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05-22-2015, 03:54 AM   #1
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Three Prime kit for the K-01

So I'm looking at this:


a) FA28/2.8

b) K/A 50/1.2

c) ?

A used DA 70? I have a 100mm M Macro, and a couple of other 28s (K28/3.5, Vivitar 28/2.0).. the DA70s used are quite a good price, and I don't think I can stretch up to the FA77.

What do you guys think?

05-22-2015, 04:10 AM   #2
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K/m 85 1.8/2?
05-22-2015, 04:15 AM   #3
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Many old kits were 28mm, 50mm, and a 70-210 or thereabouts zoom, or perhaps a 135mm prime in place of the zoom if that was how the owner rolled. So you may want to consider something at the longer end... unless you have little need for it, in which case the 100mm macro can fill in at a pinch.

The DA 70 looks like it would slot neatly into the sequence you already have - (nearly) 30mm + 50mm + 70mm, and (in the general neighbourhood of) 90mm. Plus the limiteds are all fairly petite, and it would go well in a camera bag with all the others at not too much of a weight and space penalty. Even if you had to leave the macro home to travel light, you'd still have a well-balanced set.

I'm tempted to get an f/1.2 fifty for myself, but they're expensive ($500-plus on E-bay) and I already have that FL covered. I will sit on my hands and wait to get lucky at a garage sale.

Oddly enough, my camera bag is currently home to a similar setup - Vivitar 28/2.8, DA 50/1.8 and D-FA WR 100/2.8 Macro. I'm finding the 28 plenty wide for me at the moment (to the point where if I wanted AF I'd probably go for the DA 21 over the 15) so the DA 70 is actually getting some serious consideration from me right now as a prime to drop in between the 50 and the 100. (I also have other lenses, including a 28-250 if I want or need a one-lens-does-all outfit, but they are currently on the shelf to be taken as needed or wanted. I'm in a prime-ey sort of mood right now.)
05-22-2015, 04:28 AM   #4
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The DA 70mm, as far as I know, is a great lens in a very small package, which fits the K-01 well.
I enjoy the 28mm FoV on APSC, but wouldn't something like the DA 21mm make more sense? A little wider, gives you AF and full automation.. And it is very compact. But yes, it can be a little pricy.

I use K-01 a lot and the three primes I usually carry with me are DFA 100mm, Samyang 14mm, DA 35mm f2.4 (or DA 40mm XS or a manual lens between 28mm and 58mm). The Samyang 14mm is a little too wide sometimes, true. And the DFA 100mm is amazing, but its AF can be slow sometimes (macro lens, won't ever be as snappy as a regular prime). So your idea is pretty good, I would like to replace my Samyang with something less wide and with AF, but I can't find anything with similar value and quality.

05-22-2015, 04:31 AM   #5
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The correct answer lies above.
05-22-2015, 04:34 AM   #6
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I'd put my 0.02$ on a Pentax-M 100mm f/2.8.
Maybe a 24mm in place of the 28mm to space things a bit?
05-22-2015, 04:49 AM   #7
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21, 40XS, 70

Or

21, 50, 90/100 macro

Since you already have the macro I would add the first 3.

05-22-2015, 04:51 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by Na Horuk Quote
And the DFA 100mm is amazing, but its AF can be slow sometimes (macro lens, won't ever be as snappy as a regular prime).
This is true, and it's the only really annoying thing about this lens. I bought it for work, thinking more focal length in a macro was always better. For most things I do, it would be - but there were too many occasions where I found I needed a wider FOV. So now it does duty for me as a fast-ish short telephoto prime, where the quick-shift focus gets me close and I let the AF do the rest.

I don't use it much at all, really, and if I'd bought the 35/2.8 macro first I would never have looked at it twice... but having now bought it, it's too good a lens to get rid of.
05-22-2015, 05:37 AM   #9
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Pancake trio - 21, 40, 70. That would be great on the K-01.
05-22-2015, 05:48 AM   #10
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Everything depends on what you consider "wide enough" - for me, bottoming out at 28mm would be uncomfortable. Once the wide choice is made, basically I'd try to have a roughly 2x progression in focal length from one lens to the next. Staying with less expensive lenses, that could give options like:

- DA15, DA35, DA70;
- DA21, 40XS, Tamron 90 (or maybe a manual 85mm);
- Sigma Superwide II 24mm, DA 50 (or any other fast 50mm really), D-FA 100mm;
- a 28mm F/2.8, DA70, M 135mm F/3.5.

This last I would find a bit long, but workable. If you're just asking about adding a single lens to your existing kit, then since you already have an M 100mm macro (and assuming MF is not a problem), I'd add a lens at the wide end (DA15, DA21 or Sigma Superwide II 24mm). I would think having both a 50 and a 70 would be too close a spread, IMHO.

EDIT: Oh, your sig says you have an A 24mm F/2.8... Then 24/50/100 would be pretty nice, no?

Last edited by Doundounba; 05-22-2015 at 05:55 AM.
05-22-2015, 05:57 AM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by TER-OR Quote
Pancake trio - 21, 40, 70. That would be great on the K-01.
Nice IQ and size match for the K-01.
05-22-2015, 07:01 AM   #12
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I also have a K-01. I would say DA15+ DA21 + DA70 would be a great 3 prime kit.
05-22-2015, 07:10 AM   #13
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If you're only asking for an option for C (complement the longer side), I would consider DFA100(WR) or M120/2.8.

28mm on APSc is a very useful standard focal length. 50mm as a portrait lens and gap filler. And one of the above two for extra reach. It would be a kit that I could live with. It will lack a little at the wide side, but personally I'm not that much of an UWA person.

Alternative (if you want something wide at the expense of longer) would be Samyang 16/2, 28/2.8 and a DA70 or Sigma 70mm macro

And there are thousands of other combinations possible depending on how wide you want / need and how long, what you consider 'standard' and what other functionality you might want (like macro).
05-22-2015, 08:00 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by sterretje Quote
I would consider DFA100(WR) or M120/2.8.
OP's sig says he already has a 100/4 M macro (so unless he badly needs or wants any or all of the extra stop, the AF or the WR, he's well served there) as well as the other lenses he mentioned as options A and B. Sounds to me like he's looking to be talked into the DA70 or a comparable alternative as the gap-filler. I wouldn't be sure that 120mm is far enough away from the 100mm he's already got, although the extra stop of speed may make it worthwhile, unless the particular lens you're thinking of has an outstanding reputation across the board.
05-22-2015, 08:08 AM   #15
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The DA70 is a special lens. There is zero wrong with that choice. The question is really how important autofocus is to you and how much you think you would prefer that over the extra reach and macro that the 100 Macro offers. Realistically you have all the focal lengths you need right now. You can add to the wide end or the telephoto end or you can fill in between the 100 and the 50. The DA 70 fits this last profile and is very small, very light, and offers great AF speed etc.
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