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08-15-2012, 06:06 AM   #1
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Which lenses do I keep and which do I sell ?

I'm a beginner photographer, I've been doing it a couple months now, and acquired quite a bit of equipment in a short amount of time. I've sadly become a lens hoarder. I have a Pentax K-5, Pentax 18-55 kit lens, Sigma 28-105 2.8-4.0, Pentax SMC FA 50mm f/1.4, Mitakon 85mm f/2.0, Sigma 70-300 macro f/4-5.6 , and most recently a Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro. My question is.... I'm trying to get down to 3, maybe 4 lenses. I think 6 is a bit much. Especially considering three of them are considered portrait lenses (50,85,90). The 50 & 85 are for full frame cameras, so really they're more like 75 & 127. The 90 tamron is made for crop sensors so, that's a true 90. Can someone please help me out and tell me which "portrait lens" to keep ? Also, I think I'm going to sell the 18-55 since I have the 28-105 and it's a faster lens than the 18-55. Any help on this consolidation effort would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

08-15-2012, 06:16 AM   #2
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Keep the Tamron 90 and Pentax 50/1.4. You have nothing else long so keep the 70-300 for now. You have nothing wide, especially if you dump the 18-55. That is an inexpensive lens you will not get a lot of money for, so keep it for now. The 28-105 would go (unless it is really sharp), and ditto for the 85.
08-15-2012, 06:19 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Isnwm Quote
The 50 & 85 are for full frame cameras, so really they're more like 75 & 127.
Don't think along these lines. 35mm equivalency is only a useful metric for those that shot film first, and moved to APS-C digital. ALL your lenses are "for full frame", but focal length is focal length, there is no use is going through mental conversions if all you shoot is digital.

You have a nice little collection going. I wouldn't sell any just because. I'd go out and shoot with each, several times, and then decide if I wanted to part with any based on the character, quality and convenience of each lens. Honestly, I think you have a good start here, with something for most purposes. There's nothing wrong with leaving a few on the shelf when you go out, and taking a different set with you on different excursions.
08-15-2012, 06:28 AM   #4
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Really ? You'd dump the 28-105 over the 18-55 ? That's interesting. I know the 18-55 is a wider lens, but the 28-105 is a more versatile lens, and it's faster. I didn't think I'd miss the 10mm focal length difference. I know it's not worth much, the most I'd reasonably expect to get would be $50. I paid $150 for the 28-105. I'm not being argumentative , and I appreciate the advice. I'm just surprised that you recommend the 18-55 over the 28-105.

08-15-2012, 06:30 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Isnwm Quote
The 50 & 85 are for full frame cameras, so really they're more like 75 & 127. The 90 tamron is made for crop sensors so, that's a true 90.
I just want to set one thing straight, the 85 and the 90 have almost the same focal length. The fact that the tamron is made for crop sensors doesn't change the focal length. The only difference is that the tamron would vignette heavily on a Full Frame camera because it's only meant to cover the image circle of the smaller crop sensor.
So a 90 mm lens is a 90 mm lens on every format. (FF, APS-C, MF etc.) The only thing that will change is the size of the sensor or negative. And the lenses need to have enough glass to cover the size of the sensor obviously.
So when you are using FF lenses on APS-C, you are only using the center portion of the lens because there is less sensor to cover
So when you say that a FF 50 mm is more like a 75 mm on APS-C it means something else. It means that the field of view is cropped on APS-C similar to what you would see when you were to use a 75mm lens on a FF camera. .
Hope this makes sense.

P.S. I'd keep the tamron because it's more versatile.
08-15-2012, 06:31 AM   #6
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Wouldn't be too quick to sell any of them.The closest matched lens is the 85 and 90.Don't know where you got the information that the 90mm is a crop sensor lens but am pretty sure it is designed for full frame as Tamron makes the same lens for other manufactures that have full frame cameras.The 85mm would be the first to go if this were my collection.
08-15-2012, 06:50 AM   #7
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The Tamron is an excellent lens, your best, and it gives you macro abilities. You will miss the wide end if you get rid of the kit lens. On the wide end 1mm makes a much bigger difference than on the long.

