The best lens you own

RonMexico · 03-13-2009, 04:35 PM

What's the best lens you own?
Is it your favorite? (I know sometimes it's not the same)

Considering the number of reviews and the rating, it looks like most people's favorite lenses are the DA 40mm, DA* 50-135, the FA 31mm, and the FA 77mm.

I'm a little surprised at how many people love the DA 40mm.

RonMexico · 03-13-2009, 04:41 PM

Please move this thread. I accidentally posted in the wrong forum.

Damn Brit · 03-13-2009, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by RonMexico

Please move this thread. I accidentally posted in the wrong forum.

Moved. Next time Ron, just click on the flag in the bottom LH corner of the Post then follow the instructions.
The mods will see it straight away then.

axl · 03-13-2009, 05:07 PM

I'm stuck between the rock and the hard place...
I do own FA31ltd, and it's one excellent lens, but... haven't had it long enought to get shots that would rival those I got from my "little wonder"
you guessed it, it's DA40ltd. After comparisons on hair clips, dvds and surrounding buildings I have to say 40 underexposes compared to 31 and has cooler blueish tint (31 has just neutral bordering on warmer yellow/green). 31 has tad better resolution but when shooting from the same place it has bigger magnification so it offsets this. Other then that, it's much smaller, much lighter, focuses faster and is capable of using other hoods (hood/filter combination).
So, conclusion:
31 - I love the IQ, I love the FOV, I love the speed (f1.8)
- I hate the built in hood, could be lighter
40 - I love the sharpness, portability, I grew to love the FOV
- could be more neutral in rendering, over last 10months it gave many excellent keepers
Please don't make me choose between these two, if I was really pressed I'd say 31 is better lens, but I still use 40 at least as often, with results nearly or at least as good.
For now, I'm happy I have both and if somebody asks me what is my best lens?
It's the Limiteds

BR

PS: Ron, don't be surprised. Despite it's small size there is a lot to love on DA40ltd, you don't know unless you haven't owned it for a while...

Last edited by axl; 03-13-2009 at 05:10 PM. Reason: PS added

krypticide · 03-13-2009, 05:45 PM

Best lens is FA 35mm f/2. Nice and sharp, nice all-around lens on digital.
Favorite lenses for portraits: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM and Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Both wide and tight have their uses.
FA 50mm f/1.4 is useful for more specialized stuff, but I dislike it's AF performance.
"Worst" lens is 18-250mm, but it is most versatile when going light.

Votesh · 03-13-2009, 05:55 PM

The best lens I own is probably the A* 200 Macro. But I haven't had it for long and have yet to really use it much or get to know it.
Favorite lens is probably my FA 31mm Ltd. Very nice and I always seem to throw it on the camera when I just don't know which lens I should use for the day, and only have room for one.

Raybo · 03-13-2009, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by Votesh

The best lens I own is probably the A* 200 Macro. But I haven't had it for long and have yet to really use it much or get to know it.
Favorite lens is probably my FA 31mm Ltd. Very nice and I always seem to throw it on the camera when I just don't know which lens I should use for the day, and only have room for one.

A*200 macro?

Isn't that lens suppose to be sub-par?
I don't have the money for an FA 31 ltd, no less the 200 macro.

My best at the moment is my Tamron 70-200 f2.8 and DA 16-45.....I'm satisfied for now.

ivoire · 03-13-2009, 06:20 PM

f*300mm f4.5, best i own and my favorite. i'm constantly amazed by the images from it. heres a recent sample

Ole · 03-13-2009, 06:21 PM

That's easy:
Best: FA 31/1.8 Limited
- bokeh, 3D rendition, construction, a piece of art
Favorite: FA* 28-70/2.8
- tack sharp, fairly compact, large max aperture, covers the range I use the most

Stevopedia · 03-13-2009, 06:22 PM

The best I've got is the M 50/1.7. While not a bad lens at all, it's certainly not the best either. Then again, I'm just a beginner in all this...

