What is the lens that lives on your camera?

**richard0170** · 11-28-2021, 04:38 AM - **2 Likes**

Slightly off topic -but only just I reckon. I have realised I have way too many (according to SWMBO at least) cameras, both film and digital. What I find I have been doing unconsciously and now deliberately is assigning one or two lenses to each camera. So for example:-
Pentax K1 - 77mm Ltd and K 50mm f1.4
Pentax KP - A 28mm f2 or K 35mm f3.5
Pentax K3 - A 50mm f2.8 Macro
Fuji X-E3 - 27mm f2.8
Fuji X-T1 - 35mm f2
Second X-T1 - Vitrox 23mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.4
Various film bodies either a 40mm or 55mm lens is permanently attached
Unless I am purposefully doing anything specialised (for me at least) I just grab one of these combinations which best matches my particular need or taste for a particular purpose.

AlanM · 11-28-2021, 04:47 AM

The lens that lives on my camera is the one, I used the last time. However, when I go on a trip bringing more than one lens, it would be the 11-18mm as this is simply to bulky to fit into the lens compartments of my photo bag.

**Bluestem** · 11-29-2021, 09:35 PM

KP - Da* 50-135mm
K1 - Any normal to wide prime lens

Lloyd_Christmas · 12-01-2021, 04:45 PM

While the K-3 mk I was my main body, the DA 16-85 was my go to.
Now that I have the mk III, that is changing as I have gotten the 20-40 and now the new 16-50 PLM.

**beachgardener** · 12-03-2021, 02:20 AM

For me it changes from time to time, but for a while now it is the 20-40 on the K-3, the D FA 50 macro on the K-5 (they where calibrated together by C. R. Kennedy), on the Z-1 it is the F 35-70, on the spotty F it is one of the tak. 50mm f1.4.

**Wheatridger** · 12-03-2021, 08:45 PM

On work days, doing real estate and architectural photography, I'm mostly using a decade-old third party ultrawide zoom, the Sigma EX DG 12-24. It's slow (f4.5-5.6) and repair parts are unavailable. Its key strength is distortion control; I rarely have to add as much as 2% correction to fix minor barrel distortion. That matters when you're taking pictures of windows, doors and alls all day, things made to be perfectly square.

Outside that duty, the DFA 28-105 has met my needs beatifully.

**mirocal** · 12-04-2021, 06:13 PM

This is what my mainstay is. Of course I would use the lens that suits best the subject, but the question is what stays on the camera the most.

And yes, I do use the HD FA 31/1.8 a lot, it is surprisingly versatile.

P.S. The limited portrait is taken with yet another limited, a strong contender for mainstay title, the 21/2.4. Fortunately there's a body for it too.

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**dneira29** · 12-05-2021, 05:52 PM

Originally posted by mirocal

This is what my mainstay is. Of course I would use the lens that suits best the subject, but the question is what stays on the camera the most.

And yes, I do use the HD FA 31/1.8 a lot, it is surprisingly versatile.

P.S. The limited portrait is taken with yet another limited, a strong contender for mainstay title, the 21/2.4. Fortunately there's a body for it too.

Thats great! I hope pentax comes out with a 35mm version of the DFA* 50 f1.4. Thats my current baby and I love it haha. How are you liking the new DFA 21mm ?

**mirocal** · 12-07-2021, 01:06 AM

Before I got the HD FA 31/1.8 my favorite “normal” lens for many years was the FA 35/2, and a good argument for “good enough”: why would I want an expensive limited when the 35/2 covered my needs in sharpness, flare control, etc.? I didn’t know it until I finally broke down for 31: the difference was more than apparent, the pictures were good out of the camera, with no post processing needed. The same appears to be true for the HD FA 21/2.4: images come out rich and having depth, and I simply don’t feel the need to open the shadows, or to add to the clarity. Moral of the story? The great 35 is already here, it is 31/1.8.

Sandy Hancock · 12-07-2021, 01:22 AM

I don't really understand the OP's question, given that Pentax's core business is making cameras and lenses which are interchangeable.

That said, my DFA 21/2.4 Limited is spending a lot of time on my K-1 this month

**pres589** · 12-07-2021, 09:09 AM - **1 Like**

On my film bodies my Pentax M 50 f1.7 has been used for probably 75% of the shots I've taken. My Kiron 28 f2 is probably a distant second (and it's now damaged in an odd way that has the aperture acting oddly so it's not getting any use currently).

