Best standard prime?

denisv · 12-20-2008, 01:31 PM

I recently bought the K20D with a Sigma 30mm 1.4 to use as a general prime. The idea was that I'd always keep this on, unless I needed a tele or something. Shortly after I ordered though, I noticed that Sigma has a new 28mm 1.8 macro that also happens to be full frame, and on top of that it's cheaper. On the other hand it's bigger and 100g heavier (but I'm a manly man so that's not an issue.)

Anyway, I've been playing with the 30mm and I'm quite happy with it. But now I'm thinking about sending it back and getting the (on paper) technically better 28mm.

The trouble is that I can't find any decent reviews. There's a few comment here and there comparing it to C and N lenses I know nothing about, and in any case I feel some of these people have shady fanboy agendas and can't be trusted.

Given that I can't test this locally anywhere and I'm ordering from Germany, I'd like to hear from anyone that has had the 30mm and 28mm and how they compare. Or if nobody's had both, I'd like to hear from people who've tried out the 28mm and what the lens is like. In fact, feel free to share any thoughts on fast primes at all.

kerrowdown · 12-20-2008, 01:43 PM

If you can live with manual focus, there's a whole world of wonderful fast glass primes out there.

Would recommend any of the Pentax A series primes lenses, my personal favourites are and still in daily use, 50mm f1:1.2, 85mm f1:1.4, 135mm f1:1.8 and 200mm f1:2.8.

*dadipentak* · 12-20-2008, 02:05 PM

Look, there are a bunch of great lenses in the 28-35mm range and you can really drive yourself crazy with this second guessing. There's only one way to stop it: bite the bullet and buy the 31mm.

stevebrot · 12-20-2008, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by dadipentak

Look, there are a bunch of great lenses in the 28-35mm range and you can really drive yourself crazy with this second guessing. There's only one way to stop it: bite the bullet and buy the 31mm.

I think he means the Pentax-FA 31/1.8 Limited. By consensus, the ultimate K-mount prime in the 28-35mm range. Price is about 2x what you paid for your Sigma 30/1.4.

Steve

*nostatic* · 12-20-2008, 02:20 PM

you'd probably get a little more traction with this posted in the lens forum.

Short answer: pick a ltd, any ltd, and likely be happy. Specs don't shoot pictures, people do. Shoot what you normally shoot with the lens and see what you like. Pixel peeping and machine test tell you little about the image it will produce. There is more to life than numbers...

denisv · 12-20-2008, 02:29 PM

The 31mm limited is a bit out of my price range, unfortunately.

also, maybe someone could move this to the lens discussion section

*Jonson PL* · 12-20-2008, 02:51 PM

The Sigma 28/1.8 should be a great lens. A really good photographer, Darren M., had it as one of his favourites. But the Sigma 30/1.4 is no slouch either.

Maybe you should keep your 30/1.4, and just get a Sigma 24/1.8 or 20/1.8 along with it. (These can also be used for macro).

Else do a search on the Sigma on the Pentax DPr site, it has been discussed before.

Here is a list of Sigma lenses :
Sigma - Lenses

**roentarre** · 12-20-2008, 03:15 PM

Sigma 24mm f1.8 is in deed very good. Last time I met Darren M is constantly bravo on this lens. I had seen all the images from this lens for his trip in Vietnam and I really think this lens will do most jobs very well. Clean image with good contrast. Bokeh are not too bad at all. Better than sigma 20mm f1.8 altogether.

It is big but balancing well on k20d

*awo425* · 12-20-2008, 03:23 PM

I know one extremely talented professional photographer who uses Sigma 30/1.4 on Nikon D300 is his primary tool for street photography. With certain talent applied this lens can deliver amazing pictures.

*dadipentak* · 12-21-2008, 08:09 AM

I was being glib in my comment about the 31mm but I'm serious about driving your self nuts with second guessing. The Sigma 30 is a very good lens--I gave my son one for his birthday. I say keep it and get good with it before you decide to switch.

SylBer · 12-21-2008, 08:45 AM

DA35 could also be considered. With macro capabilities, it's a real workhorse!

*monochrome* · 12-21-2008, 09:37 AM

Here's a long thread covering gear versus shooting with what you have.

Shoot with the lenses you have not the ones you dream about.

I took it to heart and it helped a lot. Although I always feel a twinge of loss, I'm selling lenses that have great reviews here and elsewhere that I have for the collection but don't use. I'll probably buy one Limited lens with the proceeds of these sales and then have just a small number of lenses.