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05-26-2011, 07:04 PM   #1
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Planning on getting a K-5! What lenses?

Hello all!


I'm new to the Pentax forums anddddd I've decided to get a K-5!


I'm switching back to Pentax after a long (somewhat unhappy) stint with Canon. I originally had a Pentax *ist DL and I loved that little camera. Now with Canon I've had both the 30D and the 40D, but I found myself constantly going back to my Pentax (mainly for the colour rendition and sharpness)... So I decided what the hell, instead of upgrading my Canon go back to Pentax!


So since I'm going back to Pentax I need some suggestions on what lenses would be best for me. To give you all an idea I mostly like landscape and portrait photography.


I already have the 18-55 kit lens and a 70-300 Sigma lens, but with selling all my Canon equipment (have a lot of decent lenses) I will definitely have a lot of money left over to buy at least two lenses.

I'm thinking one prime lens and one wide angle zoom... Have been looking at the 43mm 1.9 and maybe the Sigma 10-20mm 4 - if anyone has experience with this lens? Also thinking of eventually upgrading my Sigma lens with the 55-200 lens (which I keep hearing great things about).


Thanks in advance!


PS- if this is the wrong forum for this question, I apologize. I couldn't find a lenses forum...


Last edited by HappyRockets; 05-26-2011 at 07:45 PM.
05-26-2011, 08:00 PM   #2
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Sell the sigma and get a DA 50-135mm! Since getting one, ive been using it a lot.. and then of course ther is the 15, 35 and 70 combo. Actually any DA prime would be great. =)
05-26-2011, 08:29 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by HappyRockets Quote

43mm 1.9
Sigma 10-20mm 4
55-200
A few people reportedly use those lenses. You might look in the dedicated lens threads...

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/84539-sigma-10-20mm-club.html
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/59538-fa-limited-club.html

I assume you meant 55-300 (good), and not 50-200 (fair).

Cheers!
05-26-2011, 08:52 PM   #4
Ash
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Hi and welcome. Indeed this should be in the DSLR lens discussion subforum.

The 55-300 is a marvelous multi-purpose lens I keep coming back to despite also having a faster 70-200 lens and a beautiful 135 prime. It's top value for money!

The FA 43 ltd is highly acclaimed, and may just be my favourite lens for portraiture and general purpose photos, even videos. It's small, of very good build and optical quality and relatively fast. The FA 50 f/1.4 is cheaper and faster, but not necessarily any better in terms of results (and definitely cheaper in build quality).

The Sigma 10-20 is a very wide angle lens - if you're into wide sweeping landscapes, it will do the job very well. So too the Tamron 10-24 and Pentax DA 12-24. There is even a wider Sigma 8-16 which has been given good user reports. Ultimately it comes down to your focal length preferences and applications for the lens. I have the DA 12-24 and can highly recommend it, though it is considerably more expensive than the alternatives.


Last edited by Ash; 05-26-2011 at 09:00 PM.
05-26-2011, 08:57 PM   #5
Brooke Meyer
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Go Wide

DA 12-24. Minimum focus is 12 inches.

Last edited by Brooke Meyer; 08-31-2011 at 11:08 PM.
05-26-2011, 09:53 PM   #6
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Yes I did mean the 55-300 not the 55-200.

Thanks for the help! And I definitely will go look through/post in those lens forums (can't believe I didn't see those the first look).
05-26-2011, 10:16 PM   #7
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Get one of everything!

Just kidding.

I have a big soft spot for any of the vintage glass. My personal favorites are basically anything from the M-Series. It's just so much fun to shoot with the old stuff!

Aside from those, you really can't go wrong with the 50-135mm, the 12-24mm, and of course, the limited series...

05-27-2011, 01:36 AM   #8
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Wel for wideangle I would suggest either the Pentax 12-24mm or the sigma 8-16mm and leave the 10-20. For wideangle a lens like 15mm Ltd would also be good to my idea.

The 50-135 is an excellent alround lens, good for portrait and light enough to take it for a long walk. The 55-300 is a nice lens to have the long reach, but not stellar at 300mm.

Take a deep breath and just buy good glass. Look at the DA* series (don't take the 16-50) and the Ltd series.
05-27-2011, 04:50 AM   #9
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The 55-300 is an excellent lens, the kit and the sigma are decent lenses. Defintely get rid of the sigma as you have the 55-300 and keep the kit lens for WR.

If you like wide angle landscapes then you can get the Pentax 12-24 or the older Sigma 10-20 (Not the constant aperture F4, as the former is less expensive and possibly a better performer and hardly need F4 for landscapes).

Pentax DA* 50-135/2.8 is indeed and excellent lens (rivals many primes in each of it's range) for portraits. If you are a prime person, then the 43/1.9 and 77/1.8 are even better being faster.

Another option is all prime DA15/4 or DA21, FA43/DA40, FA77/DA70 and the 55-300.

WHAT LENSES DID YOU USE FOR YOU CANON?, WHICH WILL GIVE US A BETTER IDEA

Last edited by pcarfan; 05-27-2011 at 04:57 AM.
05-27-2011, 08:40 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by pcarfan Quote
The 55-300 is an excellent lens, the kit and the sigma are decent lenses. Defintely get rid of the sigma as you have the 55-300 and keep the kit lens for WR.

If you like wide angle landscapes then you can get the Pentax 12-24 or the older Sigma 10-20 (Not the constant aperture F4, as the former is less expensive and possibly a better performer and hardly need F4 for landscapes).

Pentax DA* 50-135/2.8 is indeed and excellent lens (rivals many primes in each of it's range) for portraits. If you are a prime person, then the 43/1.9 and 77/1.8 are even better being faster.

Another option is all prime DA15/4 or DA21, FA43/DA40, FA77/DA70 and the 55-300.

WHAT LENSES DID YOU USE FOR YOU CANON?, WHICH WILL GIVE US A BETTER IDEA
I have a 50mm 1.8, a 85mm 1.8, a 70-200mm 2.8 and I also have the kit 17-85mm lens.


Hey Ron, I've been debating between the 10-20 and the 8-16. The only reason I've been looking at the 10-20 instead is because of the price range. HOWEVER if the 8-16 is a real step up I would still consider it an option.

Just from the reviews I've seen there's quite a bit of distortion on that lens (I mean being wide no doubt) but what is the real benefit of this lens over the 10-20 that makes it worth more? Other than going slightly wider?



Here are my considerations:


Sigma 10-20mm 4 (or 8-16 if the extra cost can be justified, wish I could get the 12-24mm but cannot justify it right now)

35mm Macro 2.8 (I want a good Pentax macro, if there is a better one in the Pentax line let me know! I was looking at the 100mm macro too, but I like the focal length and price of this one more, not sure if one is better than the other)

43mm 1.9 (or the 77 if the extra cost can be justified)

55-300 4


I have a lot of money to spend on this upgrade so I want to do it right. I plan to get at least 3K for all my Canon stuff (have a buyer in mind) and when I added it up, all the Pentax stuff (lenses, camera, flash) will cost me a little over 4K, which isn't bad because my original plan was to upgrade to a Canon 7D and it would've cost me more anyways.

Last edited by HappyRockets; 05-27-2011 at 09:04 AM.
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