What's your ideal lens kit?

**clackers** · 09-30-2014, 02:41 AM

Originally posted by adpo

Its kind of sad to see every other camera maker putting out bodies with at least decent, if not great video capability

?? Fuji!

cali92rs · 09-30-2014, 08:00 AM

Originally posted by clackers

?? Fuji!

Ditto Nikon

**clackers** · 09-30-2014, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by cali92rs

Ditto Nikon

Yes, apparently!

ChristianRock · 09-30-2014, 02:05 PM

I think my ideal lens setup for Pentax APS-C would be:
Samyang 16mm f2
Pentax-FA 31mm Limited
Pentax-FA 77mm Limited

My ideal setup for ANY camera system would be a Pentax 67II with 105 2.4, 90 2.8, 165mm f4 Leaf Shutter, 45mm f4 and 300mm f4. Film and development costs make that setup prohibitive for me for now (and mostly because the wife would never agree to it...)
But I do love that Pentax 67 look... to me medium and large format, it's what photography is all about.

Recently I went to Portugal and I was relatively happy with this cheap setup for my K20D:
Tokina 19-35 3.5-4.5
SMC Pentax DA 35 2.4
Rikenon XR 50 1.7
SMC Pentax-A 70-210 f4 Macro.

The last one got used for maybe 5 shots... all the others were used a lot. It's incredible what a 200 dollar camera and less than 350 dollars worth of lenses can get you these days!

jimr-pdx · 09-30-2014, 02:18 PM

Think I'm with Lowell here, manual primes and AF zooms fit me well (at least for this month

). I leave wider gaps than most but going manual keeps 24, 28, and 30mm in play. I now have two oddball manual zooms, a jcpenney 80-200 f3.5 to keep the f2.8 types away, and an old Sigma 21-35 is coming soon to show its stuff.

Other than speeding up AF on the 55-300 I'm fine.

**ivanvernon** · 09-30-2014, 02:28 PM

Based on the frequency of usage of lens I actually own, primarily with K-7 and K-5II, my ideal kit (in order of focal length) is:

Sigma 30 1.4
(Sigma 30 is a stand-in for FA 31 which is on the aspiration list)
FA 42
Canon FL 55, f 1.2 (converted to K mount)
FA 77

I am not much of one for zoomy type lens, but the Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 is useful at times, as is the Pentax 24-90

Trawlerman · 09-30-2014, 02:43 PM

I just changed camera's from a K10d to a K30 with a K-x for backup. I also took the opportunity to rethink my lenses. This is what I have now:

18-135 WR (Main walkaround lens)
16-45
55-300
Sigma 10-20
DA35/2/4
DA40 Limited (for K-x)
DA50/1.8
M85/2

I could most likely cut that down further but i'm happy to carry those.

lesmore49 · 09-30-2014, 03:05 PM

The OP asks:

"What's your dream lens kit like?"

My response is that it depends on what your photographic interest happens to be.

For me, my prime interest is photographing vintage vehicles.

The lenses I use are my 12-24, 21 Limited, 10-17 Fish eye @ 17mm, 70mm Limited, 40 mm Limited..

Wildlife photography....but not at a zoo, but in the great outdoors.

My 55-300 and my Sigma 150-500, 50mm Macro F 2.8.

Events- indoor/outdoor.

My 16-45, 18-135, 50 F 1.4 and 70mm Limited, F.2.4 and 360 flash.

My walk around lenses ? My 18-135 and my 55-300, mounted on different bodies.

So in answer to the OP's question....different horses for different courses.

As far as having more fast lenses in the Pentax line. At one time yes, I would agree. But with modern camera bodies coming out, with higher ISO and better resolution all the time...is a fast lens...say F 1.8 to F 2.8....really as important as it once was ?

I don't think so. BTW, you can get pretty good bokeh at F 4.

**clackers** · 09-30-2014, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

I think my ideal lens setup for Pentax APS-C would be:
Samyang 16mm f2
Pentax-FA 31mm Limited
Pentax-FA 77mm Limited

Nice.

cali92rs · 10-01-2014, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by lesmore49

is a fast lens...say F 1.8 to F 2.8....really as important as it once was ?

Yes! Yes it is as important unless you want to shoot at ISOs greater than 6400.
I was shoothing at a wedding this past weekend (not as the photographer, as a guest), and I was routinely shooting at 6400 and even that was underexposed and prone to motion blur because I couldn't keep my shutter speed high.
If all you shoot is outdoors, then no, it probably isn't as important. But with APS, that do not perform as well as FF in low light, fast lenses are more crucial.

