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09-22-2010, 03:57 AM   #1
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What was your first lens?

Hi all,

As someone about to take their first steps out of kit lens territory and into the vast (and expensive) world of fine glass, I am curious what was the very first lens you bought and why you decided that was the lens you had to have?

09-22-2010, 04:19 AM   #2
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My very first lens was probably a magnifying glass I used to burn ants.

Oh, you mean camera lens? That would be the Zuiko 38/1.8 on my Olympus Pen-FT SLR back in 1975.

Oh, you mean Pentax lens? When I ordered my K20D I didn't get a kit lens, I went straight for the DA10-17, DA18-250, and FA50/1.4, all still among the most-used of the 100+ lenses I can mount on it. Before getting the dSLR, I decided that I needed ultrawide, ultralong, and very fast. Those three qualified. So they're the first, tied.
09-22-2010, 04:28 AM   #3
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The 50mm M 1.7 which I ordered with my MX new. Still have both. Us the 50 on my K10D whenever I shoot in really low light.
09-22-2010, 04:34 AM   #4
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I skipped the kit lens completely. I bought the K100D body-only, the Tamron 18-250mm and the FA 43mm limited. It was a great 'starter' kit: the versatility of a super-zoom and the speed and super IQ of a top notch prime.

The key question in your decision is what kind of photography you want focus on (bugs, sports, portraits, landscapes, flowers, birds?) that decision will narrow your options somewhat.

09-22-2010, 04:38 AM   #5
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First new lens, and first one mounted on my K20D, was the Sigma 17-70. Still my most used lens.

First owned lens was the Vivitar series 1 70-210 v1. sold it, miss it. I had ordered it before ordering the K20D.
09-22-2010, 04:51 AM   #6
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First Pentax Lens = 18-55 DA L.

First Pentax Lens after the kit lens = DA 40.

First ever DSLR Lens = Nikon 18-55.

First ever DSLR Lens, that wasn't an 18-55 Kit Lens = Sigma 70-300 APO Macro DG.

Most of my decisions are unfortunately based around having an 18-55 kit lens first due to budget constraints.

If I were a new Pentaxian today (technically, I still am) - and if budget weren't so limited, the first lens I'd get would probably be a 31mm f/1.8, and followed by either a DA 15mm or a DA* 50-135.
09-22-2010, 05:07 AM   #7
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My first lens beyond the kit and crappy telephoto that came with my k10 was the DA 10-17 fisheye. It was a game changer and pushed me down the road of LBA hell...

09-22-2010, 05:08 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by dadipentak Quote
I skipped the kit lens completely. I bought the K100D body-only, the Tamron 18-250mm and the FA 43mm limited. It was a great 'starter' kit: the versatility of a super-zoom and the speed and super IQ of a top notch prime.

The key question in your decision is what kind of photography you want focus on (bugs, sports, portraits, landscapes, flowers, birds?) that decision will narrow your options somewhat.
I like it! A very considered start.

My first lens was the 50/1.4 followed by the 31/1.8.

I want a Pentax 18-250 so I can leave all the gubbins behind on occasion. I found one new, but at US$600, it's a bit steep.

I'm now heading out to photograph Hong Kong's Lantern Festival in Victoria Park. I wish I still had the 31, but will be taking the 18-55, 50/1.4 and Sigma 8-16. Let's see if the K-x can handle no flash...
09-22-2010, 05:11 AM   #9
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My first lens, actually my first lenses, were an SMC Pentax 55mm f1.8 and an SPC Pentax 135mm f3.5 that I bought new with a Pentax KX in 1975 when the K series was first introduced.

And I've still got them, and the KX, all in working order.

Regards

Chris Stone
09-22-2010, 06:03 AM   #10
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First MF film lens:
FD 50mm 1.4 with Canon AE-1p

First AF film lens:
EF 28-135mm IS with EOS 55

First Pentax Digital lens:
DA 18-55mm with K10D
09-22-2010, 06:10 AM   #11
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Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by dadipentak Quote
The key question in your decision is what kind of photography you want focus on (bugs, sports, portraits, landscapes, flowers, birds?) that decision will narrow your options somewhat.
Yeah, this is what I'm really interested in. I'm guessing by the looks of some of these first lenses, people might have just been looking for a good general all-rounder, but maybe some of you started off with an interest in one particular area?

Like the DA 10-17 fisheye early on?
09-22-2010, 06:15 AM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Stiv Quote
Hi all,

As someone about to take their first steps out of kit lens territory and into the vast (and expensive) world of fine glass, I am curious what was the very first lens you bought and why you decided that was the lens you had to have?
my very first lense was helios 44 -2 58/f2 that came with zenith camera which was also my first camera. There was no reason to buy it. I wanted to learn photography and the guy who guided me asked to work with very basic fully manual cam for few days.

My first pentax lense was however 50mm F1.2 and even that time i did not know much about things. My mentor told me that small this number (F number) better the lense is. So when i bought it i was feeling bad that this was only F1.2 and why it was so expensive. So i bought it thinking that until i can find F1.0 this would do.

Sounds funny now but i wasn't smart nor well informed.

:-D
09-22-2010, 06:19 AM   #13
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First lenses: M42 55/1.8 and M42 35/3.5 as the kit lenses to my SVa (1963) - Still love and use them (SVa, too).

First lens of the DSLR era: DA 18-55 as kit lens to my K100D - Pairs well this body. No complaints.

First "slippery slope down the path to LBA" lens: DA 40 Limited - Great in every way.

Last (and final) lens: FA 31 Limited - Should have taken a deep breath and made it my first of the DSLR era (but I was cheap(er) and dumb(er) back then)!

Cheers...
09-22-2010, 06:25 AM   #14
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the first 35mm lens I got my hands on was a Leica summilux 50mm f/1.4.

First pentax lens was the SMCP-K 50mm f/1.2
09-22-2010, 06:25 AM   #15
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M42 55mm F2 some time in the 70s.
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