K70 Fast Prime Lens?

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 12:06 PM

I just returned to Pentax after nearly 40 years with the purchase of a K70 with 50-300mm. As I mainly shoot wildlife in remote areas the size weight plus weather resistance made this an idea combination.

But also shoot some macro and low light (dusk and night shots) and with general landscapes so looking for a fast general purpose lens (akin the old 50mm of film days).

To start I picked up an old used Vivitar 28mm f2.0 from a pawn shop which is ok... I don't mind that it is a manual focus (AF is something nice but not a necessity), but would like something with more pronounced Bokeh, and brighter (the Vivitar needs to be shut down to around F4 before free of distortions.

Any suggestions?

**microlight** · 10-28-2017, 12:51 PM - **1 Like**

Hi Steve, welcome back. Have you thought about the 'plastic fantastic' DA 35mm f2.4? Sharp as a very sharp thing.

Wasp · 10-28-2017, 12:58 PM

From experience I can recommend the SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.4. The shots I can get on my K-x at ISO 12800 may be noisy but I can have a go at really interesting images by street light. The A version would be more convenient in terms of handling, i.e. it support automatic exposure.

From what I have read, the FA 50mm f/1.4 autofocus is not great in low light. Manual focus lacks feel on most autofocus lenses. For low light you might as well stick to MF lenses, it seems.

The last word in low light Pentax lenses would be the K 50mm f/1.2, but they are not cheap. Or perhaps the A* 85mm f/1.4, but the the price will make your eyes water.

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 01:24 PM

Originally posted by microlight

Hi Steve, welcome back. Have you thought about the 'plastic fantastic' DA 35mm f2.4? Sharp as a very sharp thing.

How wide open can the lens be used? How close to wide open can the DA 35mm be used (other than at times AF would be handy)?

The old Vivitar f2.0 I am currently using is on paper faster, but really only usable from around f4 if you want really sharp focus.

The other down side with it is that you can't get real close to the subject for 'macro like' shots... not talking true macro but just 1:4 or so. I guess could use dioper 'filter'.

I can't find much info of how flexable the DA 35 is. I was considering the Sigma 28/1.8 macro, which used can be found for around $200... but would ideally prefer something not as heavy.

Thanks.

Na Horuk · 10-28-2017, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by Steve Grosvenor

but would like something with more pronounced Bokeh, and brighter (the Vivitar needs to be shut down to around F4 before free of distortions.

DA 50mm f1.8. Its so affordable it is difficult to justify the older manual 50mm lenses.
FA 50mm f1.4 is another modern fast lens with fairly affordable price.
These are bright with big bokeh, good for portraiture. But they might be too long to landscape.
DA 35mm f2.8 macro limited is another lens you can consider. Good for landscapes, very sharp, compact, and it has true 1:1 macro magnification.
With a fast 50mm and macro 35mm you would cover most of the needs in the first post.

Edit: My first Pentax primes were M 50mm f1.7 and DA 35mm f2.4 (nonmacro). I only got DFA 100mm macro later, and it has good strong bokeh, amazing colours, and true macro.

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 01:33 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

The last word in low light Pentax lenses would be the K 50mm f/1.2, but they are not cheap. Or perhaps the A* 85mm f/1.4, but the the price will make your eyes water.

Any experience with some of the third party lenses? Pentax (smaller than 50 mm) doesn't offer many reasonably priced bright lenses.

**Madaboutpix** · 10-28-2017, 02:15 PM

You may want to take a look at the HD DA35 F2.8 Limited Macro for a solid macro-standard (if you don't mind the short working distance in near-1:1 macro).

