[baro-nite]

I don't regret any of my (many!) lens purchases as I have learned something from each of them. For me, all part of the process of learning and improving. Undoubtedly I'll lose money on selling some of them, but I look at this as equivalent to a rental fee.

Lenses I will certainly keep: K28/3.5, K30/2.8, K35/3.5, A24/2.8, A50/1.2, DA*300/4.
Lenses I still covet: K28/2, FA31, K85/1.8 and/or A*85/1.4

However for the short term the only glass on my shopping list is something suitable for the 4x to 8x magnification range (probably a microscope objective), and the rumored 1.4x TC.

[lancer3397]

isn't this something we all do? buy first and as we gain experience buy and sell again.

for me to start again, I think I would have two trains of throught.

1. a good GP walk around lens when I want to travel light.
2. a more specialist set of lenses when I have more time

so I'd have

18-135 WR lens as my general walk around
pentax 17-70 (or the new rumoured HD WR 18-70) as my normal day to day lens
Pentax 12-24 for my wide landscape architecture needs (although if someone does a 12-35 I'm there!)
Pentax DA 60-250 or the fabled Sigma 100-300 F4
the new HD 1.5TC
sigma 50-500 OS DSG for my airshow needs. but also have the DA60-250 + TC depending on image quality and shooting conditions.

if tamron ever release the 150-600 in K Mount, that comes into my stable to replace the bigma.

[Lowell Goudge]

Ok what do I have, what do I want, what do I need, what have I advised others to do?

My advise to others has been

Start with the kit lens, and expand with 3-4 high quality zooms to cover the range 12-12mm at the wide end, and 135-200 at the long end, with as much of this range being at F2.8 as possible, and if wild life is in the cards a means to get to 400mm. Then fill in with specialty lenses (primes)as needed

How did I do?

Aside from some different AF kit zooms, the core of my lens system is
Sigma EX 10-20mm F4-5.6 DC
Tamron XR din28-75/2.8
Sigma APO 70-200/2.8!EX (non DG non macro ) paired with sigma 1.4x and 2X TCs

If I need to plug the 20-28mm hole I have an FA-J 18-35 (same filter size as the Tammy ) and the DA 18-55

So my AF zoom kit matches exactly what I recommend, I have 3 zooms, F2.8 from 28-200mm, and a means in 2 different steps to get between 200 and 400mm

Then there are the primes. I love MF primes. Since I use primes on my own time not while with others, I can take all the time I want. I have 2 relatively full sets of primes, K/KA mount, and M42 mount.

k mount I have samyang 8mm FE and 14mm lenses, then kiron 24 and 28mm F2, SMC-M 35/2, K50/1.4, samyang 85/1.4, K105/2.8 K135/2.5, K300/4 , vivitar 400/5.6 multi coated plus 2 great MF K mount zooms, the series 1 70-210/3.5 version 1, and the tamron 200-500/5.6 , add to this a celesta on C 90 100mm F 11 mirror, and it can reach as much as anyone

In M42 I have the zeniths 16mmFE, tamron 24/2.5, vivitar and tamron 28/2.8, SMC tak 35/2, super tak 50/1.4 8element, SMC Tak 55/2, Helios 58/2, super tak 85/1.9, Vernon edonar 105/2.8 preset, SMC tak 135/3.5, tele lentar 135/2.8 preset, tele tokina 180/3.5 preset, SMC tak 200/4, take mar 200/3.5 preset, tele coligon 200/4.5 preset, and Nikon-H 300/4.5 modified to m42

My only regret wa not snapping up M42 and K lenses before all the canon fools grabbed them to use on the FF canon bodies. Now, there is virtually nothing left out thee, and many of the old stores I used to go to have closed as the owners retired.

Still, considering really only 3 gaps in my primes (something about 20mm in each M42 and K mount, and the K200/2.5 there is nothing more I need.

I am still however thinking of a 500mm AF lens for wild life(probably the sigma 500/4.5)

Would I do it all over again, today, likely not, but if we went back in time to 2003 HELL YES!

[reeftool]

I have no real regrets. I had some lenses around for years from my film days and I still have them. Probably the biggest regret went back to the late days of my film shooting. I bought a Nikon Pronea APS film SLR which turned out to be the biggest piece of junk ever made and the IX Nikkor lenses that came with it are pretty much useless. When I finally went digital in 2007, I went back to Pentax as I was still using my SP1000 I purchased in the 70's.

My first new lenses in the digital age were the 18-55 kit and a Sigma 70-300 which came with the package deal I got with the K10D I bought at Ritz.
My next lens was the DA 10-17 Fisheye. I love that lens and still do.
I was shooting a lot of car and motorcycle shows. I needed something wider than 18mm that didn't have the distortion of the 10-17. I chose the DA 15 Limited. It has performed well.
I picked up a lot of used stuff I just kind of stumbled across. Garage sales, flea markets, etc. There is a good bit of redundancy in these but how can you regret buying a bag full of lenses for $10? I don't use them much but all are in very good condition and fully functional. I also grabbed a few very good deals in the Marketplace. They are lenses I don't use much but I paid under $50 for all of them. They include a 200/4 Super Tak, an M 135/3.5, and an F35-70.
I bought a K300/4 for a good price. It's a heavy beast without a tripod collar but I've found a way to make it work with good results. I have a Pentax 2x Rear Convertor A that works very well with it.
I bought a DA 40 Limited. I really wanted the 35 but I got the 40 at a good price. I did regret that purchase for a while but now that I have used it for a while, I'm glad I have it in my bag.

