[luftfluss]

When I bought my K100D w/18-55 years ago, the first lens I purchased was the Tamron 70-300. Despite the slow AF and extreme PF, I had much fun with it, and especially the 1:2 "macro" feature. After I bought a K2000D, I sold the Tamron and bought a Pentax 80-320... which was a mistake, as it was soft with poor contrast. I sold that and re-acquired a Tammy 70-300. I eventually sold the Tammy along with my K2000D and acquired a Pentax K-x and a DA L 55-300. The 55-300 had better contrast and color and wide-open sharpness than the Tammy, and of course it went wider. However, after over a year of use, I was really missing the Tamron's 1:2 pseudo-macro, and for some reason never attained a true state of happiness with it... so I sold the 55-300 and bought a Quantaray 70-300, which is the Tammy in cheaper clothes. In spite of the return of the PF monster, I feel like I've been reunited with an old friend.

Anyone else have a lens - cheapie or not - that feels like an old friend?

[RioRico]

My old friends are the original kit I got with my K20D: DA10-17, DA18-250, FA50/1.4. We're still pals.

[Wormtographer]

Easily, the FA 135mm f/2.8

I have procured many lenses after the FA at or around 135mm, primes and zooms more in-vogue, classics more well thought of....and every once-in-awhile I look in my lens closet, spot the FA, and take it out for a spin. Then my only thought is: why-oh-why do I shoot with anything other than my old best friend FA135? Put it back in the closet after a day of shooting, repeat again in 3 or 4 months time.

-W

[causey]

When I bought my K100D w/18-55 years ago, the first lens I purchased was the Tamron 70-300. Despite the slow AF and extreme PF, I had much fun with it, and especially the 1:2 "macro" feature. After I bought a K2000D, I sold the Tamron and bought a Pentax 80-320... which was a mistake, as it was soft with poor contrast. I sold that and re-acquired a Tammy 70-300. I eventually sold the Tammy along with my K2000D and acquired a Pentax K-x and a DA L 55-300. The 55-300 had better contrast and color and wide-open sharpness than the Tammy, and of course it went wider. However, after over a year of use, I was really missing the Tamron's 1:2 pseudo-macro, and for some reason never attained a true state of happiness with it... so I sold the 55-300 and bought a Quantaray 70-300, which is the Tammy in cheaper clothes. In spite of the return of the PF monster, I feel like I've been reunited with an old friend.

Anyone else have a lens - cheapie or not - that feels like an old friend?

I share your sentiments concerning the Tammy 70-300mm. Although superior in many ways, the 55-300 never grew on me--but I miss the Tammy I sold two years ago. I liked its bokeh, especially in pseudo-macro mode.

[paperbag846]

i feel this way about the K55 f1.8. First lens I bought after the kit. I've since replaced it with the FA 50 (mostly for convenience), but i prefer the focal length and haptic qualities of the SMC 55mm to be honest. I really like that lens. It does not come out often but I know I would miss it.

[magkelly]

I Like my Takumars, particularly the 105MM, but no, I can't say I have a lens I feel like that about. Cameras, yeah, I am that way about my SPII but not a lens really.

[Boris]

The only emotional value that my gear has to me has to do with the all kinds of personal stories related to its acquisition. I don't relate to my gear as my friend (like in - human person).

[Unsinkable II]

The only emotional value that my gear has to me has to do with the all kinds of personal stories related to its acquisition.

That's definitely a part, but so are the personal stories related to its use.

With both those factors in mind, it's my FA50 1.4 that I'm fondest of.

[Eagle_Friends]

Pentax A 50mm f2.

My first prime lens, my first manual lens, and my first non-kit lens. I will never sell this lens, even if I ever move to another system. It is sharp and reliable.

[RioRico]

Come to think of it, it's not the lenses that are "old friends" because I haven't had any of them for more than 3.3 years. No, it's the cameras. Too many old friends are gone, like my German 1934 Kodak Retina 1, the first-ever 135 camera. But I inherited a near-twin, a Voigtlander Vito II, a near-clone with all the same lack of features as the Retina 1. And I recently had returned to me my childhood Brownie Starlet, the same one I used around 1962, and my dad's old Argoflex TLR, which captured so much of my youth. Yeah, these are DEFINITELY old friends!

[Moe49]

I'm on my 3rd one now, bought new in 1989. I bought the 1st one around 1978. It was stolen in 1986 along with my K1000. The 2nd one was stolen in 1989, with my 2nd K1000!

The Vivitar has been my favorite walk-about/vacation lens for three plus decades. I have probably taken more photos with this lens than all my other lenses combined. I just had Eric_H CLA #3 a few months ago, and it is producing sharp vivid images as always.

I recently purchased a Pentax FA*28-70 lens which does make the manual focus Vivitar redundant and obsolete, but I just cannot bring myself to put the Vivitar up for sale. I cannot sell my old friend.

[Marc Sabatella]

BTW, not to break up your newfound friendship, but For $50, a Raynox 150 could have turned your 55-300 into a *far* better macro lens than the 1:2 Tamron.

The 18-55 and 50-200 are my old friends. seldpm used as I'm mostly a prime guy these days. But I still enjoy them when I find an occasion to use them.

[selar]

In my case its the F*300/4.5, have bought many lenses, even 31/1.8 but its still my favourite.

[TOUGEFC]

I do, its my A 50 f/1.7 its just like an old friend.
Its was one of my first primes and back then we got along like a house on fire and even though it dosent get much use anymore, it may get used once every six months. Buts its just like that old friend you havent spoke too in along time and when you do ring him/her up there is no awkardness and the converstion picks up right were it left off.
Thats what it feels like with my 50mm f/1.7 I can pick it up and start using it again exactly the same with no awkard feelings.

It may not be my favorite lens but it sure is a good old friend.

[Alliecat]

I love my Pentax 35-105 zoom that came along with the K1000 which I took over from my Mom. It was the only lens I had while I learned to use it, & is still the one I use most. It's big & kinda heavy but I shoot most of my pix with it. It's been on the most journeys with me. When I accidentally scratched it on a sharp bit of underbrush, the people I was with couldn't quite understand why I was in tears. "For heaven's sake, it's just a lens." But, the damage hasn't affected the images much, so it's still my main lens.