[pblogic]

First of all, if I had a K3 III I would wait a couple months and see if there is going to be a k1 announcement. We are long over due for an update.

That said, I’ve just recently tried a few of the nicer full frame lenses and here are my thoughts.

Folks around here will talk a lot about big lens size, which I find ironic. If I were worried about weight I would shoot Sony. That said, I know some folks are older so to each their own. Everyone has different needs and priorities.

The 28-105 is a very good lens. I liked it a lot, but it would not be my walk around lens. I now have the 24-70 and find it to be superior. After using it, I think it is underrated. Its rendering is great, bokeh is good, and I’d rather have the 24mm at the wide end than have the reach of the 28-105. I connect the k1 to my peak design slide strap in sling configuration and it rides at my hip, I don’t find it heavy at all on the sling. Disclaimer, I am in my forties and not struggling with strength issues, so it all depends on your fitness level.

I’ve tried the hd 50 and 85 as well, both great lenses. I would love to own them as well, but if I were to have one lens, the 24-70 offers really great image quality with its versatility.

Controversially, I am not a fan of most of the limited lenses. Most have no weather sealing, are screw af which is noisy, slow, and hunts. I especially don’t care for the revered 77mm. I don’t like it’s rendering, I don’t like it’s ca, and the autofocus is terrible for any moving subject. I like the images out of the modern lenses much better. I think the limited are great for film, and I’d slap them on my k1000 in a heartbeat, but I don’t like them on my k1.

The K1 is big. The newer lenses are big. Together they offer awesome image quality. So I’m going to disagree with the folks that are focused on small lenses. If you want small, there are better systems for small, or stick to K3. I love the K1, but I like a big camera and I actually prefer huge lenses, I just think they are cool. If I wanted to build a SMALL and light full frame system from nothing, it would be with a Sony A7R IV…. But I don’t, because I don’t care about small and light.

If I really want small and light…. I have a phone.

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Last edited by pblogic; 05-10-2023 at 02:14 AM.

[Lord Lucan]

I bought the 24-70 F2.8, new, because I wanted an all-new camera/lens combination, and it seemed the natural lens to accompany the K-1. It is fine for landscape which is my main interest, but as well as being heavy it is conspicuously large, so for town and general walk-about use I bought a used FA 28-70 F4 from Ebay for about £20.

[Joetitch]

The K1 can also be used with square crop to get rid of vignetting and ads to thinking differently about composition. Many da lenses can be cropped in post giving more mp than 15mp of the crop setting. What colour is the K1?

[UncleVanya]

What colour is the K1?

This is the most important question given the op’s love of unusual colors in her camera bodies.

[madison_wi_gal]

I don't really see a motivation for buying a K-1

To clarify, if I can get a good copy of a K-1 II J Limited in Viridian via my friend visiting Japan this week, I'll be a FF camera owner. If not then my K-3 III is fine (if not better in many ways).

[Sjak]

To clarify, if I can get a good copy of a K-1 II J Limited in Viridian via my friend visiting Japan this week, I'll be a FF camera owner.

That's very cool! Keep us posted!

[Sandy Hancock]

Has anyone mentioned the HD Pentax-DFA 28-105/3.5-5.6 yet?

That would be my choice....

[madison_wi_gal]

This is the most important question given the op’s love of unusual colors in her camera bodies.

Yes, that is the goal. And no, the KP recent colors (olive? ugh) and the myriad rainbow K-50s are not in the running here, I see no need to get another APS-C that is ~inferior to the K-3 III. The Black and Gold is a second choice (since I have no black camera at all) but I'm crossing my fingers for the Viridian.

---------- Post added 05-10-23 at 08:13 ----------

Has anyone mentioned the HD Pentax-DFA 28-105/3.5-5.6 yet?

That would be my choice....

I'm surprised at the affordability of that lens, based on the overwhelming response on this thread. I guess I'm one of those folks who equate $ with quality, although I know better (or I ought to).

[AfterPentax Mark II]

Has anyone mentioned the HD Pentax-DFA 28-105/3.5-5.6 yet?

That would be my choice....

They did, but do not rule out the SMC FA 28-105 1:3.2-4.5 IF&AL. I had it on the silver K-1 II and was more than pleasantly surprised. Drawback: Screwdrive AF!

[UncleVanya]

I'm surprised at the affordability of that lens, based on the overwhelming response on this thread. I guess I'm one of those folks who equate $ with quality, although I know better (or I ought to).

The compromises are:
28mm vs 24mm
Variable aperture vs fixed aperture.

The upsides are a wide range and light weight plus high sharpness.

The Nighttaxians have talked about how good that lens is even subbing in for the 15-30 in a pinch.

[Flanoman]

Get the DFA 50mm 1.4, heavy but an outstanding lens that beats everything in its class and also the 28 105 for punching way above its weight.

[thix2112]

28-105
Good deal at Ricoh sample sale.

https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/sample-sale/

[C_Jones]

The crops I get from my K-1 II with a Pentax 70-200 on it are excellent. The K-1 II is amazing.

[madison_wi_gal]

28-105
Good deal at Ricoh sample sale.

https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/sample-sale/

Snagged one!!

[Scorpio71GR]

Snagged one!!

Congrads, you will not be disappointed. It is a highly under rated and under valued lens.

28mm F6.3

Meijer Gardens_83_2017.jpg by Michael, on Flickr