Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
06-21-2013, 06:58 AM - 5 Likes   #1
Veteran Member
K McCall's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 808
Some DA* 50-135 Love

I'm sure that there are countless threads where I've touted the benefits of shooting with primes, but I'm slowly starting to come around to the joys of shooting with the DA* 50-135. I'm living in New York City and almost always have my 18-month-old daughter in tow (either in a stroller or in a carrier). I've learned that it's easier to throw my K30 with the DA* 50-135 attached into the diaper bag than it is to deal with a diaper bag and a camera bag filled with various primes (I'd love to find a diaper bag-camera bag combo!). It doesn't exactly replace my workhorse, the D-FA 100mm macro, but since I don't often shoot at 1:1, it can sometimes come close enough. And while I love shooting portraiture with the FA 77, I would have missed one of my favorite shots of the winter without a weatherproof lens. It's sharp enough wide-open that if I forget to change my settings because someone is trying to shove goldfish down my shirt, then I still get a serviceable shot at f/2.8. And then, you know, IT ZOOMS. So I don't have to stand in the middle of traffic while carrying my toddler to frame the shot I want.

Some examples:

Oakleaf Hydrangea


A building on Park Avenue


Lamplight


Father and Daughter


All images post-processed in Lightroom.

06-21-2013, 07:02 AM   #2
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Gladys, Virginia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 27,603
Beautiful shots, Keitha and good to see you posting here again. I, too, love the 50-135. Nice and sharp at f2.8 and really sharp at f4. Beautfiul colors and comfortable size.

My wife rented a Sigma 70-200 for a wedding awhile back and while it was sharp, it was way too heavy to consider as a "walk-around" lens.
06-21-2013, 07:06 AM - 1 Like   #3
Pentaxian
Driline's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,669
I'm a believer too. What a fun lens to use.

06-21-2013, 07:14 AM   #4
Veteran Member
8540tomg's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Waterloo, Ontario
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,461
Great shots Keitha,

Good to see you posting again. I remember a few years ago whenever I saw an image I liked it seemed to be one of yours.

I imagine you could get good results with a coke bottle but you really make that zoom sing.

Tom G

06-21-2013, 07:39 AM   #5
Closed Account
enoxatnep's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: The edge of nowhere, Alberta, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 467
Oddly enough, I've grown to enjoy this lens for shooting landscapes. The whole wide-angle thing (especially extreme) has become too cliche for me and so the 50-135 allows me to capture cropped snippets of a landscape that can tell more of a story about it to me than often a wide-angle shot can. Thanks for re-inspiring me with this story!
06-21-2013, 07:52 AM   #6
Pentaxian
Driline's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,669
QuoteOriginally posted by enoxatnep Quote
Oddly enough, I've grown to enjoy this lens for shooting landscapes
I know what you mean. I'm finding I really like the longer focal length. I was holding out for a DA 21 for wider shots, but I prefer cropped snippets as well.
06-21-2013, 07:52 AM   #7
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
blackcloudbrew's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Cotati, California USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,460
There is a lot to love with the DA*50-135. I love the range of lengths with it and while primes are nice, this one delivers.

However, I shudder to think about possible mistakes I could make with a combined diaper/camera bag...

06-21-2013, 10:54 AM   #8
Veteran Member
K McCall's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Dallas, TX
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 808
Original Poster
@Rondec: Thanks! I always liked this lens but never considered it to be the ONE I'd grab, mostly because of its size, but it's definitely manageable, especially without the hood. I've never seen the Sigma, but I think the DA* 50-135 is the max I'd like to carry on a regular basis.

@Driline: What a beautiful lily! I also tried my hand at this flower yesterday, but you had considerably more success

@Tom G: It's nice to know I'm remembered! I'm finally finding the time to get out again and put my lenses to work. The K30 is partly responsible too

@Dave: I'll be the first to admit that I've been a little overwhelmed with subject matter in New York. I almost always take my 12-24 with me when I go out, but more and more I'm enjoying those tighter shots myself. I'm still going to take the 12-24 though, just in case!

QuoteOriginally posted by blackcloudbrew Quote
There is a lot to love with the DA*50-135. I love the range of lengths with it and while primes are nice, this one delivers.

However, I shudder to think about possible mistakes I could make with a combined diaper/camera bag...
Ha! I like to think that the diapers provide free cushioning. Now if only the diaper wipes could double as lens wipes
06-21-2013, 11:05 AM   #9
RpM
Forum Member




Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: United States
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 58
Hi Keitha,

Those are amazing shots I have also seen and admired on Flickr as well. Yeah NYC can be a little bit of a pain when it comes to carrying things around, I still haven't mastered it yet and its been 6 years (and thats without a child). I've actually been on the fence about that lens. I have the 77 but find I've used it all of two times. Its definitely a beautiful lens, but I don't have a weatherproof lens and have really been wanting one as of late. How do you find the two compare? I know the 77 is faster, just curious if you would find you would miss the 77 if you only had the 50-135??. I've been considering selling the 77 to fund the 50-135. It's nice to get actual user feedback rather than just google pictures with the two. Thanks!

Rick
06-21-2013, 11:23 AM   #10
Veteran Member
psychdoc's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Bham
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 949
Nice shots.

The Pentax 50-135 is my favorite lens and when used without a hood is relatively small.
06-21-2013, 12:29 PM   #11
Junior Member




Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 25
I also really love my 50-135. It's amazing (on my K7).
06-21-2013, 01:39 PM   #12
Veteran Member
EarlVonTapia's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,207
Great thread. The DA* 50-135 is, to me, one of the best DA lenses, and possibly one of the best Pentax zooms PERIOD.

Exquisite sharpness wide open at all focal lengths in a very reasonably sized (weather sealed!) package. No one else makes anything like it.

I recently went hiking with it. That outrageously long hood was so great at keeping my front element clear of dew and rain drops.

QuoteOriginally posted by enoxatnep Quote
Oddly enough, I've grown to enjoy this lens for shooting landscapes. The whole wide-angle thing (especially extreme) has become too cliche for me and so the 50-135 allows me to capture cropped snippets of a landscape that can tell more of a story about it to me than often a wide-angle shot can. Thanks for re-inspiring me with this story!
Agree completely!


06-21-2013, 01:57 PM   #13
Pentaxian
mikeSF's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Bay Area, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 6,611
great set, Keitha!
06-21-2013, 02:22 PM - 2 Likes   #14
Senior Member




Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Surfside,FL
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 155
Great shots! Agreed also love the 50-135!




06-21-2013, 04:08 PM   #15
Veteran Member
carrrlangas's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Joensuu (Finland)
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,761
Wow! I love the texture on the 3rd one, "Lamplight". Also, the lamp has a 3d effect going on, looks like coming out of the picture. Congratulations!
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
bag, da*, daughter, diaper, k-mount, love, pentax lens, primes, shot, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Pentax 18-135 DA WR, 50-135 f2.8 DA* biphers Sold Items 14 12-16-2012 09:01 PM
Move from 18-135 to 16-50 + 50-135 DA* Lenses brosen Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 34 11-08-2011 05:11 PM
pentax da* 50-135 or some primes ? studiocrocevia Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 13 11-28-2008 08:55 PM
Some DA*50-135 images # 2 SCGushue Post Your Photos! 6 09-10-2007 05:58 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:07 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top