And while you're at it, you might as well want to add the plastic-fantastic smc DA50 F1.8 to your kit. Sharp-as-tack-innocent-fun lens, and doesn't break the bank.

robjmitchell · 10-28-2017, 02:55 PM

Consider some zooms, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4. The 1st and 3rd versions are close focus. Great lens on a budget, by no means light but I wouldn't call it heavy. No WR though. For a bit more the Sigma 17-50/2.8 and tamron 17-50/2.8, again no WR and you don't get the Pentax colour but the tamron has nice bokeh though. Then there are the limited primes and 20-40 zoom. Great IQ in lightweight packages. But not so cheap.

hcc · 10-28-2017, 03:15 PM

You already received some good advice and you will get more.

I would recommend you the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4.

The lens is metallic and very solid. It is MF with a very nice focus ring. The IQ is outstanding on par with the FA31mm IMHO. Where the VL58mm is "king" is in poor lighting conditions. Low light off course, but also smog, fogg, smoke. Similarly, in overcast situations, the VL58mm will give me very nice shots.

When I travel and want a sturdy all-around prime, the VL58mm is my choice. More generally it is my most used lens (in terms of number of shots), ahead of my workhorse the DA18-250mm/DA18-270mm. This does say a lot...

Dare to be different ...

**JensE** · 10-28-2017, 03:19 PM

There is just one little problem: owners like it so much that it is rarely ever to be found in KA-mount ...

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 03:21 PM

Originally posted by Madaboutpix

You may want to take a look at the HD DA35 F2.8 Limited Macro for a solid macro-standard (if you don't mind the short working distance in near-1:1 macro)

I had looked at that lens, but is it any better than than the Sigma 28mm f1.8 Macro which costs about half as much?

D1N0 · 10-28-2017, 03:24 PM

The DA 35mm F2.4 is the most logical choice. The vivitar may be F2.0 but at F2 it is very soft, while the DA 35 is sharp wide open and very affordable. 50mm lenses are a little to long for general purpose on a crop sensor. The only brighter choice for Pentax is the Sigma 35mm F1.4. But it is a lot bigger, heavier and more expensive. Alternative would be a F2.8 zoom. Tamron or Sigma 17-50 or the Pentax DA* 16-50 or even the Limited zoom 20-40 But that is F2.8-4.

edit: And their i Go totally forgetting the FA 31mm F1.8 Limited....

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by robjmitchell

Consider some zooms, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4. The 1st and 3rd versions are close focus. Great lens on a budget, by no means light but I wouldn't call it heavy. No WR though. For a bit more the Sigma 17-50/2.8 and tamron 17-50/2.8, again no WR and you don't get the Pentax colour but the tamron has nice bokeh though. Then there are the limited primes and 20-40 zoom. Great IQ in lightweight packages. But not so cheap.

The Tamron 17-50/2.8 looks interesting... reviews suggest that it is respectable even wide open.

**Madaboutpix** · 10-28-2017, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Steve Grosvenor

I had looked at that lens [HD DA35 Limited Macro], but is it any better than the Sigma 28mm f1.8 Macro which costs about half as much?

Depends on your priorities. But the DA35 Limited is centre-sharp from F2.8 and what I would call tack-sharp pretty much from corner to corner through F11, and it keeps delighting me with its microcontrast, depth and colour rendering. No distortion to bother about, beautiful all-metal build, very portable. One of those compact primes that Pentax is really good at. Have no practical experience with the Sigma, but doubt that I would like it nearly as much.

Steve Grosvenor · 10-28-2017, 04:09 PM

Thanks, the four which appear to be the most interesting are (along with the pitfalls I have seen mentioned in reviews):-

Tamron 17-50/2.8
- not great AF plus no easy MF override
Sigma 28/1.8 Macro
- big and heavy
DA 35/2.4
- not great in low light
Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4
- almost a 'short tele' on a crop sensor

Although the FA31/1.8 looks like it is an excellent lens, from what I have read it doesn't seem to have much more to offer than the DA35.

It is the third party lenses (since there are so many of them) where there seems to be some real hidden gems... especially if AF is not important.

