where can I get cheap 50mm and 31mm primes?

wmmk · 02-20-2007, 03:13 PM

Hey all,
My zooms are fine, but just don't match the image quality of primes. I want a 31mm and a 50mm (that is in order of want), but the lenses at those focal lengths currently made by Pentax are very expensive, especially the 31mm! I was wondering if there were any alternatives. Because I love the 31mm focal length so much, I'm willing to pay more for it than I am for the 50mm. What is the best place to look for old pentax lenses, or are current tamron or sigma alternatives adequate?

dave sz · 02-20-2007, 03:19 PM

is there that much of a difference between 28mm and 31mm? I think the 31mm is gonna cost you a ton of money........

FotoPete · 02-20-2007, 03:21 PM

Haha, Dave is right. Just look for any 28 prime and a 50 prime. The difference between a 28mm at 31mm in terms of focal length is a bare minimal. Give your wallet a break. :P

wmmk · 02-20-2007, 03:29 PM

is 28 or 35 going to be closer to the perspective the eye sees when mounted on a K100D? that's really what I'm going for.

Jonas B · 02-20-2007, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by wmmk

is 28 or 35 going to be closer to the perspective the eye sees when mounted on a K100D? that's really what I'm going for.

Try it with your zoom. Fixate the zoom ring with some tape and see what you think. I have no problems using the FA35/2.0 as a normal lens. Others prefer a slightly wider FOV and choose the FA28/2.8.

To me the difference between f/2 and f/2.8 is a big step. The FA35 is fully useable wide open and very good from f/2.8 and onwards.

In theory the FA28 should be closer to some loosely held definition of what a "normal" lens is (measuring the diagonal of the sensor) but as said that is a matter of personal taste.

wmmk · 02-20-2007, 04:44 PM

cool. where can I get 28mm and 31mm lenses? pentax doesn't seem to make any, and neither does tamron. sigma has a f1.8 28mm, but it's a bit expensive for me. I just don't know what to do...

FotoPete · 02-20-2007, 06:40 PM

Well most people would say that the FOV of the eye is in and around 50mm. Some think its a little wider. Thats one of the reasons why Pentax made a 43mm Ltd.

If you use a 28mm lens, it will give you a FOV similar to that of a 42mm lens because of the 1.5X APS sensor crop. So try looking for a 28mm or even a 35mm prime and you are in good hands.

The SMc-M 28 isn't too hard to find on ebay although you'll be frequently bidding past $100. There are alot of third party 28s that are pretty good. Makinon, Tokina, Sigma, Vivitar are jsut some of the manufactures that make pretty good lenses and you can easily find them for under $100 ebay.

I have a Tokina 28 (somewhat sticky aperture) and a Makinon 28 (bought for $5 out of LBA..the aperture is really sluggish).

wmmk · 02-20-2007, 07:43 PM

I really liked the look of this picture. Would I get better results with this kind of thing with 35mm or 28mm? I've never really trusted ebay much, and don't have a credit card (I'm 13), which makes it inconvenient. Are there any sites besides keh.com that would have a lot of used photo gear where I'm not buying directly from a person?

Jonas B · 02-20-2007, 07:57 PM

That picture is decent but if it is really sharp or not is hard to say looking at a 800 pixel thing published on the web. it doesn't look super sharp to me and at f/5.6 I think it should have been (unless affected by motion blur that is).
Isn't there an FA35/2 for sale here in this forum right now? USD 350 seems a bit expensive (new at B&H is USD 300 but they aren't there all the time) but then again, it's mint and you get a good filter and they are a bit hard to get by.

FotoPete · 02-20-2007, 08:47 PM

ouch. Ok, check with your friends who do ebay. Or better yet check local camera shops. Especially those that are like more dedicated and carry older/second hand lenses. No need to drop hundreds on an FA lens or a ltd unless you really want to.

Just beware prices will be higher than those you see on ebay and make sure that the lens is good. (snappy aperture blades, no scratches, No fungus problems)

Flaco · 02-21-2007, 11:14 AM

I think I paid 25 bucks on ebay for a haminex 28mm 2.8 lens. If you don't mind having a manual lens, go with ebay to find a 28mm, or even a 50mm. I also got one of those from there for around 25-30 bucks.

