Need suggestion for a less expensive lens for my purpose

liukaitc · 04-23-2011, 09:50 AM

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I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs.

I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin.

I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job?

Any thoughts?

Last edited by liukaitc; 04-23-2011 at 02:41 PM.

**pacerr** · 04-23-2011, 10:15 AM

Look for a Sears 28mm Macro lens in PK/A mount -- it will be more than adequate for your purposes and usually much less than $50 USD.

newarts · 04-23-2011, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by pacerr

Look for a Sears 28mm Macro lens in PK/A mount -- it will be more than adequate for your purposes and usually much less than $50 USD.

I do not know that lens but I agree with pacerr in general terms.

Get a manual focus type PK/A lens in the focal range you need. I'd guess 28mm to 35mm. You might look through the lens database here for an idea of which lenses are sharp at f2.8.

**Just1MoreDave** · 04-23-2011, 01:04 PM

If you have the kit lens, try it out before buying anything. If it's not adequate, at least you can find out a good focal range for your task and know what features to look for in another lens. At 28-35mm, the maximum aperture is f4, but except for that, it's not bad in that range.

**interested_observer** · 04-23-2011, 01:36 PM

I sent you a PM.....

Frogfish · 04-23-2011, 01:55 PM

If you are happy using manual focus lenses then you have some suggestions above. if you want an AF lense then Sigma do a 28/1.8 macro which could suit your purpose. Other than that the 35/2.4 as already suggested would be a good bet and cheaper.

Colbyt · 04-23-2011, 02:02 PM

I bought an Albinar 28mm 2.8 macro PKA series lens off Ebay for about $26 with shipping that seems to take decent quality pictures. I have not yet experimented with any macro shots using it. From what I have read the general opinion is that most of them were decent quality. I don't know if we have any reviews of that lens on this site or not. It would be under third party lenses if we do. This one had already been circumsized for the Ricoh pin. That is something to look for or study before you use it on a digal camera.

Pentaxor · 04-23-2011, 02:47 PM

Pentax 35/3.5

m42man · 04-24-2011, 12:11 AM

Yes, Pentax or Takumar 35/3.5. It's probably about the right FL, and is sharp wide open.

Alternatively a Komine (i.e. serial number 28......) made Vivitar 28mm. Either the f2 or f2.8 Close Focus.

HEEGZ · 04-24-2011, 12:31 AM

Originally posted by liukaitc

I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs.

I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin.

I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job?

Any thoughts?

I think both of these would be good options. I recently bought the 35mm f2.4, but I have also been looking at 28mm f2.8 lenses on ebay all week. The older lenses are cheaper if you can handle manual focus. I love the 35mm though, it's a great standard lens with AF.

newarts · 04-24-2011, 05:57 AM

Originally posted by liukaitc

I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs.

I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin.

I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job?

Any thoughts?

Ask the seller the serial number of this PK/A lens; if it starts with 28 buy it.

Boxed Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 MC Wide Angle Lens Pentax PK | eBay

liukaitc · 04-25-2011, 06:31 AM

Originally posted by newarts

Ask the seller the serial number of this PK/A lens; if it starts with 28 buy it.

Boxed Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 MC Wide Angle Lens Pentax PK | eBay

It starts with 98

04-23-2011, 09:50 AM	#1
liukaitc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,008	Need suggestion for a less expensive lens for my purpose Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs. I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin. I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job? Any thoughts? Last edited by liukaitc; 04-23-2011 at 02:41 PM.

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04-23-2011, 10:15 AM	#2
pacerr Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Paris, TN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,349	Look for a Sears 28mm Macro lens in PK/A mount -- it will be more than adequate for your purposes and usually much less than $50 USD.

04-23-2011, 11:07 AM	#3
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by pacerr Look for a Sears 28mm Macro lens in PK/A mount -- it will be more than adequate for your purposes and usually much less than $50 USD. I do not know that lens but I agree with pacerr in general terms. Get a manual focus type PK/A lens in the focal range you need. I'd guess 28mm to 35mm. You might look through the lens database here for an idea of which lenses are sharp at f2.8.

04-23-2011, 01:04 PM	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	If you have the kit lens, try it out before buying anything. If it's not adequate, at least you can find out a good focal range for your task and know what features to look for in another lens. At 28-35mm, the maximum aperture is f4, but except for that, it's not bad in that range.

04-23-2011, 01:36 PM	#5
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	I sent you a PM.....

04-23-2011, 01:55 PM	#6
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	If you are happy using manual focus lenses then you have some suggestions above. if you want an AF lense then Sigma do a 28/1.8 macro which could suit your purpose. Other than that the 35/2.4 as already suggested would be a good bet and cheaper.

04-23-2011, 02:02 PM	#7
Colbyt Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Central Kentucky Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,417	I bought an Albinar 28mm 2.8 macro PKA series lens off Ebay for about $26 with shipping that seems to take decent quality pictures. I have not yet experimented with any macro shots using it. From what I have read the general opinion is that most of them were decent quality. I don't know if we have any reviews of that lens on this site or not. It would be under third party lenses if we do. This one had already been circumsized for the Ricoh pin. That is something to look for or study before you use it on a digal camera.

04-23-2011, 02:47 PM	#8
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Pentax 35/3.5

04-24-2011, 12:11 AM	#9
m42man Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Southern England Posts: 623	Yes, Pentax or Takumar 35/3.5. It's probably about the right FL, and is sharp wide open. Alternatively a Komine (i.e. serial number 28......) made Vivitar 28mm. Either the f2 or f2.8 Close Focus.

04-24-2011, 12:31 AM	#10
HEEGZ Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Missouri Photos: Albums Posts: 258	Originally posted by liukaitc I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs. I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin. I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job? Any thoughts? I think both of these would be good options. I recently bought the 35mm f2.4, but I have also been looking at 28mm f2.8 lenses on ebay all week. The older lenses are cheaper if you can handle manual focus. I love the 35mm though, it's a great standard lens with AF.

04-24-2011, 05:57 AM	#11
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by liukaitc I need a lens for indoor. Good for food, jewelry, apparel these kind stuffs. I have an a50 f1.7. I tried to take some shots with it. I find the focal length is bit long for my purpose. and I find use aperture larger than f2.8 is not very pratical for my pupose either. The DOF is too thin. I am on budget. I am thinking about dal 35 f2.4, or perhaps a old cheap 28 f2.8 manual focus lens can do a good job? Any thoughts? Ask the seller the serial number of this PK/A lens; if it starts with 28 buy it. Boxed Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 MC Wide Angle Lens Pentax PK \| eBay

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04-25-2011, 06:31 AM	#12
liukaitc Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 1,008 Original Poster	Originally posted by newarts Ask the seller the serial number of this PK/A lens; if it starts with 28 buy it. Boxed Vivitar 28mm 1:2.8 MC Wide Angle Lens Pentax PK \| eBay It starts with 98