Hin's Photo Corner

I have the Cosin 1:1 matched macro adapter that originally comes with Vivitar (likely made by cosina) 100mm f/3.5 1:2 macro. If I am not mistaken, the Pentax may have this 100mm f/3.5 macro lens. It is a very valued macro lens in the Pentax community. And I missed my K-x very much. It used to be my traveling lens in New Zealand way back in 2010/2011 timeframe. I was sad to see it going to Pentax service as it died on memory card reader. I later sold it with a cute 4 million knock-off similar bag.



Hin's Photo Corner: Cosina/Pentax/Phoenix/Promaster 1:1 Matched Macro adapter

And I used the above combination for my favorite colors in Green, a bit of pink, blue, and B&W photos


20080619-2593351458_d33b0929e5_o-Edit
by Hin Man, on Flickr


20080620-a50macro_cosina-Edit
by Hin Man, on Flickr


Blue
by Hin Man, on Flickr

All these photos are re-edited in Color Efex Pro in Nik Collection trying to enhance with film simulation. There has been couple of occasions that I could have bought a copy of the Vivitar 100mm f/3.5 1:2 macro but I have refrained well in getting another lens. Now I have two copies of the 1:1 macro adapter in 49mm which will work well as diopter like a UV filter for all of my 49mm lens and I have a few 46mm in Sigma Art E-mount series that I can easily use the adapter for the occasional close up that I love shooting without getting into serious macro with lighting, tripod and the immense amount patience challenge with wind, backlit scenes and the lack of articulating screen in Pentax gear that I use with K-x, K20, K5 and now K-3.

I am doing some soul searching on my 645N gear. I initially got my 645N and started with only one lens with A 75mm f/2.8 which I love dearly. I later got FA 45mm f/2.8 and A 55mm f/2.8 which I also grown to love. I use more with the 45mm for the wider view but the 55mm gives sharper pictures. And I repeated my past mistakes with LBA, I bought gear too fast and before I know it, I have acquired LS 135 f/4.0 and later with A 120mm f/4.0.

I finally find the time to test my copy of Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro on K-x. First some product shots on the lens mounted on k-x. The lens goes well in style and offers superb manual focusing for macro shooting.



It feel great in buying this lens back after I sold a similar lens with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro. I was wrong about the Lester A Dine in the past regarding bad 1:1 pictures. All bad pictures with exception on purple fringing/CA are my faults in not using it correctly when focus distance is past the 1:2 margin. I simply can't hand-hold shot beyond 1:2. The DOF is literally razor thin when I am in between 1:2 to 1:1 in focus distance and it is beyond my ability in hand-holding. No matter how hard I try, it ain't working for me in hand-holding.


Some flower close up test shots mostly in 1:2 to 1:3 distance wise when I could still manage to hand hold. Beyond the 1:2 marking, I would have liked the help with several aids:

• A macro flash ring light to open up the DOF while keeping the shutter not too low
• A mono-pod to try out
  
• A tripod that can collapse lower to the floor
• Some railing support that can be used with the tripod
  
• Some means to keep the flowers still from the wind
  

I am happy to rectify my past LBA remorse into selling too soon. At the moment, I don't want to visit my rational (the evil) part of my LBA mind as I do have overlap with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Ex DG Macro


Related:

• Berkeley Botanical Garden with Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 Macro
• Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro by Kiron Purchase
• Missing My Lens With Color
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 Macro Ring Light Flash
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
  
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• Hin's Camera Gear

I don't know what the heck happened that led me to sell my Lester A Dine before together with a matching ring light. I sold it to G_money in forum and he recently sold it again in marketplace. We all sold it perhaps for a different reason.

My LBA goes really in circle and I recently couldn't resist to make up my mistakes before I ended up with a great find in Marketplace from another wonderful member for the Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 macro that is also made from Kiron with serial number starting #22.


As far as I can tell, they are very similar in appearance. The one thing that I like the Vivitar over the Lester A Dine lies in the absence of the dentist instruction on the lens barrel. There were few things that I was not impressed in my first handling with the Lester A Dine and I will re-examine the Vivitar given that I have learned from my mistakes -- all lens has its strong and weak points and even the famous lens has a weak spot and it is up to the user to abuse or use it to its strength. The lester A dine or the vivitar are great for macro use and it should be used as such. If I want a macro lens that can double up handily for portrait and event, I would highly recommend the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 or the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 alternatives. Both will fit the bill of doubling up as portrait and event lens other than its core virtues in macro.

