[dj_saunter]

Hey everyone, very nice forum.

I just joined the pentax family a few months ago. A friend was upgrading to the K7 and so I bought his K10D at a great price.

He sold it to me with a Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens.

I've spent the last little playing with only that lens and it's time to explore a bit more.

one of my priorities is 'cheap' and best bang for the buck.

I'm looking at either the 18-55 AL II kit lens. It's seems like a logical place to start.

The second choice is an older Pentax 35-70mm f4 lens. Only manual, but that price is unbeatable. It lacks wide angle, but I thought I can get a wide angle prime as my third lens.

I mostly shoot street shots.

Any advice from the more experienced people in here?

Serge

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Last edited by dj_saunter; 08-09-2010 at 08:29 AM.

[Adam]

Hi Serge,

Unless you're going to be getting a relatively fast lens (F2.8 or F3.5 zoom), there's no point in getting a manual lens over the kit lens. I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 35-105mm F3.5, but it's likely going to cost just as much as the kit, if you find one. It's got a higher rating, though, and from my experience with it on film, it's extremely sharp.

You're welcome to browse other lenses in our lens databases for further ideas: Pentax Lens Review Database - Lens Listings

Hope this helps!

[audiobomber]

I just joined the pentax family a few months ago. A friend was upgrading to the K7 and so I bought his D10 at a great price.
I'm looking at either the 18-55 AL II kit lens. It's seems like a logical place to start.

The second choice is an older Pentax 35-70mm f4 lens.

I assume you mean the K10D? I recommend the DA 18-55 WR over the 18-55 II for its weather resistance. Optically they are the same lens.

I wouldn't be happy with only 30mm as my my widest lens. The 35-70 might make sense if you're adding a wide angle right away, but then the problem becomes which wide angle? All of the reasonably priced wide angle lenses are zooms and will overlap with the 35-70. If you decide on the 35-70, I'd say the 16-45 would be the next logical step.

[dj_saunter]

I suppose the overlap is my big dilemma.

18-55mm is safe, it'll give me a bit more zoom and a bit more wide angle.

the samples i've seen from the 35-105mm look really nice! I think you've just bumped the 35-70mm with that recommendation.

These recommendations are really good for helping me figure put where I want to go.

Keep them coming.

[bigdog104]

I would go with the kit lens first. For one thing you should be able to get one relativity cheap since some many people get rid of them when they upgrade. Also if you are doing street shooting, IMO the 18-55 is a nice range to have. I find that the 18-55 is my "go to" lens when I take my camera with me and not sure what I will be shooting.

[future_retro]

I couldn't imagine being without a kit lens, you'll have to use some higher ISO's that you're used to but the wide angle will be worth it.

I think the kit lenses are an awesome deal, for some reason any lenses that cover the 10-20mm focal lengths are all really expensive besides the kit lens and it's few alternatives

[northcoastgreg]

. I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 35-105mm F3.5, but it's likely going to cost just as much as the kit, if you find one. It's got a higher rating, though, and from my experience with it on film, it's extremely sharp.

I would also recommend the 35-105: it's a big step up from the kit lens, and usually can be purchased somewhere between $100 - $150 on ebay or keh.com (there's one at keh.com for $115).

[Nick Siebers]

I would get one of the 18-55 varieties first. If you want longer than 30mm there are many ways to go for fairly cheaply - manual 50mm lenses being a great place to start. My favorite cheap zoom is the Pentax-F 35-70mm - I find the AF handy, as well as having the body know the focal length for shake reduction. Manual focus zooms are a bit of a pain - you may have to enter the focal length each time you change. I did not like the A 35-105 that much - too heavy and big, with a lot of the weight forward, for toting around. IQ was amazing, that is true. I wouldn't use it for street photography.

[axl]

Another vote for the kit lens. It's the best bang for the buck if on budget. If you don't mind manual, have a look into SMC 50s M or A 1.4 or 1.7. It would make nice couple with your 30

[nater]

All of the reasonably priced wide angle lenses are zooms and will overlap with the 35-70. If you decide on the 35-70, I'd say the 16-45 would be the next logical step.

There is the Sigma 17-35mm EX DG f/2.8-4.0 lens, which doesn't overlap, and is a good lens (I replaced my kit lens with it). There's one for sale in the forums as well, I think (no affiliation with the seller).

[Marc Sabatella]

If you get the 35-70, you'll still be without a wide angle lens. No way would that (the 35-70) be my next lens. I'd go for the 18-55.

[RioRico]

The 18-55 kit lens is hard to beat as a starter, especially as a GP street lens. I would *not* start with a manual zoom, with its SR and FL issues. My first lens set for my K20D included the DA10-17 fisheye, DA18-250 superzoom, and FA50/1.4 fast prime. I later bought the 18-55, but still use the 18-250 most, and often a faster Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye instead of the 10-17.

Your 30/1.4 is great. For streets, the 18-55 is great. For shooting in tight spaces, consider something in the 14-15-16mm range -- and AF costs rather more than manual there, and isn't as crucial. For a bit more reach, consider a (cheap to not-so-cheap) manual Fast Fifty, something around 50-55-58mm at f/2 or faster, which will be a totally different experience than using the kit lens at the long end. For even more reach, consider something around 85-105mm. I'm not going to recommend any AF zooms longer than the kit lens, because with my 18-250, I haven't had to bother with anything else.