FA 35mm F/2 or FA 50mm F/1.4?

badfish · 12-01-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi,

I'm looking for a lens for my K200D. Mainly take indoor pictures for my son.

One of my friends recommends FA 35mm F/2, but I found FA 50mm is actually much cheaper. I'm a bit hesitating now...

Can you guys give me some suggestions? Thanks!

Arpe · 12-01-2008, 05:06 PM

35mm. I think generally the 50mm would be a bit long for that purpose.

Welcome.

RBellavance · 12-01-2008, 05:25 PM

Another vote for the FA35/2. I use it for the exact purpose you mention, and it works great. The angle of view is not too tight, and the lens is perfectly usable wide-open at f/2.

Another alternative would be the Sigma 28/1.8 or 24/1.8, for an even wider angle of view.

stevebrot · 12-01-2008, 06:11 PM

I have the FA 35/2 and several 50s. I can tell you from experience that 50mm is a little long for general indoor photography unless you are planning on tight framing.

Steve

jeffrey r · 12-01-2008, 07:08 PM

Add another vote for the FA 35. I have both the 50 and 35, and the 35 is way more versatile indoors for taking pictures of my children, and its performance is great. The 50mm is very tight--still a great lens though.

Alfisti · 12-01-2008, 07:15 PM

Do you own th ekit lens? Us eit at 35 for a while then at 50 and see what works best.

Frankly something like the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 would be ideal.

k100d · 12-01-2008, 07:29 PM

i think the FA35 w/ the larger DOF would be easier to use and more useful because it is wider indoors. as well the FA50 at close distances, the DOF can be rather thin

rvannatta · 12-01-2008, 07:49 PM

There is a matter of personal preference, but particuarly if you are used to film bodies you have to consider that the digital bodies are effectively what we would have called in the film days a 'half frame camera' and you need to add 50% to the actual focal length to get a comparable field of view.

a 35mm lens is threfor effectively a 'normal' lens for a pentax digital with the 50mm being a mild telephoto. Neither is particularly suited for the application you have in mind.

Usually within the close confines of a house, a wide angle is called for. If you want a prime I would suggest a 24mm or a 28mm at the longest. Digital photos are easily cropped and if you are either going to view them on a computer screen, or in snapshot size cropping away a lot of the photo won't hurt anything so it makes a lot of sense to take a photo of the whole room and throw away the part of the photo you don't want after the fact.

stevebrot · 12-01-2008, 10:39 PM

Originally posted by rvannatta

There is a matter of personal preference, but particuarly if you are used to film bodies you have to consider that the digital bodies are effectively what we would have called in the film days a 'half frame camera' and you need to add 50% to the actual focal length to get a comparable field of view.

a 35mm lens is threfor effectively a 'normal' lens for a pentax digital with the 50mm being a mild telephoto. Neither is particularly suited for the application you have in mind.

Usually within the close confines of a house, a wide angle is called for. If you want a prime I would suggest a 24mm or a 28mm at the longest. Digital photos are easily cropped and if you are either going to view them on a computer screen, or in snapshot size cropping away a lot of the photo won't hurt anything so it makes a lot of sense to take a photo of the whole room and throw away the part of the photo you don't want after the fact.

This is all very true. A 24mm may be a better choice. The main issue with going to the wider end is the increased cost of fast, rectilinear glass.

Steve

Jasvox · 12-02-2008, 07:45 AM

It's been said in here before, but my advice is to try to get the most out of your kit lens since it shoots wide and is a decent lens. If you find it too slow for indoors, I'd say the FA35 since it's an all around kick-ass lens anyway. No matter how fast a lens is, if the subject is moving around all the time, you will get blurred shots most of the time, so don't expect to make miracles happen, no matter which lens you use.

Back to the 35 versus 50, get them both!! I am dead serious, those 2 lenses are among the best ever made by Pentax in my opinion and the price is unbeatable compared to other lenses in their perfomance range. I'd say these two are "must have" in any Pentax owner's bag.

Jason

kenyee · 12-02-2008, 08:28 AM

Can you still get the FA35?