10-28-2017, 12:06 PM	#1
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60	K70 Fast Prime Lens? I just returned to Pentax after nearly 40 years with the purchase of a K70 with 50-300mm. As I mainly shoot wildlife in remote areas the size weight plus weather resistance made this an idea combination. But also shoot some macro and low light (dusk and night shots) and with general landscapes so looking for a fast general purpose lens (akin the old 50mm of film days). To start I picked up an old used Vivitar 28mm f2.0 from a pawn shop which is ok... I don't mind that it is a manual focus (AF is something nice but not a necessity), but would like something with more pronounced Bokeh, and brighter (the Vivitar needs to be shut down to around F4 before free of distortions. Any suggestions?

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10-28-2017, 12:51 PM - 1 Like	#2
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	Hi Steve, welcome back. Have you thought about the 'plastic fantastic' DA 35mm f2.4? Sharp as a very sharp thing.

10-28-2017, 12:58 PM	#3
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	From experience I can recommend the SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.4. The shots I can get on my K-x at ISO 12800 may be noisy but I can have a go at really interesting images by street light. The A version would be more convenient in terms of handling, i.e. it support automatic exposure. From what I have read, the FA 50mm f/1.4 autofocus is not great in low light. Manual focus lacks feel on most autofocus lenses. For low light you might as well stick to MF lenses, it seems. The last word in low light Pentax lenses would be the K 50mm f/1.2, but they are not cheap. Or perhaps the A* 85mm f/1.4, but the the price will make your eyes water.

10-28-2017, 01:24 PM	#4
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60 Original Poster	Originally posted by microlight Hi Steve, welcome back. Have you thought about the 'plastic fantastic' DA 35mm f2.4? Sharp as a very sharp thing. How wide open can the lens be used? How close to wide open can the DA 35mm be used (other than at times AF would be handy)? The old Vivitar f2.0 I am currently using is on paper faster, but really only usable from around f4 if you want really sharp focus. The other down side with it is that you can't get real close to the subject for 'macro like' shots... not talking true macro but just 1:4 or so. I guess could use dioper 'filter'. I can't find much info of how flexable the DA 35 is. I was considering the Sigma 28/1.8 macro, which used can be found for around $200... but would ideally prefer something not as heavy. Thanks.

10-28-2017, 01:27 PM	#5
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by Steve Grosvenor but would like something with more pronounced Bokeh, and brighter (the Vivitar needs to be shut down to around F4 before free of distortions. DA 50mm f1.8. Its so affordable it is difficult to justify the older manual 50mm lenses. FA 50mm f1.4 is another modern fast lens with fairly affordable price. These are bright with big bokeh, good for portraiture. But they might be too long to landscape. DA 35mm f2.8 macro limited is another lens you can consider. Good for landscapes, very sharp, compact, and it has true 1:1 macro magnification. With a fast 50mm and macro 35mm you would cover most of the needs in the first post. Edit: My first Pentax primes were M 50mm f1.7 and DA 35mm f2.4 (nonmacro). I only got DFA 100mm macro later, and it has good strong bokeh, amazing colours, and true macro.

10-28-2017, 01:33 PM	#6
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wasp The last word in low light Pentax lenses would be the K 50mm f/1.2, but they are not cheap. Or perhaps the A* 85mm f/1.4, but the the price will make your eyes water. Any experience with some of the third party lenses? Pentax (smaller than 50 mm) doesn't offer many reasonably priced bright lenses.

10-28-2017, 02:15 PM	#7
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,440	You may want to take a look at the HD DA35 F2.8 Limited Macro for a solid macro-standard (if you don't mind the short working distance in near-1:1 macro). And while you're at it, you might as well want to add the plastic-fantastic smc DA50 F1.8 to your kit. Sharp-as-tack-innocent-fun lens, and doesn't break the bank.

