K100D and SMCP-A* 200mm Macro In the Field

Both the K100D body and the A* 200mm Macro lens arrived on Friday. I immediately set out playing with the K100D. Unfortunately, I am only shooting JPEG right now because Apple's Aperture does not yet support the K100D RAW file. So far the JPEG files are turning out to be of excellent quality. I took some shots yesterday and today that I like very much. Both shots were taken with the K100D and A* 200mm Macro lens.

1/2000s @ f/4; ISO 200; SR On

1/100s @ f/11; ISO 800; SR On

I was quite happy with the difference Shake Reduction makes for macro shots. I would never have been able to shoot a sharp macro shot with the A* 200mm and the *ist D at a shutter speed as slow as 1/100. Quite amazing! All in all a great combo. I am amazed at the difference Shake Reduction makes. I am very happy with its performance. I can't wait to get the new Pentax 10MP body when it comes out! It only gets better from here. It's especially fun to use this combo because I can use the superb optics of the Pentax A* 200mm Macro lens along with Shake Reduction when I wouldn't have Image Stabilization with the Canon EOS 20D and EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro lens.