I have been naive in macro photography and I do it all wrong especially in getting close to 1:1 distance without aid of tripod, railing and the essential need of enough lighting such as using an external flash to open up the DOF. As a result of my poor setup, the narrow thin DOF is what drive me the craziest and that is really NOT the problem of the lens but the problems that I encountered mostly come from me and my poor setup. Another noted problem is some purple fringing on high contrast shot when I use it for an event. It is also a mood point as the lens is meant for close up and macro and the long focus throw make it not quite suitable lens for other purposes unless I don't mind the long focus turn in shooting.

I will hopefully report back the 2nd time of ownership with this macro lens

Related:

• Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro and Pentax K-x
  
• Berkeley Botanical Garden
• Missing My Lens With Color
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 Macro Ring Light Flash
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
  
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro -- a regretted lens to sell
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• Hin's Camera Gear

Please don't tell anyone: I actually replaced my Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited with this wonderful Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited. After owning this DA 35mm limited for months, I can attest that this is my go-to lens for product shots as well as documentary. I bring it along when I can think of photo-journal opportunity. Its macro 1:1 ability makes it a wonderful to use for product shots. I used it mostly for my product shots on lens and camera gear. If you ever see a product shot of a lens or camera in my blog pages, you are more than likely to see the focal length 35mm from this limited lens. Though it is not a pancake, it is still relatively small like the Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited that are easier to bring along.

My recent documentary on my first Medium Format camera with Pentax 645N were all shot with this lens. I also tried it out on macro with flowers and results are quite satisfactory. The quick shift built in with the lens will make it a powerful macro lens to use where manual focusing is key such as that getting close to 1:2 to 1:1 on flowers. I have not disabled AF on half-press, it would have been even more suited had I turned off AF on my shutter release and use AF key to engage in auto focusing. With the extra setup, I can by-pass the AF in macro shooting with the DA 35mm limited which has the wonderful quick shift between MF and AF on turning the focusing ring.





Impressions & Notes

• A great alternative to Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 as I found its macro capability as well as size and price more appealing to me than the 31mm.
• Well suited for documentary purpose such as product shots
• Great for flowers, minimal focusing distance is relatively small making it a bit too scary to try it out on poisonous bugs such as black widows
• Color and bokeh very decent but they can't match up with the FA 31mm especially on color and detail.
  
• Quick Shift in this lens is wonderful with manual focusing especially if you use AF button for auto-focusing
• The macro IQ beats the short term experience that I had with Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 in M42 mount
• Just wish it has better speed as in f/1.8 or f/2.0

Related:

• Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited
• Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited
  
• Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited On Flowers
• Pentax 645N product shots
• Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 1:2 macro (m42)
• Sigma 28mm f/1.8 II
  
• Hin's Camera Gear
  

I don't think I can justify in buying this used camera. I thought for a long time about going back to film on b&w. I got myself interested with that nostalgic feeling on film where I started with a 35mm with Praktica MTL5 roaming around the streets of Macau and had my first roll of film on a 35mm SLR camera. I am always fascinated with b&w film. Though it is much easier and perhaps economical to shoot digital, the b&w is never the same in digital as in film. And what troubles have I got myself into: another gear that may turn out to be infrequently used. That is not my first time. It happened before and it will happen again. I buy, try it, feel guilty and sell the film camera and go back to digital. I am hopeful that the experience will get me into learning mood once again. I consider the money well spent if I manage to reinvent my interest into b&w instead of doing the digital conversion in software.

I always like to use my Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 as walk-around lens when my family goes out for family trip to places in weekends and holidays. It has the wide angle that I can use for landscape pictures. It has the best macro that I can ask for in a zoom with macro ratio in 1:2.3. Its range and macro capability easily rival my best zoom in that range with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. In terms of IQ and best for portrait, I prefer the Tamron. But in terms of usefulness for walk-around with emphasis on close up on flowers and landscape shots, the Sigma with its lighter weight is my choice to bring along. Its vari-focal apertures is a concern for others and the constant aperture f/2.8 in Tamron will make it a favor among many loyal users. But I like to share with others not to think less of the Sigma as it has a better close up ratio and its useful focal range makes it a better well rounded walk-around lens that are unique over the Tamron.