Alfisti · 12-02-2008, 08:36 AM

About $370 at B+H.

badfish · 12-02-2008, 12:50 PM

Thank you all for the suggestions. This is the first lens I'm going to own. I may need to use it shoot outdoor pictures for my baby son sometimes as well. So I think I'm gonna choose 35mm, instead of 28mm or 50mm after carefully reading all your great suggestions.

Yes, there are still FA 35mm available at adorama, amazon, or ebay for about $300.

legacyb4 · 12-02-2008, 12:59 PM

Honestly, I don't think you can make a "bad" choice either way; I'd look at it as which one do you buy "first"...

Originally posted by badfish

Thank you all for the suggestions. This is the first lens I'm going to own. I may need to use it shoot outdoor pictures for my baby son sometimes as well. So I think I'm gonna choose 35mm, instead of 28mm or 50mm after carefully reading all your great suggestions.

Yes, there are still FA 35mm available at adorama, amazon, or ebay for about $300.

badfish · 12-02-2008, 12:59 PM

I like to own them both!, but are they overlapped greatly?

Maybe as a newbie, my "philosophy" isn't in place yet.

Originally posted by Jasvox

It's been said in here before, but my advice is to try to get the most out of your kit lens since it shoots wide and is a decent lens. If you find it too slow for indoors, I'd say the FA35 since it's an all around kick-ass lens anyway. No matter how fast a lens is, if the subject is moving around all the time, you will get blurred shots most of the time, so don't expect to make miracles happen, no matter which lens you use.

Back to the 35 versus 50, get them both!! I am dead serious, those 2 lenses are among the best ever made by Pentax in my opinion and the price is unbeatable compared to other lenses in their perfomance range. I'd say these two are "must have" in any Pentax owner's bag.

Jason

12-01-2008, 04:47 PM	#1
badfish New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 6	FA 35mm F/2 or FA 50mm F/1.4? Hi, I'm looking for a lens for my K200D. Mainly take indoor pictures for my son. One of my friends recommends FA 35mm F/2, but I found FA 50mm is actually much cheaper. I'm a bit hesitating now... Can you guys give me some suggestions? Thanks!

12-01-2008, 07:49 PM	#8
rvannatta Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Apiary, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,181	even the 35 is too long. There is a matter of personal preference, but particuarly if you are used to film bodies you have to consider that the digital bodies are effectively what we would have called in the film days a 'half frame camera' and you need to add 50% to the actual focal length to get a comparable field of view. a 35mm lens is threfor effectively a 'normal' lens for a pentax digital with the 50mm being a mild telephoto. Neither is particularly suited for the application you have in mind. Usually within the close confines of a house, a wide angle is called for. If you want a prime I would suggest a 24mm or a 28mm at the longest. Digital photos are easily cropped and if you are either going to view them on a computer screen, or in snapshot size cropping away a lot of the photo won't hurt anything so it makes a lot of sense to take a photo of the whole room and throw away the part of the photo you don't want after the fact.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: ME Super SE, ZX-M, M 35mm f/2, M 50mm 1.4, 2.0, A 50mm 2.0, others (Worldwide)	jjdgti	Sold Items	9	03-31-2010 10:27 AM
50mm FA f/:1.4 and 35mm FA f/:2 discontinued ?	clover	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	31	01-28-2010 06:43 PM
For Sale - Sold: FA 35mm/f2 and F 50mm/f1.7	chemxaj	Sold Items	4	09-19-2008 08:11 AM
For Sale - Sold: F 24-50mm 4, A 24-50mm 4, M 35mm 2, M 50mm 1.4, A 35-105mm 3.5, A 70-210mm 4	raybird	Sold Items	7	08-29-2008 01:06 PM
A vs. FA - 35mm and 50mm	raybird	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	08-29-2008 10:29 AM

12-01-2008, 05:06 PM	#2
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	35mm. I think generally the 50mm would be a bit long for that purpose. Welcome.

12-01-2008, 05:25 PM	#3
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Another vote for the FA35/2. I use it for the exact purpose you mention, and it works great. The angle of view is not too tight, and the lens is perfectly usable wide-open at f/2. Another alternative would be the Sigma 28/1.8 or 24/1.8, for an even wider angle of view.

