Best "bang for buck" lenses (K-5)

**mgvh** · 01-18-2016, 02:22 PM

For around $100 or less: As many have noted, the DA 35 and DA 50 are great value lenses. If I had to choose, though, I'd keep my DA 40XS. To replace the speed of that DA 50, I'd get an old manual (M/A) 50 f1.7. There are lots of other old manual primes (including M42s) for quite cheap that are a lot of fun.

For $100-300: I don't think you can beat the DA HD 55-300 which I see is selling new for ~$250 on Amazon.
For bang-for-the-buck usability, it's hard to beat the DA 18-135, and it also is now under $300 new.
For $200-300, I'd get either the Rokinon/Bower/Samyand 8mm FE or the DA 10-17 FE.

In the $300 range, you can get the Pentax 100 macro or the Tamron 90.
For $400+, there is the DA 16-85

**bobbotron** · 01-18-2016, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by philodragon

Hi All!

I am new to the Pentax family. I switched less than a year ago and have had some really good results with some lenses. However, I wanted to get your opinions. What are the best bang-for-buck lenses for the K-5? I'm thinking of the following categories and really want high image quality:

• $100 or less
• $100-$300
• $300 and above

Are there any zooms with high image quality that won't break the wallet? I'm open to buying used as well

Get a helios 44-2 or 44-4. About $50 to $70 used + a m42 to K mount adapter... Really nice IQ.

jddwoods · 01-18-2016, 02:50 PM

My suggestions are DA 35 2.4 and DA 50 1.8 for new inexpensive lenses. If you want better build quality and willing to move up to 100 to 300 dollars and above, I would suggest DA 21 Limited (used) DA 40 Limited (new or used) and HD DA 55-300 WR, it is selling for less than $300 new.

**Des** · 01-18-2016, 04:52 PM

>$100: See this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/308951-affo...r-10-lens.html

Just about any MF 50mm prime fits the bill. For those of us who can't be bothered with manual aperure, try the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7.

Or for new and AF, the DA 50 f1.8 - the poor person's limited

$100-300: Pentax 55-300: any version, but particularly the DA-L: no hood, no QS, plastic mount, but optically the same as the DA and about 25% cheaper. The WR version has been available for about $250 recently, which is excellent value.

>$300: Pentax DFA 100 Macro WR at $360. Did you say sharp?

FA 43 f1.9 Ltd. For about half the price of the FA 31 or FA 77, you get that wonderful Limited rendering and build quality. And I find it a useful focal length.

Also the Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO tele macro (77mm filters), if you can get it for around $500. (The Pentax FA equivalent costs about $2000.)

The Sigma 400 has a sibling, the Sigma 300mm f4 APO tele macro; I haven't used that lens, but it looks to be a good budget alternative to the Pentax F*/FA*300 f4.5 lenses.

Last edited by Des; 01-19-2016 at 01:04 AM.

SGOMMO7 · 01-18-2016, 07:22 PM

Best value new, that I know of: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 XS

Pentax vouches for this lens saying it is, "one of the best lenses in the world"; They make this statement in their lens brochure. When it came out it was the smallest lens for crop sensor and it might still be as I haven't heard of anything smaller. Plus if you get this lens you will have the entire XS line as there is only one lens in this line. This is from a failed, (perhaps failed is too strong a word) Pentax concept and as such is sold cheap.

One of the best, bang for the buck's out there: RICOH RIKENON P 1:2 50mm manual focus but very sharp and performs well on modern digital sensors.

kh1234567890 · 01-18-2016, 07:34 PM

Originally posted by skierd

$100-300 - Used SMC DA 21mm Limited (eBay), SMC DA 40mm f2.8 Limited, SMC DA 70mm Limited. Shop well can you can get all three for $500-600 total.

+1

DA21, DA40, DA70

**clackers** · 01-19-2016, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

+1

DA21, DA40, DA70

That's a pretty good combo.

philodragon · 01-19-2016, 01:26 AM

Thank you all so much for these great responses. I am so glad I switched to Pentax! To date I am currently using the following lenses (in order of favorite to least favorite):

•Rikenon 1:2 50mm
•SMC Pentax DA 1:2.4 35 mm (plastic fantastic)
•Cambron MC 1:2.8 28mm (auto)
•Tamron 1:3.5 28-300mm

I do mostly for-fun shooting but I'm pretty diverse in that I love low light stuff as well as nature stuff (and people shooting as well of course). But I still want pro quality shots! LOL.

I would really like to find a great zoom (with excellent image quality) below $200, as my Tamron really isn't the greatest IMO. However, I've been told that primes always have better image quality. It would also be nice to add a wider angle lense to my collection. Any suggestions overall is great though. I'm still exploring to find the right set of lenses to use.

