Originally posted by RioRico If you find that you only need to take a few steps back to get the view you want with your 50mm, you might consider a real deal: an old F35-70/3.5-4.5, sharp and agile, the smallest zoom Pentax ever made, sharp as a bagful of primes in its limited range. It can be found for around US$50. It's been called the "perfect backyard lens" for shooting kids and pets and flowers
Hi Mmeckel, Welcome to the Forum!
I'll second Rico's suggestion for the F 35-70mm f/3.5-f/4.5. This is a great walk-around, standard focal length to short-tele zoom, handy for kids, active events and tighter portraits at the long end. Small, very sharp, light and blazingly fast AF, a decent close-focus (macro, sort of) function at the 70mm end. The 35mm end is just wide enough to capture full-body or group shots without the typical wide angle distortion.
These come up regularly on eBay for around $50.00 USD and have all the modern functions without the high price tag; AF, program and aperture priority, shutter priority. etc.
You can always get a wider or longer prime to supplement your focal length (range) if you feel the need. Meanwhile, this is the perfect in-between lens!
JMO,
Ron