Impressions & Notes

• The close up in 1:2.3 ratio along with its 17-70mm focal range makes the Sigma an uniquely outstanding walk-around lens
• Variable focal aperture and speed is its weakness and I would prefer it for outdoor use.
  
• Weight is lighter and build is great. The zoom lock is useful.
• Focus throw is too short for manual focusing
• As far as I recall IQ and sharpness are better than Pentax FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5 especially when stopped down.
• I have used another good lens with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Though it has better speed, I prefer the Sigma due to its good close up ratio and better focal range for walk-around.
  
• Its focal range makes it quite versatile that can be used as one single lens in a trip for landscape, close up, candid, and portraits.
• I highly recommend it for walk-around purpose

Related:

• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Macro
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 On Fireworks
• Pentax 1-lens choices
  
• Flickr Set in Phipph's Ranch
• Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 in Japanese Tea Garden
• Travel report in Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe
  
• Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II
  
• Pentax FA 28-105mm f/3.2-4.5
• Tamron SP 28-135mm f/3.5-4.5 adaptall-2 (28A)
  
• Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
• Pentax 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fisheye
• Hin's Camera Gear

I told my boys that I ran into the biggest number of spiders that I have ever seen. Sure enough, I took three of my macro lens to the same spot close to my workplace along a hiking path. I saw hundreds if not close to a thousand around trees and shorter bushes area scattered around the area. In quick look up for images on the web for Black Widows, those spiders that I have taken shots may be related to Black Widows. I assumed those with the big belly are the females.


I wouldn't use my Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro as I would be too close to the spiders. I should have tried my Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 1:2 close focusing from Komine later when I manage to find the time to take more shots. All shots are done hand-held and post processed quickly with b&w in Picasa.






Impressions & Notes

• I really don't want to get too close to the subjects and hence I will prefer a longer minimum focusing distance.
  
• The Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited would be suitable to get a wider view of the spider web but I would not use it up close to the Black Widows and their male counterparts
• I used manual focusing and up ISO to 400 and 640 for the shooting in late afternoon for hand-holding the shots, I would attempt tripod and an external flash to open up the DOF when time allows.
  
• My quick post processing with Picasa "I am feeling lucky" may have pushed the image and background unnatural.
  

Related:

• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited
• Vivitar 135mm f/2.8 1:2 close focusing from Komine
• Picasa B&W
• Picasa "I am feeling lucky"
  
• Hin's Camera Gear

When I look over some old product shots of my Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 with a Macro Ring Flash, I realize the bad mistakes in me selling it too soon to cover the expenses and guilt in owning this well sought after macro gear. I shared my negative opinion on the Macro lens with others noting that it is still the best macro lens that I have used for up to magnification ratio of 1:2. Anything closer to 1:1 magnification, I had a hard time dealing with the ridiculously long focus throw in manual focusing. In hindsight, it was me who was the problem in not knowing how to use the gear properly. I need tripod and flash to make it a better suited setup for macro.

When I recently attempted similar magnification ratio in shooting a spider in the process of paralyzing a big prey with a wasp, I felt the same constraint with my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro in manual focusing mode. The problem is not in the gear but rather the need to use tripod and the great necessity in using the right fill flash to counter the narrowest DOF in reaching 1:1 focusing distance. It is paper thin as it approaches 1:1 ratio. When I shot with an external flash triggered wirelessly by the internal flash, the picture are not what I expected, there is a lot of tuning needed in terms of distance and strength to dial in for the proper fill flash. I am not even close in getting a proper shot of the spider.



I surely missed my chance in testing out the macro ring flash that come with the Lester A Dine in a complete package. When a forum friend from Canada asked me about the gear, I sold him the whole package under cost of what I paid. While I don't miss it much as I have my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 which I found very capable and I have no reason to doubt its capability, I find the Lester A Dine or the equivalent are better in color and contrast. I do find its faults in CA showing in normal shooting as well as the absence of focus limiter, which my Sigma is good at.

There were two other similar mistakes in me in selling good old gear too soon and replaced them with new one. The worst mistake is selling the Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro and that is followed by Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro. Both have oustanding colors and superb manual focus throw. I like the manual focusing in both the Pentax old macro lens.


Related:

• Missing My Lens With Color
  
• Difficulty in 1:1 macro with Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro
• Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro purchase
• Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro
• Pentax K 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro
• Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG 1:1 Macro
• Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 non-Di Macro
• Hin's Camera Gear