See my new Flicker page for a couple of samples:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/132602370@N03/SX29g3

bassek · 01-19-2016, 01:38 AM

The K, M, A and F-series in general.

Look here Pentax F Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database for the best bang ones.

Seb

Geoff-Melb · 01-19-2016, 04:18 AM

Welcome to Pentax.

Pro quality images, low light performance and a budget....

In the zoom dept. a Tamron AF 17-50 f2.8 XR Di II SP (mouthful of a name!)
It covers a neat range from wide angle to portrait and has some macro ability. It's good for shoots in tight locations.
I use it as a walk-around (when I really don't have specific targets in mind)
Excellent reviews and results although I find it has poor bokeh at f2.8. It improves quickly from there.

Keep your Tamron 28-300 for the odd occasion you want long tele. You'll have to pay a lot I think to get quality there.

I prefer primes for the image quality.
Sigma super wide II 24mm, though I may eventually sell it as I use the Tamron zoom usually in that focal length.
You already have the Pentax 35mm otherwise I'd suggest the Pentax 40mm limited or more expensively the Pentax 35mm limited.
Pentax-F50 f1.7 and get a hood for it. Excellent fast lens but it will hunt in low light so maybe use manual focus sometimes.
Pentax DA 70 limited. Not so budget but much less than a 77 limited. Beautiful results in portraiture.

If you want super-wide angle take a look at the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 DC EX . Good bang for buck but I'd say it was a specialty lens as the wide angle distortion takes some getting used to working with.

The DA 21, 40, 70 combo would be good too if you can get them at the right prices.

**bobbotron** · 01-19-2016, 05:07 AM - **1 Like**

A tripod is an amazing way to make a lot of lenses sing.

reeftool · 01-19-2016, 07:01 AM

I'll join in with the others and mention the DA 50/1.8. It's an awesome lens for the price. I don't have the DA 35/2.4 but you can add that one too. It's well spoken of, as is the plastic DA 40/2.8 XS. 35-40 mm isn't a size I use much and I own the DA 40 Limited. It's also a good deal for the quality of the lens but more than the plastic version. I rarely use it which brings up a question. Is a lens a good deal if it just sits in you bag? Everybody's financial situation is different. Dropping around $100 on one of the "plastic fantastic" lenses was rather painless for me but I did buy the DA 50 because I do use my old MF 50's often and I really needed an MF version. I feel I wasted my money on the DA 40 Limited although I do use it occasionally.

**K(s)evin** · 01-19-2016, 07:38 AM

"Keep your Tamron 28-300 for the odd occasion you want long tele. You'll have to pay a lot I think to get quality there."

If you can afford it, the DA or DA-L55-300 f/4-5.8 is an outstanding performer for the price (even the newer HD WR version). I can promise that you will not regret swapping the Tamron for the Pentax.

northcoastgreg · 01-19-2016, 07:59 AM

Originally posted by philodragon

Are there any zooms with high image quality that won't break the wallet? I'm open to buying used as well

Depends on what is meant by "breaking the wallet." The DA 16-85 is a very good zoom with fairly decent range. It's now selling at B&H for under $465. If that's too expensive, try a used DA 18-135, or a used Tamron 17-50 f2.8, or a used DA 16-45.

pathdoc · 01-19-2016, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by philodragon

To date I am currently using the following lenses (in order of favorite to least favorite):

•Rikenon 1:2 50mm
•SMC Pentax DA 1:2.4 35 mm (plastic fantastic)
•Cambron MC 1:2.8 28mm (auto)
•Tamron 1:3.5 28-300mm

You have all the common prime focal lengths covered from wide to normal; you have a zoom lens which, whatever its defects, covers a pretty wide range. In APS-C, you are missing the wide end between 16 or 18mm and 28mm. The Pentax primes that fill that gap in APS-C are not cheap (DA15, DA21 Limited), but they are very good if your budget ever stretches to them. Some of the zooms may be another matter, in price terms, but the only ones I have experience of are the 18-135 (for wet weather) and the older (and now superceded) 18-250, the optical limitations of which I am prepared to deal with when I need their flexibility in focal length. There are a few other not-so-zoomy Pentax lenses that start at 16 or 17mm, and you might want to concentrate your research efforts on those.

