Could use a Pentax lens suggestion

hhaase · Apr 12, 2021

As much as I love my 35mm Macro Limited lens on my old K-5 for other things, it just doesn't have the reach in my tank for some locations in the tank. My Chalice and Damicornis are about 10" back from the front glass in these photos, and this is about as sharp as I can get these guys. I'd like to get a LOT closer. I just haven't found any info online of people doing reef tank photography with Pentax lenses and would be interested to see who's using what.

I'm pretty wide open on suggestions. I'm considering the Pentax D-FA 100mm WR, The IRIX 150mm, or the VEnus Laowa 100mm 2X Macro. I've got no issues with going full manual, I used to do it a lot, I'm just a bit rusty at the moment. Anybody have experience with these lenses?

-Hans

Joe's Coral Reef · Apr 12, 2021

Ive had the 100mm WR pentax lens, great lens as long as your not using autofocus then it hunts and sounds like a power drill. I switched over to sony and bought an older FA 50mm and pentax-A 100mm . If your using it stricly for macro you dont need the auto focus the older vintage Pentax lenses can be a good deal. The Laowa with the magnification looks like a really cool lens. So many options I don't think you can go wrong just picking one and trying it.

hhaase · Apr 12, 2021

Yeah, my 35mm macro is the same thing with the autofocus. Noisy and hunts a lot Then it gets confused once in a while and says "Nah, I'm just going to leave it blurry". Particularly if I'm going with a wider aperture. So I'm used to that.

hhaase · Apr 13, 2021

I started looking into that Pentax-A 100mm F/4, and reviews for it are stellar. So I just ordered one off of Ebay that looks to be in great condition, strangely they all seem to be in Japan for some reason.

hhaase · Apr 13, 2021

Hmmmm, the older M and A series 100mm Macros are 1:2 magnification, which doesn't really give me quite what I was looking for with magnification. So I also found some genuine Pentax extension tubes on e-bay that I've also ordered. Since the lens is already full manual I'm fine with the extensions being the same. Looking forward to trying this combo.