favourite lens

Marc Sabatella · 10-09-2008, 11:48 AM

My answer is the DA40/2.8. It's just such a perfect focal length for me as a general purpose lens, plus it is fast enough to be useful in almost any situation, focuses faster than any lens I have (probably faster than any Pentax lens, period), and is just so small/light/convenient. Doesn't hurt that it's one of the sharpest lenses I own, too.

The lens that kicks the DA40 off the most often is, right now, the M100/2.8, which happens to be provide a great focal length / speed / size combo for a very specific kind of shooting I do a lot: musicians performing in jazz clubs.

My other lenses are the M28/2.8, A50/1.7, M135/3.5, M200/4, and the DA 50-200 - plus the DA 18-55 (I have both version I and II, but see no difference between them worth mentioning). Of these, the M200/4 is without doubt the least used, followed by the A50/1.7 (much as I do love the lens!).

Bart · 10-09-2008, 11:49 AM

I couldn't pick a favourite: depends on what you want to shoot. The right tool for the job.

**GaryM** · 10-09-2008, 12:16 PM

DA21 - so versitile, and I just can't get a bad image out of it.

Lord Awesome · 10-09-2008, 01:01 PM

I'd have to go with my old Super Takumar 105mm f2.8. I absolutely love tht lens. When I get my 31 limited, I'm sure it will play second fiddle, but untill then, I love my sup taks overall more than any of my newer lenses.

Damn Brit · 10-09-2008, 01:11 PM

At the moment I have the Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4 on my camera 99% of the time.
When I get a new body, the lens will probably stay on one of the bodies full time I think.

KFrog · 10-09-2008, 01:17 PM

I have to go with the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro. I tend to do a lot of shots of all things small right now. Next would be the DA18-250mm for overall flexibility.

ftpaddict · 10-09-2008, 01:23 PM

I am happy to say that I use all my lenses in almost equal proportions.

I'd also have to give props to the kit lens. Best bang for the buck out there.

Torphoto · 10-09-2008, 01:24 PM

70mm LTD, it is on my camera 90% of the time.

drewdlephone · 10-09-2008, 01:31 PM

Most time spent on camera: DA 18-55II

Favorite Lens: SMC Takumar 55/1.8

I'd like to upgrade to the DA* 16-50 as my walkabout lens because of the weather capability and the better low-light performance, but my "fast fifty" is the Tak, and now that I know how to get the K200 to play nice with it, I'm looking forward to having some fun with it.

8540tomg · 10-09-2008, 01:46 PM

Tough call.

I like all my lenses and consider them all very good. The K 300 f4 and K 200 2.5 have seen a lot of action lately with the DA 70mm 2.4 close behind.

Tom G

Jimfear · 10-09-2008, 02:09 PM

Probably the 50mm 1,4... that sits on the camera most of the time. But I do love the 35mm 3,5 also when I need something a little wider.

But they are all quite equal, which should supose that I haven't found a real favorite lens yet. Hope one will come along shortly.

AndrewG NY · 10-09-2008, 02:22 PM

FA 24-90 f/3.5-4.5. I have a bunch of other very nice lenses including primes, but I find having a decent-quality mild wide and portrait-length tele in the same lens pretty darn handy. It also balances well and seems to be just about the right size/weight on either my *ist DS2 or K10D. I sometimes wonder whether the new DA 17-70 f/4 would be a good fit for me (for those outings when I don't want to also bring a DA 12-24 or DA 16-45).

**rparmar** · 10-09-2008, 02:33 PM

Please don't make me choose between:

Vivi Series 1 105mm f/2.5 macro
FA77 Limited
DA35 Limited macro
Vivi 28mm f/2

felix68 · 10-09-2008, 04:51 PM

The FA31 Limited is on my camera in the bag all of the time. I really like the close to "normal" FOV on APS-C and you can't beat the image quality. In fact, my wife grabbed the camera yesterday to go to a pumpkin patch kids event and the FA31 was on it. She didn't bring the rest of the bag so she only had the FA31. She shot the whole event in green mode and got some amazing pictures with striking DOF, color, sharpness.

m8o · 10-09-2008, 05:31 PM

glad to see the DA 70mm Limited showing up some... was worried only the 77mm would get mentioned.

10-09-2008, 11:49 AM	#32
Bart Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: WW community of Pentax users Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,646	Like them all I couldn't pick a favourite: depends on what you want to shoot. The right tool for the job.