10-28-2017, 02:55 PM	#8
robjmitchell Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne Aus Posts: 1,776	Consider some zooms, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4. The 1st and 3rd versions are close focus. Great lens on a budget, by no means light but I wouldn't call it heavy. No WR though. For a bit more the Sigma 17-50/2.8 and tamron 17-50/2.8, again no WR and you don't get the Pentax colour but the tamron has nice bokeh though. Then there are the limited primes and 20-40 zoom. Great IQ in lightweight packages. But not so cheap.

10-28-2017, 03:15 PM	#9
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	You already received some good advice and you will get more. I would recommend you the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4. The lens is metallic and very solid. It is MF with a very nice focus ring. The IQ is outstanding on par with the FA31mm IMHO. Where the VL58mm is "king" is in poor lighting conditions. Low light off course, but also smog, fogg, smoke. Similarly, in overcast situations, the VL58mm will give me very nice shots. When I travel and want a sturdy all-around prime, the VL58mm is my choice. More generally it is my most used lens (in terms of number of shots), ahead of my workhorse the DA18-250mm/DA18-270mm. This does say a lot... Dare to be different ...

10-28-2017, 03:19 PM	#10
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,969	There is just one little problem: owners like it so much that it is rarely ever to be found in KA-mount ...

10-28-2017, 03:21 PM	#11
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60 Original Poster	Originally posted by Madaboutpix You may want to take a look at the HD DA35 F2.8 Limited Macro for a solid macro-standard (if you don't mind the short working distance in near-1:1 macro) I had looked at that lens, but is it any better than than the Sigma 28mm f1.8 Macro which costs about half as much?

10-28-2017, 03:24 PM	#12
D1N0 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2012 Location: --- Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,802	The DA 35mm F2.4 is the most logical choice. The vivitar may be F2.0 but at F2 it is very soft, while the DA 35 is sharp wide open and very affordable. 50mm lenses are a little to long for general purpose on a crop sensor. The only brighter choice for Pentax is the Sigma 35mm F1.4. But it is a lot bigger, heavier and more expensive. Alternative would be a F2.8 zoom. Tamron or Sigma 17-50 or the Pentax DA* 16-50 or even the Limited zoom 20-40 But that is F2.8-4. edit: And their i Go totally forgetting the FA 31mm F1.8 Limited....

10-28-2017, 03:38 PM	#13
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60 Original Poster	Originally posted by robjmitchell Consider some zooms, Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4. The 1st and 3rd versions are close focus. Great lens on a budget, by no means light but I wouldn't call it heavy. No WR though. For a bit more the Sigma 17-50/2.8 and tamron 17-50/2.8, again no WR and you don't get the Pentax colour but the tamron has nice bokeh though. Then there are the limited primes and 20-40 zoom. Great IQ in lightweight packages. But not so cheap. The Tamron 17-50/2.8 looks interesting... reviews suggest that it is respectable even wide open.

10-28-2017, 04:07 PM	#14
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,440	Originally posted by Steve Grosvenor I had looked at that lens [HD DA35 Limited Macro], but is it any better than the Sigma 28mm f1.8 Macro which costs about half as much? Depends on your priorities. But the DA35 Limited is centre-sharp from F2.8 and what I would call tack-sharp pretty much from corner to corner through F11, and it keeps delighting me with its microcontrast, depth and colour rendering. No distortion to bother about, beautiful all-metal build, very portable. One of those compact primes that Pentax is really good at. Have no practical experience with the Sigma, but doubt that I would like it nearly as much.

10-28-2017, 04:09 PM	#15
Steve Grosvenor Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 60 Original Poster	Thanks, the four which appear to be the most interesting are (along with the pitfalls I have seen mentioned in reviews):- Tamron 17-50/2.8 - not great AF plus no easy MF override Sigma 28/1.8 Macro - big and heavy DA 35/2.4 - not great in low light Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 - almost a 'short tele' on a crop sensor Although the FA31/1.8 looks like it is an excellent lens, from what I have read it doesn't seem to have much more to offer than the DA35. It is the third party lenses (since there are so many of them) where there seems to be some real hidden gems... especially if AF is not important.