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08-04-2015, 03:29 PM   #1
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Lens extension on a budget

Hey,

I'm looking for a new lens to add to my lens collection!

I'm currently owning a K30 Body with a smc-m 50mm/1.7 which I absolutely love for it's sharpness! And the 18-55mm kit lens which got me some great wide angle shots. For macros I'm quite contempt with my macro rings that give me 1:1 magnification with the 50mm lens

I've played around with a cheap 135mm knockoff lens that only got sharp at f5.6 but couldn't get really warm with it... somehow not quite enough "tele" or too narrow fov.

Also tried out a 70-210 zoom (also very cheap) and I quite enjoyed to get that close to stuff, Birds suddenly came into range and the odd fox as well.

So what would you suggest to get next? Any of you who maybe started the same way and knows THE lens to get next? However sadly I'm on a close budget of about 100$/€ so options are bit limited (yes I also would like to have all * primes).
However on the bright side, weight, size, MF,used or anything beside IQ doesn't matter to me really (time to worry about that after the Master ;-))

I've done quite some research and what I got it down to:
-Prime 135mm like: SMC-M 135
-Prime 200mm like: SMC-M/K 200f4 (although I've heard they come a bit overrated and only deliver at f8-11)
-Tele-Zoom: Tamron/Sigma 70-300mm

-Pentax DA 55-300 looks quite interesting but a bit expensive
-Pentax DA 18-250 to replace the 18-55, but they aren't really available used

Hope someone can help me :-)

Cheers

08-04-2015, 03:38 PM   #2
mee
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If you are not concerned about the Weather Resistance (or rather, lack of) you could look for a used DAL 55-300mm. I think optically it is better than the sigma and much better than the tamron including the APO version.

Otherwise primes can be fun.. are you comfortable using the green button to meter with your M 50mm? If not maybe look for an A series prime...
08-04-2015, 03:49 PM   #3
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The DA L 50-200 seems alright. I'm using it for the Single In August.
08-04-2015, 04:11 PM   #4
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I'm very comfortable with all manual lenses and would prefer primes for their IQ but now I also like them for forcing image composition. Makes it easier for me to get a good shot. With my old sony alpha 80-200mm I used to zoom in on the most interesting object and totally neglected composition...

But it seems I haven't missed anything, boils down to 50-200 or 55-300 if budget allows.

08-04-2015, 04:22 PM   #5
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The Jupiter 21M and Vivitar 200mm Auto both seem to get good reviews and sell for very little. They're also both M42, for what it's worth.
08-04-2015, 04:40 PM   #6
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Smc-m 100/2.8 and smc-m 200/4
The 100 really is a magical lens, I agree that the 200 is not all that thing to rqve about, but has a buttery bokeh and delivers the goods when treated properly...
My 2c
08-04-2015, 04:59 PM   #7
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The old manual focus Tamron SP60-300 Adaptall is a great lens, though, if you want auto diaphragm, the adapter is a bit expensive.

08-04-2015, 05:09 PM   #8
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A decently rated zoom lens within reach of your budget is an SMC Pentax-FA 100-300mm F4.7-5.8. KEH has a copy for $109.

I don't own this lens, but considered purchasing it, when I got started some years ago. A surprise windfall of funds made other selections available to me; hence, why I never bought it. Like myself back then, it seems you're interested in exploring telephotography, and this lens could be a good fit for you.

Of course, I would always wish a surprise windfall of funds on anyone looking into photography.
08-04-2015, 07:00 PM   #9
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My sigma 70-300 was a very poor performer. It was on my shortlist to give away. it's been given away.
08-04-2015, 07:28 PM   #10
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What brand was the 135mm knockoff, out of interest?
08-04-2015, 07:36 PM   #11
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Fitting your needs that I've tried
A70-210/4 - has a macro feature at 70. Loses sharpness around 150 mm or so
K135/3.5 - so much smaller than the A70-210 and seems so much brighter. Can be a useful focal length, but can also frustrate
F100-300/4.5-5.6 - loses sharpness above 200-250 mm, makes horrible noises when focusing (although that could be my copy, which got damaged because the seller didn't pack it right), slow. But I got it for about $10-15 so I'm not going to complain if it gets me the odd good shot.
I've avoided getting a 200/4 because I've read enough to suggest that other than size it wasn't going to benefit me much over the A70-210 which I haven't used in ages.

From other people's reviews, the 55-300 is a much better lens than the 50-200 (no worrying about DA or DAL at the moment), but it will be outside your current budget. However, it isn't much outside your budget and might be worth saving for.
08-04-2015, 09:29 PM   #12
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+1 for DA55-300, ... 200 is too short for birding, it costs little more but well worth it, it does a fine job at all focal lenths.
08-04-2015, 10:03 PM   #13
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Get an FA 80-320 and add a rubber hood. Not quite the iq of the 55-300 but mainly issues with purple fringing as I recall.
08-05-2015, 01:07 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by manufocus Quote
-Prime 135mm like: SMC-M 135
Considering that the M135/3.5 can be bought for £10($16) on eBay there is no excuse for not having one.

Flickriver: kh1234567890's photos tagged with smcpm135mmf35
08-05-2015, 06:23 AM   #15
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Not in germany it doesn't here the 135 costs about 60€. Same with the 80-320 which is actually more expensive than the 55-300. m/k100 is at 200€ way too expensive...

The tamron adaptall isn't available..

m42 I'd like to avoid, fiddling with the adapters is just a bit too much for my taste.

So.. options:
:save up for 55-300 (150€)
-optically seemingle best compromise between iq and prize

:get sig/tam 70-300 (40€)
-very cheap, useful finding out if long tele is fun but nothing to pin on the wall (don't really fancy postprocessing)

:get 100-300 (70€)
hmm something in between 55-300 and sig/tam, not too enthusiastic about this...

:get 135mm (60€)
-maybe a good lens will make me like it more? (TC option?) (p.s. old one was Porst MC)

:get 200mm (60€)
-doesn't seem worth the prize with the other options so close

cheers!

Last edited by manufocus; 08-05-2015 at 06:30 AM.
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