Time to tweak the kit again...

maxwell1295 · 03-30-2009, 08:50 AM

Not really a LBA post...

I've been looking at my kit with an eye on lens usage. What I'd really like to do is consolidate my kit by adding/keeping lenses that fit my shooting range and getting rid of lenses that don't. I'd like to stick to high quality glass, which I feel my current kit has.

Now:
DA35
FA50
DA10-17
DA12-24
Sigma 24-60/2.8
DA*50-135

Proposed:
DA35 Limited
FA43 Limited
DA10-17
DA*16-50
DA*50-135

Basically, it comes down to dumping 3 lenses and replacing them with 2 new lenses. The 12-24 and 24-60 would be replaced by the 16-50 and the FA50 would be replaced by the FA43. That would make the kit a little easier to carry and a better fit for my shooting style.

I don't use the 12-24 much and probably wouldn't miss it as long as I had something suitably wide-ish. That's where the 16-50 comes in. Since I shoot a lot of events and plan on shooting even more of them this year, I figure the two DA* zooms would pretty much cover my entire shooting range. With one on each body, I wouldn't have to switch lenses much at all. I'd miss the Sigma 24-60 (fantastic lens), but the DA35 has pretty much relegated it to portrait and event duty only. Again, the 16-50 would file that role very well and would stay on the camera more due to its width. SDM and weather sealing is an added benefit.

Am I making sense here?

jeffkpotter · 03-30-2009, 10:14 AM

Probably not what you want to hear, but I greatly admire your current kit. Don't know what your ultimate needs are though. Sometimes mixing it up keeps the juices flowing, other times it's like "why in the world did I sell that!?" You know what I mean.

Alfisti · 03-30-2009, 11:24 AM

The pnly catch i can see is that the 12-24 at 16mm is in it's sweet spot but the 16-50 is being asked a lot of questions.

Optigrab · 03-30-2009, 11:58 AM

Originally posted by maxwell1295

Am I making sense here?

Yes. As much as the 12-24mm appealed to me (just purchased), your assessment of what's not getting much use is what's important. I am just a bit surprised that you use the fish-eye more than the 12-24mm. I certainly believe you, but could you comment on why that is the case?

The DA* zooms are, I think, the best two-lens kit for event shooters. And who could criticize the two primes you're targeting? Really, there isn't a regret in that lineup. I personally have insecurities about selling lenses (what if I need it someday?!), but I really admire a well-thought out, well used kit.

maxwell1295 · 03-30-2009, 01:05 PM

I've definitely experienced some seller's regret in my day. I shed a tear every time I see a pic taken with a Tak 105/2.8 lens. That is my one true regret. I like the 12-24 as it's a really good lens. I just don't use it much. I actually prefer images taken with the 10-17. Maybe I don't 'see' wide-angle images as well as others do. I've used the 12-24 for group shots, but they could've been taken just as easily with the 16-50. The DA35 is a wonderful lens and the perfect lens for nailing flowers and other closeup work. It's probably my favorite lens right now so I would never get rid of that one.

Nachodog · 03-31-2009, 10:19 AM

I'm looking to exchange some lenses too. I'm really interested in an FA 43mm like you and selling my FA 50mm. I'm starting to re-think that though. I feel like I would miss it.

I think we discussed this prospect in another thread a while back, but I really hate using a flash indoors if I don't need to and the 50mm is really great in low-light.

As for your other choices, I'm thinking the DA* is a great choice. I don't have either, but from the examples I've seen on the forums, I doubt you'd regret that buy.

axl · 03-31-2009, 11:24 AM

yes, you are talking sense here not bad proposed line up...
won't you miss f1.4 though? if not then it seems allright.

I'm often thinking myself about usage/replacing lenses, but I have one fundametal question to answer: zoom vs prime... then I can make my list and yours would be gerat example.

