[RyanGilbert]

I am in the market for a Prime lens for my K-5, mostly for landscape and portrait. As far as the Limited series goes, which one is the best?

[Adam]

For portraiture, probably this one:

SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

For landscapes, there's a bit more to discuss, but I can recommend the 15mm:

Pentax-DA 15mm F4 Limited Review - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

[TER-OR]

From what I've gathered, those may be difficult to combine in one lens. I think most of the time for landscape you want a wider lens, while for portait you want a bit tighter, so you can be farther from your subject. People usually don't like cameras in their face....

Though maybe for portaits you can use a less expensive option, with A series lenses. An A50mm f1.7 to me would be a good portrait lens, since you can take your time getting your focus just right.

Perhaps another solution is spending on a high quality zoom like the 16-50 might be an option.

[tclausen]

What Adam says, except I would also pitch the 31mm Ltd as a perfect "normal" lens for APS-C.

15mm Ltd, 31mm Ltd, 77mm Ltd - great set to chose from ...

[Kerrowdown]

Welcome to the forum, there are some really cracking primes out there by Pentax, as for the best, now that's a hard one.

As others here have already suggested, IMHO you're going to struggle with just one lens to meet both your portrait and landscape needs. You really need to get "2 best primes", LBA is lurking over there in the corner, I can just see her eyes twinkling.

[Schmidlapper]

The DA15 is indeed a great landscape lens on the K5, but it is not usually used as a portrait lens. To facilitate both of your requested functions from one lens a little compromise by both is necessary. I find the DA35 Ltd to be a very versatile lens and it has served me in both capacities, and it also has macro capability for close focus work. There was a reason all those 35mm SLR cameras came with a 50mm attached, it was a very versatile focal length, the 35mm on apsc falls in at around there. Now the FA77 Ltd is indeed a fine portrait lens as many have pointed out, but so is the DA70 Ltd, but both of these are mid telephoto range, which is what lends them to portraiture work.

[jimr-pdx]

I only have the 40 and 70 and they are uniformly excellent - I fear your choice will be a messy (but not a bad) one!

[scratchpaddy]

People usually don't like cameras in their face....

That's one reason, but I think the main reason a wide angle isn't suited for portrait is the distortion. It's important to remember that zooming is not the same thing as moving the camera closer. The exaggerated perspective makes noses look really big. It's awkward, like this one taken at 13mm:



A "normal" lens is usable for both landscapes and portraits, though. That would be somewhere between 28 and 40mm. It's not the best for either, but it works.

I don't have any Limiteds (yet), but I use a Vivitar 13mm for lanscapes (that's the lens being improperly used above) and either a Pentax A 50 f/1.2 or a Helios 40 (85mm f/1.5) for portraits.

[Driline]

The FA 43 of course. When taken properly its sharp sharp sharp. No I'm not biased

[hcc]

Adam and Tclausen gave you some very good advice:

DA15mm for landscape - See in-depth review at https://www.pentaxforums.com/content/uploads/files/1/464/thumb.jpg (score 8.8/10)

FA31mm as normal lens - See in-depth review Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited Review - Introduction - PentaxForums.com (score 9.3/10)

FA77mm for portrait - See in-depth review DA 70mm vs FA 77mm Limited - Comparison: Introduction - PentaxForums.com (core 9.2/10)

These three lenses are fabulous on their own. The combination is awesome!

If you want one lens only, the FA31mm will be the best compromise on APS-C (i.e Pentax K-5,K-50, K-500). It is wide enough for landscape, yet excellent for portraiture. In addition the IQ is outstanding, possibly the best IQ of any Pentax lens with the FA77mm. In fact the FA31mm scored the highest marks of the PF in-depth reviews and is Highly Recommended by Photozone (Welcome to Photozone!).

Hope that the comments may help.

[interested_observer]

This is a bit over 10 years old, but the article is pleasant reading.

• sm-02-05-02

Then here is an article on the best focal length for portraits - shows image comparisons.

• Effect of Lens Focal Length on Portraits | Les Jones

[demp10]

Any focal length (and lens) can be used for portraits and landscapes; it all depends on what you are trying to do as a photographer.

The best way to find out which focal length is best suited for your typical shooting style (and later find which lenses cover that focal length) is to study the photos you already have and find the ones you really like; then note the focal lengths. Also note what you do not like in your pictures and what you would like to see (e.g. sharper images, shallow DOF, more contrast, etc.). Keep in mind that many "flaws" in images can be corrected in Post Processing with amazing results (assuming that you are shooing in RAW) so a cheap kit lens can actually produce impressive images if used properly.

I assume that you already have the kit lens so you are covered from 18-55. If you find yourself shooting landscapes at the 18mm end then most likely you need a wider lens. If you portraits are all at 55mm then you need a longer lens.

[MSM]

This is a bit over 10 years old, but the article is pleasant reading.

• sm-02-05-02

Classic article and a good read from someone who knows a lot more about lenses then most.

Here is another article written 6 years later by the same author- Mike Johnston

Optical Paragon

[prime.partisan]

The best manual focus (little) money can buy is none other than S-M-C Takumar 28mm f3.5. No, I do not have any evidence to back that up

[lesmore49]

I only have the 40 and 70 and they are uniformly excellent - I fear your choice will be a messy (but not a bad) one!

I have those two lenses as my only Limited Primes and they are very sharp. There seems to be a division of opinion as to whether the 77mm or the 70mm is the best Limited lens in that 'portraiture' category.

I know I wrestled with getting either one, finally decided on the 70.

In the end I don't think you can go wrong with either.

I also really like my 40mm Limited.

Also, although not Limited's....both the 50 F 1.4 normal and the 50 F 2.8 Macro...which I have...are excellent lenses.