[jsherman999]

Ok, both of you... WHY?

Because, 1) I like telephoto for portraits, flora/bugs and street shooting, and 2) One of the best primes for any mount happens to be the FA 77ltd. If you force me to choose one, it has to be that.

[Kguru]

For me, a DA21 on K20D.

-- It's wide enough for family group photos in smallish spaces.

-- Excellent for touristy type of photos where we want "prominent" persons yet lots of location background included. Bonus is tiny size of lens.

-- If I want extra wide scenery: easy enough to do 2 side-by-side shots and stitch 'em.

-- Crop it down to 6Mp (for a combined 2.4x crop factor): close enough to normal.

[Stratman]

Ok, both of you... WHY?

Hmm, I just like the 28mm focal length on a cropped sensor, still a little wide, but close to "normal" for everyday photos..

[clawhammer]

I voted super-wide, because most of my favorite shots are taken with my DA 14. If I use it right, it can do portraits, landscapes, industrial, fine-art, etc etc. at f/2.8, it's fast enough for most lighting situations.

[Ratmagiclady]

Hrm. I think it'd just have to be a Canon 85mm 1.2L on full-frame. It's just about how I see.

[Blue]

My DA 35 ltd on the K200d and Sigma 105mm on the K20D. The M 50 f1.4 on the K2 and the Tamron 180mm Adapt II on the SuperProgramA and the SMC A 400mm on the K1000 and the macro-tak 50mm on the Spot F.

Edit: the 50mm on the Auto 110.

[troyz]

Let us say that you had to pick one prime lens only to last you forever. You cannot use a zoom ever again, and you can never change the lens.

Well that's what you get for trying to use a Ricoh mount lens!

What focal length and particularly what lens would it be? For which type of shooting? Why?

I''ll go for the slightly-wide-normal (an FA43 for film bodies, FA31 for APS-C digital). With a longer lens, I would have my back against the wall for a lot of indoor photos, and with a wider lens, I often have to get too close to the subject to get tight composition.

[lbam]

I love my Zeiss 25mm f2.8 ZK as it enables me to do semi macro, and landscapes that are sharp.

Having said this the 31mm comes close to these features with faster speed and auto focus for when you need it, so that would be my one lens...

hmm... the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is also very flexible.. lol

[elkarrde]

i would take the DA 10-17 fisheye. or maybe some circular fisheye, even better.
why? i like how fisheye lens distorts the world around its front element, i like the looks it can capture. it's a way of thinking i like.

[Deni]

I liked the idea of film cameras being sold with a fast normal prime and I think today's pentax cameras should also have the option between the da 18-55 or fa 35 f/2.

I'd take a fa 35 f/2 because on aps-c it is a very flexible range. The absolute best would be a 35 mm lens with at least f/1.4 aperture and 1:1 macro .

[rover]

For no other reason than that the lens is so amazing,

I would choose the 77 Limited. I would make the focal length work for me, the lens it too good not to.

[thePiRaTE!!]

I love my Zeiss 25mm f2.8 ZK as it enables me to do semi macro, and landscapes that are sharp.

Having said this the 31mm comes close to these features with faster speed and auto focus for when you need it, so that would be my one lens...

hmm... the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is also very flexible.. lol

I also considered saying the 25/2.8. Its my only lens under 50 and is my favourite close-focus lens and wide angle all in one. Having sold my 31, the 28 is also my family/friends event lens. Its the picture of versatility and a joy to handle.

But... if I was stuck with one I'd be hard pressed to consider my favourite factor - bokeh. One forever... .... . . . 58/1.4 Nokton.

Most 50s give you 0.45m minimum distance, as the Nokton does, but it does so at 58mm, so you can see the extra 16% cfd in the shallower dof. The focal length is versatile, not my perfect bokeh length (75-100).

I would get bored of photography eventually if I was stuck even with the Nokton forever though. I get clausterphobic just thinking about it.

[Mechan1k]

Out of all my lens ... I really love the 85mm on the cropped sensor.
Although I really do keep going back to the 55mm though ... I really love the 85mm FOV on a cropped sensor.

[ll_coffee_lP]

Good question...and easy answer. Short tele.

I'd go with the Sigma 70mm macro as my only lens. It's mindlessly easy to use and always performs for me...a real treat of a lens. A perfect lens for taking pictures of people.


c[_]

[heatherslightbox]

If I was allowed to keep 1 lens for each body I have, I'd go with the following:

FA43 on the K200--While I was on vacation last week, this lens stayed on the K20 a lot--it's great for "around the house" snapshots, as well as the touristy shots.
Sigma 105 (which will be my next lens purchase) on the K20--short tele + macro covered in one lens.

If I had to go with just one lens out of the 2, it would definitely be the 43 (although the 35Ltd. tugs at me a little bit).

Heather