**Mikesul** · 12-07-2021, 06:58 PM

Nothing lives on my cameras but the DA 35 Macro visits frequently.

**dneira29** · 12-08-2021, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by mirocal

Before I got the HD FA 31/1.8 my favorite “normal” lens for many years was the FA 35/2, and a good argument for “good enough”: why would I want an expensive limited when the 35/2 covered my needs in sharpness, flare control, etc.? I didn’t know it until I finally broke down for 31: the difference was more than apparent, the pictures were good out of the camera, with no post processing needed. The same appears to be true for the HD FA 21/2.4: images come out rich and having depth, and I simply don’t feel the need to open the shadows, or to add to the clarity. Moral of the story? The great 35 is already here, it is 31/1.8.

Yeah I guess. I like the 31 f 1.8 but I prefer the optical quality of the newer DFA* 50 f1.4 and I would have also loved for pentax to incorporate WR into the 31mm on their latest update of the ltds lenses. Well in all honesty the WR deficiency is what held me back hahah. As something who always has their camera in weird climate conditions LOL

---------- Post added 12-08-21 at 09:07 AM ----------

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

I don't really understand the OP's question, given that Pentax's core business is making cameras and lenses which are interchangeable.

That said, my DFA 21/2.4 Limited is spending a lot of time on my K-1 this month

Hahaha tell how is that new 21mm? Im drooling over it

---------- Post added 12-08-21 at 09:08 AM ----------

Originally posted by Mikesul

Nothing lives on my cameras but the DA 35 Macro visits frequently.

I mean you have to make sure that the camera doesn't get lonely. Just hope its not making too many midnight visits unsupervised hahah

**luftfluss** · 12-08-2021, 09:22 AM - **1 Like**

As winter sets in my K-3 II will spend the next 5 months or so in an open marriage of sorts with the A 400/5.6, Tamron 400/4 65B, Pentax K 500/4.5, and the two A x-L converters.

house · 12-08-2021, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by luftfluss

As winter sets in my K-3 II will spend the next 5 months or so in an open marriage of sorts with the A 400/5.6, Tamron 400/4 65B, Pentax K 500/4.5, and the two A x-L converters.

That a set of very long lenses to have as default!

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11-28-2021, 04:38 AM - 2 Likes	#256
richard0170 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2017 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,032	Slightly off topic -but only just I reckon. I have realised I have way too many (according to SWMBO at least) cameras, both film and digital. What I find I have been doing unconsciously and now deliberately is assigning one or two lenses to each camera. So for example:- Pentax K1 - 77mm Ltd and K 50mm f1.4 Pentax KP - A 28mm f2 or K 35mm f3.5 Pentax K3 - A 50mm f2.8 Macro Fuji X-E3 - 27mm f2.8 Fuji X-T1 - 35mm f2 Second X-T1 - Vitrox 23mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.4 Various film bodies either a 40mm or 55mm lens is permanently attached Unless I am purposefully doing anything specialised (for me at least) I just grab one of these combinations which best matches my particular need or taste for a particular purpose.

11-28-2021, 04:47 AM	#257
AlanM Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Søborg Posts: 61	The lens that lives on my camera is the one, I used the last time. However, when I go on a trip bringing more than one lens, it would be the 11-18mm as this is simply to bulky to fit into the lens compartments of my photo bag.

11-29-2021, 09:35 PM	#258
Bluestem Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 562	KP - Da* 50-135mm K1 - Any normal to wide prime lens

12-01-2021, 04:45 PM	#259
Lloyd_Christmas Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 458	While the K-3 mk I was my main body, the DA 16-85 was my go to. Now that I have the mk III, that is changing as I have gotten the 20-40 and now the new 16-50 PLM.

12-03-2021, 02:20 AM	#260
beachgardener Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,842	For me it changes from time to time, but for a while now it is the 20-40 on the K-3, the D FA 50 macro on the K-5 (they where calibrated together by C. R. Kennedy), on the Z-1 it is the F 35-70, on the spotty F it is one of the tak. 50mm f1.4.

