Okay, satisfy my LBA. It's my birthday, I have $200, what to buy?

ChopperCharles · 01-20-2014, 11:43 PM

I've got a bad, bad case of LBA. I want something new, K-mount, preferably autofocus, around $150-$200.

I've got:

18-55, 55-300, 40mm XS, F50 1.7, Promaster AF 100mm f3.5 macro, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Phoenix 28-210, F35-70, Tokina 35-70, and a couple more I can't bring to mind at the moment.

I'm thinking about the 35mm f2.whatever, but I could also use something in the 28-105 range, I suppose. Something fast(ish) and sharp. I dunno. I really don't NEED anything. I have everything except uber wide angle covered. But I'm feeling the LBA pretty bad, was gifted a some birthday cash and can think of no better place to spend it than on Pentax glass.

So recommendations are welcome.

Charles.

Heie · 01-21-2014, 12:05 AM

I didn't see it, but how about a nice flash. You wouldn't be able to get a very good P-TTL flash for $200 (at least not a powerful one that isn't discontinued, I don't think), but I have been using 2x Yongnuo YN560 II all-manual flashes, and I must say - they are amazing. $60 each, so even if you get just one, that leaves you enough left over for a cheap light stand, softbox/umbrella (or both), and radio triggers (I use the Cactus v5 and I find them incredibly reliable, but there are some slightly cheaper models out there).

And then you can head on over to Strobist and read his excellent Lighting 101/102 course (which is free!) and experiment with off-camera flash.

-Heie

LFLee · 01-21-2014, 12:09 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

I've got a bad, bad case of LBA. I want something new, K-mount, preferably autofocus, around $150-$200.

I've got:

18-55, 55-300, 40mm XS, F50 1.7, Promaster AF 100mm f3.5 macro, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Phoenix 28-210, F35-70, Tokina 35-70, and a couple more I can't bring to mind at the moment.

I'm thinking about the 35mm f2.whatever, but I could also use something in the 28-105 range, I suppose. Something fast(ish) and sharp. I dunno. I really don't NEED anything. I have everything except uber wide angle covered. But I'm feeling the LBA pretty bad, was gifted a some birthday cash and can think of no better place to spend it than on Pentax glass.

So recommendations are welcome.

Charles.

buy yourself a trip to a nearby place you never been before and take photos.

dcBear78 · 01-21-2014, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by LFLee

buy yourself a trip to a nearby place you never been before and take photos.

I like this.

grispie · 01-21-2014, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by ChopperCharles

I have everything except uber wide angle covered.

Upgrade your kit lens maybe? 16-45 f4 second hand and a polarizer... would be quite a difference for wide-angles & landscapes (provided you'd like that).
You seem to have enough quality glass on tele...

retroflex · 01-21-2014, 02:25 AM

More suggestions you didn't ask for...

Tripod + remove control if you don't already have it.
Or sell your K-x and combined with your gift money you can maybe buy a K-30.

**Ash** · 01-21-2014, 03:16 AM

Flash and/or sturdy tripod.
Then plan for your trip to make some art with the gear.

tim60 · 01-21-2014, 03:46 AM

Super Takumar 35/2 almost exactly fits your budget - and gives you change for an icecream. Nice lens!

DSims · 01-21-2014, 04:41 AM

As already suggested, the DA16-45 would be a better choice to cover the normal to wide range. You can sell your 18-55, or just keep it since it has a low resale value and is still useful for applications like taking product photos. Right now you can only go as wide as 28mm with reasonably good quality. Otherwise you need something like a used Samyang 14mm lens - but the DA16-45 tends to be strong at the wide end and can shoot well at f/4.5, so it's probably your better solution right now.

Personally, I'd also sell the 40XS and get the DA35/2.4.

Finally, an A or M 100/2.8 (non macro) would make a great addition. But you can just stick with the very good Cosina 100/3.5 macro you have for now - it's just that the A or M 100 are especially good at creating beautiful images.

retroflex · 01-21-2014, 04:52 AM

Another note: personally I would sell the F35-70, Phoenix and Tokina zoom to free some more money, as you already have those lenghts covered. But maybe you use them much?

