[DaveHolmes]

I'm gonna seem like an oddball but at the moment I'm thinking my ideal lens line up would be: FA20-2.8, FA28-2.8, FA35-2, FA50-1.4... I could use these both on film and digital and would be set if pentax does make a K-mount move to FF...

[Abbazz]

Would love the macro capability of either the DA 35 Macro or the DFA 50 Macro, but want to be sure they'll also be strong as general walk-around and landscape lenses (can anyone comment on this?).

I don't have the DFA 50, but I can assure you that the DA 35 Macro is a very sharp lens, even at infinity -- I don't know where the "weak sharpness at infinity" myth originates from, but you will find it mainly in posts from people who don't own this lens... Of course you won't get super sharp corners at F/2.8, but that's true for almost any lens when used wide open. From F/5.6 to F/11, the lens is very sharp from corner to corner, with superb contrast and nice colors. Here are a few pictures that I happen to have online -- nothing special, just the ordinary holiday shots, with no post-processing at all: they are just linked from my zenfolio online backup and resized by the site's software:



















As for its usefulness as a macro lens, it depends on your needs. If find it just perfect for small objects (I am a watch collector) and museum artifacts. Some prefer longer lenses for macro work, especially when shooting insects, but don't forget that depth of field decreases drastically as the focal length increases, making a tripod or a flash mandatory with longer lenses. A 35mm lens is easy to use handheld, even at 1:1, thus allowing to shoot faster and to catch some critters before they flee... And for the others, I just use my Apo-Lanthar 90/3.5!

Cheers!

Abbazz

[audiobomber]

Some prefer longer lenses for macro work, especially when shooting insects, but don't forget that depth of field decreases drastically as the focal length increases, making a tripod or a flash mandatory with longer lenses.

It's true that DOF is lower with a longer lens, but mandatory to use flash or a tripod? That is not correct. I've mostly used my D FA 100 without either. I only tried a DA 35 in a store. I photographed a coin at 1:1 macro, but to get to that magnification, the front of the lens was touching the edge of the coin. The OP's stated interest for macro shooting is flower heads, so the 35mm would be great for that. I kind of like 100mm for flowers though, because I don't have to get right in the flower bed to frame the shot.

[vsl3-e]

Another possible option:

DA 15
DA 35
DA 70

if money were no concern i would go for:
DA 15, DA 16-45 (for days you are feeling lazy), FA 31, FA 77, FA 135

[Frogfish]

Well you have the 15 already and you'd have to pry that one from my cold dead fingers. Best landscape lens is a 28 .... and then stitch as (if) required (I use the superb, but relatively inexpensive, at around US$400, Zeiss 28/2.8 - easily converted to PK mount). I can't see any reason to change your 40mm for now. At the long end then it'd be the 77 Ltd. So 4 lenses not 3 (why set yourself a 3 lens limit when 4 is near perfect) and maybe just another $800 if you cash in on the Sigma.

DA 15 Ltd
Zeiss 28/2.8
DA 40 Ltd
FA 77 Ltd

Oh and if you want macro then get yourself a wonderful little Raynox 150 (flowers etc.) or 250 (insects) and you can fit it to any of your lenses !

[SylBer]

One more vote for 15, 35 and 70

[twitch]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I think eventually I'll end up with DA 15 on the wide end and DA 70 on the short telephoto end. Where I waffle is in the middle. I have and really like the DA 40, but have desire to try FA 43 as well as FA 50 1.7. Would love the macro capability of either the DA 35 Macro or the DFA 50 Macro, but want to be sure they'll also be strong as general walk-around and landscape lenses (can anyone comment on this?).

Brandon

Looking at your sig, it seems obvious to me that what you lack is a fast lens. I'd trade your da40 for a fa35, a sig30 or a fa31 if you can afford it.

[abacus07]

My three-lens prime kit is DA 15, DA 40, D FA 100mm.

swap out the DA40 for a FA43 to get a better body/torso portrait lens and this is my dream trio. You also get a better star at night if you take night cityscape photos.

I can see the arguments for a DA70/FA77 instead of the DFA 100 if you were really into portraits. But you lose an excellent macro lens.

And I would probably include an 18-55WR in my bag so I wouldn't have to stop taking photos if the weather got a little iffy. And it is supposed to be pretty good stopped down around 25-35mm's which fills the gap between 15 and 43 if you needed it.

[Bestzoom]

My selection will be:
1. Keep the DA 15
2. Replace the 40 with Sigma 30 f1.4 or Pentax FA 31 Ltd as a general purpose lens.
3. Keep Sigma 70 or replace with Pentax 77 (personally i am very happy with my Sigma 50 f1.4 as portrait lens).

All the best!

[bpv_UW]

Just to provide resolution:

I ended up expanding my budget a little bit, and have settled on a great 3 lens compact prime kit: Da 15, Fa 43, Fa 77. Picked up a Marumi +5 diopter close-up lens (similar to Raynox 150) for macro flower shots. Super pleased with this kit.

-Brandon

[jimr-pdx]

I don't have my calculator handy, but what about DA12-24, the 100 macro and keep your FA43? Is that cheating?
The 12-24 definitely covers 'something wide' with room to spare, and I've heard a lot of prim-al comments about its IQ.
If I overspent, the Tamron 90 could do as an able sub.

edit: oopz, I only read page one - I see you've made a choice, and a fine one!

[Frogfish]

Just to provide resolution:

I ended up expanding my budget a little bit, and have settled on a great 3 lens compact prime kit: Da 15, Fa 43, Fa 77. Picked up a Marumi +5 diopter close-up lens (similar to Raynox 150) for macro flower shots. Super pleased with this kit.

-Brandon

Fantastic kit ! You won't be disappointed with any of those lenses.

[raider]

DA15 + DA35 macro + DA70 gets my vote too

[Docrwm]

Just to provide resolution:

I ended up expanding my budget a little bit, and have settled on a great 3 lens compact prime kit: Da 15, Fa 43, Fa 77. Picked up a Marumi +5 diopter close-up lens (similar to Raynox 150) for macro flower shots. Super pleased with this kit.

-Brandon

Congratulations. By all accounts you have two of Pentax's best ever lenses in that kit.