**mgvh** · 10-01-2014, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by Trawlerman

I just changed camera's from a K10d to a K30 with a K-x for backup. I also took the opportunity to rethink my lenses. This is what I have now:
18-135 WR (Main walkaround lens)
16-45
55-300
Sigma 10-20
DA35/2/4
DA40 Limited (for K-x)
DA50/1.8
M85/2

I have a very similar kit as you. K-30 w/ a K-x backup. The 18-135 is on the K-30 most of the time, and if I'm going light, I'll bring another lens along depending on the setting. (DA 21 or DA 35 f2.4 or DA 50 f1.8 or DAL 55-300) If I'm wanting a full kit, I bring along the K-x with the Sigma 10-20 on it, the 55-300 and one of the DA lenses.
Here's my question to you, Trawlerman: How do you use the 16-45? I've wanted something wider than the 18-135, and the Sigma 10-20 is fine, but it's rather large. The 16-45 gets you a bit wider, but it mostly overlaps w/ the 18-135. Ideally, I think I'd want a DA 15, but that's not in the budget for now. So, do you mainly use that 16-45 for that very wide end?
It will be interesting to know more about the promised Pentax 16-85, but I'm suspecting that will be rather expensive too. Thanks.

GlennG · 10-01-2014, 08:49 PM

Originally posted by HSV

One time I made a point in traveling only with Limiteds...ended up traveling with the DA21, 40 and 70, which more or less conforms to "monochrome's law".

I would really like to know how that worked out for you. Of those, I have only the 40 - love it, great IQ, but when I find I can't zoom and don't have time to change. How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation.

Given that I am "forced" into a zoom lifestyle, I've considered this model ideal in ff land; Canon 24-105 and 70-200/4.0 But I don't have nor want ff, so converting to Pentax range I should want 17-70 and 50-135. I have the 17-70 and aspire to the 50-135. And yet, I'm thinking that even for a zoom, something can be better than the 17-70 and that if I had the 50-135, I would really want the 60-250 instead. So for APS-C I don't seem to be able to exactly duplicate the ideal ff equivalent.

---------- Post added Oct 1st, 2014 at 10:50 PM ----------

Originally posted by GlennG

when I find I can't zoom

Sorry, that should read "......when I travel I find I can't zoom...."

cali92rs · 10-01-2014, 10:32 PM

Originally posted by GlennG

I would really like to know how that worked out for you. Of those, I have only the 40 - love it, great IQ, but when I find I can't zoom and don't have time to change. How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation.

Given that I am "forced" into a zoom lifestyle, I've considered this model ideal in ff land; Canon 24-105 and 70-200/4.0 But I don't have nor want ff, so converting to Pentax range I should want 17-70 and 50-135. I have the 17-70 and aspire to the 50-135. And yet, I'm thinking that even for a zoom, something can be better than the 17-70 and that if I had the 50-135, I would really want the 60-250 instead. So for APS-C I don't seem to be able to exactly duplicate the ideal ff equivalent.

---------- Post added Oct 1st, 2014 at 10:50 PM ----------

Sorry, that should read "......when I travel I find I can't zoom...."

In my opinion the way to not hold up your family by swapping lenses is to simply not do it. Go out with a single prime lens and accept the fact that if you have your 21mm mounted you're going to not get the shot of the bird in the tree. But you will begin to look for subjects that fit your focal length.
I am constantly surprised how little i miss zooms when i have my 35mm mounted. Of course some folks like longer or shorter focal lengths . It is all dependent on what you feel comfortable with.

**clackers** · 10-01-2014, 10:46 PM

Originally posted by cali92rs

Go out with a single prime lens and accept the fact that if you have your 21mm mounted you're going to not get the shot of the bird in the tree. But you will begin to look for subjects that fit your focal length.

That philosophy reverses what most people actually want out of their vacation pics, IMHO, Cali - diverse coverage of diverse subjects.

The 35 is really good for 'medium' scenes, but not the wide range of opportunities that present themselves - close up, wide or long (often fleetingly) - on a holiday, especially when you can't zoom with your feet.

If it's one lens, a zoom like the 18-135 or Tammy 28-75 is surely more adaptable.

cali92rs · 10-02-2014, 07:42 AM

Originally posted by clackers

That philosophy reverses what most people actually want out of their vacation pics, IMHO, Cali - diverse coverage of diverse subjects.

The 35 is really good for 'medium' scenes, but not the wide range of opportunities that present themselves - close up, wide or long (often fleetingly) - on a holiday, especially when you can't zoom with your feet.

If it's one lens, a zoom like the 18-135 or Tammy 28-75 is surely more adaptable.

He asked the question:

How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation.

I answered him...you focus on what you can get and disregard what you can't. Plenty of people do that. My great grandfather travelled accross America on his motorcycle with a fixed lens Brownie.
THat type of "selective" photography on vacation doesn't suit some people and that's fine, I wasn't trying to convert him one way or another.

