[mattdm]

Can I pick a lens that isn't out yet? — I'll take the upcoming 30mm DA★ SDM.

[fearview]

da 40mm 2.8 limited

[LDB]

First, my apologies for when I duplicate post. I am reading back through the forums but it takes time to cover them.

My intention for this thread was to get an idea of a better choice as a first lens since I'm sure there is no best choice. The answers have been broader than anticipated so there's no clear consensus yet but it's interesting learning the choices and reasons why. Thanks again.

Leo

[k100d]

First, my apologies for when I duplicate post. I am reading back through the forums but it takes time to cover them.

My intention for this thread was to get an idea of a better choice as a first lens since I'm sure there is no best choice. The answers have been broader than anticipated so there's no clear consensus yet but it's interesting learning the choices and reasons why. Thanks again.

Leo

what do you plan to take pictures of and how much experience do you have?
and how much do you want to spend

[LDB]

I was pretty into photography way back there with Matt Brady et al during my school years. I had a nice Spotmatic F system at the time. I'd probably rank myself in the 4 to maybe 5 range on a 1=I think that device is called a camera and 10=paid to travel around the world for National Geographic etc. scale.

I own a fleet of trucks and drive one of them. I'll be hauling the camera around all over the country in an unfortunately fairly dusty environment taking photos of things like windmill farms out west, the Gateway arch and skyline from a distance, birds and critters snooping around my parking places, family at home sitting around the den and anything and everything else that for whatever reason catches my eye. Because of the dust in the truck I'm interested in minimizing lens swaps as much as possible.

Currently a couple of "suspects" are the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 because it's some faster than most zooms and the Tamron 18-200 f3.5-6.3 because it covers 98% of reasonable focal length requirements although with a little speed penalty. If my budget would allow I'd rather have the two DA* zooms and deal with the lens swaps when I had to but they're way out of range for the time being.

I'm looking at a new K10D body only plus 1 lens with a preferred lens limit of $400 give or take a little.

Thanks again to all who are responding. I truly appreciate the input and assistance. It seems the photography community as a whole is top shelf just like the ham community. 73.

Leo (K5LDB)

[simonkit]

Sigma 17-70, wouldn't be without it

simon

[Bramela]

I agree with Heather and Simon, a vote for the Sigma 17-70. I would have no hesitation in choosing it for the hyperthetical situation.

[BobG]

How come no one mentioned either the Tamron or Pentax 18-250?

BobG

[k100d]

How come no one mentioned either the Tamron or Pentax 18-250?

BobG

prolly cuz of the slowness and not particularly exceptional at any focal length

[ivoire]

DA 35mm macro

[boushh]

Hmm, at the moment I'd choose the Tamron 28-75mm from my kit, or the kit lens DA 18-55mm if I wanted to go lighter and wider.

[MJB DIGITAL]

im thinking a 24-70 or 28-80 or whatever it is that sigma offers us in a 2.8

a mid range zoom, i guess..but only a really nice one

[CarlCanary]

Well i just got the tammy 28-75 and I absolutley love it. but if you dont plan on many landscapes you could get the bigma. (and just put the da 21 in your pocket, no one will know)

[NaClH2O]

I was pretty into photography way back there with Matt Brady et al during my school years. I had a nice Spotmatic F system at the time. I'd probably rank myself in the 4 to maybe 5 range on a 1=I think that device is called a camera and 10=paid to travel around the world for National Geographic etc. scale.

I own a fleet of trucks and drive one of them. I'll be hauling the camera around all over the country in an unfortunately fairly dusty environment taking photos of things like windmill farms out west, the Gateway arch and skyline from a distance, birds and critters snooping around my parking places, family at home sitting around the den and anything and everything else that for whatever reason catches my eye. Because of the dust in the truck I'm interested in minimizing lens swaps as much as possible.

Currently a couple of "suspects" are the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 because it's some faster than most zooms and the Tamron 18-200 f3.5-6.3 because it covers 98% of reasonable focal length requirements although with a little speed penalty. If my budget would allow I'd rather have the two DA* zooms and deal with the lens swaps when I had to but they're way out of range for the time being.

I'm looking at a new K10D body only plus 1 lens with a preferred lens limit of $400 give or take a little.

Thanks again to all who are responding. I truly appreciate the input and assistance. It seems the photography community as a whole is top shelf just like the ham community. 73.

Leo (K5LDB)

Hi Leo, OK, I understand now. Minimal lens swaps. I'd prolly go with a two lens system. I personally think the IQ of the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 beats that of the Sigma 17-70, but I don't own the latter lens, and what I've seen of it is pretty good, besides you get a much wider lower end. So either the Tamron 28-75 F2.8 or the Sigma 17-70. I'd then go for the DA 50-200 or the Pentax A 70-210. Personally think the "A" lens is a much better performer than the DA, but the DA does have AF, and is much smaller, don't know if lens size would be a major consideration, however either one would be a good companion lens to either the Sigma or the Tamron zoom.

NaCl(of course you could get two bodies and have a lens on each, the DS have gotten pretty inexpensive)H2O

[TKH]

Absolute no doubt!

"The Lens" = Pentax FA43mm F1.9 Limited.

The lens love of my live.

Rainer