Let me preface this by saying that I am a research freak.
When I decided it was time to jump into the dSLR arena, I read every review about every dSLR on the market, over and over. Then, I created a lens roadmap for myself, deciding which lenses would be best suited for me. I read every review about every lens from every manufacturer. I was obsessed with MTF charts, blur indexes, vignetting, chromatic aberation, bokeh, etc. I probably new more technical data about lenses than professional photographers before I ever even took a photo with a dSLR. Sites such as SLRGear.com, Photozone.de, and DPReview.com just fueled the fire.
From my past film SLR days, I mostly shot with my cheap fast fifty/1.8 on my old Canon, so I was naturally enamoured by the great selection of Pentax primes. From the elegant FA Limiteds with "3-d effects" to DA pocketable pancakes, I decided Pentax was my system.
Eventhough Pentax makes a very good kit lens, I turned my nose up at all of the casual shooters that actually bought and use it. I needed better resolution and overall higher quality. I needed something that would separate my photos from the casual weekend vacationer or a mother at her kid's birthday party. Pentax's wide selection of primes allowed me to get the best resolution for a reasonable cost. Plus, it gave me a feeling of superiority knowing that I only shoot with high quality primes. My wife would complain that I would miss good shots because I couldn't zoom in or out, and I would reply that there are no good shots with crappy zoom lenses.
How things change. Fast forward to one year later. Here is my current lens list:
Vivitar (Kiron) 28mm 2.5
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35mm 3.5
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm 1.4
2 Super-Takumars 55mm 1.8
Mamiya/Sekor 55mm 1.4
Sears 55mm 1.4
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 105mm 2.8
Mamiya/Sekor 135mm 2.8
Vivitar (Komine) 200mm 3.5
Pentax-F 35-70mm 3.5-4.5 (for my wife) - my only modern lens
So in the end, I don't have any of those Pentax pancakes, limiteds, or *'s, nor do I think I will get any anytime soon. I am very happy with the results from my lens collection, and in total, they probably cost less than one Limited lens. I have no idea what the blur indexes and resolution charts say about these lenses. I would be scared to find out the results, especially for the cheapo Pentax-F 35-70mm, but I think it takes excellent pictures anyways. I wouldn't be surprised if the kit lens resolution blew them all away. Ironically, I am now always checking ebay to see if I could snag a kit lens on the ultra-cheap, just to add some versatility to my collection.
Though I am happy I chose Pentax and the K10D, the reasons why I bought the camera have absolutely nothing to do with why I am happy with it now. I love my camera for the green button, the two dials, and the flange distance, not the assortment of Pentax lenses.
I came across a quote which I vaguely remember, where an interviewer asked some old famous photographer which is his best lens, and he replied "my eye."
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