[G.E.Zekai]

The title says it all. I have been looking for a CHEAP, manual focus lens between 24 to 55 to use on my K3. There are many choices and choosing/finding one is a very hard. The price or speed must be better than DA35mm f/2.8 so below 90pounds. I will use this lens for portraits and small group shots.

I am well aware of not having a specific focal length in mind is bit too stupid but preferably i am looking something around 35mm equivalent..

All the recommendations are welcomed.


Current Gear:

Pentax DA 50 f1.8
Tammy 17-50 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8, 90 f2.8
Helios 44m-2

[mercer]

Have you tried the Pentax-M 24-35mm zoom. Very nice. I have one in pretty good condition that I may be selling in the near future. It reminds me a lot of the Minolta MD 24-35 which is said to be a bunch of primes in a single lens.

[SpecialK]

Why not use the Tamron you have?

[formercanuck]

Come to the Pasadena camera show tomorrow... lots of cheap 28-50mm lenses. I picked up a Sigma 28mm f/2.8 A lens (with box, hood, caps) for $30.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/formercanuck/15076414408/
Lots of cheap/fast 50mm lenses. Most f/2 can be had for ~$10. The most expensive one was a Pentax M 50 and M-42 50mm - most are f/2 to f/2.8, with a few that are faster... most expensive one was ~$65.
I'll get some pictures tomorrow if I go.
They even had some big 135mm, 200mm and 300mm m-42's.
:: Welcome to Bargain Camera Shows! ::

[narual]

I quite like this lens:

SMC Pentax-A 24-50mm F4 Reviews - A Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

I don't use it that often, since I have a 28-75/2.8 AF zoom, but when I do, I'm very happy with the shots. I mostly leave it at 24mm, prefocused to either hyperfocal length or something that gives me a decent depth of field for nearby subjects.

[jatrax]

Do you want manual focus or just cheap?

Not manual focus but otherwise excellent and cheap is the F 35-70. Quite covers the portrait range though perhaps not as fast as some others.

[narual]

Oh - and if you're looking for primes, yeah, you can get a 28/2.8 (especially third party) for under 5-10 dollars in the US -- not sure how it would be in the UK, but probably close. Ditto for a 50/2.

[Dartmoor Dave]

Have you tried the Pentax-M 24-35mm zoom. Very nice.

+1 to that. The M24-35mm is as small as a prime lens and almost as fast at f/3.5 constant aperture.

Also consider the F24-50mm/4.0. My brother-in-law uses it with excellent results, and although it's autofocus it also works very well in full manual mode.

You might not get these lenses as cheaply now as you would have a year ago though. Now that the full frame has been announced, they've suddenly become a lot more desirable.

[robthebloke]

Fast, cheap, good. Pick two!

The only two lenses that come close to ticking all 3 are the two plastic fantastic DA lenses. So if you're hoping to find something better than the 35mm f2.4 DA, well you won't find it.

If you are exceptionally lucky, you might be able to find a bargain 35 f2.0, or a 28 f2.0 (either k, m, or a series). Realistically though, the rarity of those lenses push the price up quite a lot (the da 35 uses the same optical formula as the 35/2).

You can find a 28mm f2.8, which are usually quite cheap. The are usually sharp, however the 5 bladed aperture can be quite busy when stopped down. It's ok, but it's not as exciting as the DA35. The older 35 f2.8 lenses are again, ok, but the DA35 is in a different league.

The wider from 28 you go, the sharpness tends to drop, and the price sky rockets.

The narrower from 35 you go, you get the M40 f2.8 (ok on film, but isn't that great on digital, your DA50 is a better lens). Then you get the various 50mm lenses. Your DA50 is better than most of them, and is only really bettered by the M50 f1.4 and f1.2, the latter being out of your price range!

Failing that, you're looking at zoom lenses, but you're not going to find one that betters the tammy.

To be honest, at your price point, the DA35 is the second best option, and the tammy 17-50 is your best option (simply because it will cost you nothing)

[G.E.Zekai]

Zooms makes me very predictable and repetitive during a studio shoot thats why i prefer primes but i really need something wider than 50.

85% i only shoot with seemless white/black background so bokeh is not a huge deal but sharpness. Although DA35 and DA40xs is very very budget friendly i though i could find something equal quality with a cheaper price tag( also may be a tad wider)

[SunValley]

I have the Tamron adaptall 2 (01B) 24 mm f/2.5 and find it to be very sharp in the centre with very little CA @ f/3.5. I also have a Pentax-M 28 f/2.8 which is relatively sharp across the frame but does show CA a bit more. For ultimate sharpness and very little CA I recommand Pentax-K -M -A 50 mm f/1.4 @ f/2.5. At that aperture it is amazingly sharp and makes really great portraits. Any of these will fit your budget.

[mercer]

Honestly, if you are looking for a cheap wide, I would go for the Super Takumar 35mm 3.5. On a crop sensor it will be a normal lens, sharp across the frame, nice contrast, it only requires a cheap adapter. The lens can be easily had for 50 bucks and you will wonder why this lens is soo damn cheap. Then if you want to go wider, you can spend a bit more and get the Tak 24mm.

---------- Post added 03-08-15 at 09:25 AM ----------

Honestly, if you are looking for a cheap wide, I would go for the Super Takumar 35mm 3.5. On a crop sensor it will be a normal lens, sharp across the frame, nice contrast, it only requires a cheap adapter. The lens can be easily had for 50 bucks and you will wonder why this lens is soo damn cheap. Then if you want to go wider, you can spend a bit more and get the Tak 24mm.

Btw, there is also a Super Multi Coated Takumar version that some like better due to the coating.

---------- Post added 03-08-15 at 09:29 AM ----------

But be warned, once you use this lens you will become obsessed with Taks. One of my first lenses was the 55mm 1.8 but I had a bad copy and ignored the Tak line until I picked up the 35mm 3.5 on the cheap, since then I have picked up a mint copy of the 55mm f2, a very nice copy of the 20mm 4.5 and finally a decent copy of the SMC 50mm 1.4... Which is a lens every photographer or cinematographer should have! It truly is amazing!!!

[G.E.Zekai]

[/COLOR]But be warned, once you use this lens you will become obsessed with Taks. One of my first lenses was the 55mm 1.8 but I had a bad copy and ignored the Tak line until I picked up the 35mm 3.5 on the cheap, since then I have picked up a mint copy of the 55mm f2, a very nice copy of the 20mm 4.5 and finally a decent copy of the SMC 50mm 1.4... Which is a lens every photographer or cinematographer should have! It truly is amazing!!!

I have used few Taks before and they are amazing. However my M42 adapter does not seems to be fitting K3 perfectly and i would love to use focus peaking.
I am using a cheap adapter from ebay (infinity focus ones) and removed the pin. It basically got stuck to my Helios 44m making it a K mount however when i try to put the lens on my K3 it starts loosening. Might be my K5ii mount bit dented due to adapter but don't want to damage my new K3 because of a cheap adapter.

[mercer]

Hmm. I knew with my nex the focus peaking still works with an adapter on. If I were you, I would try a little more expensive of an adapter. I find fotodiox are pretty good and they run about 15 or 20 bucks on Amazon. I also have never had a problem with RainbowImaging. But to be safe, I would go with Fotodiox, I think they sell a pro version adapter that runs a few bucks more.

[G.E.Zekai]

After checking ebay prices i am suddenly leaning towards DA 40xs or DA 35. They are both around 90quid NEW and although there are fantastic m42 + legacy k mount lenses they are around 60 to 80 in the focal length i am looking.