- Pentax D-FA 100mm 2.8 Macro digitally optimized, full-frame lens
- Pentax A 50mm 1.4 + Vivitar 2x Macro Focusing Teleconverter full-frame, converter based
Both lenses set at infinity, the Vivitar Combo (right) is slightly shorter than the Pentax (left).
Both lenses set at their maximum magnification (~1:1) - the Vivitar Combo is quite a bit shorter.
Going on a trip, what will you take? A single Macro lens or a great, sharp 50mm with a Macro Focusing Teleconverter? The latter combo is smaller, cheaper and more versatile. I've used the Vivitar Macro Focusing Teleconverter quite a lot, coupled to my Macro, as can be seen in my gallery. I have also used macro converters for standard lenses prior to that: here and here, two converters stacked.
The question what to take has been bothering me for "ages". Ron on the dpreview forum did a comparison which showed the Vivitar to be quite nice. But I needed to do some testing myself, with my specimens. So here we go.
The first thing I noticed is that the Vivitar is 1:1 only when you set the 50mm lens to its nearest focus position. I also had to reposition the camera with regard to the subject. The effective minimal focus position (front element to subject) is 120mm for the Vivitar and 130mm for the Pentax. I did not test the lenses for curvature of field. It is pretty clear that the Macro will be much better here. But one has to ask oneself, whether a curved field is a problem in rel-life. If you are photographing stamps: Yes. If you are photographing plants and bugs: Not really. The curvature of field seems to be noticeable in the viewfinder with the Vivitar combo, but this could be my imagination running wild. ;)
