If you could only have one lens

sam-joseph · 03-18-2012, 06:17 PM

For me, it would be the as yet imaginary Pentax DA* 10-450 f2.8.
Just remember Mr Pentax Ricoh, it was my idea....

Regards

amorificus · 03-18-2012, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by adpo

i currently am living with one lens: my DA*55

Good choice! The only reason I would pick fa 43 over DA 55 is because of size and weight. If only the 55 were as small as 43, it would be priceless!

Whenever I go to a park or shopping, I only get my k-5, fa 43, 1 grad nd and 1 polarizer and leave all the other lenses and accessories at home and it's never 'not enough'. Sometimes I wonder why I even have zooms, 100mm macro, and other primes because I barely even use them outside of my house.

SpecialK · 03-18-2012, 06:31 PM

12-24.

**PPPPPP42** · 03-18-2012, 06:46 PM

I was going to say my Pentax SMC-A 35-105 F3.5, but lately I've been all over the Pentax SMC-A 24-50 F4 since its more aps-c friendly. But then I've never spent even $200 shipped on a lens and I stick to the same series I use when I did 35mm.

Remember to post what lens specifically you are talking about, he didn't ask what focal length you would take, the brands and details are just as important.

DSims · 03-18-2012, 06:47 PM

That would be a sad situation. However, when I've only used one lens for an event it's most often the DA*50-135, followed by the FA*85/1.4. The FA28/2.8 has sometimes been my only lens, for simplicity or when there's a genuinely higher risk of damage (e.g. for a mountain bike ride I'd rather take the K200D/FA28 than K-5/FA31).

But there definitely have been days when I've walked around with just one lens - anything from the DA15 to F*300/4.5.

DSims · 03-18-2012, 06:52 PM

Originally posted by PPPPPP42

but lately I've been all over the Pentax SMC-A 24-50 F4

I'm really fond of this lens too. I have the F version, but I've kept my A version as well. In fact, I used it today on a film body.

mlatour · 03-18-2012, 07:18 PM

My Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC MACRO pretty much does everything I need.

joe.penn · 03-18-2012, 07:23 PM

The 50~135 should be easily running away with this thread...

**jackassp** · 03-18-2012, 08:12 PM

Everyone who has posted in this thread should come and have a look at the "Single in xxx(month)" challenges going on.

I dare you all to join us and use JUST ONE lens for a whole month, posting a picture each day.

Some of us have been doing this for a whole year now, you'd certainly learn a lot about your chosen lens, then you could come back here and adjust your choice!

You can find the Single in ... under Mini challenges in the forum section.

Me? I'd be very happy to just have the DA21 Limited lens, it can do it all.

Cheers, and see you on the challenge soon...

**Wormtographer** · 03-18-2012, 08:29 PM

The SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR (with the MH-RC 49mm hood originally for the SMCP-DA 40mm f/2.8, of course).

-W

chickenandavocado · 03-18-2012, 08:43 PM

fa31 for sure! ive done two vacations with just this lens and didnt feel i missed very much

**Ash** · 03-18-2012, 08:49 PM

There's just not one lens to fit the bill for all my photographic occasions. Macros, portraits and landscapes all demand lenses with different properties. But if all lenses, I'm sold out on the FA 43.

**PPPPPP42** · 03-18-2012, 09:22 PM

I don't know how you guys make do with just one prime in that focal range, I was freaking out even with just the wide end of my 35-105 because I was so used to how it worked on a 35mm film camera, now I couldn't go anywhere without the 24-50mm because 24mm is bare minimum wide on an aps-c for a lot of shots I want to get.

RioRico · 03-18-2012, 09:24 PM

This same misguided question arises occasionally.

Just one lens? The Carl Zeiss Vari-Sonnar 7-28/2.8-4 on my Sony DSC-V1 5mpx P&S.

On my K20D? Just one lens doesn't make it. My omnipresent DA18-250 isn't enough for many situations. No single one of my many lenses is enough for many situations. If I thought a single lens solution was suitable, I wouldn't have bought a dSLR. The camera is the platform; the lenses are tools.

I'll suggest a parallel. If you could have only one shoe, which would it be? A climbing boot, sports shoe, sandal, slipper, snowshoe, swim fin, what? You might suggest a utility shoe like a climbing boot... which won't work well in surf or mud or ballet or tennis. Your foot is the platform; shoes are tools.

Just because this question *can* be asked, doesn't mean that it *should* be asked.

**bpv_UW** · 03-18-2012, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Just because this question *can* be asked, doesn't mean that it *should* be asked.

Agree that from a practical standpoint it has little utility. But it does make for interesting discussion.

Like many who've already posted, the FA 43 would probably be my current "desert island" lens.

