Portrait lens for K5?

AngF · 04-30-2012, 07:00 AM

What lens would be the best budget lens for portrait photography with my K5?
Any recommendations / advice would be helpful.
Cheers,
Angela :-)

okitoki · 04-30-2012, 07:25 AM

would you consider manual lens?

eddie1960 · 04-30-2012, 08:08 AM

For a budget portrait lens it's tough to beat either the tak 50 1.4 or my preference the 55 f1.8. both available for dirt cheap and have great rendering. If you are going to be shooting with Flash though you would be better off looking towards the A series so Pttl works . A 50 1.4 is still available cheaply and gives the a similar FOV to the 77 LTD on a Film camera

If you want something a little longer the Bower/Rokinon/Vivitar 85 f1.4 is tough to beat and has an A setting so compliant with flash systems

In AF it get's harder to find cheap but the F50 1.7 or FA50 1.4 are both great lenses

the sigma EX DG 70 2.8 will get you in the range (sub $500) but for me isn't fast enough.

Teh Sigma EX DG 50 1.4 is another good AF alternative but priced higher than the FA lenses

Adam · 04-30-2012, 08:17 AM

I'd pick from one of the following:
SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review - PentaxForums.com
Vivitar (Samyang) 85mm F1.4 - Review - PentaxForums.com (manual focus)

Adam
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kent · 04-30-2012, 08:26 AM

Got cash? Then 77mm lens.
Want a price/performance/size ratio? get the DA70

eddie1960 · 04-30-2012, 08:30 AM

Originally posted by Adam

I'd pick from one of the following:
SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review - PentaxForums.com
Vivitar (Samyang) 85mm F1.4 - Review - PentaxForums.com (manual focus)

For AF lenses the first 3 are in the order I would prefer them myself, but the OP did say budget, none of the first 3 could be considered budget lenses. I also find all those longer than I like for portrait on apsc (they are near perfect on FF or film though). Depends on the working distance and how flat you want the subject - all those are more akin to shooting portraits with a 135 on film or a 200-250 on medium format (where I like a 150)

lytrytyr · 04-30-2012, 08:37 AM

If you can handle MF, you have access to the cheaper options,
such as the Samyang (aka Bower, Vivitar, Rokinon, . . . ) 85/1.4 mentioned earlier,
or the Mitakon 85/2:
Buy 85mm/F2.0 Lens, MITAKON camera lens, telephoto lens, Free shipping MITAKON 85mm F/2.0 Lens for EF Mount,AI Mount,Pandex PK Mount at Aliexpress.com

If 85mm is too long for what you want on APS-C,
the old "standard" film lenses at 50mm in the K, M, or A series offer plenty of opportunity,
without having to mess with an M42 adapter.

AngF · 04-30-2012, 09:04 AM

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice... loads of lens choices here to go read reviews on! :-/
Not sure if I could do manual lenses all that well as I'm not that good a photographer...
Angela.

p.s budget is less than $500 (unfortunately)

Anvh · 04-30-2012, 09:05 AM

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 fits precisly in your price range.
It's wide and long enough for most type of single person portraits.

Not sure how the quality of the lens is though...

eddie1960 · 04-30-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 fits precisly in your price range.
It's wide and long enough for most type of single person portraits.

Not sure how the quality of the lens is though...

It's apparently pretty decent, and has the benefit of being a lot better than the kit lens for general purpose

You can probably also find an older sigma 24-70 EX DG macro for well under $500 (I have one of these) It's a good if somewhat heavy all round lens and is fast enough to give reasonable portrait results
I paid about $400 for mine a few years ago

Anvh · 04-30-2012, 10:12 AM

I only saw the New sigma version and those go around $850 new...

eddie1960 · 04-30-2012, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Anvh

I only saw the New sigma version and those go around $850 new...

yeah those are nice fast quite focus and good build. but performance wise not wildly better than the original. they are however available new with warranty (which up here is 10 years , though more expensive 950-1100 depending on the dealer)

**NaClH2O** · 04-30-2012, 11:36 AM

I'd vote for the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 as well. It is a VERY good lens and can be found for @ $475 with the mail in rebate at Adorama or B&H. Second hand it can be found for around $300-$375. It does well as a portrait lens and at f/2.8 is fast enough for much indoor work. You can read reviews of it here

