[pepperberry farm]

DA 14mm f2.8 - fast enough for most situation and definitely wide...

[Kozlok]

The DA*16-50 is probably your best bet indoors with a fast aperture. Used they are cheap now. Convert to screwdrive if SDM fails. Also, money leftover to try the DA 15 or 21.

[pres589]

I'd buy a new Tamron 17-50 before a used DA 16-50 any day of the week. Have not used the DA but don't really care, I like the Tamron. Sigma 17-50 also has fans.

[Sandy Hancock]

I'd buy a new Tamron 17-50 before a used DA 16-50 any day of the week. Have not used the DA but don't really care, I like the Tamron. Sigma 17-50 also has fans.

That's a strange statement to make if you haven't used the DA*16-50. It's a fantastic lens for environmental portraits, with particularly nice bokeh.



Not much bokeh in this one, but the IQ impressed me.



I have owned the Sigma 17-50/2.8, and sold it soon after getting the Pentax; in direct comparisons the improvement in colour reproduction and overall rendering was dramatic. The SDM failed, but I don't really care

[pres589]

Thought the Tamron 17-50 outscored the 16-50 when PF compared the three. I've seen some excellent portraits out of the Tamron and have used it on a Canon body and liked it quite a bit.

The 16-50 isn't a bad lens; far from it. It's just doesn't seem worth the price they go for new; used with failed SDM might make more sense, but when the Tamron is $300 new in the US...

[SSGGeezer]

Thought the Tamron 17-50 outscored the 16-50 when PF compared the three. I've seen some excellent portraits out of the Tamron and have used it on a Canon body and liked it quite a bit.

The 16-50 isn't a bad lens; far from it. It's just doesn't seem worth the price they go for new; used with failed SDM might make more sense, but when the Tamron is $300 new in the US...

Just get a da 50 1.8 for about $100 bucks (or less used) and buy the DA 21 and maybe another Limited like the FA77 and then a DA 40, and still have a little left over. Why go with one when there are Limiteds out there waiting for you?

[Sandy Hancock]

Remember the OP is specifically after something wide on a crop camera.

[Kozlok]

The other advantage of the *16-50 is WR. You can go outside on wet days and get some photos you would otherwise miss. I think when the Pentax is $800 it’s a tough sell, but at $350 used, it’s a no brainer.

[pres589]

Just get a da 50 1.8 for about $100 bucks (or less used) and buy the DA 21 and maybe another Limited like the FA77 and then a DA 40, and still have a little left over. Why go with one when there are Limiteds out there waiting for you?

I've mentioned a few different lenses that would work. There's so many ways to skin this cat. He mentioned $900 USD right now so how about I list what I would do with that money, where used prices are estimates;

DA 15 SMC (specifically the SMC), - used, ex. cond., $350
DA 50 1.8, new - $120

If there's already some kind of general purpose zoom in his collection, then get;
DA 70 SMC - used, ex. cond, $300

If there isn't a decent zoom in his collection, then get
Tamron 17-50 f2.8, new - $300
OR
Pentax DA 18-135, new - $400 (not the greatest portrait zoom, but it's a great all-around zoom with WR)

My preference would be the DA 15, DA 18-135, and DA 50. That's exactly what's on my shelf today and probably what I would consider my "core lenses" for my crop DSLR. Landscape, do-all-everywhere, and portraits.

[ChatMechant]

With a $900 budget, maybe start thinking about saving a little more for a used K-1 to go with that 31. Otherwise, seems like an FA*24 would fit the requirements.

[reeftool]

Is it just me or does anyone else find this thread a little ironic that new photographers are looking to match the field of view of their phones to a camera lens? I have stated many times that the manufacturers advertising that their cameras/lenses are equivalent to a certain 35mm size is totally useless because the vast majority of people have never looked through the viewfinder of a FF camera.

Anyhow, for what it's worth, the iPhone is a pretty wide angle view so as has been mentioned, a wide angle lens like the DA 21 would match it pretty good. I believe Apple specs their lens as 28mm equivalent on 35 mmm (FF). SInce the OP wants it for a walk around, I'd suggest a good fast zoom like the DA 16-50 or Sigma 17-50/ 2.8. The Sigma will fall well under the budget of $900. Or just go with the DA 21 Ltd. if you want a prime.

[swanlefitte]

Kinda surprised the sigma 18-35 1.8 hasn't been mentioned. Its fast and good for close up portraits. Its also wide. I haven't complained about the bokeh, actually love its starburts never though of bokeh. Its worth mentioning.

[AndrewG NY]

For wider angle, soft out-of-focus areas are typically hard to come by without relatively close focus distance and/or good distance separation to the background. The difference between f2.8 and f/4 is not that huge in this regard. There are a few outliers like Sigma 24/1.4 but I think DA 21/3.2 Limited is hard to beat if you like the useful mild-wide angle of view that mobile phone cameras usually provide. What is out of focus with this lens is pleasant enough.

[normhead]

For wider angle, soft out-of-focus areas are typically hard to come by without relatively close focus distance and/or good distance separation to the background

The shorter the FL, the wider the DoF. It can be hard to even get the background out of focus, forget about nice looking out of focus. Checking my 21 images going back 4 years, I have one image with an out of focus area, shot at ƒ5.6. When I want an out of focus background I don't reach for the 21. Maybe someone else has something.

[MrB1]

Seeking advice on one new lense for portrait as well as broad landscape shots. Ideally something with the field of view of my iPhone 7, but with a nice bokeh for close up portraits, and fast as possible for low light. Would be my new walk-around lense.

As some others have suggested, the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 would be worth considering. It is a good lens and it's compact, fairly light weight, and cheap (only $300 new), yet it has a six year warranty. It could be a walk-around lens for several months, then analyse which focal length(s) are most used, and go for another wide aperture prime at that focal length (or perhaps even longer or shorter), to complement the FA 31.