[kiteman]

Hi All,

My k-7 now has all zooms to cover from 35mm to 210 mm. I am being told that I should add a prime, but sooooo many choices. I see DA 35mm 2.4 is good value for the $$$$. However, do I spend couple hundred (probably less) to get this or put more wth it to get something special-------- DA 70, DA 40, or DA 15. Will probably use more as my wife and I travel the midwest and the northwest and British Columbia. I would also like to use it for people too. I find the DA 70 highly rated by narrow FOV =19 degrees

Thanks for your help.


Kiteman :-)

[jimr-pdx]

The DA40 has really fit in for me, though some like 35mm or 50mm better. Any of those three are a good start. If your kit stops at 35 you might enjoy a a 24 or 28 manual-focus lens, but those are better suited for landscapes not people.

[GDRoth]

The DA 35mm Ltd is very nice. But my recently purchased FA 43mm Ltd is VERY nice.....

[kiteman]

Sorry, my zooms go from 16 to 210. I just added the DA 16-45.

[SpecialK]

You do not need to get a prime. It is a matter of wanting.

[VisualDarkness]

I like the 70 way better than the 40 that I mostly keep due to it being so small that I always can bring it. The 70 got stunning IQ and is a good fit to me as I began shooting with the 70mm and my 70-200 and grew to be the normal for me.

[DSims]

I'd pick the DA35/2.4 or the FA43 over the DA40.

The FA77 will probably be your best choice if you can afford it - some used prices have not been so bad lately, although I haven't checked this month.


To save money, find an A100/2.8 or M100/2.8 (both non-macro). You'll get a similar optical effect to the FA77. And the A50/1.7 is a very affordable lens to add as your first or second prime.

[mdodrill]

The DA 15 is loved by many...check out the DA 15 controls my mind in the lens club section of this forum. I also use the 21 often and the 70 is a real good lens. The 40 is a great walk around lens because it is so small and as with all these primes....does not intimidate the subject.

[captainbert]

I'd second the FA 43 limited and maybe you can find it used for a good price. I think it has the most beautiful rendering of any lens ive used and it has great sharpness too. It lives on my camera half the time.

[Eric Auer]

If you dont have to have AF the older manual pentax primes are great and affordable. Same goes for the new Samyang primes.

[Na Horuk]

Depends on your budget and needs. I would suggest getting a fast prime, because zooms usually are not fast at all. So something like a f1.4 or f1.7 prime. The 50mm is the first that comes to mind. A lot of people like to get a manual lens because they have distance scales so you can learn zone focusing. That's what I would suggest, a Pentax M or A 50mm.
If you just want high quality, then try the ones mentioned, the DA 40 or the DA 70. Get a macro, if you want to try that out. The sky is the limit! Choose which direction you want to go and have fun

[normhead]

One prime? DA 35 2.4. It's the most all purpose. I have the FA 50 1.7. I find the 35 to be a more useful lens, especially indoors.
For a second, - DA 15.
For Third a Tamron 90 macro. It's cheap, its simply the best lens you can get anywhere in a focal length close to it on a K-mount. Not the best "for the money", just the best, that also happens to be the cheapest, compared to lenses of equal performance. Get the Pentax 100 macro if you want WR.

Another prime in the "superstar" categorry would be the Sigma 85 1.4. I don't own it, can't vouch for it and never used it, but when I go cruising for top rated glass, it always pops up.

But I'm planning to forgo the DA 15 and get the Sigma 8-16. I already have the other two.

My theory is pretty much, cover everything with zooms, buy your primes because they excel. I see no reason to take a zoom off the camera and lose all that flexibility, unless, your image is going to go from very good to excellent because you did.

[johnyates]

Perhaps the best prime to get would be one in the focal length you most often use. If possible, go back over the photos you have taken and see if there is one particular focal length that you use the most. Then see if there's a prime that's close.

[Lowell Goudge]

What do you perceive a prime is going to do for you that your zooms Don't do.

Before you added the 16-50 I would have advised this before any prime.,

If there is a true need get the focal length you either like the most, or feel that the zooms let you down at

[kiteman]

I am very pleased with the zooms that I presently own. I see lots of clarity, sharpness and just spectacular photos with some of these primes that often do not see with a zoom. There is even on the front page of this website----------------------- " Have You Considered A Prime?" Maybe just want to promote sales of more lenses.

I probably shoot more wide angle which would lead to 15 mm, but my zoom is 16mm with DA 16-45. Am I really going to get that much better photo with the prime?