10-09-2008, 04:51 PM	#44
felix68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 281	FA31 Limited The FA31 Limited is on my camera in the bag all of the time. I really like the close to "normal" FOV on APS-C and you can't beat the image quality. In fact, my wife grabbed the camera yesterday to go to a pumpkin patch kids event and the FA31 was on it. She didn't bring the rest of the bag so she only had the FA31. She shot the whole event in green mode and got some amazing pictures with striking DOF, color, sharpness.

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10-09-2008, 11:48 AM	#31
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	My answer is the DA40/2.8. It's just such a perfect focal length for me as a general purpose lens, plus it is fast enough to be useful in almost any situation, focuses faster than any lens I have (probably faster than any Pentax lens, period), and is just so small/light/convenient. Doesn't hurt that it's one of the sharpest lenses I own, too. The lens that kicks the DA40 off the most often is, right now, the M100/2.8, which happens to be provide a great focal length / speed / size combo for a very specific kind of shooting I do a lot: musicians performing in jazz clubs. My other lenses are the M28/2.8, A50/1.7, M135/3.5, M200/4, and the DA 50-200 - plus the DA 18-55 (I have both version I and II, but see no difference between them worth mentioning). Of these, the M200/4 is without doubt the least used, followed by the A50/1.7 (much as I do love the lens!).

10-09-2008, 12:16 PM	#33
GaryM Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Montclair, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 426	DA21 - so versitile, and I just can't get a bad image out of it.

10-09-2008, 01:01 PM	#34
Lord Awesome Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Valparaiso IN USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 76	I'd have to go with my old Super Takumar 105mm f2.8. I absolutely love tht lens. When I get my 31 limited, I'm sure it will play second fiddle, but untill then, I love my sup taks overall more than any of my newer lenses.

10-09-2008, 01:11 PM	#35
Damn Brit Guest	At the moment I have the Voigtlander Nokton 58 1.4 on my camera 99% of the time. When I get a new body, the lens will probably stay on one of the bodies full time I think.

10-09-2008, 01:17 PM	#36
KFrog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Katy, Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 294	I have to go with the Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro. I tend to do a lot of shots of all things small right now. Next would be the DA18-250mm for overall flexibility.

10-09-2008, 01:23 PM	#37
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	I am happy to say that I use all my lenses in almost equal proportions. I'd also have to give props to the kit lens. Best bang for the buck out there.

10-09-2008, 01:24 PM	#38
Torphoto Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Trinidad W.I. Photos: Gallery Posts: 612	70mm LTD, it is on my camera 90% of the time.

10-09-2008, 01:31 PM	#39
drewdlephone Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Nanaimo, BC Posts: 261	Most time spent on camera: DA 18-55II Favorite Lens: SMC Takumar 55/1.8 I'd like to upgrade to the DA* 16-50 as my walkabout lens because of the weather capability and the better low-light performance, but my "fast fifty" is the Tak, and now that I know how to get the K200 to play nice with it, I'm looking forward to having some fun with it.

10-09-2008, 01:46 PM	#40
8540tomg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	Tough call. I like all my lenses and consider them all very good. The K 300 f4 and K 200 2.5 have seen a lot of action lately with the DA 70mm 2.4 close behind. Tom G

10-09-2008, 02:09 PM	#41
Jimfear Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 576	Probably the 50mm 1,4... that sits on the camera most of the time. But I do love the 35mm 3,5 also when I need something a little wider. But they are all quite equal, which should supose that I haven't found a real favorite lens yet. Hope one will come along shortly.

10-09-2008, 02:22 PM	#42
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	FA 24-90 f/3.5-4.5. I have a bunch of other very nice lenses including primes, but I find having a decent-quality mild wide and portrait-length tele in the same lens pretty darn handy. It also balances well and seems to be just about the right size/weight on either my *ist DS2 or K10D. I sometimes wonder whether the new DA 17-70 f/4 would be a good fit for me (for those outings when I don't want to also bring a DA 12-24 or DA 16-45).

10-09-2008, 02:33 PM	#43
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Please don't make me choose between: Vivi Series 1 105mm f/2.5 macro FA77 Limited DA35 Limited macro Vivi 28mm f/2

10-09-2008, 05:31 PM	#45
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	glad to see the DA 70mm Limited showing up some... was worried only the 77mm would get mentioned.