You have exactly 1000 dollars,a k-30, and a 18-55 WR. What lenses...

spectamaniac · 12-19-2013, 03:10 AM

You have exactly 1000 dollars,a k-30, and a 18-55 WR lens. You love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues, all of it is glorious!
You love to backpack and shoot landscapes. You love street photography, day and night. You love shooting concerts and festivals. The idea of shooting portraits is definitely appealing. The idea of a prime lens IQ is very riveting, but the versatility of an 18-135 is also pretty appealing. You have been shooting for a little over a year with your K-30 and have decided it is time to up your game. You are torn between buying a few 2-300 dollar lenses, or one badass 900 dollar lens. The idea of buying a couple vintage lenses in combination with a nice 7-800 dollar modern lens will work as well.
So I have been researching off and on for quite awhile, and I am getting ready to make a move, I just thought I would get the opinion of some veterans that may have some nice insight into my situation. Thanks!

calsan · 12-19-2013, 03:32 AM

Originally posted by spectamaniac

love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues

= circular polariser!

RobG · 12-19-2013, 03:47 AM

For less than $1K (US I presume) you could get a DA 55-300 and a DA 16-45 or the 55-300 and another lens like the Sigma or Tamron 17-50. I don't know how close you are getting at concerts, but I've used my 55-300 for that. I recently got a Tamron 17-50 but I'm still to be convinced that it's better than the Pentax 16-45. Two of the lenses I've suggested will give you an improvement over the 18-55WR in terms of IQ, and a range of 16-300 in two lenses which are easily portable. You could get the WR version of the 55-300 now and still be in your budget. Neither lens is ideal for portraits IMO however. I'm not sure which $900 lens would be suitable for the purpose you describe. Maybe if you're happy with being limited to a maximum of 55mm with your existing lens, the DA 12-24 would give you bigger landscapes and streetscapes? I have an 18-55WR but I haven't used it.

i83N · 12-19-2013, 03:55 AM

Sigma 18-35mm f1,8 + SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8

ASa · 12-19-2013, 04:33 AM

SMC DA 15 for those lovely wide landscapes, DA35 ltd for vivid colors, landscapes and street shooting, and finally a Samyang/Rokinon 85 for those occasional portraits and nighttime shooting. I'm guessing you might squeeze just under 1k if you get the two first 2nd hand. And what's most important, the whole package is easily backpackable due to it's relatively low overall weight...
That's how I would do it, but then again, I'm a prime guy...

TenZ.NL · 12-19-2013, 04:55 AM

18-135 as walkaroundlense, a DA 15 ltd for serious landscapes and street and some spare change for a DA35 2.4

Be carefull with the limited though...you might get hooked.

ale_guy · 12-19-2013, 05:01 AM

Ok, so you've already got a K-30 and an 18-55mm WR lens. I say you should buy a case you can attach to your backpack straps where you can easily reach it while hiking. Spend the rest on an air ticket to someplace where you want to use it.

carrrlangas · 12-19-2013, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by calsan

Originally posted by spectamaniac
love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues
= circular polariser!

+1000000!

Originally posted by ale_guy

Ok, so you've already got a K-30 and an 18-55mm WR lens. I say you should buy a case you can attach to your backpack straps where you can easily reach it while hiking. Spend the rest on an air ticket to someplace where you want to use it.

+1

but a 24mm or 28mm f/2.8 will be good for landscape (stitching or not) as well as low light and portraits..

Originally posted by TenZ.NL

18-135 as walkaroundlense, a DA 15 ltd for serious landscapes and street and some spare change for a DA35 2.4
Be carefull with the limited though...you might get hooked.

Must admit this sounds good too.

There will be as much suggestins as choices and you won´t know which you prefer and works for you until you try some of them. If the 18-55 is ggod for you (it is for me) then try a prime (28, 35 or 50 are all cheap, good starters, don´t overthink it) or compliment your range with a tele (DAL55-300 rocks) but carry a f/2.8 prime just in case...