12-03-2021, 08:45 PM	#261
Wheatridger Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Front Range Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 644	On work days, doing real estate and architectural photography, I'm mostly using a decade-old third party ultrawide zoom, the Sigma EX DG 12-24. It's slow (f4.5-5.6) and repair parts are unavailable. Its key strength is distortion control; I rarely have to add as much as 2% correction to fix minor barrel distortion. That matters when you're taking pictures of windows, doors and alls all day, things made to be perfectly square. Outside that duty, the DFA 28-105 has met my needs beatifully.

12-05-2021, 05:52 PM	#263
dneira29 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 535 Original Poster	Originally posted by mirocal This is what my mainstay is. Of course I would use the lens that suits best the subject, but the question is what stays on the camera the most. And yes, I do use the HD FA 31/1.8 a lot, it is surprisingly versatile. P.S. The limited portrait is taken with yet another limited, a strong contender for mainstay title, the 21/2.4. Fortunately there's a body for it too. Thats great! I hope pentax comes out with a 35mm version of the DFA* 50 f1.4. Thats my current baby and I love it haha. How are you liking the new DFA 21mm ?

12-07-2021, 01:06 AM	#264
mirocal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Washington, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 85	Before I got the HD FA 31/1.8 my favorite “normal” lens for many years was the FA 35/2, and a good argument for “good enough”: why would I want an expensive limited when the 35/2 covered my needs in sharpness, flare control, etc.? I didn’t know it until I finally broke down for 31: the difference was more than apparent, the pictures were good out of the camera, with no post processing needed. The same appears to be true for the HD FA 21/2.4: images come out rich and having depth, and I simply don’t feel the need to open the shadows, or to add to the clarity. Moral of the story? The great 35 is already here, it is 31/1.8.

12-07-2021, 01:22 AM	#265
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	I don't really understand the OP's question, given that Pentax's core business is making cameras and lenses which are interchangeable. That said, my DFA 21/2.4 Limited is spending a lot of time on my K-1 this month

12-07-2021, 09:09 AM - 1 Like	#266
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	On my film bodies my Pentax M 50 f1.7 has been used for probably 75% of the shots I've taken. My Kiron 28 f2 is probably a distant second (and it's now damaged in an odd way that has the aperture acting oddly so it's not getting any use currently).

12-07-2021, 06:58 PM	#267
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Nothing lives on my cameras but the DA 35 Macro visits frequently.

12-08-2021, 09:06 AM	#268
dneira29 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2020 Posts: 535 Original Poster	Originally posted by mirocal Before I got the HD FA 31/1.8 my favorite “normal” lens for many years was the FA 35/2, and a good argument for “good enough”: why would I want an expensive limited when the 35/2 covered my needs in sharpness, flare control, etc.? I didn’t know it until I finally broke down for 31: the difference was more than apparent, the pictures were good out of the camera, with no post processing needed. The same appears to be true for the HD FA 21/2.4: images come out rich and having depth, and I simply don’t feel the need to open the shadows, or to add to the clarity. Moral of the story? The great 35 is already here, it is 31/1.8. Yeah I guess. I like the 31 f 1.8 but I prefer the optical quality of the newer DFA* 50 f1.4 and I would have also loved for pentax to incorporate WR into the 31mm on their latest update of the ltds lenses. Well in all honesty the WR deficiency is what held me back hahah. As something who always has their camera in weird climate conditions LOL ---------- Post added 12-08-21 at 09:07 AM ---------- Originally posted by Sandy Hancock I don't really understand the OP's question, given that Pentax's core business is making cameras and lenses which are interchangeable. That said, my DFA 21/2.4 Limited is spending a lot of time on my K-1 this month Hahaha tell how is that new 21mm? Im drooling over it ---------- Post added 12-08-21 at 09:08 AM ---------- Originally posted by Mikesul Nothing lives on my cameras but the DA 35 Macro visits frequently. I mean you have to make sure that the camera doesn't get lonely. Just hope its not making too many midnight visits unsupervised hahah

12-08-2021, 09:22 AM - 1 Like	#269
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	As winter sets in my K-3 II will spend the next 5 months or so in an open marriage of sorts with the A 400/5.6, Tamron 400/4 65B, Pentax K 500/4.5, and the two A x-L converters.

12-08-2021, 10:19 AM	#270
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	Originally posted by luftfluss As winter sets in my K-3 II will spend the next 5 months or so in an open marriage of sorts with the A 400/5.6, Tamron 400/4 65B, Pentax K 500/4.5, and the two A x-L converters. That a set of very long lenses to have as default!