Pentax K-X: We're finally outgrowing the kit lens

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 10:00 AM

We took a 3 week, 7500 mile road trip across much of the US this past summer, and took about 4,000 photos. Halfway through, the 18-55 kit lens really started showing its limitations, and i took this as a sign to upgrade my newly wedded wife in terms of lenses.

Budget is $350-$400, and i was set on getting the Sigma 50mm 1.4 due to the overwhelming positive reviews, figured it'd be a nice high quality prime lens that she would probably keep forever.

THEN, Black Friday deals showed up, and now i'm thinking of getting the DA 35mm AND the DA 50mm 1.8 for the same total price.

Any burning reason to ignore the deals and go with the Sigma at this point?

Bear with me, we're both still what i'd consider "pretty new" at this.

Primes4ever · 12-02-2013, 10:26 AM

No brainer, get the two DA primes, gives you a nice normal(35) and a good 50.

**mattb123** · 12-02-2013, 10:26 AM

I was just eyeing the same two lenses. For the money I don't think you could do better and unless you have very specific needs it's unlikely the difference in the two 50mm lenses will matter to you.
In short, go for it!

dansamy · 12-02-2013, 10:30 AM

I splurged too! The K-x is going to my daughter. I have a new k-5ii on the way with a 50mm DA. I also just bought the 35mm DA. YAY!

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 10:45 AM

Well, that certainly made that decision pretty easy.

Thanks, everyone!

Na Horuk · 12-02-2013, 10:46 AM

Maybe you can even find a deal on the Pentax FA 50mm f1.4 if you really want f1.4. But those DA primes will get you great quality and some versatility, with great low light performance. And they are much more compact than the Sigma, with a more common filter thread size if I remember right. I doubt you would regret getting two Pentax primes

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 10:49 AM

I don't know that i know enough to really have a burning need for f1.4.

**rbefly** · 12-02-2013, 10:55 AM

Hello concealer404,
Well, as the happy owner of both the 'plastic fantastic' DA's, it would be easy to say SURE THING!, they're both great values.
However, there's something you might do, first.
Whip through those 4,000 photos and take note of how many of your favorites were zoomed to (around) 35mm and 50mm.
What if, say, a whole bunch of really great ones were shot at 20-24mm?
As much as I love my DA 35mmf/2.4AL, on APS-C (cropped format) it's really a 52mm, by no means a 'wide angle' lens. If a majority of your keepers are between 18mm and 30mm, the 35mm isn't going to get much use. You'll be back to the kit zoom and unhappy.
Everyone has 'favorite' focal lengths, the lenses that reflect their particular view. For some it's ultra wide, for others it's 35mm, 50mm. 70mm, you get the idea.
Since you had complete freedom to zoom the kit lens wherever it seemed 'right', that's how you saw various scenes in your mind. Find a couple of fast prime lenses that match that viewpoint. It may turn out to be the 35mm and 50mm, but you won't know until you check.
There's complete info recorded for each shot (called EXIF), and any processing program will show it. Gimp, Fasstone, Picasa are free, Lightroom is not, but IMO, it's the best.
JMO,
Ron

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 10:57 AM

We have Lightroom.... 4 i think? I'll go back and check the exif and see what we used a lot.

Great advice, thank you!

Na Horuk · 12-02-2013, 11:00 AM - **1 Like**

rbefly made a good point there. It might be wise to look at which focal lengths you use (or miss!) the most and get the prime in that range. The only problem is that Pentax right now doesn't make a lot of affordable lenses wider than 35mm. The 35mm is still noticeably wider than the 50mm and is good for all-round photography. Lots of people buy it as their first prime. It was the first prime I got for my Pentax DSLR and I took it on many hikes/travels

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-02-2013, 11:01 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by concealer404

I took this as a sign to upgrade my newly wedded wife...

Give her a chance!

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 11:02 AM

The good news is that after many many years of modifying cars, i've found out the hard way that sometimes it's really worth paying the money for a great piece/part if you will really benefit it.

What i'm trying to do right now is just get her up and running on some decent lenses, then if i have to start spending $500-$1000 a lens every once in a while over the years, i'm not against that. I'm a little intrigued by some of the 18mm lenses out there.

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

Give her a chance!

I need a wife that will take awesome pictures in all situations with the kit lens!!

**TER-OR** · 12-02-2013, 11:05 AM

The only thing you're missing is reach - but if you don't do much long-ranged photography, it's nothing to worry about.

concealer404 · 12-02-2013, 11:12 AM

Reach will probably be something i address for her birthday, which is.... a whopping 3.5 weeks after Christmas. o_O

Was eyeing the 18-135mm or one of the 55-300s, so i'm sure i'll need input on those as well.

