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stafford588 · 12-30-2007, 02:24 AM

Hi everybody,

By some divine miracle, I'm going to scrounge up the money to purchase both PENTAX DA* lenses before the end of this summer. I've decided that I need the zooms for versatility; I'd love to have both zooms and primes, but I just can't afford both at the moment. I need to pick something and run with it. In terms of quality, how does the DA* series stack up against some of PENTAX's best primes? I've heard some people say that the DA*s come very close to matching the image quality of some of PENTAX's most coveted prime lenses. Does anyone with first-hand experience want to offer me their opinion? I would very much appreciate it! Also, should I start off with the 16-50mm or the 50-135mm? Which one would you say covers a more versatile focal range? Thanks!

SupremeMoFo · 12-30-2007, 03:59 AM

Definitely the 16-50 first. The 16mm wideangle is fantastic and I've never felt hugely inhibited by the 45mm long end of my 16-45.

axl · 12-30-2007, 04:43 AM

I don't have first hand experience with DA* but many are saying/writing that 50-135 is better lens than 16-50...

roentarre · 12-30-2007, 05:15 AM

Sigma 17-70 is a good bet for the wide angle zoom or try sigma 10-20 instead of Da* 16-50

Da* 50-135 seems like a gem itself. Can't go wrong with that.

alib99 · 12-30-2007, 08:25 AM

If you like to have both prime quality and zoom verzality + some extra wide angle,
I would recommend DA12-24 + FA35 + DA*50-135 (+ FA50 maybe)
In total price is almost equal to DA*16-50 + DA*50-135.

CJSpangler · 12-30-2007, 09:29 AM

That is some good advice. I am rather curious myself to see if the 16-50 is really worth it as compared the DA12-24 or the Sigma 10-20. The shots from the DA*50-135 I have seen have been pretty superb.

stafford588 · 12-30-2007, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by alib99

If you like to have both prime quality and zoom verzality + some extra wide angle,
I would recommend DA12-24 + FA35 + DA*50-135 (+ FA50 maybe)
In total price is almost equal to DA*16-50 + DA*50-135.

I picked up the FA 50mm F1.4 from Adorama for $200 just recently. I haven't received it yet, but I heard it's a superb lens. Has anyone had a good experience with this lens?

Kentax · 12-30-2007, 10:37 AM

i got the same lens from the same place, Stafford588. I must say, it's FANTASTIC! I made a post about the IQ between the M1.7 and FA1.4, look it up, the 1.4 takes very sharp pics.

Mechan1k · 12-31-2007, 05:38 AM

Originally posted by stafford588

I picked up the FA 50mm F1.4 from Adorama for $200 just recently. I haven't received it yet, but I heard it's a superb lens. Has anyone had a good experience with this lens?

I just got it for Xmas ... and I must say it's a really nice handy lens ... I think I will be using this one quite a lot.

christinelandon · 01-14-2008, 04:10 AM

Marc, with respect to your last couple of questions, I think the answers would depend on what sort of subjects you like to shoot at what distances. I've got the DA*50-135 and the kit DA 18-55 is standing in while I'm saving up for the DA*16-50. Why did I go for the longer lens first? My subject matter! I shoot landscape extractions and urban scenes more than I shoot wide landscapes or interiors, so it made sense to get the short-to-mid tele first. Maybe the opposite would be true for someone else's needs. So, what do you need more?

12-30-2007, 02:24 AM	#1
stafford588 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fenton, MI Photos: Gallery Posts: 28	Zoom v. Prime Hi everybody, By some divine miracle, I'm going to scrounge up the money to purchase both PENTAX DA* lenses before the end of this summer. I've decided that I need the zooms for versatility; I'd love to have both zooms and primes, but I just can't afford both at the moment. I need to pick something and run with it. In terms of quality, how does the DA* series stack up against some of PENTAX's best primes? I've heard some people say that the DA*s come very close to matching the image quality of some of PENTAX's most coveted prime lenses. Does anyone with first-hand experience want to offer me their opinion? I would very much appreciate it! Also, should I start off with the 16-50mm or the 50-135mm? Which one would you say covers a more versatile focal range? Thanks!

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12-30-2007, 03:59 AM	#2
SupremeMoFo Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 668	Definitely the 16-50 first. The 16mm wideangle is fantastic and I've never felt hugely inhibited by the 45mm long end of my 16-45.

12-30-2007, 04:43 AM	#3
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I don't have first hand experience with DA* but many are saying/writing that 50-135 is better lens than 16-50...

12-30-2007, 05:15 AM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Sigma 17-70 is a good bet for the wide angle zoom or try sigma 10-20 instead of Da* 16-50 Da* 50-135 seems like a gem itself. Can't go wrong with that.

12-30-2007, 08:25 AM	#5
alib99 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 90	If you like to have both prime quality and zoom verzality + some extra wide angle, I would recommend DA12-24 + FA35 + DA50-135 (+ FA50 maybe) In total price is almost equal to DA16-50 + DA*50-135.

12-30-2007, 09:29 AM	#6
CJSpangler Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Jersey, US Posts: 154	That is some good advice. I am rather curious myself to see if the 16-50 is really worth it as compared the DA12-24 or the Sigma 10-20. The shots from the DA*50-135 I have seen have been pretty superb.

12-30-2007, 10:22 AM	#7
stafford588 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fenton, MI Photos: Gallery Posts: 28 Original Poster	Originally posted by alib99 If you like to have both prime quality and zoom verzality + some extra wide angle, I would recommend DA12-24 + FA35 + DA50-135 (+ FA50 maybe) In total price is almost equal to DA16-50 + DA*50-135. I picked up the FA 50mm F1.4 from Adorama for $200 just recently. I haven't received it yet, but I heard it's a superb lens. Has anyone had a good experience with this lens?

12-30-2007, 10:37 AM	#8
Kentax Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 98	i got the same lens from the same place, Stafford588. I must say, it's FANTASTIC! I made a post about the IQ between the M1.7 and FA1.4, look it up, the 1.4 takes very sharp pics.

12-31-2007, 05:38 AM	#9
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Originally posted by stafford588 I picked up the FA 50mm F1.4 from Adorama for $200 just recently. I haven't received it yet, but I heard it's a superb lens. Has anyone had a good experience with this lens? I just got it for Xmas ... and I must say it's a really nice handy lens ... I think I will be using this one quite a lot.

01-14-2008, 04:10 AM	#10
christinelandon Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle, Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 812	Marc, with respect to your last couple of questions, I think the answers would depend on what sort of subjects you like to shoot at what distances. I've got the DA50-135 and the kit DA 18-55 is standing in while I'm saving up for the DA16-50. Why did I go for the longer lens first? My subject matter! I shoot landscape extractions and urban scenes more than I shoot wide landscapes or interiors, so it made sense to get the short-to-mid tele first. Maybe the opposite would be true for someone else's needs. So, what do you need more?

Zoom v. Prime

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