Looking for thoughts: Prime setup for upcoming trip (poll)

RonHendriks1966 · 11-21-2010, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by Rico

If your budget is $800 to $1000 you could also go with the FA 31 LTD. Fill the gap between the 15 and the 31 at a later date.

+1 my idea

axl · 11-21-2010, 03:09 PM

I voted other...
reason is you have an excellent wide angle and great long normal lens.
My pick to plug the hole between those two would be one of the three following:
a) 31ltd - best normal lens for Pentax APSC that money can buy IMHO
b) Sigma 30/1.4 - el cheapo substitute for above but with excellent reputation from the owners
c) Sigma 28/1.8 - bit of a brick, but this oldie can surely deliver the results in the right hands.

putting 2 lenses between 15 - 40 is quite pushing it IMO (please don't look at my line up, it's different story).....

my 2p

pxpaulx · 11-21-2010, 03:22 PM

Axl, I think I agree there. In fact, I just pulled the trigger on the sigma 30mm. The 31mm would be great, but is too far out of my price range. I am also going to try and get a 43mm, as I think it would be much more useful (with AF, and well, awesomeness) than my 40mm pentax-M lens (will likely have to sell either my 50mm A series 1.4 or 50mm 1.7 FA, but I think it will be worth it).

In the end I could see owning the 15, 30, 43 and 70 over 15, 30 and 50. As much as the 50mm's are nice, I generally find them too tight to leave on for more than a couple of shots, and too short for portraits.

paperbag846 · 11-21-2010, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by pxpaulx

Axl, I think I agree there. In fact, I just pulled the trigger on the sigma 30mm. The 31mm would be great, but is too far out of my price range. I am also going to try and get a 43mm, as I think it would be much more useful (with AF, and well, awesomeness) than my 40mm pentax-M lens (will likely have to sell either my 50mm A series 1.4 or 50mm 1.7 FA, but I think it will be worth it).

In the end I could see owning the 15, 30, 43 and 70 over 15, 30 and 50. As much as the 50mm's are nice, I generally find them too tight to leave on for more than a couple of shots, and too short for portraits.

Just a slight suggestion - while the 50's are not quite as useful as they once were on full-format cameras, I still believe the 50 1.4 / 1.7 to be more useful than the M 40 2.8, which does not have a stellar optical reputation. It is kind of a cool collectors item, though.

pxpaulx · 11-21-2010, 09:30 PM

The binge came and went quickly. Sigma 30mm and FA 43mm will be in the fold shortly. I can't wait!

Looks like it will be the 15mm, 30mm, 43mm (...50mm?) and 18-55 WR for the trip, along with a manfrotto tabletop tripod, I think it is going to be a great setup (and not too intrusive on our 10th anniversary!).

TOUGEFC · 11-21-2010, 10:45 PM

I voted other, reason being i dont think the the gap between 15 and 40 is that big of a deal, i certainly dont feel like there is a gap between my da15 and fa43.

The other lens you should think about is a short tele,
DA70, FA77 or DFA 100WR would be a better choice IMO.

axl · 11-22-2010, 12:58 AM

Not bad thinking there but keep one of your 50s. 50/55 is excellent length to match 30/31. Jump from 30 to 70ish is bit too big IMO and 50 fills the gap nicely. You may find 43 to be just too close to 30 to have both in the same bag and 50 is great as a short portrait lens too. I've bought and sold many lenses but there are very few I regret getting rid of. F50/1.7 is one of them. If you will decide to sell your FA50 please let me know. Thanks

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-22-2010, 05:17 AM

I voted other and would suggest an 8pm fisheye and something in the 28-35 mm range

The reason I give a range is a question on where your 40mm fits in the overall scheme of things

bdery · 11-22-2010, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Any other thoughts/suggestions, lenses aside, for the trip?

It depends on where you plan on visiting. Take your time, and try not to fill your days with too many activities. Enjoy drinking a beer or glass of wine outside a restaurant, looking at people on the street. Take your time in Toscany if possible, it's a beautiful area.

Phto-wise, there will be photo ops at every corner. Try to enjoy the morning or evening light, and you'll do fine.

pxpaulx · 11-22-2010, 06:20 AM

Axl - I will let you know if I decide to sell it! I am thinking about it. With af in the 43mm, I am leaning towards keeping the A series 50 1.4 for the solid manual focus control (my 50 1.4 is as mint as they come too).

Tougefc - eventually I can see adding the 70mm, but I think most places will be quite tight so the wider lenses upto 50mm will be sufficient for the trip.

Bdery - we will be spending 4-5 days each in Venice, Florence, sorrento and Rome. We definitely wanted enough time to enjoy each city at a reasonable pace! Hopefully since it is winter I'll get a few good shots during both morning and evening, with some time for night scenery as well (hence the tabletop tripod).

VAV · 11-28-2010, 03:31 AM

My choice: 3 DA limited lens: 15-40-70

They are extremely compact and suit 'my' focal length preferences.
DA 15 for the wide angle. I had a DA14 2.8 but sold it in favor of the Da15 as I liked the compactness.
DA 40 for slightly longer than normal. I have an FA 35 - excellent lens- but found it wider than I preferred. The DA 40 gives me great color and also has a slightly tight view that I like more than the wider F35.

I rarely feel like going over DA 70 (if shooting prime). I do have a Tamron 18-250 just in case i need that very long shot.

Enjoy your trip and the photography!

