Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Gear-Fi: Non-Audio Gear and Gadgets › The "Digital SLR that isn't Canon or Nikon" Thread
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

The "Digital SLR that isn't Canon or Nikon" Thread - Page 2

post #16 of 102
3/19/10 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
Does anyone here know about a decent (inexpensive, remember I'm a student) macro lens for Pentax K-Mount?
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #17 of 102
3/19/10 at 7:23pm
If you require autofocus, there are none that are cheap and good. Macro's not cheap. Maybe you can find an estate sale or thrift shop pickup, but unlikely. Maybe you can find a good deal on a used lens, maybe not.

If you can go manual focus, some of the older lenses are surprisingly good. Vivitar S1 (= "Lester Dine") is supposed to be excellent. There might even be some Russian copies of the old Zeiss primes. You can find those on Ebay, and they should be <$100.

However, if you buy a reasonably modern lens in the 50-150 focal length in K-mount...you can be reasonably assured that it is decent. This focal length is the sweet spot for SLR's, and macro is very unforgiving of distortions, so you're unlikely to find junk here. I use the 35mm Pentax Ltd Macro often, and it is awesome. I've also used the 105mm Sigma and the 100mm Pentax, and they're both quite good. However, they'll all be more than $300, probably.

Check out the lens reviews at Photozone.
Reply
post #18 of 102
3/19/10 at 7:33pm
On second thought, are you sure you need macro? When I was starting out with the SLR gear, I thought I wanted macro, but I was really after a very close focal length. If that's the case, the kit lens (18-55 Pentax) is actually quite good, and available almost anywhere for less than $100, if you bought body-only.
Reply
post #19 of 102
3/22/10 at 11:14am
I have a Konica Minolta Dynax 5D (have the analog Dynax 5 too ) Had a lot of stuff from the analog so at the time it seemed like a good idea to stick with the same brand. Unfortunately, shortly after buying my DSLR, Sony took over and did some things I don't really agree with.

When it's time to upgrade, I'll be switching to another manufacturer. I dread to say it, but I will probably go with Canon, as my EDC point & shoot camera is a Canon too (Powershot G10) so I wont have to purchase all accessories separate for both systems.

On the other hand, I might ditch both DSLR & P&S and go with a nice micro fourthirds setup
Reply
post #20 of 102
3/22/10 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Omega View Post
On second thought, are you sure you need macro? When I was starting out with the SLR gear, I thought I wanted macro, but I was really after a very close focal length. If that's the case, the kit lens (18-55 Pentax) is actually quite good, and available almost anywhere for less than $100, if you bought body-only.
I have that lens, and am a little disappointed at the focus in macro shots. Anyway, I may wait for now and pick up a decent hot shoe flash instead.
Reply
post #21 of 102
3/22/10 at 9:23pm
I got a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 with the 20mm f/1.7 pancake prime. I love it!

Oh wait, that isn't exactly a DSLR.
Reply
post #22 of 102
3/22/10 at 9:29pm
Thread Starter 
Close enough. Damn cool too. Bit pricey though. And I prefer the old school PEN looks.
Reply
post #23 of 102
3/22/10 at 9:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by revolink24 View Post
Close enough. Damn cool too. Bit pricey though. And I prefer the old school PEN looks.
Only reason I didn't choose the PEN was 'cause of the lower screen resolution and the silver color. The E-P2 is black but it's even more $$$ than the GF1 and still has the same display.

But the Micro 4/3s cams are amazing! They're the ultimate in discreet street-shooting IMHO. I always felt like a bit of a poser whenever I put my eye on the viewfinder of my old D200 out and about..
Reply
post #24 of 102
3/22/10 at 10:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by revolink24 View Post
I have that lens, and am a little disappointed at the focus in macro shots. Anyway, I may wait for now and pick up a decent hot shoe flash instead.
Seriously, if you are really shooting macro, you don't need autofocus. Actually, let me rephrase, you don't WANT to use autofocus when you are shooting macro. With that said, you can ebay a cheap MF macro lens pretty easily.
Reply
post #25 of 102
3/22/10 at 10:20pm
Thread Starter 
I don't use autofocus shooting macro, but the MF is a bit soft. I was looking more at MF lenses.

Also, I should make it known that I really want a prime lens.
Reply
post #26 of 102
3/23/10 at 12:12am
If you can get your hands on a used Pentax SMC-A 50mm f/2.8 Macro you'll have a really nice manual focusing macro, I didn't have my K-x with me but I got to test one out recently, really nice lens - SUPER sharp. Only reason I didn't get it is I got a cheapy SMC-A 50mm f/2 a while ago and my Sigma 17-70 "macro" focuses.
Reply
post #27 of 102
3/23/10 at 1:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by revolink24 View Post
I don't use autofocus shooting macro, but the MF is a bit soft. I was looking more at MF lenses.
Also, I should make it known that I really want a prime lens.
Why don't you get the 50/1.4, and get a reverse ring? This way you have a good prime lens, and a good macro as well.
Reply
post #28 of 102
3/24/10 at 1:35am
Another Pentax K10D user here!
Best accessory I would recommend is the knowledge of how to fully use it! I think too many people get a nice camera and never really figure out how to take advantage of it (not saying this is you, just in general). I'd really recommend Bryan Peterson's book "Understanding Exposure". You'll be dying to get a nice lens and go shoot in manual mode!
Reply
post #29 of 102
3/24/10 at 10:08am
Former Nikonian here - I shot Nikon for the past five years.

I moved over to Micro Four Thirds a few months ago, but just recently sold all my M43rds gear and looking to move into Pentax land with the K-x soon.
Reply
post #30 of 102
3/24/10 at 12:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by choka View Post
Seriously, if you are really shooting macro, you don't need autofocus. Actually, let me rephrase, you don't WANT to use autofocus when you are shooting macro. With that said, you can ebay a cheap MF macro lens pretty easily.
I somewhat disagree with this...no doubt manual focus gives the best results on a static macro composition. However, autofocus is handy, and the Pentax quickshift feature is great. When shooting things that move, at macro range, it is difficult to focus and snap before the composition changes, with a manual focus macro lens. Much more effective to autofocus to the right neighborhood, then quickly fine-tune with the manual focus ring....this is not possible with a strictly manual lens.

As with everything, I guess it depends what you are trying to shoot, eh? (Note: all decent autofocus lenses will operate in manual focus too )
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Gear-Fi: Non-Audio Gear and Gadgets › The "Digital SLR that isn't Canon or Nikon" Thread