[nsolarz]

So I've had my K5 for a few months now with my 18-135mm. Now its coming up on x-mas/birthday season and im looking at getting a second lens. My shots on the current lens tend to be on the wider end, so im trying to decide between a fast prime like the sigma 30mm 1.4 or a fast 24-70mm zoom that can do macro. my price range is 800 tops. Flickr: nsolarz13's Photostream those are some of my shots so you can see the stuff i take. Thanks in advance for the input

[Eagle_Friends]

If you intend to go with a zoom lens, the sigma 18-50mm f2.8 or Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 could be the winner. The 24-70mm variation would also be awesome to own. If you want a wide prime, the best choice is still the DA 15mm, which is slowly becoming a mascot lens for this website.

[nsolarz]

f/4 is a bit slow though, isn't it?

[hcc]

If you want something at the wide end two suggestion:
- a prime like the DA15mm Ltd,

- a zoom like DA10-17mm fisheye.

If all depends upon your needs. A prime will give you usually better IQ for the same price range than most zoom lenses and the DA15 Ltd is a well-regarded lesn.

On the other end, the DA10-17mm give you bot wide angle and fisheye with the convenience of a zoom lens with Quick-shift.

Both options complement your 18-135mm.

Hope that the comment may help....

[cmohr]

SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro

Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[Ash]

Lots of options here. Wide-normal to mid-telephoto zooms are useful general purpose lenses, like the Tamron 28-75, but are limiting at the wide end. The Tamron 17-50 overcomes that problem, but for macro, I'd suggest a dedicated macro lens like a manual focus 50 or 100mm lens (i.e. second hand). MF has its virtues in macro work.

[sterretje]

The 18-135 has a max magnification of 0.24x (at 0.4 meter subject distance). Without knowing which 24-70 you're refering to, you might not gain much with regards to macro; just check the specs of your lens of interest. If it is 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - Standard Zoom Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com, don't buy it for the macro (0.26x at 0.4 meter).

A 30mm makes a perfect standard lens but it's not wide on an APSc camera; so you will buy that mostly for its low light and DOF capabilities.

f/4 is a bit slow though, isn't it?

Question is why you think that you need fast? f/4 is about the same as what your current lens can do and except for low light, there is no real benefit for a wide angle (in my opinion). I did not see any low light shots on your page so not sure if you have to worry. Else there is always the DA14/2.8; don't know about its price.

[adpo]

if there's a FL you always find yourself at, i say go for the lens that fits just that. If its always the first half of your zoom range, go for a 16-50/17-50/18-50, if you like shooting in the middle of the range, go for a 24-70/28-75/etc, if you're always towards the long end, a 50-135/70-200.
if you're specifically planning on doing macro, get a macro lens. the 35ltd makes a decent all purpose lens and a great macro lens.

try opening up your images in something like Lightroom, from there, you should be able to sort images by focal length. This should give you a good idea about what exact focal lengths you tend to end up shooting at.

from looking at your flickr, i can see that you like street, landscape, portraiture and still life. Have you considered the 21 and 40 limiteds?

with the k-5, you don't really have to worry too much about the lens speed unless you want shallow DoF for portraiture, i've found the capabilities of the high-iso performance to be quite high. It really lets me stop down whenever i want to for added sharpness, even in low light.

[Prairie Dog]

I can only imagine how much fun a K5 is. (I hope to soon own one).

My favorite focal length is in the 30 mm range. I gave my son the 30mm Sigma which has become permanently mounted on his K20D and he loves it. I have the 31mm Pentax permanently attached to my K20D, and the 35mm 2.8 Macro permanently attached to my Kr. I have a lot of current Pentax fixed focal length lenses, but those are the two that get used.

[jac]

A DFA 100mm or A200mm macro is always with me and, recently, an A85mm. All sharp excellent as telephoto as well as the latter two for macro. After that, carrying light sort of, one of 60-250 or 16-50. But I do have less expensives lenses in those ranges. The 16-45 from Pentax is excellent and check the mid-range zoom comparison on the home page.

[rvannatta]

So I've had my K5 for a few months now with my 18-135mm. Now its coming up on x-mas/birthday season and im looking at getting a second lens. My shots on the current lens tend to be on the wider end, so im trying to decide between a fast prime like the sigma 30mm 1.4 or a fast 24-70mm zoom that can do macro. my price range is 800 tops. Flickr: nsolarz13's Photostream those are some of my shots so you can see the stuff i take. Thanks in advance for the input

I think the 24-70 is really a bad choice. It sat astride of the good range
for full frame, but the DA*16-50 is much more usable. with a f2.8 speed
and using a modestlyl elevated ISO, you can take indoor (around the house)
shots without a flash. with normal householdlighting.

Those 'macro capable' zooms are no match for a dedicated macro lens
which by the way you can use for general purposes as well.

I've changed my mind a couple of times over the years as to whether a 50 or 100 mm macro is the best......

[MadMan]

If your budget is that $800 I have a suggestion. Get the Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 AND pentax DA35mm f2.4. You can get both for $800 (they cost 580 euros or something combined in Europe). I don't own the Tamron but I have heard it's a good wide angle zoom for the price (I'm planning on getting it maybe next year). The DA35mm I do have and it's just amazing for the price. I have used it a LOT during the last year or so that I have had it. Pretty fast too.

[DaveHolmes]

If your budget is that $800 I have a suggestion. Get the Tamron 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 AND pentax DA35mm f2.4. You can get both for $800 (they cost 580 euros or something combined in Europe). I don't own the Tamron but I have heard it's a good wide angle zoom for the price (I'm planning on getting it maybe next year). The DA35mm I do have and it's just amazing for the price. I have used it a LOT during the last year or so that I have had it. Pretty fast too.

I think this is a great idea... You get an ultrawide, sharp zoom and a good, sharp and fairly cheap normal-prime...

either that or if funds (I'm not sure on US prices..) allow... 21mm Ltd and a 70mm Ltd with your current 18-135 in the bag as 'all-weather' kit...

[DaveHolmes]

f/4 is a bit slow though, isn't it?

With the High ISO capacity of your K5, fast isn't really an issue... especially with the IQ of the Pentax 'Ltd' lenses...

[RioRico]

@Dave,
I agree on the Tam10-24 (mine is fine) and DA35M. I'm not quite so sure about your second set, nice though they be; they're a little more limited. Heh. And while f/4 may not be an issue with ISO-12800, there's still DOF control to think about. Great cheap approach: M50/1.7 or SuperTak 55/1.8. Faster would be even better.