**monochrome** · 03-13-2009, 06:25 PM

Best Lens? tell me what is good and I'll tell you my best

Toss up:

K28/3.5 - sharp edge-to-edge
K35/3.5 - amazing color rendering and bokeh
K135/2.5 - sharp sharp sharp center

But I'm having the most fun right now with a Tamron SP 90/2.5 macro I bought here - visible snap into focus, underexposes about 2 stops in natural light on K10D, a bit warm - but nice images.

FA35/2 is on my cameras more than any other lens.

CalendarGuy · 03-13-2009, 06:34 PM

At this moment in time...and don't laugh...the DA50-200

I don't own the best lenses that Pentax makes so there's no point of reference...but this one surprises me every time I use it. Maybe it's the low expectations (since it is the other kit lens) that keep drawing me back to continue to find its faults. As hard as I try, I have yet to find anything wrong with it other than its speed. Since I only use it when the light is good, this has not been an issue.

Raybo · 03-13-2009, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by Stevopedia

The best I've got is the M 50/1.7. While not a bad lens at all, it's certainly not the best either. Then again, I'm just a beginner in all this...

The M50 f1.7 is a GREAT lens, I own a copy and it's as sharp as a tack!

I just listed my most expensive lenses for heck of it.

**Digitalis** · 03-13-2009, 06:43 PM

my working kit is the Pentax K 50mm f/1.2, FA77LTD and Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG

my favourite is the K 50 f/1.2 it's a spectacular lens, and I LOVE the speed, and the bokeh is phenomenal.

I'll be adding the 31mm f/1.8 limited to my collection soon...I have already ordered it.

wildman · 03-13-2009, 06:46 PM

For a conventionall photographic lens rather than one of my specialized long lens' it would be the FA 35.

light, compact, versatile, inexpensive with stunning optical quality.
I don't expect my photographic needs will ever require anything "better".

03-13-2009, 04:35 PM	#1
RonMexico Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 215	The best lens you own What's the best lens you own? Is it your favorite? (I know sometimes it's not the same) Considering the number of reviews and the rating, it looks like most people's favorite lenses are the DA 40mm, DA* 50-135, the FA 31mm, and the FA 77mm. I'm a little surprised at how many people love the DA 40mm.

03-13-2009, 06:20 PM	#8
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	f300mm f4.5, best i own and my favorite. i'm constantly amazed by the images from it. heres a recent sample Last edited by ivoire; 10-04-2010 at 03:58 PM.*

03-13-2009, 06:25 PM	#11
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Best Lens? tell me what is good and I'll tell you my best Toss up: K28/3.5 - sharp edge-to-edge K35/3.5 - amazing color rendering and bokeh K135/2.5 - sharp sharp sharp center But I'm having the most fun right now with a Tamron SP 90/2.5 macro I bought here - visible snap into focus, underexposes about 2 stops in natural light on K10D, a bit warm - but nice images. FA35/2 is on my cameras more than any other lens.

03-13-2009, 06:43 PM	#14
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	my working kit is the Pentax K 50mm f/1.2, FA77LTD and Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG my favourite is the K 50 f/1.2 it's a spectacular lens, and I LOVE the speed, and the bokeh is phenomenal. I'll be adding the 31mm f/1.8 limited to my collection soon...I have already ordered it. Last edited by Digitalis; 05-08-2009 at 12:33 AM.

03-13-2009, 04:41 PM	#2
RonMexico Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 215 Original Poster	Please move this thread. I accidentally posted in the wrong forum.

03-13-2009, 04:58 PM	#3
Damn Brit Guest	Originally posted by RonMexico Please move this thread. I accidentally posted in the wrong forum. Moved. Next time Ron, just click on the flag in the bottom LH corner of the Post then follow the instructions. The mods will see it straight away then.