NaCl(almost always in my bag)H2O

cali92rs · 04-30-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by NaClH2O

I'd vote for the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 as well. It is a VERY good lens and can be found for @ $475 with the mail in rebate at Adorama or B&H. Second hand it can be found for around $300-$375. It does well as a portrait lens and at f/2.8 is fast enough for much indoor work. You can read reviews of it here

NaCl(almost always in my bag)H2O

Although that is a very fine lens no doubt, for specific portraiture work, I would want a lens with a 1.4 aperture. So that leaves the 50mm 1.4 and Samyang et al 85mm f1.4 in the original poster's price range. Of course, if its more of a general purpose lens or you dont need the razor thin DOF, you cant go wrong with the Tammy.

StephenHampshire · 04-30-2012, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by eddie1960

For a budget portrait lens it's tough to beat either the tak 50 1.4 or my preference the 55 f1.8. both available for dirt cheap and have great rendering. If you are going to be shooting with Flash though you would be better off looking towards the A series so Pttl works . A 50 1.4 is still available cheaply and gives the a similar FOV to the 77 LTD on a Film camera

If you want something a little longer the Bower/Rokinon/Vivitar 85 f1.4 is tough to beat and has an A setting so compliant with flash systems

In AF it get's harder to find cheap but the F50 1.7 or FA50 1.4 are both great lenses

the sigma EX DG 70 2.8 will get you in the range (sub $500) but for me isn't fast enough.

Teh Sigma EX DG 50 1.4 is another good AF alternative but priced higher than the FA lenses

The SMC-M 55 f1.8 is a superb lens, as for flash, old "Auto thyristor" flashes, such as the Vivitar 283, but also a lot of other cheapo ones (just check trigger voltages) will work well incuding in bounce, and you can use cheap optical triggers for multiflash too!

For a more expensive but not quite bank busting solution, the DA70 Ltd is superb. In film days I liked both 90mm and 105mm focal lengths, so it is no surprise that I like the 55 and 70 on APS-c

04-30-2012, 07:00 AM	#1
AngF New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9	Portrait lens for K5? What lens would be the best budget lens for portrait photography with my K5? Any recommendations / advice would be helpful. Cheers, Angela :-)

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04-30-2012, 07:25 AM	#2
okitoki Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 150	would you consider manual lens?

04-30-2012, 08:08 AM	#3
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	For a budget portrait lens it's tough to beat either the tak 50 1.4 or my preference the 55 f1.8. both available for dirt cheap and have great rendering. If you are going to be shooting with Flash though you would be better off looking towards the A series so Pttl works . A 50 1.4 is still available cheaply and gives the a similar FOV to the 77 LTD on a Film camera If you want something a little longer the Bower/Rokinon/Vivitar 85 f1.4 is tough to beat and has an A setting so compliant with flash systems In AF it get's harder to find cheap but the F50 1.7 or FA50 1.4 are both great lenses the sigma EX DG 70 2.8 will get you in the range (sub $500) but for me isn't fast enough. Teh Sigma EX DG 50 1.4 is another good AF alternative but priced higher than the FA lenses

04-30-2012, 08:17 AM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	I'd pick from one of the following: SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review - PentaxForums.com Vivitar (Samyang) 85mm F1.4 - Review - PentaxForums.com (manual focus) Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

04-30-2012, 08:26 AM	#5
kent Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 344	Got cash? Then 77mm lens. Want a price/performance/size ratio? get the DA70

04-30-2012, 08:30 AM	#6
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Adam I'd pick from one of the following: SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review - PentaxForums.com Vivitar (Samyang) 85mm F1.4 - Review - PentaxForums.com (manual focus) For AF lenses the first 3 are in the order I would prefer them myself, but the OP did say budget, none of the first 3 could be considered budget lenses. I also find all those longer than I like for portrait on apsc (they are near perfect on FF or film though). Depends on the working distance and how flat you want the subject - all those are more akin to shooting portraits with a 135 on film or a 200-250 on medium format (where I like a 150)

04-30-2012, 08:37 AM	#7
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	If you can handle MF, you have access to the cheaper options, such as the Samyang (aka Bower, Vivitar, Rokinon, . . . ) 85/1.4 mentioned earlier, or the Mitakon 85/2: Buy 85mm/F2.0 Lens, MITAKON camera lens, telephoto lens, Free shipping MITAKON 85mm F/2.0 Lens for EF Mount,AI Mount,Pandex PK Mount at Aliexpress.com If 85mm is too long for what you want on APS-C, the old "standard" film lenses at 50mm in the K, M, or A series offer plenty of opportunity, without having to mess with an M42 adapter.

