k5 or FA 77 and FA 31 or FA 77 and FA 43

kaibil1 · 10-10-2010, 01:39 AM

I need your advice in the following situation:

I am lucky enough to have $1600 to spend and I am debating between getting the K5 (I already have K20 and K-x) or buying the following lenses:

FA 77 and FA 43 (about 1350)or..............FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600)

Adorama has the 77 at $784
31 at $964
43 at $569
Do these prices look correct?

Thank you for your help in advance.

xjjohnno · 10-10-2010, 01:46 AM

Your money, your choice. Do be wary of the fact that whenever you ask for opinions you are going to be flooded with contradicting opinions.

TOUGEFC · 10-10-2010, 02:01 AM

If your happy with your k20 and k-x get 2 FA LTD lenses.

If not, sell your k20 and k-x and the money from their sales plus the money already saved should be enough for a K-5 and one FA LTD lens.

axl · 10-10-2010, 03:31 AM

get the lenses... they last, cameras don't K-5s price will go down....
With K20D you will enjoy the limiteds more than no lenses with K-5

rustynail925 · 10-10-2010, 04:01 AM

Sell the K20 and Kx and buy the K5 + FA43

pschlute · 10-10-2010, 04:03 AM

Get the lenses. You have 2 very capable cameras, why do you need a third ?

LFLee · 10-10-2010, 05:24 AM

yea, why do u need a 3rd camera?

65535 · 10-10-2010, 06:21 AM

Sell:
K20d 700
Pentax DA 18-55mm
Pentax SMC 50mm 2.0
Sigma 70-300mm 4-5.6

Buy:
K5
31mm

Next should be 77mm as you have nothing that long that is fast
Get the 43 last since you already have the fast 50
K5
31

kaibil1 · 10-10-2010, 07:23 AM

Thank you for all your comments!

JonPB · 10-10-2010, 07:27 AM

Suggesting gear for someone without knowing what kind of use they'll put it to is like suggesting clothes for someone without knowing what size they are. What focal lengths are your favorites, independent of the lens used, and in what lighting conditions do you use those lengths? All of that equipment is very good, although I prefer the DA to FA limiteds. Why do you need to replace your current cameras?--you have two good cameras already. Do you need autofocus?--you have good 28mm and 50mm primes already. Do you use the ~77mm focal length often?--most people don't, although my 70mm gets a lot of use. Are you willing to buy used?--this will save you some, although with what you're looking at, not a ton, but perhaps enough if this is affordable due to a one-time event. What about a tripod or a flash? Those might make a bigger difference to image quality than upgrading bodies & lenses.

If you want my best guess, I think you should buy the 31, a nice bag, maybe some fast memory cards, and use the rest to take a trip somewhere.

LenWick · 10-10-2010, 07:31 PM

I was recently making a similar call, upgrading the k200, skipped the k-5 and picked up the k-7 and now have money for glass (43mm) prices on bodies drop fast, if you don't need what the k5 has to offer right now then skip it - body prices drop. Lenses on the other hand are a joy.

Urkeldaedalus · 10-10-2010, 07:48 PM

The good news is all of those choices will make for good combos. I say go with the FA31 and FA77 with your two current cameras, because those two lenses are a good combo if you want to use two cameras at once.

brecklundin · 10-11-2010, 12:49 AM

Originally posted by kaibil1

I need your advice in the following situation:

I am lucky enough to have $1600 to spend and I am debating between getting the K5 (I already have K20 and K-x) or buying the following lenses:

FA 77 and FA 43 (about 1350)or..............FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600)

Adorama has the 77 at $784
31 at $964
43 at $569
Do these prices look correct?

Thank you for your help in advance.

If you can swing it at "just" a couple hundred more consider this:

77ltd -- $784
43ltd -- $569
35ltd -- $540

total = $1893 + shipping....I know it a bit over your budget but I lived with that trio for a long while and was really happy. If I had to pick two it would be the 35ltd and the 77ltd. I know the 35ltd is not an FA but it's also a really great tool for your kit.

I would not buy a body now unless it has features you need NOW...bodies drop in price lenses don't. Also consider used as people who need a body will be selling to fund the body or even switch brands if they are no longer happy with Pentax's direction.

No matter what I don't think you can go wrong with a combo consisting of any two of the FA limiteds. Remember sometimes you can find a well cared for used 77ltd here in the marketplace for as little as $650 if you are fast. That can change the budget option for sure.

Hope I helped muddy the waters a bit more for ya!!

MrCynical · 10-11-2010, 01:38 PM

Originally posted by kaibil1

FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600)

This. Those two lenses will bring Pentax Magic into your life more than any camera body ever could, even one as great as the K5.

ilya80 · 10-11-2010, 01:44 PM

Lenses all the way. FA43 + FA77 if I were you.