Na Horuk · 12-19-2013, 05:23 AM

Samyang 16mm f2.0 (wide angle, street, landscape, astrophotography..) and Pentax DFA 100mm f2.8 (true macro, portraits, tele).
And then maybe a DA 40mm XS if it fits the budget. As a great, sharp, fast AF, everything lens. Or a DA 50mm f1.8 if you need the extra brightness.

sterretje · 12-19-2013, 05:49 AM

Prices from B&H (you might be able to get it cheaper elsewhere). And from your description, you're not interested in tele (like a DA55-300).

If I would only spend it on lenses:
Rokinon 16/2 ($380), DA35/2.4 ($180) and Sigma 70/2.8 macro ($450); $10 over the budget

Lightweight for backpacking? Probably not. Versatile? Absolutely. All three are suitable for landscape photography, the 35mm will make a reasonable general purpose lens (I personally find it a tad too long, hence the 'reasonable') and can be used for full body protraits and the 70mm allows to pull things a bit closer, do head / shoulder portraits and adds macro option.

But my approch would be a tad different:
Up my game with a tripod and a flash first. That will be roughly $350 - $400. Add a FA35/2 ($400) and from the rest buy a decent ND filter or wireless flash triggers.

Always nice to spend other peoples money

bdery · 12-19-2013, 06:08 AM

You keep your 18-55 Wr for backpacking, and add DA21, DA40 (or XS40 or F50 f1,7) and either DA70 or DFA 100 WR. Get them used and you will be within budget.

Imageman · 12-19-2013, 06:24 AM - **2 Likes**

You have a good camera and a good lens already, you don't need anything else.
A good image is made in the mind and executed in the camera.
Upping your game happens in your head and better images flow from that.
Spend the money on studying the work of great photographers and travel to good locations near and far.
Remember good images are all around you.

Primes4ever · 12-19-2013, 06:37 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by bdery

You keep your 18-55 Wr for backpacking, and add DA21, DA40 (or XS40 or F50 f1,7) and either DA70 or DFA 100 WR. Get them used and you will be within budget.

Good advice. The DA Limiteds are very nice IQ, well made and extremely light. They are however like chocolates, it is hard to stop at one.

jimt · 12-19-2013, 07:15 AM

I would echo the thoughts of buying the 15ltd.
Up here in the great white frozen north, I've been able to find the m50 1.7 for $20, a m200 f4 for $50; as well as a number of other M & K lenses for less than a $100.
Look around for some good used K & M mounts to go with the ltd 15, buy a used 55-300 for the reach and spend a couple of hundred on a good tripod (lightweight) as well as a good ballhead.
You should still have enough for a polarizer and ND filter
Be careful of the Ltd lenses, they are the crack cocaine of the Pentax world, and you can't stop at 1.
Have fun

carolina_sky · 12-19-2013, 07:25 AM

I have to agree with sterretje, you will get the biggest improvement by using a tripod. Invest in a decent one, if you need one that can travel, that may set you back $300 or more. And some good quality filters (I like the B+W for circulars). If you do a lot of landscape/outdoor, try an ND filter, a polarizer and maybe a UV filter, that will be another $200-$300 or so. Also get a remote and some extra batteries. If you do a lot of indoor, then I imagine the flash would be pretty significant too (have one which I've only used twice because I don't do much indoor).

With a nod to imageman's comments as well, I guarantee you can spend the next 6 months or more just learning with this equipment. This is exactly the path I went on this year. Feel like I've learned a ton (and still have about 10 tons more to learn). I was pretty happy with what I could do just with the 18-55. I more recently purchased the Pentax 12-24 because I do a lot of cityscapes and landscapes and wanted the wider angle. This is a great lens because it goes wide without a lot of fisheye/distortion but can be really useful at the 24mm end just for a walk around, but it's about $700 new. too bad the Tokina version is not avail in Pentax mount (its made by Tokina) because that is about $300 cheaper.

Start with the tripod and filters and see where that takes you for a few months.

