I know the SMC A 400/5.6 focuses much closer than the K. The k's minimum focus precludes bird or small game shots without an extension tube. That's been somewhat of a pain for me.
"Frits J. W�thrich" wrote: > > How does the SMC-A 400/f5.6 compare to the K 400/f5.6 and this Sigma 400/5.6 > APO Macro? Specifically wide open. > > Frits W�thrich > > Doug Franklin wrote: > > Hi John, > > > > On Fri, 21 Dec 2001 19:05:19 -0600, John Mustarde wrote: > > > > > Your Sigma AF 400/5.6 APO Macro will be a pleasant surprise in terms > > > of sharpness and contrast. I'm quite sure it will blow the K-400/5.6 > > > and certainly the Tokina out of the water, especially wide open. > > > > Boy, John, I hope you're right. I'd love to find out that my technique > > isn't as bad as I thought but my 400 lenses aren't as good as I > > thought. :-) I think I'm going to try a couple of moon shots tomorrow > > night with the Sigma. If I think about it, I'll do some "side by side" > > comparison shots with the K 400. Since I don't have a tripod collar > > for the Tokina, I can't do side by sides for it. > > > > Speaking of taking moon photos, I'd appreciate comments on my plan of > > attack. > > > > I'll be using a heavy duty surveyor's tripod (aluminum, unfortunately). > > I may use a Bogen/Manfrotto 3262 ball head (the only head I have) or I > > may put the camera directly on the tripod and adjust the legs instead > > of using a head. I'll set the tripod up on earth rather than concrete. > > > > I'll ballast the tripod itself with a 40 pound (5 gallon) bucket of > > water hanging from the center "yoke" of the tripod. I'm not sure > > whether it's better to keep the ballast closer to the ground or the > > "yoke". I'll ballast the lens and camera with one or two 2# ankle > > weights. Either both over the tripod mount or one on the camera itself > > and one near the front of the lens. > > > > I'll use the Sigma with two Pentax 2X-S T/Cs. It looks like the lens > > would work with a 2X-L T/C, but I don't have one. :-( The body will be > > my LX, since I have the "magnifinder" (looking down into the top of the > > camera works better when it's elevated 30 or more degrees). > > > > I'll be using the "Moony 11" rule (like Sunny 16). That means a > > shutter speed 4/ASA since my effective aperture will be f/22. Or should > > that be 2/ASA? I'll have to do the math again. :-) > > > > I haven't decided on film yet. I've got the following in house: > > Portra 160NC, Royal Gold 100 and 400, T400CN, TriX, and Max 400. I'm > > thinking probably Portra or RG 100, or maybe TriX. > > > > All suggestions welcome. :-) > > > > TTYL, DougF > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