View Poll Results: Which primes should I add to 15mm, 40mm and 50mm to fill the middle gap?
Pentax DA 21mm F3.2 and Sigma 30mm F1.4	4	16.67%
Pentax DA 21mm F3.2, Sigma 28mm F1.8 (macro) and the new DA 35mm F2.4	6	25.00%
Sigma 24mm F1.8 and DA 35mm F2.4	2	8.33%
Other ($800-1000 range, comment below)	12	50.00%
Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

11-21-2010, 03:09 PM	#17
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	other I voted other... reason is you have an excellent wide angle and great long normal lens. My pick to plug the hole between those two would be one of the three following: a) 31ltd - best normal lens for Pentax APSC that money can buy IMHO b) Sigma 30/1.4 - el cheapo substitute for above but with excellent reputation from the owners c) Sigma 28/1.8 - bit of a brick, but this oldie can surely deliver the results in the right hands. putting 2 lenses between 15 - 40 is quite pushing it IMO (please don't look at my line up, it's different story)..... my 2p

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11-21-2010, 01:04 PM	#16
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by Rico If your budget is $800 to $1000 you could also go with the FA 31 LTD. Fill the gap between the 15 and the 31 at a later date. +1 my idea

11-21-2010, 03:22 PM	#18
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867 Original Poster	Axl, I think I agree there. In fact, I just pulled the trigger on the sigma 30mm. The 31mm would be great, but is too far out of my price range. I am also going to try and get a 43mm, as I think it would be much more useful (with AF, and well, awesomeness) than my 40mm pentax-M lens (will likely have to sell either my 50mm A series 1.4 or 50mm 1.7 FA, but I think it will be worth it). In the end I could see owning the 15, 30, 43 and 70 over 15, 30 and 50. As much as the 50mm's are nice, I generally find them too tight to leave on for more than a couple of shots, and too short for portraits.

11-21-2010, 04:16 PM	#19
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Originally posted by pxpaulx Axl, I think I agree there. In fact, I just pulled the trigger on the sigma 30mm. The 31mm would be great, but is too far out of my price range. I am also going to try and get a 43mm, as I think it would be much more useful (with AF, and well, awesomeness) than my 40mm pentax-M lens (will likely have to sell either my 50mm A series 1.4 or 50mm 1.7 FA, but I think it will be worth it). In the end I could see owning the 15, 30, 43 and 70 over 15, 30 and 50. As much as the 50mm's are nice, I generally find them too tight to leave on for more than a couple of shots, and too short for portraits. Just a slight suggestion - while the 50's are not quite as useful as they once were on full-format cameras, I still believe the 50 1.4 / 1.7 to be more useful than the M 40 2.8, which does not have a stellar optical reputation. It is kind of a cool collectors item, though.

11-21-2010, 09:30 PM	#20
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867 Original Poster	The binge came and went quickly. Sigma 30mm and FA 43mm will be in the fold shortly. I can't wait! Looks like it will be the 15mm, 30mm, 43mm (...50mm?) and 18-55 WR for the trip, along with a manfrotto tabletop tripod, I think it is going to be a great setup (and not too intrusive on our 10th anniversary!).

11-21-2010, 10:45 PM	#21
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	I voted other, reason being i dont think the the gap between 15 and 40 is that big of a deal, i certainly dont feel like there is a gap between my da15 and fa43. The other lens you should think about is a short tele, DA70, FA77 or DFA 100WR would be a better choice IMO.

11-22-2010, 12:58 AM	#22
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Not bad thinking there but keep one of your 50s. 50/55 is excellent length to match 30/31. Jump from 30 to 70ish is bit too big IMO and 50 fills the gap nicely. You may find 43 to be just too close to 30 to have both in the same bag and 50 is great as a short portrait lens too. I've bought and sold many lenses but there are very few I regret getting rid of. F50/1.7 is one of them. If you will decide to sell your FA50 please let me know. Thanks

11-22-2010, 05:17 AM	#23
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	I voted other and would suggest an 8pm fisheye and something in the 28-35 mm range The reason I give a range is a question on where your 40mm fits in the overall scheme of things

11-22-2010, 05:48 AM	#24
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,356	Quote: Any other thoughts/suggestions, lenses aside, for the trip? It depends on where you plan on visiting. Take your time, and try not to fill your days with too many activities. Enjoy drinking a beer or glass of wine outside a restaurant, looking at people on the street. Take your time in Toscany if possible, it's a beautiful area. Phto-wise, there will be photo ops at every corner. Try to enjoy the morning or evening light, and you'll do fine.

11-22-2010, 06:20 AM	#25
pxpaulx Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,867 Original Poster	Axl - I will let you know if I decide to sell it! I am thinking about it. With af in the 43mm, I am leaning towards keeping the A series 50 1.4 for the solid manual focus control (my 50 1.4 is as mint as they come too). Tougefc - eventually I can see adding the 70mm, but I think most places will be quite tight so the wider lenses upto 50mm will be sufficient for the trip. Bdery - we will be spending 4-5 days each in Venice, Florence, sorrento and Rome. We definitely wanted enough time to enjoy each city at a reasonable pace! Hopefully since it is winter I'll get a few good shots during both morning and evening, with some time for night scenery as well (hence the tabletop tripod).

11-28-2010, 03:31 AM	#26
VAV Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 160	My choice: 3 DA limited lens: 15-40-70 They are extremely compact and suit 'my' focal length preferences. DA 15 for the wide angle. I had a DA14 2.8 but sold it in favor of the Da15 as I liked the compactness. DA 40 for slightly longer than normal. I have an FA 35 - excellent lens- but found it wider than I preferred. The DA 40 gives me great color and also has a slightly tight view that I like more than the wider F35. I rarely feel like going over DA 70 (if shooting prime). I do have a Tamron 18-250 just in case i need that very long shot. Enjoy your trip and the photography!

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