09-30-2014, 02:28 PM	#66
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	Ideal kit Based on the frequency of usage of lens I actually own, primarily with K-7 and K-5II, my ideal kit (in order of focal length) is: Sigma 30 1.4 (Sigma 30 is a stand-in for FA 31 which is on the aspiration list) FA 42 Canon FL 55, f 1.2 (converted to K mount) FA 77 I am not much of one for zoomy type lens, but the Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 is useful at times, as is the Pentax 24-90

10-01-2014, 01:53 PM	#70
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by lesmore49 is a fast lens...say F 1.8 to F 2.8....really as important as it once was ? Yes! Yes it is as important unless you want to shoot at ISOs greater than 6400. I was shoothing at a wedding this past weekend (not as the photographer, as a guest), and I was routinely shooting at 6400 and even that was underexposed and prone to motion blur because I couldn't keep my shutter speed high. If all you shoot is outdoors, then no, it probably isn't as important. But with APS, that do not perform as well as FF in low light, fast lenses are more crucial. Last edited by cali92rs; 10-01-2014 at 02:05 PM.

10-01-2014, 10:46 PM	#74
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by cali92rs Go out with a single prime lens and accept the fact that if you have your 21mm mounted you're going to not get the shot of the bird in the tree. But you will begin to look for subjects that fit your focal length. That philosophy reverses what most people actually want out of their vacation pics, IMHO, Cali - diverse coverage of diverse subjects. The 35 is really good for 'medium' scenes, but not the wide range of opportunities that present themselves - close up, wide or long (often fleetingly) - on a holiday, especially when you can't zoom with your feet. If it's one lens, a zoom like the 18-135 or Tammy 28-75 is surely more adaptable. Last edited by clackers; 10-02-2014 at 03:05 AM.

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09-30-2014, 02:41 AM	#61
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by adpo Its kind of sad to see every other camera maker putting out bodies with at least decent, if not great video capability ?? Fuji!

09-30-2014, 08:00 AM	#62
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by clackers ?? Fuji! Ditto Nikon

09-30-2014, 08:04 AM	#63
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by cali92rs Ditto Nikon Yes, apparently!

09-30-2014, 02:05 PM	#64
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	I think my ideal lens setup for Pentax APS-C would be: Samyang 16mm f2 Pentax-FA 31mm Limited Pentax-FA 77mm Limited My ideal setup for ANY camera system would be a Pentax 67II with 105 2.4, 90 2.8, 165mm f4 Leaf Shutter, 45mm f4 and 300mm f4. Film and development costs make that setup prohibitive for me for now (and mostly because the wife would never agree to it...) But I do love that Pentax 67 look... to me medium and large format, it's what photography is all about. Recently I went to Portugal and I was relatively happy with this cheap setup for my K20D: Tokina 19-35 3.5-4.5 SMC Pentax DA 35 2.4 Rikenon XR 50 1.7 SMC Pentax-A 70-210 f4 Macro. The last one got used for maybe 5 shots... all the others were used a lot. It's incredible what a 200 dollar camera and less than 350 dollars worth of lenses can get you these days!

09-30-2014, 02:18 PM	#65
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Think I'm with Lowell here, manual primes and AF zooms fit me well (at least for this month ). I leave wider gaps than most but going manual keeps 24, 28, and 30mm in play. I now have two oddball manual zooms, a jcpenney 80-200 f3.5 to keep the f2.8 types away, and an old Sigma 21-35 is coming soon to show its stuff. Other than speeding up AF on the 55-300 I'm fine.

09-30-2014, 02:43 PM	#67
Trawlerman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hull, Yorkshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 210	I just changed camera's from a K10d to a K30 with a K-x for backup. I also took the opportunity to rethink my lenses. This is what I have now: 18-135 WR (Main walkaround lens) 16-45 55-300 Sigma 10-20 DA35/2/4 DA40 Limited (for K-x) DA50/1.8 M85/2 I could most likely cut that down further but i'm happy to carry those.

09-30-2014, 03:05 PM	#68
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,327	The OP asks: "What's your dream lens kit like?" My response is that it depends on what your photographic interest happens to be. For me, my prime interest is photographing vintage vehicles. The lenses I use are my 12-24, 21 Limited, 10-17 Fish eye @ 17mm, 70mm Limited, 40 mm Limited.. Wildlife photography....but not at a zoo, but in the great outdoors. My 55-300 and my Sigma 150-500, 50mm Macro F 2.8. Events- indoor/outdoor. My 16-45, 18-135, 50 F 1.4 and 70mm Limited, F.2.4 and 360 flash. My walk around lenses ? My 18-135 and my 55-300, mounted on different bodies. So in answer to the OP's question....different horses for different courses. As far as having more fast lenses in the Pentax line. At one time yes, I would agree. But with modern camera bodies coming out, with higher ISO and better resolution all the time...is a fast lens...say F 1.8 to F 2.8....really as important as it once was ? I don't think so. BTW, you can get pretty good bokeh at F 4.

