite as much as I thought I would (so far). It's a fine performer and I don't think you'd be disappointed if you bought one. It can be used in both autofocus and manual modes and it's not an adaptall lens. I can't comment on the two Pentax lenses. Cheers Brian ++ Brian Walters Western Sydney Australia http://lyons-ryan.org/southernlight/ So, I do a lot of plant macro work for stock photography. I never use my camera off-tripod. Also, with my K7 (my primary camera body), I always shoot with locking the mirror up first, by either using the 2-sec lock up, or in live view mode. ANYWAY, my mid-length camera lens of choice has long been the 90 mm Tamron F/2.8 manual focus. My wife is starting to use this a lot for butterflies, but would like an autofocus lens of the same approximate length. By the way, I?ve learned to hate the adaptall mount, as I?ve gone through a couple, even though my lens is working great. So, I see that there is a Tamron AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M lens on Amazon and the other usual markets, for about $438. There are also two Pentax f/2.8 100mm lenses, a WR FA smc for about $650, and a D FA for about $850. For complete clarity, I?ll include Amazon links to the three lenses below. So, to the Pentax gods and prophets here, I pose my questions. 1) I?m correct in thinking that all three lenses are autofocus, but can be used in manual focus too, right? 2) The Tamron for Pentax does not need a damnable adaptall mount, does it? 3) What is the skinny on how these lenses all perform? Your wisdom is most appreciated Tamron 90: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007YZLIK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I2Y6DA5UN15NTRpsc=1 Pentax 100 WR: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030GGS3O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I29Z64M1ERC674 Pentax 100 D FA: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YE65Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I1AP5RPZPWJ7QN nbsp; Cheers Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Hey Brian, Thanks for your input. You answered what was perhaps my most critical question. Good to see that Tamron has graced Pentax with a dedicated model, instead of just Canon and Nikon. How does the focus on the AF Tamron feel? Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
Re: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Barry - I can’t give you specific detailed comments on the two Pentax lenses. But I have never heard anybody complain about the image quality from any Pentax macro- that has always seemed to be a particular niche for them. Using them in AF mode is a challenge, they will tend to be slower than most non-macro lenses. But macros are mostly about manual focus anyway. I have the 100 DFA. I tend to use either the 35mm or 200mm macros and seldom pull out the 100mm, but have no hesitation using it when that focal length is called for. I am quite surprised to see the Amazon pricing on the two Pentax lenses. I would have expected the newer WR lens to be the same or more than the D FA; the Amazon links show the WR to be a couple hundred $ less? Now you’ve got me thinking… I may sell the DFA and switch to the WR. I quite like having the WR capability. stan On Jun 16, 2014, at 1:49 AM, Barry Rice bamr...@ucdavis.edu wrote: Hey Folks, Long time reader to this list, although I tend to be very sporadic. (By the way, sorry if this is a duplicate posting, but I reposted in plain text in case it was necessary.) So, I do a lot of plant macro work for stock photography. I never use my camera off-tripod. Also, with my K7 (my primary camera body), I always shoot with locking the mirror up first, by either using the 2-sec lock up, or in live view mode. ANYWAY, my mid-length camera lens of choice has long been the 90 mm Tamron F/2.8 manual focus. My wife is starting to use this a lot for butterflies, but would like an autofocus lens of the same approximate length. By the way, I’ve learned to hate the adaptall mount, as I’ve gone through a couple, even though my lens is working great. So, I see that there is a Tamron AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M lens on Amazon and the other usual markets, for about $438. There are also two Pentax f/2.8 100mm lenses, a WR FA smc for about $650, and a D FA for about $850. For complete clarity, I’ll include Amazon links to the three lenses below. So, to the Pentax gods and prophets here, I pose my questions. 1) I’m correct in thinking that all three lenses are autofocus, but can be used in manual focus too, right? 2) The Tamron for Pentax does not need a damnable adaptall mount, does it? 3) What is the skinny on how these lenses all perform? Your wisdom is most appreciated Tamron 90: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007YZLIK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I2Y6DA5UN15NTRpsc=1 Pentax 100 WR: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030GGS3O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I29Z64M1ERC674 Pentax 100 D FA: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YE65Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I1AP5RPZPWJ7QN Cheers Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
Re: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Quoting Barry Rice bamr...@ucdavis.edu: Hey Brian, Thanks for your input. You answered what was perhaps my most critical question. Good to see that Tamron has graced Pentax with a dedicated model, instead of just Canon and Nikon. Sadly one of the few. I think this and the 10-24 (which I also have) are the only two current Tamron lenses in Pentax mount. How does the focus on the AF Tamron feel? On a par with other 'screwdriver' drive lenses - certainly more than adequate for my purposes. -- Cheers Brian ++ Brian Walters Western Sydney Australia http://lyons-ryan.org/southernlight/ -- 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.
Re: Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
on 2014-06-16 14:11 Stanley Halpin wrote I am quite surprised to see the Amazon pricing on the two Pentax lenses. I would have expected the newer WR lens to be the same or more than the D FA; the Amazon links show the WR to be a couple hundred $ less? Now you’ve got me thinking… I may sell the DFA and switch to the WR. I quite like having the WR capability. that's because Amazon is not itself the actual seller for either; e.g. FumFie as the seller of the WR for has one total rating in the last 12 months for the WR, i would look to B+H because i don't see any straight-up sellers for that lens currently on Amazon for the non-WR i would probably look first at keh.com; at the moment KEH has the non-WR in EX+ condition for $400 and the WR in EX for $525 -- 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.
Time for a new macro purchase--possible duplicate posting, oops
Hey Folks, Long time reader to this list, although I tend to be very sporadic. (By the way, sorry if this is a duplicate posting, but I reposted in plain text in case it was necessary.) So, I do a lot of plant macro work for stock photography. I never use my camera off-tripod. Also, with my K7 (my primary camera body), I always shoot with locking the mirror up first, by either using the 2-sec lock up, or in live view mode. ANYWAY, my mid-length camera lens of choice has long been the 90 mm Tamron F/2.8 manual focus. My wife is starting to use this a lot for butterflies, but would like an autofocus lens of the same approximate length. By the way, Ive learned to hate the adaptall mount, as Ive gone through a couple, even though my lens is working great. So, I see that there is a Tamron AF 90 mm f/2.8 Di SP A/M lens on Amazon and the other usual markets, for about $438. There are also two Pentax f/2.8 100mm lenses, a WR FA smc for about $650, and a D FA for about $850. For complete clarity, Ill include Amazon links to the three lenses below. So, to the Pentax gods and prophets here, I pose my questions. 1) Im correct in thinking that all three lenses are autofocus, but can be used in manual focus too, right? 2) The Tamron for Pentax does not need a damnable adaptall mount, does it? 3) What is the skinny on how these lenses all perform? Your wisdom is most appreciated Tamron 90: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007YZLIK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I2Y6DA5UN15NTRpsc=1 Pentax 100 WR: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0030GGS3O/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I29Z64M1ERC674 Pentax 100 D FA: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YE65Y/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8c olid=22I5NPVQK4MNXcoliid=I1AP5RPZPWJ7QN Cheers Barry Barry Rice, Ph.D. Sarracenia.com -- 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.
