Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
07-24-2015, 04:46 AM   #1
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Your one prime to rule them all

Hey there,

Since I really enjoy reading through your posts in my other thread Your Set - 3 primes nothing more I was wondering which lens you would choose for a Pentax APS-C DSLR if you had to narrow it down to ONE PRIME, and nothing else.
Obviously many would prefer a really brilliant zoom for the advantages of flexibility, but for the sake of argument, let's assume you HAVE to take a prime.

Which one would it be?

Currently, I am thinking it would probably have to be my beautiful FA 31 F1.8 Limited, since that is the lens I currently end up using most of the time....

07-24-2015, 05:12 AM   #2
Pentaxian
Kozlok's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Albuquerque
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,145
For me, I hate to say it, but it would probably be the Sigma 24mm/1.8. A wide-ish fast lens with very nice close focusing. It checks all the boxes for me, I'm quite glad I bought it. I love my DA15 more, but it's just not as versatile. The DA21 also gets a lot of love from me, and I prefer it for its superior flare resistance, but if it were only one, the 24 Sigma would edge it out.
07-24-2015, 05:24 AM   #3
Senior Member
G.E.Zekai's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Photos: Albums
Posts: 199
If we can choose from 3rd party lenses i will go for Sigma 35mm F/1.4 Art

Otherwise

Pentax FA 43mm F/1.9 ltd
07-24-2015, 05:31 AM   #4
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Transylvania
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 386
If I had to choose only between my DFA 100mm Macro WR and my DA-15mm Ltd, I would take the DFA 100mm with me. It's more versatile than the wide-angle one. Weather Resistance (WR) counts.

07-24-2015, 05:41 AM - 1 Like   #5
Veteran Member
noelpolar's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Goolwa, SA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,310
F*300 4.5 ...... puts a smile on your face every time....


Hoi An smiling lady.JPG
by Noel Leahy, on Flickr
07-24-2015, 05:57 AM - 1 Like   #6
Veteran Member
Na Horuk's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Slovenia, probably
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,186
Yeah, I quite like all the lenses that I have, but most of them are not "for everything". DFA 100mm is great for telephoto and macro, but its AF is not super fast and its too long for a lot of genres. Samyang 14mm is great, very sharp, but at 14mm its so ultra--wide that its just not suitable for a lot.
So I would choose a lens between 24 and 50mm, something like DA 35mm. Pentax makes this great HD DA 35mm f2.8 macro, which I never used, but if I had to live with just lens, that would be a good choice. True macro, comfortable focal length for APSC, and acceptable speed. Or the Sigma 35mm art, for faster aperture, but I don't know how good its AF is. And of course the FA 31mm ltd, which I also don't have lol, but from everything I see its pretty great
07-24-2015, 06:02 AM - 1 Like   #7
Veteran Member
wissink's Avatar

Join Date: May 2014
Location: S-ON
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 609
Definitely my smc DA 35 Ltd. I have the 15, 70, and a super tele zoom. My 35 is most often on the camera. Its what I put on at the end of the day when I put the camera on the dresser ready to shoot. Portrait, groups, landscape, macro, my dog, etc. Versatile in my books. I sold the 43.

07-24-2015, 06:03 AM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 714
DA* 300 f4
07-24-2015, 06:09 AM - 1 Like   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter




Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Boston
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 275
FA* 85mm/f1.4
07-24-2015, 06:09 AM   #10
Forum Member




Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Melbourne,Australia
Posts: 67
I go the Sigma 35mm f1.4 Art...
07-24-2015, 06:14 AM   #11
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sandy Hancock's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,254
Although it is not not my most used lens, if it had to be only one, it would be the FA31. It is peerless for bokeh in its class, it's fast enough, sharp enough, small enough, and the angle of view on APS-C is close to a perfect normal.
07-24-2015, 06:18 AM   #12
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Papa Lazarou's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK
Posts: 340
Most useful prime I own - probably the FA 31mm, so i'll go with that. It's very sharp, has wonderful bokeh and the focal length suits APSC.

It's not my favourite though - the FA* 85mm is absolutely stellar and the finest piece of glass i've ever owned. Pixie dust in spades!

Last edited by Papa Lazarou; 07-24-2015 at 06:23 AM.
07-24-2015, 06:23 AM   #13
Moderator
Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Sandy Hancock's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,254
QuoteOriginally posted by Papa Lazarou Quote
It's not my favourite though - the FA* 85mm is absolutely stellar and the finest piece of glass i've ever owned.
The FA*85 is truly amazing. I had one for a couple of days but returned it because of its massive size and weight.
07-24-2015, 06:29 AM - 1 Like   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Nevada, USA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,348
FA 77mm Limited.
07-24-2015, 06:33 AM   #15
amateur dirt farmer
Loyal Site Supporter
pepperberry farm's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: probably out in a field somewhere...
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 41,256
kinda torn between one of my 50's and my A 100mm f4 ......

probably the A 100mm..... it's just soooooooo smooooooooooooooooooooooooooth......
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!
k-mount, lens, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I love them all but need to thin the lens herd...help kraigg007 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 48 01-27-2014 06:08 AM
Hoods: Why aren't them all like the one for the DA21? carrrlangas Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 21 09-01-2013 04:39 PM
Phase One wants your K30 DNG files to begin implementing Capture One support. MD Optofonik Digital Processing, Software, and Printing 5 05-15-2013 11:43 AM
One strap to rule them all... soppy Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 32 12-10-2010 12:00 PM
One way to put your Christmas tree in your car. heliphoto Post Your Photos! 15 12-12-2008 09:56 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:35 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