04-30-2012, 09:04 AM	#8
AngF New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9 Original Poster	Thanks everyone, I appreciate the advice... loads of lens choices here to go read reviews on! :-/ Not sure if I could do manual lenses all that well as I'm not that good a photographer... Angela. p.s budget is less than $500 (unfortunately)

04-30-2012, 09:05 AM	#9
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 fits precisly in your price range. It's wide and long enough for most type of single person portraits. Not sure how the quality of the lens is though...

04-30-2012, 09:21 AM	#10
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Anvh Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 fits precisly in your price range. It's wide and long enough for most type of single person portraits. Not sure how the quality of the lens is though... It's apparently pretty decent, and has the benefit of being a lot better than the kit lens for general purpose You can probably also find an older sigma 24-70 EX DG macro for well under $500 (I have one of these) It's a good if somewhat heavy all round lens and is fast enough to give reasonable portrait results I paid about $400 for mine a few years ago

04-30-2012, 10:12 AM	#11
Anvh Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 4,616	I only saw the New sigma version and those go around $850 new...

04-30-2012, 10:43 AM	#12
eddie1960 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,666	Originally posted by Anvh I only saw the New sigma version and those go around $850 new... yeah those are nice fast quite focus and good build. but performance wise not wildly better than the original. they are however available new with warranty (which up here is 10 years , though more expensive 950-1100 depending on the dealer)

04-30-2012, 11:36 AM	#13
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	I'd vote for the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 as well. It is a VERY good lens and can be found for @ $475 with the mail in rebate at Adorama or B&H. Second hand it can be found for around $300-$375. It does well as a portrait lens and at f/2.8 is fast enough for much indoor work. You can read reviews of it here NaCl(almost always in my bag)H2O

04-30-2012, 12:03 PM	#14
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by NaClH2O I'd vote for the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 as well. It is a VERY good lens and can be found for @ $475 with the mail in rebate at Adorama or B&H. Second hand it can be found for around $300-$375. It does well as a portrait lens and at f/2.8 is fast enough for much indoor work. You can read reviews of it here NaCl(almost always in my bag)H2O Although that is a very fine lens no doubt, for specific portraiture work, I would want a lens with a 1.4 aperture. So that leaves the 50mm 1.4 and Samyang et al 85mm f1.4 in the original poster's price range. Of course, if its more of a general purpose lens or you dont need the razor thin DOF, you cant go wrong with the Tammy.

04-30-2012, 12:05 PM	#15
StephenHampshire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Winchester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,523	Originally posted by eddie1960 For a budget portrait lens it's tough to beat either the tak 50 1.4 or my preference the 55 f1.8. both available for dirt cheap and have great rendering. If you are going to be shooting with Flash though you would be better off looking towards the A series so Pttl works . A 50 1.4 is still available cheaply and gives the a similar FOV to the 77 LTD on a Film camera If you want something a little longer the Bower/Rokinon/Vivitar 85 f1.4 is tough to beat and has an A setting so compliant with flash systems In AF it get's harder to find cheap but the F50 1.7 or FA50 1.4 are both great lenses the sigma EX DG 70 2.8 will get you in the range (sub $500) but for me isn't fast enough. Teh Sigma EX DG 50 1.4 is another good AF alternative but priced higher than the FA lenses The SMC-M 55 f1.8 is a superb lens, as for flash, old "Auto thyristor" flashes, such as the Vivitar 283, but also a lot of other cheapo ones (just check trigger voltages) will work well incuding in bounce, and you can use cheap optical triggers for multiflash too! For a more expensive but not quite bank busting solution, the DA70 Ltd is superb. In film days I liked both 90mm and 105mm focal lengths, so it is no surprise that I like the 55 and 70 on APS-c