08-15-2012, 06:54 AM   #8
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Keep the tamron90/2.8, fa50/1.4, kit lens.

Sell sigmas and the 85mm.

You still have room for one more
08-15-2012, 06:56 AM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Philoslothical Quote
Don't think along these lines. 35mm equivalency is only a useful metric for those that shot film first, and moved to APS-C digital. ALL your lenses are "for full frame", but focal length is focal length, there is no use is going through mental conversions if all you shoot is digital.

You have a nice little collection going. I wouldn't sell any just because. I'd go out and shoot with each, several times, and then decide if I wanted to part with any based on the character, quality and convenience of each lens. Honestly, I think you have a good start here, with something for most purposes. There's nothing wrong with leaving a few on the shelf when you go out, and taking a different set with you on different excursions.
Thank you for your reply. So far, I know I really like my 50. It's really sharp & the bokeh looks almost 3D. I like my 85 for stills, but the manual focus is a pain. A few of my pictures were out of focus. On my screen they looked clear but on laptop they were blurry in important parts
08-15-2012, 07:04 AM   #10
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I haven't received my 90 yet. I just bought it on here last night. So I have no reviews on that yet.
08-15-2012, 07:04 AM   #11
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One more thing to consider, with the 85 and 90: Some people don't prefer macro lenses for portraiture, because they are extremely sharp, and they bring out every blemish on a person's skin. This can of course be subdued in pp, but your 85 might have a better character for this kind of shot. You'd have to experiment and see.
08-15-2012, 07:07 AM   #12
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The Tamron 90 macro, in both the old and new versions, are Full Frame compatible. This is even stated on their detailed material.

In that list, I would keep the 18-55, FA 50, the Tamron 90, and the Sigma 70-300.

I would drop the 28-105 and the 85/2

My reasoning is, the 18-55 and the 70-300 covers the mass spectrum of focal lengths for traveling - and 18-28 is much more important than 55-105, if I have the 70-300.

The Tamron 90 allows macro and is fantastically sharp. I cannot say the same for your 85/2.

And the FA 50 1.4 is going to give you shots in the lowest lights possible.

QuoteOriginally posted by Philoslothical Quote
One more thing to consider, with the 85 and 90: Some people don't prefer macro lenses for portraiture, because they are extremely sharp, and they bring out every blemish on a person's skin. This can of course be subdued in pp, but your 85 might have a better character for this kind of shot. You'd have to experiment and see.
I'd like to disagree with this statement - the Tamron 90 is fantastic for portraits because of it's exceptional bokeh. At F2.8, it isn't as sharp as the Sigma 105 or the Pentax DFA 100. It may show blemishes more, but it is not that difficult to reduce the clarity. It is difficult, however, to get as good a bokeh as the Tamron 90.
08-15-2012, 07:08 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by SpecialK Quote
Keep the Tamron 90 and Pentax 50/1.4. You have nothing else long so keep the 70-300 for now. You have nothing wide, especially if you dump the 18-55. That is an inexpensive lens you will not get a lot of money for, so keep it for now. The 28-105 would go (unless it is really sharp), and ditto for the 85.
This is what I would do.
08-15-2012, 07:18 AM   #14
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Keep them all until you have convinced yourself you have something better.
08-15-2012, 07:25 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Isnwm Quote
Really ? You'd dump the 28-105 over the 18-55 ? That's interesting. I know the 18-55 is a wider lens, but the 28-105 is a more versatile lens, and it's faster. I didn't think I'd miss the 10mm focal length difference. I know it's not worth much, the most I'd reasonably expect to get would be $50. I paid $150 for the 28-105. I'm not being argumentative , and I appreciate the advice. I'm just surprised that you recommend the 18-55 over the 28-105.
Having owned the 28-105 several years ago, I'd say dump it. Softest smearing lens I've ever owned. Also agree with letting the 85mm go, keep the rest.
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