03-13-2009, 05:07 PM	#4
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I'm stuck between the rock and the hard place... I do own FA31ltd, and it's one excellent lens, but... haven't had it long enought to get shots that would rival those I got from my "little wonder" you guessed it, it's DA40ltd. After comparisons on hair clips, dvds and surrounding buildings I have to say 40 underexposes compared to 31 and has cooler blueish tint (31 has just neutral bordering on warmer yellow/green). 31 has tad better resolution but when shooting from the same place it has bigger magnification so it offsets this. Other then that, it's much smaller, much lighter, focuses faster and is capable of using other hoods (hood/filter combination). So, conclusion: 31 - I love the IQ, I love the FOV, I love the speed (f1.8) - I hate the built in hood, could be lighter 40 - I love the sharpness, portability, I grew to love the FOV - could be more neutral in rendering, over last 10months it gave many excellent keepers Please don't make me choose between these two, if I was really pressed I'd say 31 is better lens, but I still use 40 at least as often, with results nearly or at least as good. For now, I'm happy I have both and if somebody asks me what is my best lens? It's the Limiteds BR PS: Ron, don't be surprised. Despite it's small size there is a lot to love on DA40ltd, you don't know unless you haven't owned it for a while... Last edited by axl; 03-13-2009 at 05:10 PM. Reason: PS added

03-13-2009, 05:45 PM	#5
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Best lens is FA 35mm f/2. Nice and sharp, nice all-around lens on digital. Favorite lenses for portraits: Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM and Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Both wide and tight have their uses. FA 50mm f/1.4 is useful for more specialized stuff, but I dislike it's AF performance. "Worst" lens is 18-250mm, but it is most versatile when going light.

03-13-2009, 05:55 PM	#6
Votesh Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 817	The best lens I own is probably the A* 200 Macro. But I haven't had it for long and have yet to really use it much or get to know it. Favorite lens is probably my FA 31mm Ltd. Very nice and I always seem to throw it on the camera when I just don't know which lens I should use for the day, and only have room for one.

03-13-2009, 06:19 PM	#7
Raybo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 872	Originally posted by Votesh The best lens I own is probably the A* 200 Macro. But I haven't had it for long and have yet to really use it much or get to know it. Favorite lens is probably my FA 31mm Ltd. Very nice and I always seem to throw it on the camera when I just don't know which lens I should use for the day, and only have room for one. A*200 macro? Isn't that lens suppose to be sub-par? I don't have the money for an FA 31 ltd, no less the 200 macro. My best at the moment is my Tamron 70-200 f2.8 and DA 16-45.....I'm satisfied for now.

03-13-2009, 06:21 PM	#9
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	That's easy: Best: FA 31/1.8 Limited - bokeh, 3D rendition, construction, a piece of art Favorite: FA* 28-70/2.8 - tack sharp, fairly compact, large max aperture, covers the range I use the most

03-13-2009, 06:22 PM	#10
Stevopedia Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Posts: 273	The best I've got is the M 50/1.7. While not a bad lens at all, it's certainly not the best either. Then again, I'm just a beginner in all this...

03-13-2009, 06:34 PM	#12
CalendarGuy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 46	At this moment in time...and don't laugh...the DA50-200 I don't own the best lenses that Pentax makes so there's no point of reference...but this one surprises me every time I use it. Maybe it's the low expectations (since it is the other kit lens) that keep drawing me back to continue to find its faults. As hard as I try, I have yet to find anything wrong with it other than its speed. Since I only use it when the light is good, this has not been an issue.

03-13-2009, 06:35 PM	#13
Raybo Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 872	Originally posted by Stevopedia The best I've got is the M 50/1.7. While not a bad lens at all, it's certainly not the best either. Then again, I'm just a beginner in all this... The M50 f1.7 is a GREAT lens, I own a copy and it's as sharp as a tack! I just listed my most expensive lenses for heck of it.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

03-13-2009, 06:46 PM	#15
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469	For a conventionall photographic lens rather than one of my specialized long lens' it would be the FA 35. light, compact, versatile, inexpensive with stunning optical quality. I don't expect my photographic needs will ever require anything "better".