I'm getting older and I have found that I really need to increase my AF lens collection. I just pulled the trigger on a Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 Contemporary. It has good reviews and I'm hoping it works for me. I don't dislike the 18-55 kit lens but but I wanted a walk around with more range. I love the old 35-70 but it's not wide enough. Opinion on this will be coming.
I think the DA 50/1.8 will be next. I have several 50 and 55 mm lenses but that eyesight/auto focus thing is forcing me into this purchase.
I dream of a Limited prime in the 24-28 mm range. I have a MF 25/2.8, 28/2.8, and 28/3.5. They all get used and I love that size. The DA 21 is too wide. I know it's a fine lens but it's not what I want so I wait. I have considered Sigma's offerings but they are big lenses.

If I was starting fresh with what I know now, I would start with the DA 18-135 rather than the 18-55 kit. I would have bought the DA 35 Limited rather than the 40. The Sigma 70-300 was free so I can't count that as a purchase. Ritz gave one away free with every DSLR they sold that weekend. I've had pretty good results with mine since I use it mostly outside on sunny days and can shoot at f/11, the sweet spot on that lens.

[lytrytyr]

I dream of a Limited prime in the 24-28 mm range.

It may only be an f/3.5, but the new Limited zoom seems to do that job well.

[ChristianRock]

I don't have any regrets, either. Considering how little I've invested I'd say I have a great, versatile and fun setup. And that was the plan - to get my feet in the water before committing a lot of money. Eventually if I decide to get really serious I'll invest some more, but for now I'm happy where I am. I am not as good as my gear's potential yet

[drugal]

My only real regret is that I didn't buy more of my lenses used.

I guess I also obsess over whether I should replace my DA 21 Limited, but I can't think of another lens that matches my way of shooting better.

[normhead]

Paired to a K-5IIs/K-3, I could get along just fine with the DA10-17 FE, FA 31/1.8 and DA*300.

Each lens has a learning curve. As such, I'd start with the one that has the longest and will produce the most profound results: FA 31/1.4. I'd shoot everyday with the 31 for (say) 6-9 months before I'd even let the thought of another lens enter my mind.

Simultaneously, I'd acquire the necessary hardware (computer, monitor, printer, etc.) and dedicate myself to becoming a post-processing wizard using LR5.xx. Only after I felt I could easily visualize my subject after pp would I consider another lens; that is, I would always shoot with the end result in my mind.

If my desired subjects required more width and DOF, I would look into the 10-17.... or if I wanted a closer crop than I could get with the 31, I'd explore the 300. Whichever direction I took, I'd give myself another (say) 6-9 months to learn that lens well before taking the next leap. Anyway, I'd consider the 31 as my minds-eye "baseline for measurement" and use the other lenses in supporting roles.

With discipline and dedication on your part, within (say) three years, images in your portfolio will be so well executed that no one will be able to discern (or care) whether you used the 10-17, 31, or 300... or that would be the goal.



...my 2 cents...

PS: One could do the same with a Q7 + 01, then 03FE and 06 Tele Zoom... instead of a DSLR kit.

...my 3 cents...

You might want to throw in a 21 ltd and substitute the DA* 60-250 for the 300.

[reeftool]

It may only be an f/3.5, but the new Limited zoom seems to do that job well.

I have entertained that lens and I'm also waiting for the Sigma 18-35/1.8 for K mount although it's going to be a big lens.

[reeftool]

My only real regret is that I didn't buy more of my lenses used.

I guess I also obsess over whether I should replace my DA 21 Limited, but I can't think of another lens that matches my way of shooting better.

My DA 15 Limited and the Sigma 17-70 I just ordered are the only lenses I have bought new after my original kit. There is a bit of a risk but the only lens I had any trouble with was the DA 40 Limited which developed sticky aperture blades after about a year. Eric cleaned it for $68 and I'm still ahead.

[Wired]

If I were to restart?

If I were to do it just Digital and keep the list short....
DA*50-135
FA 31
FA 43
FA 77
Sigma 18-35
DA 20-40 (When I don't wanna carry the Sigma)

If I were to do it just film:
FA 31
FA 43
FA 77
FA 85 1.4
A 50 1.2

[tromboads]

If I could go back, I'd just still be using that M50 f1.7 that I bought with my ME Super.

I confess to be in the process of rationalising all my gear now, I to have had a lot of fun hunting and cleaning and trying out wierd lenses, but there is no need for a mountain of glass

If i was to do this again? 28 50 138. Don't care what brand really, but I just seem to be coming back to those lengths more often then not.

Actually lets call them super taks. Yep that would have been fine for me

[starjedi]

If I were to restart?

If I were to do it just Digital and keep the list short....
DA*50-135
FA 31
FA 43
FA 77
Sigma 18-35
DA 20-40 (When I don't wanna carry the Sigma)

If I were to do it just film:
FA 31
FA 43
FA 77
FA 85 1.4
A 50 1.2

Here is my list:

DA18-135
DA50 1.8
DA 135-380 (In future, if there has good discount :-))
FA 77 (In future , if there has good discount :-))
Sigma 18-35 (In future, if there has good discount :-))

[TopherTheME]

If I were to start all over again I think I'd focus on using mostly cheaper lenses and just have 1 or 2 really good ones. For me photography is just a hobby and I often think back and find it hard to justify the price of some of these lenses I own. I almost always buy used or greatly discounted so its not like I really lose money but still... if I had to start it over I would just have these:

DA 18-135
DA 35 2.8 Macro
DA 50 1.8
Tamron 70-200mm 2.8

Those four lenses cover 99% of my shooting and with good enough image quality. Although I'd be really temped to add the DA 15 in there.

[PA1541]

I am happy with my current set up. If I were to redo it again, I would start with a 16-50 DA* followed by a DA 55-300 to get the majority of range covered. From there, either a FA 50 or DA* 55 followed by the Sigma 30mm