10-10-2010, 01:39 AM	#1
kaibil1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los angeles CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 124	k5 or FA 77 and FA 31 or FA 77 and FA 43 I need your advice in the following situation: I am lucky enough to have $1600 to spend and I am debating between getting the K5 (I already have K20 and K-x) or buying the following lenses: FA 77 and FA 43 (about 1350)or..............FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600) Adorama has the 77 at $784 31 at $964 43 at $569 Do these prices look correct? Thank you for your help in advance.

10-10-2010, 01:46 AM	#2
xjjohnno Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,115	Your money, your choice. Do be wary of the fact that whenever you ask for opinions you are going to be flooded with contradicting opinions.

10-10-2010, 02:01 AM	#3
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	If your happy with your k20 and k-x get 2 FA LTD lenses. If not, sell your k20 and k-x and the money from their sales plus the money already saved should be enough for a K-5 and one FA LTD lens.

10-10-2010, 03:31 AM	#4
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	get the lenses... they last, cameras don't K-5s price will go down.... With K20D you will enjoy the limiteds more than no lenses with K-5

10-10-2010, 04:01 AM	#5
rustynail925 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,551	Sell the K20 and Kx and buy the K5 + FA43

10-10-2010, 04:03 AM	#6
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Get the lenses. You have 2 very capable cameras, why do you need a third ?

10-10-2010, 05:24 AM	#7
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	yea, why do u need a 3rd camera?

10-10-2010, 06:21 AM	#8
65535 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 187	Sell: K20d 700 Pentax DA 18-55mm Pentax SMC 50mm 2.0 Sigma 70-300mm 4-5.6 Buy: K5 31mm Next should be 77mm as you have nothing that long that is fast Get the 43 last since you already have the fast 50 K5 31

10-10-2010, 07:23 AM	#9
kaibil1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Los angeles CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 124 Original Poster	Thank you for all your comments!

10-10-2010, 07:27 AM	#10
JonPB Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Portland, OR, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 430	Suggesting gear for someone without knowing what kind of use they'll put it to is like suggesting clothes for someone without knowing what size they are. What focal lengths are your favorites, independent of the lens used, and in what lighting conditions do you use those lengths? All of that equipment is very good, although I prefer the DA to FA limiteds. Why do you need to replace your current cameras?--you have two good cameras already. Do you need autofocus?--you have good 28mm and 50mm primes already. Do you use the ~77mm focal length often?--most people don't, although my 70mm gets a lot of use. Are you willing to buy used?--this will save you some, although with what you're looking at, not a ton, but perhaps enough if this is affordable due to a one-time event. What about a tripod or a flash? Those might make a bigger difference to image quality than upgrading bodies & lenses. If you want my best guess, I think you should buy the 31, a nice bag, maybe some fast memory cards, and use the rest to take a trip somewhere.

10-10-2010, 07:31 PM	#11
LenWick Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Front Range, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 113	I was recently making a similar call, upgrading the k200, skipped the k-5 and picked up the k-7 and now have money for glass (43mm) prices on bodies drop fast, if you don't need what the k5 has to offer right now then skip it - body prices drop. Lenses on the other hand are a joy.

10-10-2010, 07:48 PM	#12
Urkeldaedalus Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Iowa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,369	The good news is all of those choices will make for good combos. I say go with the FA31 and FA77 with your two current cameras, because those two lenses are a good combo if you want to use two cameras at once.

10-11-2010, 12:49 AM	#13
brecklundin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,674	Originally posted by kaibil1 I need your advice in the following situation: I am lucky enough to have $1600 to spend and I am debating between getting the K5 (I already have K20 and K-x) or buying the following lenses: FA 77 and FA 43 (about 1350)or..............FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600) Adorama has the 77 at $784 31 at $964 43 at $569 Do these prices look correct? Thank you for your help in advance. If you can swing it at "just" a couple hundred more consider this: 77ltd -- $784 43ltd -- $569 35ltd -- $540 total = $1893 + shipping....I know it a bit over your budget but I lived with that trio for a long while and was really happy. If I had to pick two it would be the 35ltd and the 77ltd. I know the 35ltd is not an FA but it's also a really great tool for your kit. I would not buy a body now unless it has features you need NOW...bodies drop in price lenses don't. Also consider used as people who need a body will be selling to fund the body or even switch brands if they are no longer happy with Pentax's direction. No matter what I don't think you can go wrong with a combo consisting of any two of the FA limiteds. Remember sometimes you can find a well cared for used 77ltd here in the marketplace for as little as $650 if you are fast. That can change the budget option for sure. Hope I helped muddy the waters a bit more for ya!!

10-11-2010, 01:38 PM	#14
MrCynical Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 132	Originally posted by kaibil1 FA 31 and FA 77 (a little more than 1600) This. Those two lenses will bring Pentax Magic into your life more than any camera body ever could, even one as great as the K5.

10-11-2010, 01:44 PM	#15
ilya80 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Saint-Petersburg, Russia Photos: Albums Posts: 410	Lenses all the way. FA43 + FA77 if I were you.