Kozlok · 01-21-2014, 05:26 AM

I'd sell all the 35-70's and use that plus the cash to get a Sigma 10-20 or Tamron 10-24 (either one used)

bdery · 01-21-2014, 06:28 AM

If you want to upgrade your kit optically, 200$ won'T cut it. I would indeed sell some lenses on the general zoom range. I disagree about selling the F35-70, it's a great lens that won't fetch a lot. Sell the kit and the various other zooms, and get a nice high-quality zoom on that range, for instance the Sigma 17-70 or Pentax 18-135.

Or if you like your current lenses and don't want to sell them, indeed go with a flash, or hire a model and enjoy the best photoshoot of your career, or travel to a nice place to take pictures you wouldn't normally take.

Driline · 01-21-2014, 06:30 AM

You need a " plastic fantastic". Pick the 35 or 50 out. But do not get rid of your Pentax F35-70. That's such a great lens for the price. I'd dump the kit lens in a heartbeat before I'd let that go.

mrNewt · 01-21-2014, 06:35 AM

Well, first of all, Happy birthday...
Second of all, buy a cake then eat the cake with your friends...

As for the gear... there's tomorrow too, for now enjoy the day, go outside and take lots of pics with your friends

.

**TER-OR** · 01-21-2014, 08:11 AM

What do you really want to do?
You have that intermediate range covered in spades. Some older zooms like Promasters can be good but nothing really stands out.

You don't have any UWA if that's important. The 10-17 fisheye is really fun, if you're at all interested in that. Most quality lenses will be more than $300 or so.
If WR is important, the 18-135 is nice, and you can likely sell some other zooms once you get that.

01-20-2014, 11:43 PM	#1
ChopperCharles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Durham, nc Photos: Albums Posts: 954	Okay, satisfy my LBA. It's my birthday, I have $200, what to buy? I've got a bad, bad case of LBA. I want something new, K-mount, preferably autofocus, around $150-$200. I've got: 18-55, 55-300, 40mm XS, F50 1.7, Promaster AF 100mm f3.5 macro, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Phoenix 28-210, F35-70, Tokina 35-70, and a couple more I can't bring to mind at the moment. I'm thinking about the 35mm f2.whatever, but I could also use something in the 28-105 range, I suppose. Something fast(ish) and sharp. I dunno. I really don't NEED anything. I have everything except uber wide angle covered. But I'm feeling the LBA pretty bad, was gifted a some birthday cash and can think of no better place to spend it than on Pentax glass. So recommendations are welcome. Charles.

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01-21-2014, 12:05 AM	#2
Heie Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	I didn't see it, but how about a nice flash. You wouldn't be able to get a very good P-TTL flash for $200 (at least not a powerful one that isn't discontinued, I don't think), but I have been using 2x Yongnuo YN560 II all-manual flashes, and I must say - they are amazing. $60 each, so even if you get just one, that leaves you enough left over for a cheap light stand, softbox/umbrella (or both), and radio triggers (I use the Cactus v5 and I find them incredibly reliable, but there are some slightly cheaper models out there). And then you can head on over to Strobist and read his excellent Lighting 101/102 course (which is free!) and experiment with off-camera flash. -Heie

01-21-2014, 12:09 AM - 4 Likes	#3
LFLee Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,292	Originally posted by ChopperCharles I've got a bad, bad case of LBA. I want something new, K-mount, preferably autofocus, around $150-$200. I've got: 18-55, 55-300, 40mm XS, F50 1.7, Promaster AF 100mm f3.5 macro, Tamron 28-75 f2.8, Phoenix 28-210, F35-70, Tokina 35-70, and a couple more I can't bring to mind at the moment. I'm thinking about the 35mm f2.whatever, but I could also use something in the 28-105 range, I suppose. Something fast(ish) and sharp. I dunno. I really don't NEED anything. I have everything except uber wide angle covered. But I'm feeling the LBA pretty bad, was gifted a some birthday cash and can think of no better place to spend it than on Pentax glass. So recommendations are welcome. Charles. buy yourself a trip to a nearby place you never been before and take photos.

