Lens you have and Love when few others do

ghosteclipse · 10-22-2019, 08:34 AM - **1 Like**

DA35 Limited and FA77. They are like permanently stuck in their respective bodies though I might need to change that soon.

ChristianRock · 10-22-2019, 08:37 AM - **1 Like**

I should have also mentioned the Sigma 30 1.4 Art... to me it's just the perfect APS-C lens. It has an "older lens" character in that it has some purple fringing at f/1.8 and wider, which can get pretty bad at f/1.4 depending on the scene. But the rendering is just great. I use center point AF and rarely does it not focus correctly. But I know a lot of people don't like it because either they think an "Art" series Sigma should be perfect from wide open, or because the AF is very hit and miss, or simply because it's a large and bulky lens from an APS-C standard. I don't see a lot of users here... other than @BigMackCam who seems to shares my love for it

ChristianRock · 10-22-2019, 08:39 AM

Ok I have to bring this up...

People saying they like the FA 31 and FA 77 and saying few others do????????? I don't know a single person that doesn't appreciate those lenses - even if like me they don't actually have them... I look at pictures from them and go "one day...."

ghosteclipse · 10-22-2019, 08:39 AM

Upon seeing the title I rather should have mentioned the Tamron 70-300. It has given me sharp and amazing images

**luftfluss** · 10-22-2019, 08:41 AM

Originally posted by ghosteclipse

DA35 Limited and FA77. They are like permanently stuck in their respective bodies though I might need to change that soon.

Both of those lenses are universally praised. The subject of this thread is what lens you love that few others do.

ghosteclipse · 10-22-2019, 08:42 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ghosteclipse

Upon seeing the title I rather should have mentioned the Tamron 70-300. It has given me sharp and amazing images

Yep, I missed the complete title

So it is the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6, later version.

thazooo · 10-22-2019, 08:54 AM

1 prime and a zoom.
FA 28 f2.8 - Sharp and Flat. My Go To lens for Pano, smooth stitch.
FA 28-105 f4-5.6 IF- A good walk around. Love the colors and works well on people. Great with flash.

**luftfluss** · 10-22-2019, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by ghosteclipse

Yep, I missed the complete title

So it is the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6, later version.

I can get behind this, I've had several copies of the Tammy and found it solid with extremely useful close-focus ability. I wouldn't say I "love" it, but definitely prefer it to the (well-regarded) Pentax 55-300/5.8 and Sigma 70-300.

robiles · 10-22-2019, 09:38 AM

For me it would be the (although now sold) Tamron 10-24. It is often described as soft att al setings compared to the sigma counterparts. But i found the rendering to be quite pleasant.

I made a lot of nice pictures with it, but had to go, to make space for something else... sadly that space is not yet filled.

**gofour3** · 10-22-2019, 09:48 AM - **1 Like**

M40/2.8.

Many people do not like this lens and think it's soft, expensive and handles poorly.

Yeah it's small, but it's a "pancake" lens and it's actually pretty sharp at middle apertures.

Phil.

**Just1MoreDave** · 10-22-2019, 10:36 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Cerebum

SMC DA 50-200MM ED WR I LOVE IT! I did the single in with it a couple of months ago and it was sharper than my 18-135. Once calibrated this lightweight, plastic, wr lens is waaaaaaay better than the reviews would suggest and it is probably my favourite zoom

That's my choice too.

Last summer my wife and I decided to celebrate our 30th anniversary by hiking to Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail starts at 9200 feet altitude and goes up to 10,900 feet, something like 4.5 miles. Near the end, the "trail" skirts the side of a waterfall, so we climbed up a steep mountain stream. For a couple of 56 year old non-athletes, it wasn't easy - everyone on the trail passed us. Real photographers would have started at 3am to capture awesome light, and carried big heavy lenses. And probably not in a summer with lots of haze from forest fires. This shot would be pretty similar with a 55-300 or 18-135, but I hate hiking with the 18-135 (zoom creep) and neither lens fits in a cargo short pocket. My DA 50-200 WR is perfect for this.

IgorZ · 10-22-2019, 12:34 PM

I'd say Takumar 58mm f2. I never hear people talking about this lens but to me the rendering is just amazing.

peggers · 10-22-2019, 02:21 PM - **1 Like**

Let's add to this discussion with the SMC F 35-80 F4.5-6.something. It seems to be universally disliked for sharpness and bokeh but when I look back at photos I took with it, I love them. Highly recommended to try it for $20 on Ebay.

wstruth · 10-22-2019, 02:43 PM

My 20-40 Limited although more people seem to be warming up to it lately.

**paulh** · 10-22-2019, 02:47 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by peggers

Let's add to this discussion with the SMC F 35-80 F4.5-6.something. It seems to be universally disliked for sharpness and bokeh but when I look back at photos I took with it, I love them. Highly recommended to try it for $20 on Ebay.

Agree! I suppose there's some copy variation but I think this is a woefully underrated lens. It's my "dogwalk in the woods" lens.

