Next move; K5 or 43mm ltd?

les3547 · 12-04-2011, 10:30 PM

I'm curious what the responses would have been if the OP had a K-7 and were contemplating a choice between the K-5 and a 43mm LTD.

TOUGEFC · 12-04-2011, 10:48 PM

Get the K-5 or FA77 LTD instead

Bestzoom · 12-05-2011, 03:18 AM

Buy a K5... and Wow her with the IQ..
Then try to convince your wife about the likely further improvement in IQ by getting a Limited lens....

Enjoy!

hoanpham · 12-05-2011, 03:34 AM

K5 first. it will improve all your lenses to high iso.

Frogfish · 12-05-2011, 03:48 AM

I have a 43 Ltd as well as two K5s. IMHO this is not even close (superb lens though the 43 undoubtedly is) .... the K5 is such as major upgrade (even on the K7 which I had before) that it will breath new life into ALL of your lenses.

vrrattko · 12-05-2011, 05:50 AM

Originally posted by dj_saunter

K5
+Shooting video is actually something I want. I'd love to make little snapshot video compilation of trips. I see many creative possibilities with this
+I like shooting at night, and the K5s high iso ability would destroy that of my k10D
+I already have a fast and near 43mm lens

43mm
+It'd be my first ltd lens and i've wanted this for a while
+Prices don't change much, but with the K5, prices will continue to drop, especially if I wait until the next K? comes out and the K5 takes a nice bump in price
+I would sell my 50mm and the 43mm would be on my cameras 50% of time (30% would be the 20mm)
+great for digital and film (I shoot lots of B+W film these days)

A though one: so I would go through your list of + :
Shooting video - there's no question FA43 would not help you there
Shooting at night at high iso - well whatever high iso you get, photos taken at night will never look very good. Unless you shoot long exposures at low iso. For casual shooting at night i would just use the flash.
A50/1.7 or even M50/1.7 are nice lenses, but not anywhere near FA43, believe me, this lens is masterpiece.
It was my second limited - I tried all the FA limiteds and I sold all and bought back FA43.
Prices of K5 may eventually go down, no discussion here - question is how much they will drop with introduction of k5. For example used k10d is generally still sold for the same price as 2 years ago.
That's a big plus of FA43, I liked FA31 also, but I suspect i performs much better on film, while digital 'cripples' it in a way - that's what my friends shooting film say. I was impressed with Fa43 on digital, now wanting to try it on film myself.

conclusion: depends how badly you want that video. If there wasn't request for video I wouldn't hesitate and would buy FA43.

civiletti · 12-05-2011, 10:23 PM

K-5 - such a fine sensor.

paperbag846 · 12-06-2011, 12:47 PM

Erm, buy the 43. You shoot a lot of film, and the 43 is going to be much better than your current primes. The K5 will continue to fall in price. Buy it after Pentax releases the K-3 and all these suckers are selling their used K-5s for rock-bottom prices. You will save more money in the long run and have better gear if you ask me.

You camera is great between ISO 100 - 800 which are the most useful, anyhow.

eddie1960 · 12-06-2011, 12:54 PM

I'm with the majority. I have a K10 and a K7. the K7 was a nice bump in many ways from the K10. all those plus the huge iso bump would make the K5 very useful. For people with newborns it will allow some low light shots without flash. no way a 43 will make that difference on a K10. the lens will still be there (new or used) but the newborn won't stay that age. EDIT - and you won't get video from a lens

Judging by your Sig line you have some pretty capable lenses for the time being anyway, if anything when you go for the lens fill a gap with a 77ltd the FOV between the 50 and the 43 just isn't that different

top-quark · 12-06-2011, 01:07 PM

Just to throw a spanner in the works, if you're currently using a K10, then a K-r or even a K-x will be a thoroughly worthwhile body upgrade. The $500+ you save on the body will be close to covering a second-hand 43mm FA ltd (it's by far the least expensive of the three). So you can have your cake and eat it.

For digital, 43mm ain't a great length (65mm isn't exactly a classic focal length). A DA limited might be a better purchase.

