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03-06-2008, 02:39 PM   #1
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help with changes to lens lineup

So, I am trying to determine how best to upgrade/update my lens collection. I want to move more toward autofocus; price is an issue; and I want to keep my relatively wide range of coverage. Curious what you folks think of the following plan. First, what I presently have; then what I am thinking of aiming for. Then a bit about my photography.

HAVE NOW:
Zenitar 16mm f2.8 fisheye
Tamron adaptall-2 24mm, f2.5
Pentax-M 28mm f2.8
Pentax-M 35mm f2
Pentax-A 50mm f1.4
Tamron adaptall-2 90mm macro f2.5 (w/1:1 extension tube)
Pentax 100mm-A Bellows lens f4
Pentax-A 35-105mm f3.5
Pentax DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6
Sigma A 50-500mm f4-6.3 (aka Bigma)
Sigma A 70-200mm f2.8
(also have Sigma 1.4x EX AF teleconverter)

TENTATIVE GOAL:
Pentax DA 14mm f2.8
Pentax DA 16-50mm f2.8
Pentax DA 21mm f3.2
Pentax FA 50mm f1.4
Sigma 180mm Macro f3.5
Sigma A 50-500mm f4-6.3 (aka Bigma)
Sigma A 70-200mm f2.8
(Sigma 1.4x EX AF teleconverter)

So, essentially, keep the Sigma zooms and teleconverter, double my macro coverage, and add Pentax autofocus primes and a zoom up to 50mm.

As an amateur (sometimes successfully an advanced amateur), I still make photos of many different kinds of subjects, from macro to portraits to landscapes to birds to events to...

I have a K10D and expect to sell my only other camera, a PZ-1p. So, my lenses' angle of view gets multiplied by 1.5. That Zenitar stops having a 16mm AOV and becomes a not-as-wide 24mm on the K10D. The 14mm would become essentially a 21mm, and the 21mm would become essentially a 32mm, giving me very wide angle and wide angle prime lenses. While the 16-50 zoom is some serious ammunition, I assume the primes are somewhat sharper, and the 14mm would be noticeably wider than the 16mm (again, it becomes a 24mm) at the wide end.

Comments? Foolish? Unnecessary? Bold? Risky? Silly? Naughty?


Last edited by sholtzma; 03-06-2008 at 07:02 PM.
03-06-2008, 02:50 PM   #2
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No need to replace your A with the FA. And if you can find a good copy of 16-50, no need for the 21. 180mm macro migt be overkill unless you really need the longer workign distance. Any new 100ish macro would be more versatile.
03-06-2008, 02:52 PM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by sholtzma Quote
So, I am trying to determine how best to upgrade/update my lens collection. I want to move more toward autofocus; price is an issue; and I want to keep my relatively wide range of coverage. Curious what you folks think of the following plan. First, what I presently have; then what I am thinking of aiming for:

HAVE NOW:
Zenitar 16mm f2.8 fisheye
Tamron adaptall-2 24mm, f2.5
Pentax-M 28mm f2.8
Pentax-M 35mm f2
Pentax-A 50mm f1.4
Tamron adaptall-2 90mm macro f2.5 (w/1:1 extension tube)
Pentax 100mm-A Bellows lens f4
Pentax-A 35-105mm f3.5
Pentax DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6
Sigma A 50-500mm f4-6.3 (aka Bigma)
Sigma A 70-200mm f2.8
(also have Sigma 1.4x EX AF teleconverter)

TENTATIVE GOAL:
Pentax DA 14mm f2.8
Pentax DA 16-50mm f2.8
Pentax DA 21mm f3.2
Pentax FA 50mm f1.4
Sigma 180mm Macro f3.5
Sigma A 50-500mm f4-6.3 (aka Bigma)
Sigma A 70-200mm f2.8
(Sigma 1.4x EX AF teleconverter)

So, essentially, keep the Sigma zooms and teleconverter, double my macro coverage, and add Pentax autofocus primes and a zoom up to 50mm.

Comments? Foolish? Unnecessary? Bold? Risky? Silly? Naughty?

Thanks...
Without knowing much about your shooting style and preferences, it's hard to advise.

But if I were presented with this situation, I'd say forget the 14/2.8...it's not much wider (and no brighter) than the 16-50, and the fisheye will give you extra coverage if you need it. The Zenitar shows a diagonal FOV probably around a 13-14mm rectilinear lens IIRC.

The 21mm is an odd length...no need if you have the zoom, unless size is a serious issue. But I'm a prime guy too...so if it's a length you like, ditch those MF primes and get the AF.

Go for the 50/1.4. Great for portraits.

Go for the 180mm Macro if you do lots of macro work.

Again...too many "if's" which depend on you subject and style...but I love a good lineup thread!!
03-11-2008, 01:19 PM   #4
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Well, now that I am officially scared off of getting a Pentax 16-50, that has forced me to rethink. What do you think about the following approach?

Pentax 12-24mm f4 (or else Sigma's version)
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8
Pentax 21mm
Pentax FA 50mm f1.4

03-11-2008, 05:23 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by sholtzma Quote
Well, now that I am officially scared off of getting a Pentax 16-50, that has forced me to rethink. What do you think about the following approach?
I have heard that the latest 16-50 lenses have been good, it appears that the problem is gone. Just purchase a new one from a local dealer (mail order perhaps) and you can return it if you do get a bad copy.

Or perhaps you should consider the 16-45/4. It has a fantastic reputation, doesn't weigh as much, and costs a lot less too! I definitely like mine.

And about the 14mm: I purchased one used from a good dealer, and was able to return it for a full refund. It may be that there were some bad copies when the lens came out... Or - are they all as soft as mush at f/2.8? Mine was horrible until 5.6, then at f/8-11 fantastic. But, I now have the Sigma 10-20 which is great wide open, and fantastic stopped down a little.
03-11-2008, 07:33 PM   #6
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QuoteQuote:
But, I now have the Sigma 10-20 which is great wide open, and fantastic stopped down a little.

Thanks! With even Ben complaining mightily about his copy (ies) of the 16-50, I am just too chicken to pull the trigger on that one. I have heard that your Sigma is rather sharp, but that distortion control is not the best on it. How do you feel about it? I could go with one of the 12-24mm lenses (Pentax or Sigma)....
03-12-2008, 03:34 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by sholtzma Quote
Thanks! With even Ben complaining mightily about his copy (ies) of the 16-50, I am just too chicken to pull the trigger on that one. I have heard that your Sigma is rather sharp, but that distortion control is not the best on it. How do you feel about it? I could go with one of the 12-24mm lenses (Pentax or Sigma)....
The distortion is minimal in the Sigma. I don't know how it can be corrected better in any other lens in this range. But if you want it perfect, PTLens (available for $15) corrects the photos perfectly!

Compare the Sigma 10-20mm and Pentax 12-24 in Photozone.de, comparing sharpness at the same mm (12 vs 12), flare, CA, fringing, etc. I thought that the extra 2mm made a big difference, considering in this range it is about a 20% difference.

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