I own a Pentax K-7 and am now looking for a second lens — a macro lens — to go with it. Right now, all I have is a smc PENTAX-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] lens, which, needless to say, is a good travel lens but nowhere near a decent macro lens.
The new smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR (below) looks good but expensive; but if it as good as what the press release says it is, I’ll work my every limb till oblivion to find the money to buy it.
smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR
Pentax made two improvements to the lens compared to the old smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8, introduced in 2004. Firstly, is the addition of weather seals, making it weather resistant, hence the WR acronym in the name. Secondly, is the incorporation of a rounded diaphragm blade.
This rounded diaphragm, says Pentax, creates “a natural, beautiful bokeh at wide apertures, while minimizing the streaking effect of point light sources.”
Sigma 105mm F2.8 EX DG Macro
But at the price of USD $849.95, the Pentax is mighty expensive for my pocket, but like I said I’ll work my entire limbs…
I wonder if the Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro (left), price at US$640.00, will be a better choice instead.
From the numerous reviews, I can safely conclude that Sigma’s macro is better than the old smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8; meaning it can be as good or nearly as good or even better than the new smc PENTAX D FA MACRO 100mm F2.8 WR.
If you are in my place, and purely based on image quality and not the price point, which one of this two would you buy?