BR

maxwell1295 · 03-31-2009, 05:38 PM

I think the FA43 at f1.9 would a lot more usable than the FA50 at f1.4. I don't really like the FA50 until it gets to f2.5 or so anyway.

dazman · 04-01-2009, 01:26 AM

Originally posted by maxwell1295

I think the FA43 at f1.9 would a lot more usable than the FA50 at f1.4. I don't really like the FA50 until it gets to f2.5 or so anyway.

That's the same way I feel. Better build quality with the FA as well.

As for your proposed line up...when you were traveling, wasn't the DA12-24 your 2nd most used lens?...at what length's did you/do you use the 12-24 the most?
The DA*16-50 is a super lens, but at 16-17mm the distortion is noticeable...just requires more time in PP.

maxwell1295 · 04-01-2009, 01:12 PM

I've been thinking more and more about keeping the 12-24. I haven't had it long enough to really assess it's worth to me. I haven't used it much, but I haven't had it very long either. I did use it when I travelled, mostly because I carried only the 10-17, 12-24, and the DA35 about 90% of time I went out. I purposely left the 24-60 home and forced myself to use the 12-24 more.

The only thing I really feel the need to change is swapping the FA50 for the FA43. I can deal with switching back and forth between the 12-24 and 24-60. It's not like I'm lusting for the 16-50. I just thought it would be a logical fit.

Oh well, time for a bigger bag...

heliphoto · 04-01-2009, 04:43 PM

I sold the Sigma 24-60 and some other stuff to buy the DA* 16-50, and I don't regret it. As good as the 24-60 is, the Pentax is a superior lens in a lot of ways (color, flare control, SDM, quickshift, wx. sealing, zoom and focus rings move the same way as your other Pentax lenses, color, color (it has really fantastic color rendition), focal length range...). The only real downsides to the pentax are cost and it vignettes more than the Sigma, but I can fix vignette in Post... I haven't compared sharpness or distortion directly, but I think sharpness is comparable, and since you like the fisheye so much, you're probably like me in that a little distortion doesn't bug you that much.

My advice is go for it.

03-30-2009, 08:50 AM	#1
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703	Time to tweak the kit again... Not really a LBA post... I've been looking at my kit with an eye on lens usage. What I'd really like to do is consolidate my kit by adding/keeping lenses that fit my shooting range and getting rid of lenses that don't. I'd like to stick to high quality glass, which I feel my current kit has. Now: DA35 FA50 DA10-17 DA12-24 Sigma 24-60/2.8 DA50-135 Proposed: DA35 Limited FA43 Limited DA10-17 DA16-50 DA50-135 Basically, it comes down to dumping 3 lenses and replacing them with 2 new lenses. The 12-24 and 24-60 would be replaced by the 16-50 and the FA50 would be replaced by the FA43. That would make the kit a little easier to carry and a better fit for my shooting style. I don't use the 12-24 much and probably wouldn't miss it as long as I had something suitably wide-ish. That's where the 16-50 comes in. Since I shoot a lot of events and plan on shooting even more of them this year, I figure the two DA zooms would pretty much cover my entire shooting range. With one on each body, I wouldn't have to switch lenses much at all. I'd miss the Sigma 24-60 (fantastic lens), but the DA35 has pretty much relegated it to portrait and event duty only. Again, the 16-50 would file that role very well and would stay on the camera more due to its width. SDM and weather sealing is an added benefit. Am I making sense here?