09-30-2014, 06:06 PM	#69
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by ChristianRock I think my ideal lens setup for Pentax APS-C would be: Samyang 16mm f2 Pentax-FA 31mm Limited Pentax-FA 77mm Limited Nice.

10-01-2014, 05:23 PM	#71
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,029	Originally posted by Trawlerman I just changed camera's from a K10d to a K30 with a K-x for backup. I also took the opportunity to rethink my lenses. This is what I have now: 18-135 WR (Main walkaround lens) 16-45 55-300 Sigma 10-20 DA35/2/4 DA40 Limited (for K-x) DA50/1.8 M85/2 I have a very similar kit as you. K-30 w/ a K-x backup. The 18-135 is on the K-30 most of the time, and if I'm going light, I'll bring another lens along depending on the setting. (DA 21 or DA 35 f2.4 or DA 50 f1.8 or DAL 55-300) If I'm wanting a full kit, I bring along the K-x with the Sigma 10-20 on it, the 55-300 and one of the DA lenses. Here's my question to you, Trawlerman: How do you use the 16-45? I've wanted something wider than the 18-135, and the Sigma 10-20 is fine, but it's rather large. The 16-45 gets you a bit wider, but it mostly overlaps w/ the 18-135. Ideally, I think I'd want a DA 15, but that's not in the budget for now. So, do you mainly use that 16-45 for that very wide end? It will be interesting to know more about the promised Pentax 16-85, but I'm suspecting that will be rather expensive too. Thanks.

10-01-2014, 08:49 PM	#72
GlennG Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 824	Originally posted by HSV One time I made a point in traveling only with Limiteds...ended up traveling with the DA21, 40 and 70, which more or less conforms to "monochrome's law". I would really like to know how that worked out for you. Of those, I have only the 40 - love it, great IQ, but when I find I can't zoom and don't have time to change. How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation. Given that I am "forced" into a zoom lifestyle, I've considered this model ideal in ff land; Canon 24-105 and 70-200/4.0 But I don't have nor want ff, so converting to Pentax range I should want 17-70 and 50-135. I have the 17-70 and aspire to the 50-135. And yet, I'm thinking that even for a zoom, something can be better than the 17-70 and that if I had the 50-135, I would really want the 60-250 instead. So for APS-C I don't seem to be able to exactly duplicate the ideal ff equivalent. ---------- Post added Oct 1st, 2014 at 10:50 PM ---------- Originally posted by GlennG when I find I can't zoom Sorry, that should read "......when I travel I find I can't zoom...."

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10-01-2014, 10:32 PM	#73
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by GlennG I would really like to know how that worked out for you. Of those, I have only the 40 - love it, great IQ, but when I find I can't zoom and don't have time to change. How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation. Given that I am "forced" into a zoom lifestyle, I've considered this model ideal in ff land; Canon 24-105 and 70-200/4.0 But I don't have nor want ff, so converting to Pentax range I should want 17-70 and 50-135. I have the 17-70 and aspire to the 50-135. And yet, I'm thinking that even for a zoom, something can be better than the 17-70 and that if I had the 50-135, I would really want the 60-250 instead. So for APS-C I don't seem to be able to exactly duplicate the ideal ff equivalent. ---------- Post added Oct 1st, 2014 at 10:50 PM ---------- Sorry, that should read "......when I travel I find I can't zoom...." In my opinion the way to not hold up your family by swapping lenses is to simply not do it. Go out with a single prime lens and accept the fact that if you have your 21mm mounted you're going to not get the shot of the bird in the tree. But you will begin to look for subjects that fit your focal length. I am constantly surprised how little i miss zooms when i have my 35mm mounted. Of course some folks like longer or shorter focal lengths . It is all dependent on what you feel comfortable with.

10-02-2014, 07:42 AM	#75
cali92rs Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 3,354	Originally posted by clackers That philosophy reverses what most people actually want out of their vacation pics, IMHO, Cali - diverse coverage of diverse subjects. The 35 is really good for 'medium' scenes, but not the wide range of opportunities that present themselves - close up, wide or long (often fleetingly) - on a holiday, especially when you can't zoom with your feet. If it's one lens, a zoom like the 18-135 or Tammy 28-75 is surely more adaptable. He asked the question: How (well) did you manage that? I am jealous of all of you that can just use primes - I still don't understand how you make that happen with an impatient family on a vacation. I answered him...you focus on what you can get and disregard what you can't. Plenty of people do that. My great grandfather travelled accross America on his motorcycle with a fixed lens Brownie. THat type of "selective" photography on vacation doesn't suit some people and that's fine, I wasn't trying to convert him one way or another.