[jersey]

I will be going on first holy communion to me family, and with me being "technical guest" (I'm an atheist) I will use the occasion to run around with K-3/3

But I need a lens for it. Part of collection is flying away with K-50, otherwise I would have used kit 18-55 or 35mm plastic fantastic. Most of lenses are on order here in Poland or are obscenely expensive from second hand (it is often cheaper to buy new and wait 3-4 months then buy used).


Any idea what lens will work for such walk around situation. I will still have 15mm Ltd and it will cover the in house needs, but I need something for portraits, longer shots and inddor. If not for incoming 16-50 PLM I would have bough its SDM version as it is available but now I'm kinda hesitating. Longer DA* starting from 50 will not cover the indoor shooting and I want to avoid lens change due to the rural area and lots of dust.


There is 20-40 Ltd I could get or Sigma 17-50 for half a price and would most likely solve issues but then if I get Ltd I will not buy 16-50 so I wanted to wait till new lens shows up to decide what I want.

Anything else I can take a look at? I would prefer something with silent motor for possible shooting in church.

[UncleVanya]

If I’m understanding this correctly, you need a reasonably fast lens that covers interior group/architecture shots as well as portraits.

The lenses you mention are all APSC so I assume that’s the sensor size you’re using. I was unclear if the k50 has been sold or if it is the camera you will use.

The range of 16 or 17 to 50 at f2.8 is probably the most likely to work for what I understand you want to capture. Given your interest in the newer 16-50, I would suggest considering buying the 17-50 and then selling it used when the new 16-50 comes out. Alternately there 20-40 is good but the f4 on the long end and shorter max focal length will limit use for portraits a little. (Less option for blurry backgrounds, more chances of facial features looking distorted if you get too close. )

Other options like a 17-70 also come to mind but these are slower (f4 constant for the Pentax model, f2.8-f4 on third party)

Depending on the wide angle needs a full frame 28-75 is another option. These are available in f2.8 but almost entirely used as they’re no longer available new except as old stock. In the same line of logic other 24-70, 24-60 variants are out there that could work but finding one in your market may be difficult.

[TwoUptons]

20-40 would be a great match with the 15mm, and it is quiet...

The 16-50 was basically made for doing this. It’s too bad you can’t borrow/rent one before you get your new one.

Both of those are sealed, something you won’t get from the third party or vintage options.

Maybe the retractable 18-50? Will it af with video? That might be an inexpensive wildcard...

-Eric

[sergysergy]

It depend on how close you can get to people. If you are going to be far I'm not sure if 50 will be long enough.

[i_trax]

Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.0 DC Contemporary HSM ( silent )
or much older and cheeper 17-70 2.8-4.5 non HSM ( noisy )
I have both , I like both

[jersey]

I will be using K-3/3. No video, only stills.


I need lens mostly for indoor shooting: groups of people and portraits. Those include shooting at church during ceremony so silent focus is a must (mirror will be already distracting enough).

No one here is borrowing Pentax lenses I thought about this, but nope. No issue with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuij - but no Pentax for rent.

Yeah, 16-50 SDM and selling it later is also an option.

@sergysergy - close. Very. Ceremony will be in XIII century wooden church that is very small, and the feast will be at my uncle house, most likely indoor so no way to get too far away. I'm using APS-C so 75mm will be too long. Church is like... 10x20 steps wide x long, it is tiny. And the room in house are even smaller. It is not US, it is rather poor regions of Poland So I will be shooting through table most likely.

[ramseybuckeye]

The DA 20-40 would do great here and it is a much better lens than the Sigma 17-50 (which is no slouch) in my experience, it's Pentax Ltd IQ rather than the rather clinical IQ of the Sigma, and the 20-40 is good wide open. It will be a lens you will not want to sell. To me Sigma's autofocus can be a little hit and miss. For portraits if you want a nice blurry background just get a cheap 50, like the DA 50/1.8 or and older F50/1.7 if available. I'm sure the portrait session will be after the ceremony so a noisier autofocus should be OK.

[Roadboat24]

For indoor church portraits? Sounds like you need the holy trinity....
Sorry couldn't resist.

[EssJayEff]

I agree with the SMC DA* Pentax 16-50mm f/2.8, which I used quite a bit before jumping up to K-1. Seems like the perfect lens if you can find one!

[RICHARD L.]

Ever considered the DA 12-24 mm f/4 AL ? Excellent performer and you can up the ISO on the new K3 III. Bring along an F or FA 50 mm f/1.7 for portraits or close-ups, very sharp starting at f/2.8. Super light kit.

DA 12-24 mm f/4 AL

[TER-OR]

The 16-85 would be tempting to me for these type of events. Had I not bought a 18-135 years ago, that's a lens I would have purchased.

[jersey]

12-24 is a screwdriver, so it's not suitable. Otherwise I would simply use 15mm Ltd and switch for 70mm Ltd for outdoor/after church portraits. That is the issue: I need silent wide lens, perfectly silent zoom ending around 50mm otherwise I would have used my Limiteds and saved some money

[AlwaysAl]

When I was faced with this type of situation, including unreliable light and a no flash policy, found the Sigma 18-35 with the 1.8 aperture did the trick. Quiet and quick

[Sidney Porter]

Is you job to focus on one kid or is it to capture pictures of the entire group? If it is the entire group you probably have more flexibility to move around. If it is just one kid you are probably isolated to a pew or the back of the church

[AlanM]

Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.0 DC Contemporary HSM ( silent )
or much older and cheeper 17-70 2.8-4.5 non HSM ( noisy )
I have both , I like both

I second that. The Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 is a great lens and not that expensive