The Pentax 100mm f/2.8 Macro is an exceptionally good lens. Well built and weather sealed. It is absolutely tack sharp at all focal lengths and great as a general lens not just Marco. It works perfectly with my Full Frame Pentax K-1 with no vignetting.

I was worried about the purchase at the time (you can never be sure of what you are going to get with online auctions) but now I realise I got a bit of a bargain. The focus limiter is a very useful feature and I now would not like to be without it (pity DFA macros don't have one).

Very sharp; focus limiter; nice feel to it; good bokeh

Spoils the others lenses

I've had the F, FA, and DFA versions of the 100mm macro. Whereas the FA was a bit lighter and made of plastic, there is a weight to the F that surprised me (maybe because it's made of metal... don't let the grey color fool you, this is a hefty metal beast). It feels solid when mounted on my k-5.

IQ; autofocus

narrow focus ring; weight

The Pentax 100mm Macro looks like an old-school lens, with its lockable aperture ring at the back and a huge 'clamp' switch on the side, for locking focus.

Small, high quality tele-macro with Limited level build quality.

Great image quality; Terrific build quality; Amazingly compact; Very versatile

Just a little too much purple fringing wide open on high contrast edges (rare) -minor quibble; Needs focus limiter

I've used this lens on a K200 and a K7 and am nothing but impressed with this lenses abilities. Sharp corner to corner from F2.8 all the way to F32. Diffraction You'd have to do some serious pixel peeping to find it.

Sharp!!; Nice fat focus ring makes fine focus a breeze; Good contrast; Excellent color; Smooth as silk bokeh; Lightweight; 49mm filter

Auto focus can be a crap shoot; Focus lock switch is a bit too easy to set accidentally

Opposite the long-range lenses, there is the SMC PENTAX D FA 100MM F2.8

This is Pentax's longest digital macro lens offering 1:1 magnification from a minimum distance of 30.3cm. It features much the same specification as the shorter 50mm, and it's compatible with both digital and film SLRs using the Pentax KAF lens mount.

Great sharpness at this focal length; focus clamp; AF/MF

Higher corner fringing than is ideal

Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Consistent Output; Durable; Easily Interchangeable; Lightweight; Quick Focus; Rugged; Sharp Focus; Well Made

Front moves wfocus

This lens is Pentax's offering in the popular group of circa 100mm Macro Lenses. For those interested in close up work all the SLR camera manufacturers as well as the independent lens manufacturers offer a lens in this area due to the handy working distance from the subject.

Good build and finish; Performance peaks in the right place; Lightweight in keeping with system

Disappointing performance wide open; Lack of focus limiter; which is needed; Extending front element negates effectiveness of the hood