01-21-2014, 01:10 AM	#4
dcBear78 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Gladstone, QLD Photos: Gallery Posts: 823	Originally posted by LFLee buy yourself a trip to a nearby place you never been before and take photos. I like this.

01-21-2014, 02:19 AM	#5
grispie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 1,199	Originally posted by ChopperCharles I have everything except uber wide angle covered. Upgrade your kit lens maybe? 16-45 f4 second hand and a polarizer... would be quite a difference for wide-angles & landscapes (provided you'd like that). You seem to have enough quality glass on tele...

01-21-2014, 02:25 AM	#6
retroflex Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mölnlycke Photos: Albums Posts: 98	More suggestions you didn't ask for... Tripod + remove control if you don't already have it. Or sell your K-x and combined with your gift money you can maybe buy a K-30.

01-21-2014, 03:16 AM	#7
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Flash and/or sturdy tripod. Then plan for your trip to make some art with the gear.

01-21-2014, 03:46 AM	#8
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,743	Super Takumar 35/2 almost exactly fits your budget - and gives you change for an icecream. Nice lens!

01-21-2014, 04:41 AM	#9
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	As already suggested, the DA16-45 would be a better choice to cover the normal to wide range. You can sell your 18-55, or just keep it since it has a low resale value and is still useful for applications like taking product photos. Right now you can only go as wide as 28mm with reasonably good quality. Otherwise you need something like a used Samyang 14mm lens - but the DA16-45 tends to be strong at the wide end and can shoot well at f/4.5, so it's probably your better solution right now. Personally, I'd also sell the 40XS and get the DA35/2.4. Finally, an A or M 100/2.8 (non macro) would make a great addition. But you can just stick with the very good Cosina 100/3.5 macro you have for now - it's just that the A or M 100 are especially good at creating beautiful images.

01-21-2014, 04:52 AM	#10
retroflex Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mölnlycke Photos: Albums Posts: 98	Another note: personally I would sell the F35-70, Phoenix and Tokina zoom to free some more money, as you already have those lenghts covered. But maybe you use them much?

01-21-2014, 05:26 AM	#11
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	I'd sell all the 35-70's and use that plus the cash to get a Sigma 10-20 or Tamron 10-24 (either one used)

01-21-2014, 06:28 AM	#12
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	If you want to upgrade your kit optically, 200$ won'T cut it. I would indeed sell some lenses on the general zoom range. I disagree about selling the F35-70, it's a great lens that won't fetch a lot. Sell the kit and the various other zooms, and get a nice high-quality zoom on that range, for instance the Sigma 17-70 or Pentax 18-135. Or if you like your current lenses and don't want to sell them, indeed go with a flash, or hire a model and enjoy the best photoshoot of your career, or travel to a nice place to take pictures you wouldn't normally take.

01-21-2014, 06:30 AM	#13
Driline Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,697	You need a " plastic fantastic". Pick the 35 or 50 out. But do not get rid of your Pentax F35-70. That's such a great lens for the price. I'd dump the kit lens in a heartbeat before I'd let that go.

01-21-2014, 06:35 AM	#14
mrNewt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ON, RH Posts: 2,181	Well, first of all, Happy birthday... Second of all, buy a cake then eat the cake with your friends... As for the gear... there's tomorrow too, for now enjoy the day, go outside and take lots of pics with your friends .

01-21-2014, 08:11 AM	#15
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	What do you really want to do? You have that intermediate range covered in spades. Some older zooms like Promasters can be good but nothing really stands out. You don't have any UWA if that's important. The 10-17 fisheye is really fun, if you're at all interested in that. Most quality lenses will be more than $300 or so. If WR is important, the 18-135 is nice, and you can likely sell some other zooms once you get that.