01-18-2016, 07:22 PM	#20
SGOMMO7 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 83	Some bang for your buck Best value new, that I know of: SMC Pentax-DA 40mm F2.8 XS Pentax vouches for this lens saying it is, "one of the best lenses in the world"; They make this statement in their lens brochure. When it came out it was the smallest lens for crop sensor and it might still be as I haven't heard of anything smaller. Plus if you get this lens you will have the entire XS line as there is only one lens in this line. This is from a failed, (perhaps failed is too strong a word) Pentax concept and as such is sold cheap. One of the best, bang for the buck's out there: RICOH RIKENON P 1:2 50mm manual focus but very sharp and performs well on modern digital sensors. Last edited by SGOMMO7; 01-18-2016 at 07:24 PM. Reason: typo

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Best bang for the buck long 300mm tele for Q?	raider	Pentax Q	82	07-11-2018 06:50 AM
Wide angle best bang for the buck?	ismaelg	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	04-04-2015 01:09 AM
Best bang for the buck in telephoto lenses?	pentaxmz	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	20	08-13-2014 07:04 AM
"Best" lenses for K-3	hcc	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	01-15-2014 05:51 AM
Best "bang-for-the-buck" flash?	lastdodobird	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	24	02-13-2009 11:32 AM

01-18-2016, 02:22 PM	#16
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,030	For around $100 or less: As many have noted, the DA 35 and DA 50 are great value lenses. If I had to choose, though, I'd keep my DA 40XS. To replace the speed of that DA 50, I'd get an old manual (M/A) 50 f1.7. There are lots of other old manual primes (including M42s) for quite cheap that are a lot of fun. For $100-300: I don't think you can beat the DA HD 55-300 which I see is selling new for ~$250 on Amazon. For bang-for-the-buck usability, it's hard to beat the DA 18-135, and it also is now under $300 new. For $200-300, I'd get either the Rokinon/Bower/Samyand 8mm FE or the DA 10-17 FE. In the $300 range, you can get the Pentax 100 macro or the Tamron 90. For $400+, there is the DA 16-85

01-18-2016, 02:48 PM	#17
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	Originally posted by philodragon Hi All! I am new to the Pentax family. I switched less than a year ago and have had some really good results with some lenses. However, I wanted to get your opinions. What are the best bang-for-buck lenses for the K-5? I'm thinking of the following categories and really want high image quality: • $100 or less • $100-$300 • $300 and above Are there any zooms with high image quality that won't break the wallet? I'm open to buying used as well Get a helios 44-2 or 44-4. About $50 to $70 used + a m42 to K mount adapter... Really nice IQ.

01-18-2016, 02:50 PM	#18
jddwoods Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,035	My suggestions are DA 35 2.4 and DA 50 1.8 for new inexpensive lenses. If you want better build quality and willing to move up to 100 to 300 dollars and above, I would suggest DA 21 Limited (used) DA 40 Limited (new or used) and HD DA 55-300 WR, it is selling for less than $300 new.

01-18-2016, 04:52 PM	#19
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	>$100: See this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/308951-affo...r-10-lens.html Just about any MF 50mm prime fits the bill. For those of us who can't be bothered with manual aperure, try the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7. Or for new and AF, the DA 50 f1.8 - the poor person's limited $100-300: Pentax 55-300: any version, but particularly the DA-L: no hood, no QS, plastic mount, but optically the same as the DA and about 25% cheaper. The WR version has been available for about $250 recently, which is excellent value. >$300: Pentax DFA 100 Macro WR at $360. Did you say sharp? FA 43 f1.9 Ltd. For about half the price of the FA 31 or FA 77, you get that wonderful Limited rendering and build quality. And I find it a useful focal length. Also the Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO tele macro (77mm filters), if you can get it for around $500. (The Pentax FA equivalent costs about $2000.) The Sigma 400 has a sibling, the Sigma 300mm f4 APO tele macro; I haven't used that lens, but it looks to be a good budget alternative to the Pentax F/FA300 f4.5 lenses. Last edited by Des; 01-19-2016 at 01:04 AM.

01-18-2016, 07:34 PM	#21
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by skierd $100-300 - Used SMC DA 21mm Limited (eBay), SMC DA 40mm f2.8 Limited, SMC DA 70mm Limited. Shop well can you can get all three for $500-600 total. +1 DA21, DA40, DA70

01-19-2016, 12:56 AM	#22
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by kh1234567890 +1 DA21, DA40, DA70 That's a pretty good combo.