12-01-2008, 06:11 PM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I have the FA 35/2 and several 50s. I can tell you from experience that 50mm is a little long for general indoor photography unless you are planning on tight framing. Steve

12-01-2008, 07:08 PM	#5
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	Add another vote for the FA 35. I have both the 50 and 35, and the 35 is way more versatile indoors for taking pictures of my children, and its performance is great. The 50mm is very tight--still a great lens though.

12-01-2008, 07:15 PM	#6
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Do you own th ekit lens? Us eit at 35 for a while then at 50 and see what works best. Frankly something like the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 would be ideal.

12-01-2008, 07:29 PM	#7
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	i think the FA35 w/ the larger DOF would be easier to use and more useful because it is wider indoors. as well the FA50 at close distances, the DOF can be rather thin

12-01-2008, 10:39 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by rvannatta There is a matter of personal preference, but particuarly if you are used to film bodies you have to consider that the digital bodies are effectively what we would have called in the film days a 'half frame camera' and you need to add 50% to the actual focal length to get a comparable field of view. a 35mm lens is threfor effectively a 'normal' lens for a pentax digital with the 50mm being a mild telephoto. Neither is particularly suited for the application you have in mind. Usually within the close confines of a house, a wide angle is called for. If you want a prime I would suggest a 24mm or a 28mm at the longest. Digital photos are easily cropped and if you are either going to view them on a computer screen, or in snapshot size cropping away a lot of the photo won't hurt anything so it makes a lot of sense to take a photo of the whole room and throw away the part of the photo you don't want after the fact. This is all very true. A 24mm may be a better choice. The main issue with going to the wider end is the increased cost of fast, rectilinear glass. Steve

12-02-2008, 07:45 AM	#10
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	It's been said in here before, but my advice is to try to get the most out of your kit lens since it shoots wide and is a decent lens. If you find it too slow for indoors, I'd say the FA35 since it's an all around kick-ass lens anyway. No matter how fast a lens is, if the subject is moving around all the time, you will get blurred shots most of the time, so don't expect to make miracles happen, no matter which lens you use. Back to the 35 versus 50, get them both!! I am dead serious, those 2 lenses are among the best ever made by Pentax in my opinion and the price is unbeatable compared to other lenses in their perfomance range. I'd say these two are "must have" in any Pentax owner's bag. Jason

12-02-2008, 08:28 AM	#11
kenyee Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston, PRofMA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,026	Can you still get the FA35?

12-02-2008, 08:36 AM	#12
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	About $370 at B+H.

12-02-2008, 12:50 PM	#13
badfish New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 6 Original Poster	Thank you all for the suggestions. This is the first lens I'm going to own. I may need to use it shoot outdoor pictures for my baby son sometimes as well. So I think I'm gonna choose 35mm, instead of 28mm or 50mm after carefully reading all your great suggestions. Yes, there are still FA 35mm available at adorama, amazon, or ebay for about $300.

12-02-2008, 12:59 PM	#14
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Honestly, I don't think you can make a "bad" choice either way; I'd look at it as which one do you buy "first"... Originally posted by badfish Thank you all for the suggestions. This is the first lens I'm going to own. I may need to use it shoot outdoor pictures for my baby son sometimes as well. So I think I'm gonna choose 35mm, instead of 28mm or 50mm after carefully reading all your great suggestions. Yes, there are still FA 35mm available at adorama, amazon, or ebay for about $300.

12-02-2008, 12:59 PM	#15
badfish New Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 6 Original Poster	I like to own them both!, but are they overlapped greatly? Maybe as a newbie, my "philosophy" isn't in place yet. Originally posted by Jasvox It's been said in here before, but my advice is to try to get the most out of your kit lens since it shoots wide and is a decent lens. If you find it too slow for indoors, I'd say the FA35 since it's an all around kick-ass lens anyway. No matter how fast a lens is, if the subject is moving around all the time, you will get blurred shots most of the time, so don't expect to make miracles happen, no matter which lens you use. Back to the 35 versus 50, get them both!! I am dead serious, those 2 lenses are among the best ever made by Pentax in my opinion and the price is unbeatable compared to other lenses in their perfomance range. I'd say these two are "must have" in any Pentax owner's bag. Jason