12-19-2013, 03:10 AM	#1
spectamaniac Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 96	You have exactly 1000 dollars,a k-30, and a 18-55 WR. What lenses... You have exactly 1000 dollars,a k-30, and a 18-55 WR lens. You love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues, all of it is glorious! You love to backpack and shoot landscapes. You love street photography, day and night. You love shooting concerts and festivals. The idea of shooting portraits is definitely appealing. The idea of a prime lens IQ is very riveting, but the versatility of an 18-135 is also pretty appealing. You have been shooting for a little over a year with your K-30 and have decided it is time to up your game. You are torn between buying a few 2-300 dollar lenses, or one badass 900 dollar lens. The idea of buying a couple vintage lenses in combination with a nice 7-800 dollar modern lens will work as well. So I have been researching off and on for quite awhile, and I am getting ready to make a move, I just thought I would get the opinion of some veterans that may have some nice insight into my situation. Thanks!

12-19-2013, 05:07 AM	#8
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Originally posted by calsan Originally posted by spectamaniac love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues = circular polariser! +1000000! Originally posted by ale_guy Ok, so you've already got a K-30 and an 18-55mm WR lens. I say you should buy a case you can attach to your backpack straps where you can easily reach it while hiking. Spend the rest on an air ticket to someplace where you want to use it. +1 but a 24mm or 28mm f/2.8 will be good for landscape (stitching or not) as well as low light and portraits.. Originally posted by TenZ.NL 18-135 as walkaroundlense, a DA 15 ltd for serious landscapes and street and some spare change for a DA35 2.4 Be carefull with the limited though...you might get hooked. Must admit this sounds good too. There will be as much suggestins as choices and you won´t know which you prefer and works for you until you try some of them. If the 18-55 is ggod for you (it is for me) then try a prime (28, 35 or 50 are all cheap, good starters, don´t overthink it) or compliment your range with a tele (DAL55-300 rocks) but carry a f/2.8 prime just in case... Last edited by carrrlangas; 12-19-2013 at 05:13 AM.

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12-19-2013, 03:32 AM	#2
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	Originally posted by spectamaniac love seeing beautiful colors in your photos, greens, reds ,blues = circular polariser!

12-19-2013, 03:47 AM	#3
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,902	For less than $1K (US I presume) you could get a DA 55-300 and a DA 16-45 or the 55-300 and another lens like the Sigma or Tamron 17-50. I don't know how close you are getting at concerts, but I've used my 55-300 for that. I recently got a Tamron 17-50 but I'm still to be convinced that it's better than the Pentax 16-45. Two of the lenses I've suggested will give you an improvement over the 18-55WR in terms of IQ, and a range of 16-300 in two lenses which are easily portable. You could get the WR version of the 55-300 now and still be in your budget. Neither lens is ideal for portraits IMO however. I'm not sure which $900 lens would be suitable for the purpose you describe. Maybe if you're happy with being limited to a maximum of 55mm with your existing lens, the DA 12-24 would give you bigger landscapes and streetscapes? I have an 18-55WR but I haven't used it.

12-19-2013, 03:55 AM	#4
i83N Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithuania Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,203	Sigma 18-35mm f1,8 + SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8

12-19-2013, 04:33 AM	#5
ASa Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tampere/Helsinki Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 218	SMC DA 15 for those lovely wide landscapes, DA35 ltd for vivid colors, landscapes and street shooting, and finally a Samyang/Rokinon 85 for those occasional portraits and nighttime shooting. I'm guessing you might squeeze just under 1k if you get the two first 2nd hand. And what's most important, the whole package is easily backpackable due to it's relatively low overall weight... That's how I would do it, but then again, I'm a prime guy...

12-19-2013, 04:55 AM	#6
TenZ.NL Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Below sealevel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,100	18-135 as walkaroundlense, a DA 15 ltd for serious landscapes and street and some spare change for a DA35 2.4 Be carefull with the limited though...you might get hooked.

12-19-2013, 05:01 AM	#7
ale_guy Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 31	Ok, so you've already got a K-30 and an 18-55mm WR lens. I say you should buy a case you can attach to your backpack straps where you can easily reach it while hiking. Spend the rest on an air ticket to someplace where you want to use it.

