[hjoseph7]

I'm pretty new to Pentax having been a Nikon and Canon owner for years, although prior to digital I used Pentax film cameras on my job(8 years). I recently purchased a Pentax K5 IIs and I'm looking for a lens(s) for it. Since I have used very expensive lenses with my Canon cameras I pretty much know a good lens from a bad one, but some of my favorite lenses were not the most expensive in Canon's line up. My favorite Canon lens was a $300 28-105 that I lugged with me pretty much everywhere until I could afford something better. With that said I heard about "The Pentax" look which is something peculiar to Pentax lenses. What lenses in Pentax line up would help me achieve that look. Currently I'm looking at (but have not decided on) the 16-45mm f4, The 18-135mm f3.5/5.6, the 20-40 f2.8/4, and a couple of prime lenses.

[Adam]

It sounds like you definitely need the FA 31mm:
SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

If you want that 3D look, it delivers

Other lenses I'd recommend include the 18-135mm (for everyday shapshots), DA* 60-250mm F4 (for telephoto), 15mm F4 Limited (for wide-angle shots and closeups), 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited (as a standard lens/macro - it's extremely sharp), DA 100mm F2.8 macro (as a dedicated macro lens), and the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 "C" (a more serious walkaround lens comparable to your Canon 28-105mm).

If you're into portraiture, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 Art and Pentax DA* 55mm deliver fantastic bokeh.

[normhead]

For the pentax look, I'd say DA 15 ltd. DA 21 Ltd. FA 31 ltd, FA 43 Ltd and FA 77 ltd. I really like my 18-135, but it's the 21 that gives me the look. For the Pentax look you pretty much need something designed before Hoya took over. Lenses like the DA 35, DA 50, DA 70 even my DA*60-250, they are very good lenses, but I don't think they have "the look". IN fact I think they're the kinds of lenses that could have been made by anyone.

If I were looking exclusively for "the look" I'd start with the 3 FA ltds.

But then, I don't own many lenses that actually have the look.. so I should shut up now....

Adam, you and I are on such totally different pages here.... we might be confusing the guy.

[hjoseph7]

I currently own the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 "Canon mount" and I use it as my everyday lens. I bumped up the color and the sharpness on my camera (Canon 30D) when I use it because the images sometimes came out a little dull. I have no issues with that lens other than that. The reason why I moved to Pentax is that you get more bang for the buck. Not only that I just moved to Minnesota where the winters are brutal to say the least, but I was planning on getting a K5 prior to my move. So you say the primes are my best bet for that "3D" look any zooms in the mix ?

[carrrlangas]

Lenses like the DA 35, DA 50, DA 70 even my DA*60-250, they are very good lenses, but I don't think they have "the look". IN fact I think they're the kinds of lenses that could have been made by anyone.

You named 4 lenses that are really special in my opinion..
Aren´t the DA35 and DA50 are supposedly based on the FA35/2 and M/A/F/FA 50/1.7 which are characteristic lenses Pentax designed long time ago. Regarding DA70/2.4, what other manunfacturer offers a 120g pancake; edged to edge sharp, beatiful OoF rendering, fast, normal tele lens? And I don´t think there is another f/4 constant aperture tele in the same range as the DA60-250 (don´t know about the look of this one, never handled one)

[boriscleto]

It has to do with pixies snorting dust or something.

[wildman]

FA 77 ltd.

Don't have one but used one for two weeks.
I'm not into mysticism when it comes to gear but that one definitely seemed to have a "look".
Perhaps it was the odd FL but I know my present 85 doesn't have it.
Other than that - when just surfing my files it is always easy to spot the ones taken with the FA35 - a very solid look with somewhat subdued color but a very "natural" neutral look to my eye.

But what the "Pentax look" really is I couldn't tell you.

[ChristianRock]

If you want the Pentax look and you have the budget for it, forget about the consumer zooms and get Limited and Star (*) lenses - DA*16-50, DA*50-135, and the primes. That's where you will find the Pentax look. The 16-45 and the 18-135 might have a bit of it but they're not in the same league.

[Na Horuk]

Aren´t the DA35 and DA50 are supposedly based on the FA35/2 and M/A/F/FA 50/1.7

Yep, these have a long lineage.

I think most Pentax primes have some character to them. The question is how much. The DA 35mm f2.4 is a great lens for an amazing price, but it probably doesn't render photos in such a signature way as the FA 31mm ltd does. I really like how my DA 40mm renders (colours, bokeh), but it probably doesn't have such a distinctive look as the FA 43mm ltd.
Basically, if you buy a Pentax prime, a Pentax limited or * lens, you will get a lens that has a priority on rendering. That is arguably the main appeal of Pentax (Apart from overall build/ergonomics and WR). Some Pentax lenses have a certain something that cannot be put to words, so it is usually called Pixie dust. Of course, even lenses without this pixie dust can be great lenses and can have a character of their own (and other advantages, like being really compact).
I suggest you also look at the lens reviews section or the sample photo gallery.

[Driline]

DA 15 ltd. DA 21 Ltd. FA 31 ltd, FA 43 Ltd and FA 77 ltd

Perfect! What he said.....

[pinholecam]

Pentax look to me.

Warm and rich color.
Very contrasty
Bold drawing style which happens often.

Pentax lens style.
Often smaller lenses
Usually a balance of rendering vs sharpness.
Sensible f stop wrt size, cost, lens focal length

[Rondec]

I think any of the DA * lenses or limited primes feature this "look." Photos just come out nicely saturated with rich greens, in particular.

[robjmitchell]

I would say there is three different aspects of pentax lenses that can make them shine, contrast/micro-contrast, colour, and sharpness.
The FA limiteds have all three with a slightly warmer colour that works particularly well with skin tones and gives an interesting look to landscapes.
The DA lens series tend to give you vibrant blues and reds for colour. The contrast is generally superb in the Da* lenses and the Limiteds(and lenses like da14, 100). The New HD coating helps a little bit too. The sharpness varies from lens to lens but is often the least critical of the three in my mind(look at 21 images). Bokeh is completely different from lens to lens and comes down to personal taste.

[jwc77]

I would say besides my DA limiteds that the old Takumars have something very special about the way they render (especially the 50 1.4). They just capture things differently than my other lenses.

[normhead]

I was looking through my images last night... it's hard to actually pick put what pixie dust is....

DA 18-135


DA 10-17


FA 50 1.8


21 ltd


DA*60-250


40 xs


DA 35 2.4


Pentax F 70-210


Non-Pentax
Tamron 90 macro


Tamron 17-50


Sigma 8-16


Sigma 70 macro


SIgma 18-250


Sigma 70-300


I still like the 21 for my idea of what pixie dust should be.... but it's real hard to say one lens has it, and another can't. Maybe the pixie dust is in the scene. Who knows?

If someone sends me a 15, 31, 43 and 77, we'll really have a comparison.