Pentax DA14mm/2.8 for close-up photography

The Pentax DA14mm is the 14mm lens that have the closest minimum focusing distance on the market (correct me if i’m wrong). It’s a great lens to show a flower, mushroom or a frog in it’s environment by getting close and frame your subject with a background that will enhance it. It takes some practice to get the most out of that lens at close range, the lens hood can nearly touch your subject at the minimum focusing distance and also cast shadows. When i’m photographing that close i now remove the lens hood, especially when photographing frogs.

With the Shake Reduction of my K20D i can handheld that combo to take photos of subjects close to the ground or in situation when it’s hard to position a tripod. In some occasions i was holding my camera in one hand trying to photograph a frog while keeping my balance on the shore of the pond, the frog was certainly laughing at me !

The image quality of that lens is very good but the corners are not as good, so don’t put important elements in the extreme corners of the frame. The only thing i wish is that Pentax would update it as a WR lens !

This photo of a Green Frog was taken on a sunny morning on a small pond, the frog was lit by the sun and the contrast was too high with the surrounding vegetation for my taste. I took off my shirt and hang it up on some cattails to shade my subject and it’s environment.

Taken with a Pentax K20D, ISO 800, 1/25 sec. at f/10 handheld with SR activated.

When i  found this Stemless Lady’s-Slipper (white specimen, habitually they are pink) i knew i wanted to show that beautiful flower in it’s environment, so i choose my DA14mm for the shot. I was lying on my stomach on the ground and use the help of SR to steady the camera.

Taken with a Pentax K20D, ISO 500, 1/10 sec. at f/9 handheld with SR activated.