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05-18-2010, 04:20 PM   #1
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little advice please

hello everyone,
I've read the hundreds of reviews, and lens advice on here, but I still have a few questions.
First of all, I'm a novice with a "digital" SLR. I like to shoot mostly just walkaround
stuff and travel shots. I have the kit lens version II, Tamron 70-300 and Pentax A
50mm F/2. These cover focal lengths pretty well, and I like these lenses o.k.
Before I've even started considering more lenses, I've gotten familiar with my
camera (K200D), got a nice tripod, other basic equipment, and Lightroom. Boy,
the learning curve is pretty steep with digital, I never had so much to worry about
with my old manual film cameras or point and shoots. But, the learning is almost
as fun as the picture taking, and I didn't want to just start accumulating lenses
before knowing what to do with them. I am just as compulsive as the next person
so the dreaded LBA is a definite concern :-) I have found that I have been taking
a lot of low light and indoor shots, so I use my 50mm f/2 in these situations
because it's the fastest lens I have. There are waaay too many choices, but
I've narrowed down to a few options:
1. Some older Pentax A lenses. I don't mind manual focus.
2. Get one very good limited lens at a time and build a collection. Expense is a
concern. Photography is only a casual hobby for me.
3. Get one fast 3rd party zoom like a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and be done. Quality
control of these make me nervous. I don't have the time or experience to deal
with back focus or front focus or long drawn out issues with returns.
I really like the quality, size, weight of the limiteds, I've seen some awesome
shots on here done with them, but I'm not sure if I'd qutie need them right now.
This forum is awesome, and I appreciate any feedback given.
Thanks,
Bobby

05-18-2010, 05:45 PM   #2
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And the answer is...

QuoteOriginally posted by 9thumbs Quote

2. Get one very good limited lens at a time and build a collection.
You said it... get the DA 40 Limited for starters.

Cheers...
05-18-2010, 05:52 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Michaelina2 Quote
You said it... get the DA 40 Limited for starters.
Or perhaps the DA35/2.8 macro?
05-18-2010, 06:21 PM   #4
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If the lenses you have work well enough, and photography is just a casual hobby, why spend more?

First, you'll get 3 primes everyone recommends = $1500. Then, you'll start talking about bokeh and rendering. You will compare the image quality to the Tamron and decide you need something a bit sharper at the long end = $750 and/or $1300. Then you will want go a bit wider, so might as well go for it with the 10-17 fisheye, or the 14 or 15, or Sigma 10-20 = $500+. Or the 12-24 which is an excellent focal length range = $700. And if one of the limiteds is not a macro, you will probably decide you want a macro = $419 (Tamron 90 with rebate).

You sir, have opened a can of worms :-)

Oh, yeah, forgot about that faster 50.


Last edited by SpecialK; 05-18-2010 at 10:13 PM.
05-18-2010, 06:32 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
Or perhaps the DA35/2.8 macro?
+1 for this.

I had one, broke it (well, car accident), miss it terribly, and find it the most versatile prime I've ever owned.
05-18-2010, 06:34 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
Or perhaps the DA35/2.8 macro?
2nd that one.

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