Ok,here it comes again.
I know at the end it's my decision but would love to know opinions of other Pentaxians...
So, at the moment I'm with gripped K-7 + FA*24, DA*55 and FA100/2.8. It's an excellent line up if you ask me and despite considering switching to Nikon for slight gain in AF and high ISO I pretty much decided sticking with Pentax.
Having 4 months old in house, there are some priorities for the equipment. Good natural light performance, good AF are the main ones. K-7 high ISO isn't the best so the f1.4. And f2 help a lot. But going anywhere, I often take 1 lens only and if I'm taking 2 it's pretty much the * duo all the time. FA100 is a terrific lens with excellent IQ and fantasticly fast AF but because it's the biggest and heaviest lens in my line up, I often leave it at home as the while set up os heavy...
So I was thinking 24+55+100 vs DA21+FA43+DA70?
I know I loose 1-1.3 stops on normal-wide end and gain half stop on long end. I loose WR option and I loose SDM (read quiet) option. I might gain marginally in AF speed with middle and long lenses but mainly I'll gain the option to take all 3 lenses out with me without breaking my back
But how would those 2 line ups compare? FA43 and DA*55 is very close call in IQ (I owned 43) so that's a toss of a coin but 21 vs 24 and 70 vs 100?!? No clue....
I mean looking at reviews and tests it seems the 21 is sharper than 24 but I'd loose speed and OOF advantage (I know it's not huge but 24/2 vs 21/3.2 is A difference IMO) and I trade less CAs for more distortion. Add that if I'd use the 21 in similar ways to 24 (which is main intention) I'd have push closer to achieve desired framing which would lead (together with bigger barrel distortion) to more perspective distortion and exagorating of features which is not ideal with people shots at all times.
70 vs 100 I'm awash, as I said 100 is excellent and from all I read so is 70 but I simply have no clue which would be better for my purpose (mid tele for natural light shots with fast AF, sharp and with good OOF).
Option 2 sell FA100 and get DFA or DFA WR (especially the WR is very tempting beacuse of WR and circular aperture blades) to save some bulk and weight..
Option 3 sell FA100 (and some accessories if needs be) and get some sort of 28-70/2.8 zoom (there is a well priced FA*28-70 at the moment within my reach, and Sigma 24-70 EX DG [older screw driven version] would probably answer a lot of calls, and there is cheap Tokina 28-70/2.8 available in area too [just not sure if it's not the not so good SV version])
Option 4 sell FA100 and get DA70 is not an option as I'm afraid 55 and 70 would be way too close
Option 5 sell 100 and get 77. I've been there and sold 77 as I didn't use much next to 55 which I feel more comfortable with.
In truth the whole point of getting FA100 was to have longer option next to 55. As I didn't use it too often, I couldn't justify keeping 77 collecting dust on shelf and from available options FA100 was the 2nd best lens in 70-135 range (after 77) I've tried and considerably cheaper than the ltd. The problem is it doesn't really get used outside of house (where it's f2.8 is limiting) because of it's weight and size so it's not really fit for the purpose I got it for...
So yes, any opinions?
All and every is very welcome...
TIA
P
Last edited by axl; 08-31-2011 at 04:24 AM.