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04-11-2008, 02:17 PM   #31
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We use almost all of them!

Here is a list of lenses, and when and by whom they are used.

My list:
  1. DA 12-24 f/4 - It alternates with the 16-50 for walk around.
  2. DA* 16-50 f/2.8 - A great walk around lens at any time of day or night.
  3. DA* 50-135 f/2.8 - With this lens and the K10D I have the lens I drooled over, equivalently: the 70-200 f/2.8.
  4. M 100 f/4 Macro - Love this lens. Flowers and bugs watch out! Half again the reach on digital, and how about a 170mm macro using the 1.7X?
  5. M 400 f/5.6 - My bird lens. Now I don't need the 1.4X as much. The 1.7X is worth trying on this lens - but might multiply the CA too much. Something else to test.
  6. A 70-210 f/4 - Moving up in the use list, particularly with the 1.7X AF converter, as a park walk around wildlife snapper.
  • FA 24-90 - my wife's walk around on the MZ-S. Light, fast enough and good image quality.
  • FA 28-80 - a good kit lens, retired to backup status on the SF-1.


04-11-2008, 02:49 PM   #32
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Wow, that's a lot of replies! Thank you all guys!

I find it quite hard to summarize your comments ...

Some things one could conclude are
- The Pentax community is really cool and helpful
- There are some primes-only kind of people, but most of you use mainly zooms and a few primes for special purposes
- A high quality medium tele zoom seems to be most attractive (like 50-135 or Sigma 50-150, someday), more than I expected Seems like this does really make sense for walking around - distant subjects (birds, animals, kids) tend not to wait until you have changed your lens. A wide angle landscape subject can easily wait
- Some of you do own/use an ultra wide angle lens (<14mm), but most seem to use 16mm as their widest.
- Some use relatively affordable tele lenses (e.g. Tamron 70-300), while using very high quality glass in the medium range. Not sure, whether I should go for this lens, though. A crop from a high quality 135mm lens will presumably be almost on par with the resolution of an affordable 300mm lens. What do you think?
- Virtually nobody uses a cheap wide angle or standard zoom (I wouldn't, either)
- I have to make sure to have €€€€ ready to spend before I start
04-11-2008, 05:08 PM   #33
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QuoteOriginally posted by Noisychip Quote
- I have to make sure to have €€€€ ready to spend before I start
Welcome to the wonderful world of LBA!
04-11-2008, 08:34 PM   #34
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QuoteOriginally posted by moxfyre Quote
Really, the only thing I wish I had was a faster standard zoom. I've been lusting after the Sigma 17-70/2.8-4, the Tamron 17-50/2.8, or the Tamron 28-75/2.8. Can't really decide which one... do I really need that extra stop at the long end, or would I rather have the wide angle?
Just in case you're not already aware, there is a freeware program called ExposurePlot that's really good at helping you determine which focal lengths you shoot with the most. I would suggest that you download it and start tracking the focal lengths you use the most over a set period of time. If it seems that you're using the wider end, then go for Tamron 17-50 or Sigma 17-70. If you're using the tele-end more, then go for the Tamron 28-75 or Sigma 17-70.

You notice that I mentioned the 17-70 both times. I have it and it's such a versatile lens in focal length and it has a good semi-macro (1:2.3) feature, as well. With that said, I still may wind up trading mine for a 28-75, as it has such an amazing IQ (some people think it's IQ is comparable to primes), but I would also want a wider lens for those times I need something a little wider--I'm thinking the DA 21 would work for that.

Since you (and I) are on a budget, the 17-70 is the best deal going, hands-down. Gently used, you can pick one of these up for around $300. The 28-75 can also be found for about $300 gently used, as well, but if you want another wider lens, then it'll cost you more money (at least several hundred $$$ more).

HTH,
Heather

04-11-2008, 09:11 PM   #35
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The two lenses I use the most are the DA 16-45 and the F 35-70. My DA 16-45 is sharp and I like the extra 2mm of wide angle compared to the typical 18-whatever lenses on the market. When I travel the 16-45 is on my K100D 90% of the time. For a walk around lens, I like the F 35-70 macro. The limited zoom range forces me to be more creative in my shots, I also like have the macro function for close focus opportunities.