01-19-2016, 01:26 AM	#23
philodragon New Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: San Diego, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 22 Original Poster	Thank you all so much for these great responses. I am so glad I switched to Pentax! To date I am currently using the following lenses (in order of favorite to least favorite): •Rikenon 1:2 50mm •SMC Pentax DA 1:2.4 35 mm (plastic fantastic) •Cambron MC 1:2.8 28mm (auto) •Tamron 1:3.5 28-300mm I do mostly for-fun shooting but I'm pretty diverse in that I love low light stuff as well as nature stuff (and people shooting as well of course). But I still want pro quality shots! LOL. I would really like to find a great zoom (with excellent image quality) below $200, as my Tamron really isn't the greatest IMO. However, I've been told that primes always have better image quality. It would also be nice to add a wider angle lense to my collection. Any suggestions overall is great though. I'm still exploring to find the right set of lenses to use. See my new Flicker page for a couple of samples: https://www.flickr.com/gp/132602370@N03/SX29g3

01-19-2016, 01:38 AM	#24
bassek Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 706	The K, M, A and F-series in general. Look here Pentax F Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database for the best bang ones. Seb

01-19-2016, 04:18 AM	#25
Geoff-Melb New Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 13	Welcome to Pentax. Pro quality images, low light performance and a budget.... In the zoom dept. a Tamron AF 17-50 f2.8 XR Di II SP (mouthful of a name!) It covers a neat range from wide angle to portrait and has some macro ability. It's good for shoots in tight locations. I use it as a walk-around (when I really don't have specific targets in mind) Excellent reviews and results although I find it has poor bokeh at f2.8. It improves quickly from there. Keep your Tamron 28-300 for the odd occasion you want long tele. You'll have to pay a lot I think to get quality there. I prefer primes for the image quality. Sigma super wide II 24mm, though I may eventually sell it as I use the Tamron zoom usually in that focal length. You already have the Pentax 35mm otherwise I'd suggest the Pentax 40mm limited or more expensively the Pentax 35mm limited. Pentax-F50 f1.7 and get a hood for it. Excellent fast lens but it will hunt in low light so maybe use manual focus sometimes. Pentax DA 70 limited. Not so budget but much less than a 77 limited. Beautiful results in portraiture. If you want super-wide angle take a look at the Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 DC EX . Good bang for buck but I'd say it was a specialty lens as the wide angle distortion takes some getting used to working with. The DA 21, 40, 70 combo would be good too if you can get them at the right prices.

01-19-2016, 05:07 AM - 1 Like	#26
bobbotron Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Ottawa, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,349	A tripod is an amazing way to make a lot of lenses sing.

01-19-2016, 07:01 AM	#27
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	I'll join in with the others and mention the DA 50/1.8. It's an awesome lens for the price. I don't have the DA 35/2.4 but you can add that one too. It's well spoken of, as is the plastic DA 40/2.8 XS. 35-40 mm isn't a size I use much and I own the DA 40 Limited. It's also a good deal for the quality of the lens but more than the plastic version. I rarely use it which brings up a question. Is a lens a good deal if it just sits in you bag? Everybody's financial situation is different. Dropping around $100 on one of the "plastic fantastic" lenses was rather painless for me but I did buy the DA 50 because I do use my old MF 50's often and I really needed an MF version. I feel I wasted my money on the DA 40 Limited although I do use it occasionally.

01-19-2016, 07:38 AM	#28
K(s)evin Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 476	"Keep your Tamron 28-300 for the odd occasion you want long tele. You'll have to pay a lot I think to get quality there." If you can afford it, the DA or DA-L55-300 f/4-5.8 is an outstanding performer for the price (even the newer HD WR version). I can promise that you will not regret swapping the Tamron for the Pentax.

01-19-2016, 07:59 AM	#29
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,173	Originally posted by philodragon Are there any zooms with high image quality that won't break the wallet? I'm open to buying used as well Depends on what is meant by "breaking the wallet." The DA 16-85 is a very good zoom with fairly decent range. It's now selling at B&H for under $465. If that's too expensive, try a used DA 18-135, or a used Tamron 17-50 f2.8, or a used DA 16-45.

01-19-2016, 09:22 AM	#30
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by philodragon To date I am currently using the following lenses (in order of favorite to least favorite): •Rikenon 1:2 50mm •SMC Pentax DA 1:2.4 35 mm (plastic fantastic) •Cambron MC 1:2.8 28mm (auto) •Tamron 1:3.5 28-300mm You have all the common prime focal lengths covered from wide to normal; you have a zoom lens which, whatever its defects, covers a pretty wide range. In APS-C, you are missing the wide end between 16 or 18mm and 28mm. The Pentax primes that fill that gap in APS-C are not cheap (DA15, DA21 Limited), but they are very good if your budget ever stretches to them. Some of the zooms may be another matter, in price terms, but the only ones I have experience of are the 18-135 (for wet weather) and the older (and now superceded) 18-250, the optical limitations of which I am prepared to deal with when I need their flexibility in focal length. There are a few other not-so-zoomy Pentax lenses that start at 16 or 17mm, and you might want to concentrate your research efforts on those.