-Brandon

03-18-2012, 09:24 PM	#29
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	This same misguided question arises occasionally. Just one lens? The Carl Zeiss Vari-Sonnar 7-28/2.8-4 on my Sony DSC-V1 5mpx P&S. On my K20D? Just one lens doesn't make it. My omnipresent DA18-250 isn't enough for many situations. No single one of my many lenses is enough for many situations. If I thought a single lens solution was suitable, I wouldn't have bought a dSLR. The camera is the platform; the lenses are tools. I'll suggest a parallel. If you could have only one shoe, which would it be? A climbing boot, sports shoe, sandal, slipper, snowshoe, swim fin, what? You might suggest a utility shoe like a climbing boot... which won't work well in surf or mud or ballet or tennis. Your foot is the platform; shoes are tools. Just because this question can be asked, doesn't mean that it should be asked. Last edited by RioRico; 03-18-2012 at 09:34 PM.

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03-18-2012, 06:17 PM	#16
sam-joseph Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newcastle, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,086	For me, it would be the as yet imaginary Pentax DA* 10-450 f2.8. Just remember Mr Pentax Ricoh, it was my idea.... Regards

03-18-2012, 06:30 PM	#17
amorificus Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 69 Original Poster	Originally posted by adpo i currently am living with one lens: my DA*55 Good choice! The only reason I would pick fa 43 over DA 55 is because of size and weight. If only the 55 were as small as 43, it would be priceless! Whenever I go to a park or shopping, I only get my k-5, fa 43, 1 grad nd and 1 polarizer and leave all the other lenses and accessories at home and it's never 'not enough'. Sometimes I wonder why I even have zooms, 100mm macro, and other primes because I barely even use them outside of my house.

03-18-2012, 06:31 PM	#18
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	12-24.

03-18-2012, 06:46 PM	#19
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 947	I was going to say my Pentax SMC-A 35-105 F3.5, but lately I've been all over the Pentax SMC-A 24-50 F4 since its more aps-c friendly. But then I've never spent even $200 shipped on a lens and I stick to the same series I use when I did 35mm. Remember to post what lens specifically you are talking about, he didn't ask what focal length you would take, the brands and details are just as important.

03-18-2012, 06:47 PM	#20
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	That would be a sad situation. However, when I've only used one lens for an event it's most often the DA50-135, followed by the FA85/1.4. The FA28/2.8 has sometimes been my only lens, for simplicity or when there's a genuinely higher risk of damage (e.g. for a mountain bike ride I'd rather take the K200D/FA28 than K-5/FA31). But there definitely have been days when I've walked around with just one lens - anything from the DA15 to F*300/4.5.

03-18-2012, 06:52 PM	#21
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by PPPPPP42 but lately I've been all over the Pentax SMC-A 24-50 F4 I'm really fond of this lens too. I have the F version, but I've kept my A version as well. In fact, I used it today on a film body.

03-18-2012, 07:18 PM	#22
mlatour Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 197	My Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC MACRO pretty much does everything I need.

03-18-2012, 07:23 PM	#23
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	The 50~135 should be easily running away with this thread...

03-18-2012, 08:12 PM	#24
jackassp Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 813	Everyone who has posted in this thread should come and have a look at the "Single in xxx(month)" challenges going on. I dare you all to join us and use JUST ONE lens for a whole month, posting a picture each day. Some of us have been doing this for a whole year now, you'd certainly learn a lot about your chosen lens, then you could come back here and adjust your choice! You can find the Single in ... under Mini challenges in the forum section. Me? I'd be very happy to just have the DA21 Limited lens, it can do it all. Cheers, and see you on the challenge soon...

03-18-2012, 08:29 PM	#25
Wormtographer Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 166	The SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR (with the MH-RC 49mm hood originally for the SMCP-DA 40mm f/2.8, of course). -W

03-18-2012, 08:43 PM	#26
chickenandavocado Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 327	fa31 for sure! ive done two vacations with just this lens and didnt feel i missed very much

03-18-2012, 08:49 PM	#27
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	There's just not one lens to fit the bill for all my photographic occasions. Macros, portraits and landscapes all demand lenses with different properties. But if all lenses, I'm sold out on the FA 43.

03-18-2012, 09:22 PM	#28
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 947	I don't know how you guys make do with just one prime in that focal range, I was freaking out even with just the wide end of my 35-105 because I was so used to how it worked on a 35mm film camera, now I couldn't go anywhere without the 24-50mm because 24mm is bare minimum wide on an aps-c for a lot of shots I want to get.

03-18-2012, 09:44 PM	#30
bpv_UW Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765	Originally posted by RioRico Just because this question can be asked, doesn't mean that it should be asked. Agree that from a practical standpoint it has little utility. But it does make for interesting discussion. Like many who've already posted, the FA 43 would probably be my current "desert island" lens. -Brandon