And if you're having a baby, you might want to hold fire on buying anything.

Sol Invictus · 12-06-2011, 03:25 PM

Originally posted by paperbag846

Erm, buy the 43. You shoot a lot of film, and the 43 is going to be much better than your current primes. The K5 will continue to fall in price. Buy it after Pentax releases the K-3 and all these suckers are selling their used K-5s for rock-bottom prices. You will save more money in the long run and have better gear if you ask me.

You camera is great between ISO 100 - 800 which are the most useful, anyhow.

Ha! I knew the consensus wouldn't last.

retroflex · 12-07-2011, 07:34 AM

I'd say go with the K5.

I'm in a similar situation, but the other way around so to speak

I'm considering selling my K-x and FA43 to get a K-5. I got camera+lens when my son was born two years ago. Now I find I need all the AF speed and high ISO capabilities there is, as I shoot mostly inside and he's getting faster and faster, running around all the time.

builttospill · 12-07-2011, 07:50 AM

Get the item you want the most, but if I was in your situation I wouldn't even hesitate on purchasing the FA 43.

regor · 12-07-2011, 09:27 PM

If it were me, I'd get the lens ! I too have a 5 year old K10D, and I'm waiting to see what the K3 will offer (hopefully the new Sony 24Mpix sensor, which looks extremely good) so I may be running my K10D for another 1-2 years. I may still go for the K5, but it's not like my K10D cannot take pictures.

pinholecam · 12-07-2011, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by twitch

doh! There had to be one

If you go "lens first always" when should you stop? Eventually you have to stop buying lenses and buy a body, there's always another lens you could buy.

+1 to this.
I think the difference in performance between K5 and K10 IS that time to buy a new body.

TS, unless you and don't need the faster/decisive AF, DR and low light performance, then stick with K10 and get the 43ltd.
It might be so depending on what you shoot, so only you will know best.
You mention starting a family (congratulations).

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12-04-2011, 10:30 PM	#16
les3547 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Sebastopol, California Photos: Albums Posts: 2,020	I'm curious what the responses would have been if the OP had a K-7 and were contemplating a choice between the K-5 and a 43mm LTD.

12-04-2011, 10:48 PM	#17
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Get the K-5 or FA77 LTD instead

12-05-2011, 03:18 AM	#18
Bestzoom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 232	Buy a K5... and Wow her with the IQ.. Then try to convince your wife about the likely further improvement in IQ by getting a Limited lens.... Enjoy!

12-05-2011, 03:34 AM	#19
hoanpham Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Strand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,366	K5 first. it will improve all your lenses to high iso.

12-05-2011, 03:48 AM	#20
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	I have a 43 Ltd as well as two K5s. IMHO this is not even close (superb lens though the 43 undoubtedly is) .... the K5 is such as major upgrade (even on the K7 which I had before) that it will breath new life into ALL of your lenses.

12-05-2011, 05:50 AM	#21
vrrattko Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 753	Originally posted by dj_saunter K5 +Shooting video is actually something I want. I'd love to make little snapshot video compilation of trips. I see many creative possibilities with this +I like shooting at night, and the K5s high iso ability would destroy that of my k10D +I already have a fast and near 43mm lens 43mm +It'd be my first ltd lens and i've wanted this for a while +Prices don't change much, but with the K5, prices will continue to drop, especially if I wait until the next K? comes out and the K5 takes a nice bump in price +I would sell my 50mm and the 43mm would be on my cameras 50% of time (30% would be the 20mm) +great for digital and film (I shoot lots of B+W film these days) A though one: so I would go through your list of + : Shooting video - there's no question FA43 would not help you there Shooting at night at high iso - well whatever high iso you get, photos taken at night will never look very good. Unless you shoot long exposures at low iso. For casual shooting at night i would just use the flash. A50/1.7 or even M50/1.7 are nice lenses, but not anywhere near FA43, believe me, this lens is masterpiece. It was my second limited - I tried all the FA limiteds and I sold all and bought back FA43. Prices of K5 may eventually go down, no discussion here - question is how much they will drop with introduction of k5. For example used k10d is generally still sold for the same price as 2 years ago. That's a big plus of FA43, I liked FA31 also, but I suspect i performs much better on film, while digital 'cripples' it in a way - that's what my friends shooting film say. I was impressed with Fa43 on digital, now wanting to try it on film myself. conclusion: depends how badly you want that video. If there wasn't request for video I wouldn't hesitate and would buy FA43.

