[vagabond79]

Hello and thank you for offering your advice on this.

My little boy is having his first birthday party this Saturday. Naturally, I will have camera in hand! I am thinking of choosing between these three lenses which I own.

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8
Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4
Pentax-A 35mm f/2.8

The majority of photographs will be taken indoors, with typical lighting (a few windows, recess lighting).

I want a focal length that will be useful indoors along with solid IQ and a sufficient shutter speed. The camera I am using is a K-5.

Thanks again.

[faizy]

I guess ill go for the 17-50 tamron. It can cover more range i would say.

and happy birthday to your son.

Best wishes

[i_trax]

Tamron 17-50
Sigma 17-50
or Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.0

[wowtip]

The zoom, use in TAv mode.

FA50, good for birthday portraits, but too long for indoor party shots.

A35, FL works for indoor party, but would not want a MF lens for kids birthday party shots.

[goodasgold]

17-50 for sure...I tried to bring my 50mm f1.8 to a Christmas Party and it was really hard to get full family shots. So I missed out on some peoples reactions mainly because the cropping and shallow DOF that the 50 had. I got some good headshots, but it would have been nice to capture some context =/
My go to now is the Sigma 18-35mm f1.8. That thing is sweet for low light and getting some good context in a shot.

[Joojoo2010]

+Zoom lens, in this case tamron 17-50

For kids party I normally use tamron 18-200 with flash (bounced or with light modificator). I like extra reach, flash will freeze moving kids and can set f11&1/180s and no need to think about camera. Protector filter is good idea

[danny09]

I am gonna take a slightly different tone here.Do u not want to be in the pictures with your son on this unforgettable occassion?
If u have a friend who could help take pictures I would just ask him to take pics.
Maybe u just want to have a camera at hand for taking pica once in a while. In that case I vote for using a prime probably DA 50 1.8 for those bokehlicious pics!

[TER-OR]

17-50 since it's the widest you have in that list. You'll be using wider more than longer indoors. You could bring the 50 if you want to do some more formalish poses, though that 17-50 is probably well up to the task.

[vagabond79]

I am gonna take a slightly different tone here.Do u not want to be in the pictures with your son on this unforgettable occassion?
If u have a friend who could help take pictures I would just ask him to take pics.
Maybe u just want to have a camera at hand for taking pica once in a while. In that case I vote for using a prime probably DA 50 1.8 for those bokehlicious pics!

Good point. I know a few other people will have P&S cameras there so I think I'm going to rely on them to get a few pictures of my wife, son and me. I'm trying to think if there is anyone I would trust to hold my camera long enough to take a picture...

---------- Post added 04-09-15 at 03:48 PM ----------

17-50 since it's the widest you have in that list. You'll be using wider more than longer indoors. You could bring the 50 if you want to do some more formalish poses, though that 17-50 is probably well up to the task.

Thanks for mentioning that. I think I might break out the 50mm for the traditional cake eating/smashing photos and use the 17-50mm for everything else. The 50mm would do quite well for the high speed flinging portrait type shot.

---------- Post added 04-09-15 at 03:50 PM ----------

+Zoom lens, in this case tamron 17-50

For kids party I normally use tamron 18-200 with flash (bounced or with light modificator). I like extra reach, flash will freeze moving kids and can set f11&1/180s and no need to think about camera. Protector filter is good idea

Forgot to mention I do have a flash. HOWEVER, it's completely manual so it will be tough to use in a situation like this where distances and ISO are changing from shot to shot. You are inspiring me to upgrade for future events such as these.

[TinaS]

I would go with the 17-50.
Any time I hand my camera to someone, I place the neck strap around their neck myself, or stand & wait for them to do it. Then I show them how to take the picture. Lol

[LightBug]

Give the 17-50 to a friend and put yourself in the pictures with your little boy!

[bass3587]

17-50 Tamron or Sigma or Sigma 17-70. Either will do fine. The Sigma'so will also be quieter than the Tamron but not a factor at a birthday party with kids. lol

[Volker76]

for my mom's birthday I had the tamron 17-50 and a pentax 50mm with me - the 50mm was pretty much useless.

[kjphilippona]

I had the same delima a few month ago for my grand daughters 1st birthday. I ended up using my DA18-135 and 50% were at 135mm. I did not worry about getting any family in the pictures, they were all from the X's side! The only thing i regret not having at the time is a good flash. Go with the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and keep the DA50 in your pocket.

[Stavri]

An 16-50ish lens will do, Sigma, Tamron, Pentax the choice it's up to you. The Tamron 28-75 f2.8 is a very good lens. I often use the Tokina 28-80 f2.8, and a Sigma ex 30mm f1.4 both suiting my needs pretty well, sharp in the center, close focus...

the (in)famous halo shot on the Tokina at-x 280 pro

Tokina at-x 280 pro wide open

Sigma 30mm f1.4