[gokenin]

I was curious for the people that use prime lenses what is the usual gap between focal points that you have? I ask as I am wondering how large some collections have gotten with regards to primes. I was wondering also if people have multiple lenses of the same focal length i.e multiple 50's or if people have an auto and a manual lens of the same focal length? Just wondering if i was starting to get an advanced case of LBA to be honest

[séamuis]

I currently own 3 count them THREE smc-M 50mm 1.7's as well as an A 50mm 1.7 and I have no idea why that is. I use the primes in my signature on a daily basis I also have a zoom that covers these ranges up to my 135mm takumar prime. smc-A 28~135mm. then I have an smc-A 70~210mm to cover the long end of my shooting (though I don't use either very often. so essentially I have a gap from 50 to 135mm and from 135mm onwards in regards to primes. not very good coverage I suppose.

[Nesster]

Mind you, I've just started with pentax...

I have 2 soon to be 3 28's, all mf, one is a KA the others screw
I have 2 35's, both screw
I have 1 43 ltd
I have 3 50's, all screw
I have 2 55's, both screw
I have 1 70 ltd
I have 1 90 macro adaptall - and adaptalls for screw, K, and KA
I have 1 135 screw

Most of the screw mount lenses have 'come with' cameras, though a few I picked up because the price was right.

I feel 28-35-43-50/55 is a reasonable set of distinct feeling lenses. The 70 and 90 do overlap - but one's a macro, so usually I treat the two as effectively similar fov.

I would like to go wider even, though I've relegated that to a zoom (16-45)... I would love a 28 or 24 af.

Yeah, it gets a bit crazy.

[Kguru]

I was curious for the people that use prime lenses what is the usual gap between focal points that you have?

It has been suggested 1.4x on the wide side and 1.8x on tele
eg. 14, 21, 31, 43, 77, 135, 250 (oh well ... make the last one 300 )

[Zewrak]

I got;
2x28
2x35
3x50
1x55
1x58
1x100
3x135
1x150
2x200
1x300

To go with those I use a 1.5x, 2x, 3x converters and for macrowork I use 1-6 tubes + bellows.
I only feel a lack of a 75-85 and a 400. The few times I need something below 28 I use a zoom 18-50, which is... NEVER.

[TaoMaas]

I used to use primes most of the time when I was shooting film. Back then, I carried 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 100mm, and 200mm. I also carried 1.5X and 2X teleconverters. I used the teleconverters with my longer lenses to fill in the gaps.

[Magnus W]

I've got
K18/3.5, K28/3.5, M50/2.0, A50/1.4, K85/1.8, MacroA100/4.0, K135/2.5, K200/4.0

So it's pretty darn close to 1.7x increase between all of them (except the macro), and that's fine with me. But I'm saving up for the 31 and the 77. And keeping an eye open for a K200/2.5 or a A200/2.8. Not because I think I need them, just ... LBA I guess.

-- MW

[jsherman999]

I currently own 3 count them THREE smc-M 50mm 1.7's as well as an A 50mm 1.7 and I have no idea why that is. I use the primes in my signature on a daily basis I also have a zoom that covers these ranges up to my 135mm takumar prime. smc-A 28~135mm. then I have an smc-A 70~210mm to cover the long end of my shooting (though I don't use either very often. so essentially I have a gap from 50 to 135mm and from 135mm onwards in regards to primes. not very good coverage I suppose.

You should sell two of the three SMC M 50 1.7's (if they're in good shape) and get an M 200 f/4. The M 50 1.7's go for $40 or so, selling both would get you enough for an E shape M 200 f/4! ( I want to manage everyone's M-club LBA now.)


.

[Ben_Edict]

I sometimes have two primes of the same (or similar) focal length but with different max. aperture and accordingly a difference in weight and bulk.

for example I have the big/heavy SMC-A 50 f1.2 and the smaller smc-A 50 f1.4 and the even smaller FA 50 f1.4 (and some 1.7 on top, but never use them)

it is the same with the big/heavy FA 85 f1.4 and the small smc-M 85 f2

or the very compact SMC-A 300 f4 versus the massive Tamron 300 f2.8

otherwise I have many primes from the 15 f3.5 to the 500 f4.5, which I use, despite some zooms seem indispensable to me...

Ben

[Mechan1k]

I think I am covering mine sensibly ... then again ... there is a fine line between sensible and way out of control ... hee hee.

28mm f/3.5 M42
FA50 f/1.4
85mm f/1.9 M42
Tamron 90mm SP Macro f/2.8 AF
135mm f/3.5

Then I have a few zooms as well.
18-55mm kit lens
28-70mm f/2.8 Sigma
75-300mm FAJ Pentax

I may be adding a 200mm f/4 Super tak in the near future as well ... and if i can find a 105,, f/2.8 that might be added as well.

But ... by the looks of things ... I am missing a super wide/FE lens so far .... and i wouldn't mind one.

Talk about that thin line I mentioned above.

[ryan s]

When did this turn into a List Your Gear thread?

In order to cover your lengths (which I haven't done with primes yet lol), you could always just double your FL. Have a 16mm, a 35, a 70, a 100-some, a 200-some, etc...or any combination for that matter.

[TaoMaas]

In order to cover your lengths (which I haven't done with primes yet lol), you could always just double your FL. Have a 16mm, a 35, a 70, a 100-some, a 200-some, etc...or any combination for that matter.

That's what I'd always heard...double the focal length with each step.

[séamuis]

I'm more interested in simply having the primes that I use or want to use on a regular basis not nessiceraly covering all focal lengths. this is why I am truly lusting after an A* 85mm 1.4 and pretty much nothing else.

[Wheatfield]

I was curious for the people that use prime lenses what is the usual gap between focal points that you have? I ask as I am wondering how large some collections have gotten with regards to primes. I was wondering also if people have multiple lenses of the same focal length i.e multiple 50's or if people have an auto and a manual lens of the same focal length? Just wondering if i was starting to get an advanced case of LBA to be honest

I would prefer to use primes exclusively, and have tried to keep focal length spacing to a minimum.
So, in primes I have all Pentax lenses:
14mm, 15mm, 17mm (fisheye), 20mm, 21mm, 24mm, 28mm (2), 31mm, 35mm (2) 40mm (2), 50mm (at least 8), 70mm, 77mm, 85mm, (2) 100mm (macro), 105mm, 150mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, and 600mm.
In order to get wider than what Pentax makes in primes, I have the 10-17mm and 12-24mm.

I also have non Pentax 17mm, 58mm and 500mm.

[gokenin]

thanks guys for the answers so I really dont feel guilty try to pick up the 24,28,50 macro and the 85 to try and round out my prime list. I have to say since i have been using primes i find using zooms to be less intersting to me