12-05-2011, 10:23 PM	#22
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	K-5 - such a fine sensor.

12-06-2011, 12:47 PM	#23
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Erm, buy the 43. You shoot a lot of film, and the 43 is going to be much better than your current primes. The K5 will continue to fall in price. Buy it after Pentax releases the K-3 and all these suckers are selling their used K-5s for rock-bottom prices. You will save more money in the long run and have better gear if you ask me. You camera is great between ISO 100 - 800 which are the most useful, anyhow.

12-06-2011, 12:54 PM	#24
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	I'm with the majority. I have a K10 and a K7. the K7 was a nice bump in many ways from the K10. all those plus the huge iso bump would make the K5 very useful. For people with newborns it will allow some low light shots without flash. no way a 43 will make that difference on a K10. the lens will still be there (new or used) but the newborn won't stay that age. EDIT - and you won't get video from a lens Judging by your Sig line you have some pretty capable lenses for the time being anyway, if anything when you go for the lens fill a gap with a 77ltd the FOV between the 50 and the 43 just isn't that different

12-06-2011, 01:07 PM	#25
top-quark Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks Photos: Albums Posts: 492	Just to throw a spanner in the works, if you're currently using a K10, then a K-r or even a K-x will be a thoroughly worthwhile body upgrade. The $500+ you save on the body will be close to covering a second-hand 43mm FA ltd (it's by far the least expensive of the three). So you can have your cake and eat it. For digital, 43mm ain't a great length (65mm isn't exactly a classic focal length). A DA limited might be a better purchase. And if you're having a baby, you might want to hold fire on buying anything.

12-06-2011, 03:25 PM	#26
Sol Invictus Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Calgary, Alberta Photos: Gallery Posts: 392	Originally posted by paperbag846 Erm, buy the 43. You shoot a lot of film, and the 43 is going to be much better than your current primes. The K5 will continue to fall in price. Buy it after Pentax releases the K-3 and all these suckers are selling their used K-5s for rock-bottom prices. You will save more money in the long run and have better gear if you ask me. You camera is great between ISO 100 - 800 which are the most useful, anyhow. Ha! I knew the consensus wouldn't last.

12-07-2011, 07:34 AM	#27
retroflex Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mölnlycke Photos: Albums Posts: 98	I'd say go with the K5. I'm in a similar situation, but the other way around so to speak I'm considering selling my K-x and FA43 to get a K-5. I got camera+lens when my son was born two years ago. Now I find I need all the AF speed and high ISO capabilities there is, as I shoot mostly inside and he's getting faster and faster, running around all the time.

12-07-2011, 07:50 AM	#28
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	Get the item you want the most, but if I was in your situation I wouldn't even hesitate on purchasing the FA 43.

12-07-2011, 09:27 PM	#29
regor Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 356	If it were me, I'd get the lens ! I too have a 5 year old K10D, and I'm waiting to see what the K3 will offer (hopefully the new Sony 24Mpix sensor, which looks extremely good) so I may be running my K10D for another 1-2 years. I may still go for the K5, but it's not like my K10D cannot take pictures.

12-07-2011, 10:56 PM	#30
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Originally posted by twitch doh! There had to be one If you go "lens first always" when should you stop? Eventually you have to stop buying lenses and buy a body, there's always another lens you could buy. +1 to this. I think the difference in performance between K5 and K10 IS that time to buy a new body. TS, unless you and don't need the faster/decisive AF, DR and low light performance, then stick with K10 and get the 43ltd. It might be so depending on what you shoot, so only you will know best. You mention starting a family (congratulations).