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10-22-2019, 08:34 AM - 1 Like	#16
ghosteclipse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 165	DA35 Limited and FA77. They are like permanently stuck in their respective bodies though I might need to change that soon.

10-22-2019, 08:37 AM - 1 Like	#17
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	I should have also mentioned the Sigma 30 1.4 Art... to me it's just the perfect APS-C lens. It has an "older lens" character in that it has some purple fringing at f/1.8 and wider, which can get pretty bad at f/1.4 depending on the scene. But the rendering is just great. I use center point AF and rarely does it not focus correctly. But I know a lot of people don't like it because either they think an "Art" series Sigma should be perfect from wide open, or because the AF is very hit and miss, or simply because it's a large and bulky lens from an APS-C standard. I don't see a lot of users here... other than @BigMackCam who seems to shares my love for it

10-22-2019, 08:39 AM	#18
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Ok I have to bring this up... People saying they like the FA 31 and FA 77 and saying few others do????????? I don't know a single person that doesn't appreciate those lenses - even if like me they don't actually have them... I look at pictures from them and go "one day...."

10-22-2019, 08:39 AM	#19
ghosteclipse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 165	Upon seeing the title I rather should have mentioned the Tamron 70-300. It has given me sharp and amazing images

10-22-2019, 08:41 AM	#20
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by ghosteclipse DA35 Limited and FA77. They are like permanently stuck in their respective bodies though I might need to change that soon. Both of those lenses are universally praised. The subject of this thread is what lens you love that few others do.

10-22-2019, 08:42 AM - 1 Like	#21
ghosteclipse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 165	Originally posted by ghosteclipse Upon seeing the title I rather should have mentioned the Tamron 70-300. It has given me sharp and amazing images Yep, I missed the complete title So it is the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6, later version.

10-22-2019, 08:54 AM	#22
thazooo Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 854	1 prime and a zoom. FA 28 f2.8 - Sharp and Flat. My Go To lens for Pano, smooth stitch. FA 28-105 f4-5.6 IF- A good walk around. Love the colors and works well on people. Great with flash.

10-22-2019, 08:57 AM	#23
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by ghosteclipse Yep, I missed the complete title So it is the Tamron 70-300 4-5.6, later version. I can get behind this, I've had several copies of the Tammy and found it solid with extremely useful close-focus ability. I wouldn't say I "love" it, but definitely prefer it to the (well-regarded) Pentax 55-300/5.8 and Sigma 70-300.

10-22-2019, 09:38 AM	#24
robiles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Deva Posts: 311	For me it would be the (although now sold) Tamron 10-24. It is often described as soft att al setings compared to the sigma counterparts. But i found the rendering to be quite pleasant. I made a lot of nice pictures with it, but had to go, to make space for something else... sadly that space is not yet filled.

10-22-2019, 09:48 AM - 1 Like	#25
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	M40/2.8. Many people do not like this lens and think it's soft, expensive and handles poorly. Yeah it's small, but it's a "pancake" lens and it's actually pretty sharp at middle apertures. Phil.

10-22-2019, 10:36 AM - 1 Like	#26
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Cerebum SMC DA 50-200MM ED WR I LOVE IT! I did the single in with it a couple of months ago and it was sharper than my 18-135. Once calibrated this lightweight, plastic, wr lens is waaaaaaay better than the reviews would suggest and it is probably my favourite zoom That's my choice too. Last summer my wife and I decided to celebrate our 30th anniversary by hiking to Sky Pond in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail starts at 9200 feet altitude and goes up to 10,900 feet, something like 4.5 miles. Near the end, the "trail" skirts the side of a waterfall, so we climbed up a steep mountain stream. For a couple of 56 year old non-athletes, it wasn't easy - everyone on the trail passed us. Real photographers would have started at 3am to capture awesome light, and carried big heavy lenses. And probably not in a summer with lots of haze from forest fires. This shot would be pretty similar with a 55-300 or 18-135, but I hate hiking with the 18-135 (zoom creep) and neither lens fits in a cargo short pocket. My DA 50-200 WR is perfect for this.

10-22-2019, 12:34 PM	#27
IgorZ Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,735	I'd say Takumar 58mm f2. I never hear people talking about this lens but to me the rendering is just amazing.

10-22-2019, 02:21 PM - 1 Like	#28
peggers Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Endeavour Hills, Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 210	Let's add to this discussion with the SMC F 35-80 F4.5-6.something. It seems to be universally disliked for sharpness and bokeh but when I look back at photos I took with it, I love them. Highly recommended to try it for $20 on Ebay.

10-22-2019, 02:43 PM	#29
wstruth Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: at my kitchen table Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,294	My 20-40 Limited although more people seem to be warming up to it lately.

10-22-2019, 02:47 PM - 1 Like	#30
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,262	Originally posted by peggers Let's add to this discussion with the SMC F 35-80 F4.5-6.something. It seems to be universally disliked for sharpness and bokeh but when I look back at photos I took with it, I love them. Highly recommended to try it for $20 on Ebay. Agree! I suppose there's some copy variation but I think this is a woefully underrated lens. It's my "dogwalk in the woods" lens.