02-20-2007, 03:13 PM	#1
wmmk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 106	where can I get cheap 50mm and 31mm primes? Hey all, My zooms are fine, but just don't match the image quality of primes. I want a 31mm and a 50mm (that is in order of want), but the lenses at those focal lengths currently made by Pentax are very expensive, especially the 31mm! I was wondering if there were any alternatives. Because I love the 31mm focal length so much, I'm willing to pay more for it than I am for the 50mm. What is the best place to look for old pentax lenses, or are current tamron or sigma alternatives adequate?

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02-20-2007, 03:19 PM	#2
dave sz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: carpentersville, IL Posts: 693	is there that much of a difference between 28mm and 31mm? I think the 31mm is gonna cost you a ton of money........

02-20-2007, 03:21 PM	#3
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Haha, Dave is right. Just look for any 28 prime and a 50 prime. The difference between a 28mm at 31mm in terms of focal length is a bare minimal. Give your wallet a break. :P

02-20-2007, 03:29 PM	#4
wmmk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 106 Original Poster	is 28 or 35 going to be closer to the perspective the eye sees when mounted on a K100D? that's really what I'm going for.

02-20-2007, 03:37 PM	#5
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Originally posted by wmmk is 28 or 35 going to be closer to the perspective the eye sees when mounted on a K100D? that's really what I'm going for. Try it with your zoom. Fixate the zoom ring with some tape and see what you think. I have no problems using the FA35/2.0 as a normal lens. Others prefer a slightly wider FOV and choose the FA28/2.8. To me the difference between f/2 and f/2.8 is a big step. The FA35 is fully useable wide open and very good from f/2.8 and onwards. In theory the FA28 should be closer to some loosely held definition of what a "normal" lens is (measuring the diagonal of the sensor) but as said that is a matter of personal taste.

02-20-2007, 04:44 PM	#6
wmmk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 106 Original Poster	cool. where can I get 28mm and 31mm lenses? pentax doesn't seem to make any, and neither does tamron. sigma has a f1.8 28mm, but it's a bit expensive for me. I just don't know what to do...

02-20-2007, 06:40 PM	#7
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Well most people would say that the FOV of the eye is in and around 50mm. Some think its a little wider. Thats one of the reasons why Pentax made a 43mm Ltd. If you use a 28mm lens, it will give you a FOV similar to that of a 42mm lens because of the 1.5X APS sensor crop. So try looking for a 28mm or even a 35mm prime and you are in good hands. The SMc-M 28 isn't too hard to find on ebay although you'll be frequently bidding past $100. There are alot of third party 28s that are pretty good. Makinon, Tokina, Sigma, Vivitar are jsut some of the manufactures that make pretty good lenses and you can easily find them for under $100 ebay. I have a Tokina 28 (somewhat sticky aperture) and a Makinon 28 (bought for $5 out of LBA..the aperture is really sluggish).

02-20-2007, 07:43 PM	#8
wmmk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 106 Original Poster	I really liked the look of this picture. Would I get better results with this kind of thing with 35mm or 28mm? I've never really trusted ebay much, and don't have a credit card (I'm 13), which makes it inconvenient. Are there any sites besides keh.com that would have a lot of used photo gear where I'm not buying directly from a person?

02-20-2007, 07:57 PM	#9
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	That picture is decent but if it is really sharp or not is hard to say looking at a 800 pixel thing published on the web. it doesn't look super sharp to me and at f/5.6 I think it should have been (unless affected by motion blur that is). Isn't there an FA35/2 for sale here in this forum right now? USD 350 seems a bit expensive (new at B&H is USD 300 but they aren't there all the time) but then again, it's mint and you get a good filter and they are a bit hard to get by.

02-20-2007, 08:47 PM	#10
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	ouch. Ok, check with your friends who do ebay. Or better yet check local camera shops. Especially those that are like more dedicated and carry older/second hand lenses. No need to drop hundreds on an FA lens or a ltd unless you really want to. Just beware prices will be higher than those you see on ebay and make sure that the lens is good. (snappy aperture blades, no scratches, No fungus problems)

02-21-2007, 11:14 AM	#11
Flaco Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Outside Chicago Posts: 218	I think I paid 25 bucks on ebay for a haminex 28mm 2.8 lens. If you don't mind having a manual lens, go with ebay to find a 28mm, or even a 50mm. I also got one of those from there for around 25-30 bucks.

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