So just for starters, I have mostly old, non-impressive, lenses.
I'm going to be in the market to buy a nicer lens. Up until this point, my biggest lens purchase was $150.
I'd like to stay around $1500 and because I'm spending this kind of money, I want to make sure the lens I buy is the best bang for the buck. So that's why I'd like some opinions from everyone. I've scanned through the lens database and I feel like I'm just overwhelmed by the amount of lenses out there and what's best.
I'm not stuck on it being a pentax lens. It doesn't even have to be automatic. What I *do* want from this lens is the following:
- f2.8 Max. f1.4 or f1.7 would be even nicer!
- All-encompassing. 24-200mm would be great.
- SHARP! SHARP! SHARP!
- No regrets on spending the $
Every lens I've purchased seems to disappoint. (I know, you get what you pay for). With the exception of my sears and Quantaray! For such cheap lenses, they are my two go-to lenses.The rest of my lenses are crappy are rarely get pulled out of the bag. Every once in a while I give it a try to see if I was just having a bad lens day the last time I pulled them out. (And I wasn't)
My Quantaray isn't all that bad but it's a 70-300. Not great for walk around unless I'm doing macro nose hairs.
My Sears 50mm is my go-to lens. Very sharp. Rarely disappoints.
For weddings, I tend to go to my kit lens, the mark II 18-55 for my group shots.
So I find myself swapping lenses often. I'd like to get a sharp lens to use in place of the 3 I use the most (the 70-300, 50mm & 18-55) when I want to just take one lens with me. It doesn't have to zoom all the way to 300. 100 or 200 would be great.
Can anyone recommend a lens that would fit the bill?