12-02-2013, 10:00 AM	#1
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89	Pentax K-X: We're finally outgrowing the kit lens We took a 3 week, 7500 mile road trip across much of the US this past summer, and took about 4,000 photos. Halfway through, the 18-55 kit lens really started showing its limitations, and i took this as a sign to upgrade my newly wedded wife in terms of lenses. Budget is $350-$400, and i was set on getting the Sigma 50mm 1.4 due to the overwhelming positive reviews, figured it'd be a nice high quality prime lens that she would probably keep forever. THEN, Black Friday deals showed up, and now i'm thinking of getting the DA 35mm AND the DA 50mm 1.8 for the same total price. Any burning reason to ignore the deals and go with the Sigma at this point? Bear with me, we're both still what i'd consider "pretty new" at this.

12-02-2013, 10:55 AM	#8
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030	What If? Hello concealer404, Well, as the happy owner of both the 'plastic fantastic' DA's, it would be easy to say SURE THING!, they're both great values. However, there's something you might do, first. Whip through those 4,000 photos and take note of how many of your favorites were zoomed to (around) 35mm and 50mm. What if, say, a whole bunch of really great ones were shot at 20-24mm? As much as I love my DA 35mmf/2.4AL, on APS-C (cropped format) it's really a 52mm, by no means a 'wide angle' lens. If a majority of your keepers are between 18mm and 30mm, the 35mm isn't going to get much use. You'll be back to the kit zoom and unhappy. Everyone has 'favorite' focal lengths, the lenses that reflect their particular view. For some it's ultra wide, for others it's 35mm, 50mm. 70mm, you get the idea. Since you had complete freedom to zoom the kit lens wherever it seemed 'right', that's how you saw various scenes in your mind. Find a couple of fast prime lenses that match that viewpoint. It may turn out to be the 35mm and 50mm, but you won't know until you check. There's complete info recorded for each shot (called EXIF), and any processing program will show it. Gimp, Fasstone, Picasa are free, Lightroom is not, but IMO, it's the best. JMO, Ron

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12-02-2013, 10:26 AM	#2
Primes4ever Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 179	No brainer, get the two DA primes, gives you a nice normal(35) and a good 50.

12-02-2013, 10:26 AM	#3
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,873	I was just eyeing the same two lenses. For the money I don't think you could do better and unless you have very specific needs it's unlikely the difference in the two 50mm lenses will matter to you. In short, go for it!

12-02-2013, 10:30 AM	#4
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450	I splurged too! The K-x is going to my daughter. I have a new k-5ii on the way with a 50mm DA. I also just bought the 35mm DA. YAY!

12-02-2013, 10:45 AM	#5
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	Well, that certainly made that decision pretty easy. Thanks, everyone!

12-02-2013, 10:46 AM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Maybe you can even find a deal on the Pentax FA 50mm f1.4 if you really want f1.4. But those DA primes will get you great quality and some versatility, with great low light performance. And they are much more compact than the Sigma, with a more common filter thread size if I remember right. I doubt you would regret getting two Pentax primes

12-02-2013, 10:49 AM	#7
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	I don't know that i know enough to really have a burning need for f1.4.

12-02-2013, 10:57 AM	#9
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	We have Lightroom.... 4 i think? I'll go back and check the exif and see what we used a lot. Great advice, thank you!

12-02-2013, 11:00 AM - 1 Like	#10
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	rbefly made a good point there. It might be wise to look at which focal lengths you use (or miss!) the most and get the prime in that range. The only problem is that Pentax right now doesn't make a lot of affordable lenses wider than 35mm. The 35mm is still noticeably wider than the 50mm and is good for all-round photography. Lots of people buy it as their first prime. It was the first prime I got for my Pentax DSLR and I took it on many hikes/travels

12-02-2013, 11:01 AM - 1 Like	#11
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by concealer404 I took this as a sign to upgrade my newly wedded wife... Give her a chance!

12-02-2013, 11:02 AM	#12
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	The good news is that after many many years of modifying cars, i've found out the hard way that sometimes it's really worth paying the money for a great piece/part if you will really benefit it. What i'm trying to do right now is just get her up and running on some decent lenses, then if i have to start spending $500-$1000 a lens every once in a while over the years, i'm not against that. I'm a little intrigued by some of the 18mm lenses out there.

12-02-2013, 11:04 AM	#13
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave Give her a chance! I need a wife that will take awesome pictures in all situations with the kit lens!!

12-02-2013, 11:05 AM	#14
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	The only thing you're missing is reach - but if you don't do much long-ranged photography, it's nothing to worry about.

12-02-2013, 11:12 AM	#15
concealer404 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 89 Original Poster	Reach will probably be something i address for her birthday, which is.... a whopping 3.5 weeks after Christmas. o_O Was eyeing the 18-135mm or one of the 55-300s, so i'm sure i'll need input on those as well.