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04-02-2015, 01:25 AM   #1
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200mm or 135mm?

I'm using SMC Pentax 50mm f1.4 now and looking for some longer length one.
I don't know what does the 200mm and 135mm ideal for.

My camera is 1.5x crop.

04-02-2015, 01:46 AM   #2
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what's the purpose?
04-02-2015, 03:06 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by yusuf Quote
what's the purpose?
To shoot something like a man on to opposite side of the street, a bird on the tree next to me, a squirrel on the electricity post, or street photography.
04-02-2015, 03:25 AM   #4
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I have SMC 135/2.5 and SMC 200/4. 200mm could be to far, since the only lens you have is 50mm.
If I had to choose, I'd go for 135mm.

04-02-2015, 04:26 AM   #5
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I agree. I also own the 135/2.5 as well as a da 50. It's a substantial difference in FL. I would even go as far as to say the 135 is really pushing the limits of a general walk around length. 100mm would be much better IMO. But if I had to choose, I'd also go with the 135 over the 200.
04-02-2015, 04:43 AM   #6
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Each lens focal lengths serve a different purpose and will render a different perspective. If your looking for an all around walking lens that can give you wide angle, mid range with some telephoto then the 18-135mm is a better choice to start with but it will pay to have longer focal lengths also. I suggest also as you venture into zooms use the different focal lengths as you would using your 50mm by selecting the focal length and moving yourself to compose instead of standing and zooming.

Last edited by Oldbayrunner; 04-02-2015 at 04:50 AM.
04-02-2015, 06:15 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by phuthai2009 Quote
To shoot something like a man on to opposite side of the street, a bird on the tree next to me, a squirrel on the electricity post, or street photography.
Man on the other side of the street will be very tightly framed on a 200 on a narrow street. 135 will be less tight. But you may be able to get portrait style framing which would be nice.
Bird on tree next to you. Even at ten feet the 135 is going to require cropping most likely, the 200 may also. 300 is the typical choice here.
Squirrel on a post... 200 may not be enough depending on detail needed, and size and distance. See above.
Street photography... these lengths are not typical, the 200 would be more difficult for most of us to use for that purpose but perhaps good for a shot more discrete captures at a distance. Typical street walk about lenses are zooms or primes from 21-50mms. Wider being more common than longer.


Last edited by UncleVanya; 04-02-2015 at 06:49 AM.
04-02-2015, 06:45 AM   #8
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Perhaps 100/2.8 macro would be better choice. You have macro and good telephoto lens. Sometimes 135 and/or 200 will not be enaugh because of the distance from the subject. It all depends.
04-02-2015, 06:55 AM   #9
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If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the 135mm really, as 200mm is more specialized lens ( equivalent of 300mm after all ). But having said that, I personally would look into getting a zoom - something like 75-150mm SMC-M lens, which is really excellent from wide open, have great range of useful focal lengths and is fairly fast at constant F4 - For good light, and general longer walkabout lens , there isn't much like it really
04-02-2015, 07:26 AM   #10
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For your described purpose, the 135 would be better.
04-02-2015, 08:03 AM   #11
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Thank you for all answers. These are very helpful and open my world.
04-02-2015, 10:09 AM   #12
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I find 135mm very useful - for flowers. 200mm less so. For animals it is not long enough and for anything close by it is too long. *shrug* With the 50-200mm dal kit lens, I am mostly in the 70-150mm range. But honestly, it all depends on your style.

Luckily 135mm pk/a lenses are cheap and plentiful on ebay. Choose any one and try if the length is working for you. If yes, you can shell out more money.
04-02-2015, 11:11 AM   #13
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135mm if choosing between the two
04-02-2015, 12:00 PM   #14
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get a cheap used DA L 55-300 zoom. It's supposed to have excellent quality (far more than the 50-200).

Use it for a while. Look at what focal lengths you used it at without cropping the results. Look at what effective focal length any cropped images would be. Then, you'll know what prime you would have liked for that. You can either keep the 55-300 or sell it for close to what you paid for it and buy the primes, and you won't have lost any potential images in the interim.

Personally, I can't imagine having 50mm be my widest lens. When I first switched to pentax, and only had a 50-135 it drove me nuts. I was jamming my nikon lenses on to get more width til I picked out a wider lens to complement it a few weeks later.
04-02-2015, 07:28 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by narual Quote
get a cheap used DA L 55-300 zoom. It's supposed to have excellent quality (far more than the 50-200).

Use it for a while. Look at what focal lengths you used it at without cropping the results. Look at what effective focal length any cropped images would be. Then, you'll know what prime you would have liked for that. You can either keep the 55-300 or sell it for close to what you paid for it and buy the primes, and you won't have lost any potential images in the interim.

Personally, I can't imagine having 50mm be my widest lens. When I first switched to pentax, and only had a 50-135 it drove me nuts. I was jamming my nikon lenses on to get more width til I picked out a wider lens to complement it a few weeks later.
I've just go out and shooting landscape today. I find out, like you've said, having 50mm the widest lens is not good. Maybe, I need a wider one before the longer.
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