Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-18-2015, 08:18 PM   #1
New Member




Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 24
Pentax K-30: Have a prime & kit lens - Looking for upgrade

I have been using my K-30 mostly with my prime lens - Pentax SMC DA 50mm f/1.8. We took great pics in Hawaii with this one. I loved the lens so much that I hardly ever used my kit lens 18-55mm. We now have a baby and he is restless and with 50mm 1.8 auto focus so noisy he gets distracted and if I use manual focus he is crawling to grab the camera. We are looking to buy a lens so that he doesn't get distracted with auto focus but still manage to take pics as sharp as prime(even in low light). Kindly suggest.

01-18-2015, 08:25 PM   #2
Imp
Pentaxian
Imp's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,749
What is your budget?

At the higher end, here are two silent focus lenses with great quality, focal length similar to your prime and kit.

Pentax SMCP-DA 17-70mm f/4 SDM
Pentax DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM

Last edited by Imp; 01-18-2015 at 08:31 PM.
01-18-2015, 08:34 PM   #3
Senior Member




Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 111
What about the DA*16-50 2.8 ?
01-18-2015, 08:36 PM   #4
Imp
Pentaxian
Imp's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,749
QuoteOriginally posted by nonstopnick Quote
What about the DA*16-50 2.8 ?
More quality issues. If pingu is happy with shooting primes, it seems the DA* 55mm would work better.

01-18-2015, 09:02 PM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Australia
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,842
I'd suggest the DA 35mm f2.4 but maybe that one won't be quiet enough.
01-18-2015, 09:19 PM   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,167
QuoteOriginally posted by Imp Quote
More quality issues. If pingu is happy with shooting primes, it seems the DA* 55mm would work better.
??? You also listed the 17-70 which has a rough reputation due to sdm failures but also is not generally thought to be as nice in terms of IQ as the DA* 16-50.
01-18-2015, 09:26 PM   #7
Imp
Pentaxian
Imp's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,749
QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
??? You also listed the 17-70 which has a rough reputation due to sdm failures but also is not generally thought to be as nice in terms of IQ as the DA* 16-50.
True. I meant 55 vs. 16-55, if you were getting one or the other. But since the 17-70 is similar priced to the DA*s, I guess either DA* is better

01-18-2015, 10:05 PM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Roodepoort, South Africa
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,561
QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
??? You also listed the 17-70 which has a rough reputation due to sdm failures but also is not generally thought to be as nice in terms of IQ as the DA* 16-50.
A DA*16-50 has a far worse reputation when it comes to SDM failures than the DA17-70. Further the 17-70 is a lot cheaper than a 16-50, so comparing IQ is not quite fair; I know, you get what you pay for.
01-18-2015, 10:29 PM   #9
Senior Member




Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 111
QuoteOriginally posted by sterretje Quote
A DA*16-50 has a far worse reputation when it comes to SDM failures than the DA17-70. Further the 17-70 is a lot cheaper than a 16-50, so comparing IQ is not quite fair; I know, you get what you pay for.
The DA*16-50 with its combination of focal range and it's 2.8 appiture would seem to be a better fit for what the OP was considering than the 17-70. I assumed the SDM issue was a solved problem.
01-18-2015, 10:33 PM   #10
Veteran Member
RAART's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Oakville, ON
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,095
Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art or any other Sigma lens with silent motor... They motors are reliable.
01-18-2015, 10:46 PM   #11
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,167
QuoteOriginally posted by sterretje Quote
A DA*16-50 has a far worse reputation when it comes to SDM failures than the DA17-70. Further the 17-70 is a lot cheaper than a 16-50, so comparing IQ is not quite fair; I know, you get what you pay for.
Source? The data I had seen seemed to suggest otherwise and the Pentax reps I know steer people away from 17-70 to 16-50, but they don't quote statistics.
01-18-2015, 11:01 PM - 1 Like   #12
Veteran Member
Chaos_Realm's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,251
QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
??? You also listed the 17-70 which has a rough reputation due to sdm failures but also is not generally thought to be as nice in terms of IQ as the DA* 16-50.
QuoteOriginally posted by sterretje Quote
A DA*16-50 has a far worse reputation when it comes to SDM failures than the DA17-70. Further the 17-70 is a lot cheaper than a 16-50, so comparing IQ is not quite fair; I know, you get what you pay for.
QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
Source? The data I had seen seemed to suggest otherwise and the Pentax reps I know steer people away from 17-70 to 16-50, but they don't quote statistics.

much of a muchness between them based on the survey posted a while ago. (2012)

Pentax SDM Failure Survey Results - Articles and Tips | PentaxForums.com
01-18-2015, 11:12 PM   #13
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
UncleVanya's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 28,167
QuoteOriginally posted by Chaos_Realm Quote
much of a muchness between them based on the survey posted a while ago. (2012)

Pentax SDM Failure Survey Results - Articles and Tips | PentaxForums.com
Thanks! That is different from what I remembered.
01-18-2015, 11:24 PM   #14
Veteran Member
mtux's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: the Netherlands
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,444
But I'd suggest a DA* 50-135, if you want to have enough distance so he won't notice you shooting. If budget allows, and it has a great IQ as I heard. and you'll have a lens in the range you don't have anything!
01-19-2015, 12:09 AM   #15
New Member




Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 24
Original Poster
Thanks for the inputs. I was inclined to Pentax DA* 50-135mm & Pentax 17-70mm as I could shoot from distance with the former and AF seemed to be fine in either of them, but SDM failures and related reviews made me nervous.

As for price I am looking at max US $500 - Plus I can wait and save 200-300 more if reqd
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
50mm, auto, baby :p, da, edge, focus, k-30, k-50, k-mount, kit, lens, months, pentax, pentax k30, pentax k50, pentax lens, pics, primes, range, sigma, silent, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Looking for recommendation on a budget ~24mm prime lens Zen4Life Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 19 12-18-2013 09:53 AM
Got a Pentax ME, have a K-30. I'm thinking FA lenses for both but don't know Bootleg Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras 8 12-03-2013 05:22 PM
Have K20d, looking to upgrade. K5 or K-50? mishmatta Pentax DSLR Discussion 15 08-26-2013 12:00 PM
Fast prime lens (35/40/50mm) for Pentax K-30 sena Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 17 10-10-2012 10:12 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:43 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top