12-19-2013, 05:23 AM	#9
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Samyang 16mm f2.0 (wide angle, street, landscape, astrophotography..) and Pentax DFA 100mm f2.8 (true macro, portraits, tele). And then maybe a DA 40mm XS if it fits the budget. As a great, sharp, fast AF, everything lens. Or a DA 50mm f1.8 if you need the extra brightness.

12-19-2013, 05:49 AM	#10
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Prices from B&H (you might be able to get it cheaper elsewhere). And from your description, you're not interested in tele (like a DA55-300). If I would only spend it on lenses: Rokinon 16/2 ($380), DA35/2.4 ($180) and Sigma 70/2.8 macro ($450); $10 over the budget Lightweight for backpacking? Probably not. Versatile? Absolutely. All three are suitable for landscape photography, the 35mm will make a reasonable general purpose lens (I personally find it a tad too long, hence the 'reasonable') and can be used for full body protraits and the 70mm allows to pull things a bit closer, do head / shoulder portraits and adds macro option. But my approch would be a tad different: Up my game with a tripod and a flash first. That will be roughly $350 - $400. Add a FA35/2 ($400) and from the rest buy a decent ND filter or wireless flash triggers. Always nice to spend other peoples money

12-19-2013, 06:08 AM	#11
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,362	You keep your 18-55 Wr for backpacking, and add DA21, DA40 (or XS40 or F50 f1,7) and either DA70 or DFA 100 WR. Get them used and you will be within budget.

12-19-2013, 06:24 AM - 2 Likes	#12
Imageman Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 461	You have a good camera and a good lens already, you don't need anything else. A good image is made in the mind and executed in the camera. Upping your game happens in your head and better images flow from that. Spend the money on studying the work of great photographers and travel to good locations near and far. Remember good images are all around you.

12-19-2013, 06:37 AM - 1 Like	#13
Primes4ever Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 179	Originally posted by bdery You keep your 18-55 Wr for backpacking, and add DA21, DA40 (or XS40 or F50 f1,7) and either DA70 or DFA 100 WR. Get them used and you will be within budget. Good advice. The DA Limiteds are very nice IQ, well made and extremely light. They are however like chocolates, it is hard to stop at one.

12-19-2013, 07:15 AM	#14
jimt Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: North of 49, west of 106 Posts: 41	I would echo the thoughts of buying the 15ltd. Up here in the great white frozen north, I've been able to find the m50 1.7 for $20, a m200 f4 for $50; as well as a number of other M & K lenses for less than a $100. Look around for some good used K & M mounts to go with the ltd 15, buy a used 55-300 for the reach and spend a couple of hundred on a good tripod (lightweight) as well as a good ballhead. You should still have enough for a polarizer and ND filter Be careful of the Ltd lenses, they are the crack cocaine of the Pentax world, and you can't stop at 1. Have fun

12-19-2013, 07:25 AM	#15
carolina_sky Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 156	I have to agree with sterretje, you will get the biggest improvement by using a tripod. Invest in a decent one, if you need one that can travel, that may set you back $300 or more. And some good quality filters (I like the B+W for circulars). If you do a lot of landscape/outdoor, try an ND filter, a polarizer and maybe a UV filter, that will be another $200-$300 or so. Also get a remote and some extra batteries. If you do a lot of indoor, then I imagine the flash would be pretty significant too (have one which I've only used twice because I don't do much indoor). With a nod to imageman's comments as well, I guarantee you can spend the next 6 months or more just learning with this equipment. This is exactly the path I went on this year. Feel like I've learned a ton (and still have about 10 tons more to learn). I was pretty happy with what I could do just with the 18-55. I more recently purchased the Pentax 12-24 because I do a lot of cityscapes and landscapes and wanted the wider angle. This is a great lens because it goes wide without a lot of fisheye/distortion but can be really useful at the 24mm end just for a walk around, but it's about $700 new. too bad the Tokina version is not avail in Pentax mount (its made by Tokina) because that is about $300 cheaper. Start with the tripod and filters and see where that takes you for a few months.