The other lenses listed in my signature are used only for special occasions, but they are still fun to use every once in a while.
04-12-2008, 12:58 AM   #36
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I use my Sigma 17-70 99% of the time and my M50/1.7 the other 1%.
When I get a Sigma 10-20 I think I'll probably use it around 50% of the time.
04-12-2008, 01:07 AM   #37
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Believe it or not. All my lenses are used frequently and they all receive equal attention except DFA 100 macro

04-12-2008, 07:31 AM   #38
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I pretty much only use my FA 50mm 1.4 and my Pentax DA 18-250mm. I have some manual lenses that I hang on to to play with now and then, but for everyday use those 2 lenses cover everything I need.
04-12-2008, 07:59 AM   #39
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Well, I don't have the largest selection yet, but I'll tell ya anyway
I use the 50-135 most often as that range just suits my style, and i'd say it's the best glass I have right now. If I ever use my kit it's set to either 30mm or 18mm about 95% of the time, pretty sure I'm gonna pick up 2 primes to cover that, maybe the new 35 limited or the upcoming DA* 30 .... *drool* ahem, yes, and I just got the Tamron 90mm Macro, which is loads of fun, and one of the focal lengths I use most often on my DA*, so I've been going out and about with only this lense since I bought it a few weeks ago.

I agree with the general thoughts here though. If you know you use 50-135mm the most, save up and buy that DA*. No sense in buying something else and just wishing you had the nicer lense. You'll probably buy it eventually and it'll just cost more that way. At the same time though, if you only use the telephoto end every so often, buy a budget zoom like the tamron or sigma 70-300, and throw your money into the range you use the most and want more quality from. A final note: Think about where you will use your lenses. I do a lot of backpacking and climbing and the like, so things tend to get crunched, smashed, frozen, dropped thousands of feet, etc. That being said, I bought the DA* cause it's weather sealed, but I also bought a used FA zoom to bring climbing, cause if it breaks, not much money lost. And a point and shoot for when chances of camera death are high

Points to anyone who read all that.
04-12-2008, 08:14 AM   #40
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It depends on what I'm shooting. I mostly shoot either wide or close. In those cases I generally use my zenitar 16mm FE, the Pentax DA 12-24mm, or the Tamron 90mm macro. If I'm shooting flower portraits I use either the Pentax SMC 50mm 1.2, or the FA 77mm ltd, or the above mentioned Tamron. Where I need more reach I use my Pentax SMC 135 F2.5. If I'm out to "see what I can see" I'll most likely have the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 on my camera, or maybe the 18-55 kit lens. Indoor flower shows I use the Sigma 24mm F1.8 and I've just gotten the Pentax FA 20mm F2.8 and the FA 20-35 for that and architectural and landscape use also. I've also got the Pentax A 70-210 and the Pentax SMC 300 F4.0 for telephoto work.
But the two tele's don't see as much use,

NaCl(LBA denial is a Good Thing )H2O
04-15-2008, 08:06 AM   #41
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My kit and what gets used...

whats in my bag:

K100D (spare batts, 2x4GB cards)
Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye
M28/3.5 or M35/2.8 or Vivitar 28/2
FA50/1.4
M135/3.5
M200/4

at home and around 80% + is FA50/1.4 sometimes its a little tight, but I just cant replace it with anything I like better.... it always finds its way back.

at an outdoor event, maybe the 135 or the 200 depending ... is it little league or soccer or....

I want something fast for indoor basketball the 28-75/2.8 would be desirable...


-k
04-15-2008, 11:42 AM   #42
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For my kit as of late.. (and I use the Pentax Slingbag... love it!)

I'm usually running around with:

K10D w/ grip & 50-135mm mounted
DA*16-50 and DA12-24 in the lower compartment
Spare batteries, and AF540FGZ Flash in the top compartment

On rare occasions, I'll with the DA* 16-50 mounted on the body, leave the 12-24, 50-135 at home and bring along the 70-200 f2.8 (which also fits perfectly in the bottom compartment.)
04-17-2008, 08:46 AM   #43
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Current have my Sigma 28-70 on at the moment and enjoying it (when i can get a chance to).
But i do switch around regularly.
I haven't used my 75-300 in a while .... but I am looking forward to attaching my newly acquired TC and then the 75-300 along with tripod this weekend to see what it can do.
04-17-2008, 02:01 PM   #44
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i shelled out the extra in the begining for the da* 16-50 and told my self to crop what you dont need in the event of being to far.
i remember years ago when Ernst Haas was asked about what he thinks of zoom lenses, he replied - buy a fast good quality prime 50mm lens, if you too close , step back. if you to far ,step closer
a food for thought
Dave
04-17-2008, 04:07 PM   #45
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When i go out with friends at night, 97% of the times i use an FA35/2, the other 3% go for the FA50/1.4

Being my wider lens, the Zenitar 16mm when i want to capture a lot of things.

DA50-200 for longer reach

DA18-55 when i want convenience and have good light (otherwise FA35 & FA50)

M135/3.5 and FA50/1.4 for some concerto photos

all the other bunch of manual lenses i have, are just for fun
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