[kb244]

If you already have...

-Tamron 28mm f/2.8 Adaptall-2
-Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Adaptall-2

And don't mind autofocus or lack thereof.

Would you get

50mm f/1.4 SMCP-FA autofocus (~199) or 50mm f/1.4 Pentax-A/K manual focus (just under the same)
w/ a 18-55 autofocus (90-100$)

or

Pentax DA 16-45 f/4 (379$-400$) or Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 Di (same)
w/ a Pentax-A/M 50mm f/1.7 or 50/2 (sometimes under 100$)

Idea is, do I get a cheap zoom with a more expensive prime, or do I get a more expensive zoom with a cheap prime. With the wide end being the emphasis on the zoom. Camera would be a K10d. Might get a film body, but with the 28mm not as much a need for the zoom to be backward compatible.

[truonganh]

I would go for the first... emphasis on prime lens, now that i came to appreciate the bigger glass for indoor light flexibility. One could argue about flash, but unless you're very good at setting up flashes, candid flash photo does not have a 3D feel in the results that a prime lens with f1.4 would get with indoor natural light.

A thought about FA vs A lens: i have a 50mm f1.7 manual, and my LBA got me a FA f1.4. Besides the f1.4 light advantage, I found that focusing is quite difficult to achieve in indoor light especially in candid situation, so the AF does help quite a bit. However, the autofocus was much faster but not much better - accuracy wise.

I would appreciate any help improving focusing accuracy if you have a tip. I've got a K10D. I've been tempted to get a focusing split screen, but the review and the available choices have been mixed, and improper screen or installation can really mess everything up.

[kb244]

I just ordered my K10D so I don't know just yet. But on my digital rebel (which I am getting rid of) I had a split/microprism screen which is helpful for manual focus, however keep in mind they're not going to be a garanteed fix but rather just an aid over the matte screen. But least it seems that pentax makes screens for their digital so it might be more accurate made by them.

But if thats the route you're thinking, what you think about the Pentax-M 40mm f/2.8? Though I am still tempted to go for a faster lens.

Though its odd you say focusing is more difficult, faster lens such as 1.4 or 1.2 are supposed to give the appearance of 'snap-to' focusing.

[TheWengler]

I would drop more money on the zoom since I would use it more but if you think you'd use a prime more then emphasize that. The wider the better for landscapes as well. You should also give some consideration to the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 to compete with the Pentax 16-45mm f/4.

[kb244]

I would drop more money on the zoom since I would use it more but if you think you'd use a prime more then emphasize that. The wider the better for landscapes as well. You should also give some consideration to the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 to compete with the Pentax 16-45mm f/4.

I'd prefer to use primes if I can, but finding something in the realms of 16 - 18mm end is quite a bit expensive, and seeing as I might only use the wide angle side on interior shots, I wouldn't as likely use it as much as I would a 35mm-50mm ish prime.

[truonganh]

..that 'snap-to' is very apparent in at close-up or higher light, not so apparent when your subject is a bit further out in low light. I had to push the ASA to 1600 and nearly max out the apperture (f1.4-2.0)just to get to hand-held speed. noise saving: convert to B&W.

[kb244]

..that 'snap-to' is very apparent in at close-up or higher light, not so apparent when your subject is a bit further out in low light. I had to push the ASA to 1600 and nearly max out the apperture (f1.4-2.0)just to get to hand-held speed. noise saving: convert to B&W.

Sounds like more a EV issue then, which focusing wouldn't have been an issue at all because it was too dark to shoot handheld anyways. :P