[123K10D]

Have around a grand to spend on lenses (having sold the oldies on ebay). Can go a little higher if required. I'm in Australia, so will be getting them from Adorama or B & H or Ritz etc.

What I like to shoot:

1. Portraits (and random self indulgent stuff, lots of bokeh) - was happy with the FA50 1.4, but it's gone - it was reluctant to focus-lock at infinity.

CANDIDATES:
43 1.9 limited
FA50 1.4


2. Medium zoom stuff - dogs running, birds close-up, the odd distant portrait (50-150 range).

CANDIDATES:
Pentax/Tamron 18-250
Pentax 50-200
DA*50-135

I almost never want to shoot anything at less than 40 to 50.

My worries:
As I live in Australia and have to buy from the US, I really want to reduce my chances of getting a crappy lens - returning a bad copy is hugely expensive and time consuming.

The Pentax 18-250 might have quality issues (like with the DA*50-135). So the Tamron would be a safer bet there for me.

The 43 1.9 limited should be a safe bet, but I could get 2 FA50 1.4s and still have $50 left over??? What to do??

Part of me is thinking that I should get two 43 1.9's and just learn to appreciate the one length. Unlike a lot of photogs, I could pretty happily live with the one lens (say a 43 1.9 limited or a FA501.4) and buy a Canon S3IS for the daytime zoom stuff? Too left field an option?

Thanks for helping me straighten out my brain :-)

[dantuyhoa]

DA* 50-135 !

It will cover some of your #1 requirement . And also doing nicely on the second option . I have one , still learning to use it but so far so good .

[Mechan1k]

yeah ... if i had the cash .... I'd chose just the one ... and from what I have seen from the DA* 50-135 ... that'd be my pick as well

[Syb]

If you know the quality of a FA50mm1.4, you shouldn't need to ask.

When you buy someting else, you'll always miss the thin DOF, and low-light capacities of that lens.

The FA50mm1.4 is addicting. You'll buy it later if you don't buy it now.

Just my $0.02

Good luck!

[incitatus]

Ideally I would go for the 50-135 + 43 ltd. that would be an awesome set-up. Hmm should have thought of that myself, maybe add the 35 and you're all set.... anyway I've used up my lens budget for this year at least

I hasten to add that I just bought a an 50 FA 1.7, the FA 50's are awesome lenses