04-01-2009, 01:26 AM	#9
dazman Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,949	Originally posted by maxwell1295 I think the FA43 at f1.9 would a lot more usable than the FA50 at f1.4. I don't really like the FA50 until it gets to f2.5 or so anyway. That's the same way I feel. Better build quality with the FA as well. As for your proposed line up...when you were traveling, wasn't the DA12-24 your 2nd most used lens?...at what length's did you/do you use the 12-24 the most? The DA16-50 is a super lens, but at 16-17mm the distortion is noticeable...just requires more time in PP. Last edited by dazman; 04-01-2009 at 01:44 AM.*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Incorrect Kit Lens - Is it worth spending time in exchanging it?	epidaetia	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	23	08-18-2010 03:11 PM
Do you tweak?	neilj	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	16	12-20-2009 04:50 PM
Studio kit... right stuff, wrong time.	Buddha Jones	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	2	03-29-2009 03:58 PM
photomatix tweak alignment?	dtra	Digital Processing, Software, and Printing	0	05-11-2008 02:52 AM
Supper Time, Kit Lens Macro's of a BEE	little laker	Post Your Photos!	5	08-10-2007 10:53 AM

03-30-2009, 10:14 AM	#2
jeffkpotter Guest	Probably not what you want to hear, but I greatly admire your current kit. Don't know what your ultimate needs are though. Sometimes mixing it up keeps the juices flowing, other times it's like "why in the world did I sell that!?" You know what I mean.

03-30-2009, 11:24 AM	#3
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	The pnly catch i can see is that the 12-24 at 16mm is in it's sweet spot but the 16-50 is being asked a lot of questions.

03-30-2009, 11:58 AM	#4
Optigrab Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY U.S.A. Posts: 33	Originally posted by maxwell1295 Am I making sense here? Yes. As much as the 12-24mm appealed to me (just purchased), your assessment of what's not getting much use is what's important. I am just a bit surprised that you use the fish-eye more than the 12-24mm. I certainly believe you, but could you comment on why that is the case? The DA* zooms are, I think, the best two-lens kit for event shooters. And who could criticize the two primes you're targeting? Really, there isn't a regret in that lineup. I personally have insecurities about selling lenses (what if I need it someday?!), but I really admire a well-thought out, well used kit.

03-30-2009, 01:05 PM	#5
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703 Original Poster	I've definitely experienced some seller's regret in my day. I shed a tear every time I see a pic taken with a Tak 105/2.8 lens. That is my one true regret. I like the 12-24 as it's a really good lens. I just don't use it much. I actually prefer images taken with the 10-17. Maybe I don't 'see' wide-angle images as well as others do. I've used the 12-24 for group shots, but they could've been taken just as easily with the 16-50. The DA35 is a wonderful lens and the perfect lens for nailing flowers and other closeup work. It's probably my favorite lens right now so I would never get rid of that one.

03-31-2009, 10:19 AM	#6
Nachodog Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal, Qc Posts: 472	I'm looking to exchange some lenses too. I'm really interested in an FA 43mm like you and selling my FA 50mm. I'm starting to re-think that though. I feel like I would miss it. I think we discussed this prospect in another thread a while back, but I really hate using a flash indoors if I don't need to and the 50mm is really great in low-light. As for your other choices, I'm thinking the DA* is a great choice. I don't have either, but from the examples I've seen on the forums, I doubt you'd regret that buy.

03-31-2009, 11:24 AM	#7
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	yes, you are talking sense here not bad proposed line up... won't you miss f1.4 though? if not then it seems allright. I'm often thinking myself about usage/replacing lenses, but I have one fundametal question to answer: zoom vs prime... then I can make my list and yours would be gerat example. BR

03-31-2009, 05:38 PM	#8
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703 Original Poster	I think the FA43 at f1.9 would a lot more usable than the FA50 at f1.4. I don't really like the FA50 until it gets to f2.5 or so anyway.

04-01-2009, 01:12 PM	#10
maxwell1295 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Long Island, New York Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,703 Original Poster	I've been thinking more and more about keeping the 12-24. I haven't had it long enough to really assess it's worth to me. I haven't used it much, but I haven't had it very long either. I did use it when I travelled, mostly because I carried only the 10-17, 12-24, and the DA35 about 90% of time I went out. I purposely left the 24-60 home and forced myself to use the 12-24 more. The only thing I really feel the need to change is swapping the FA50 for the FA43. I can deal with switching back and forth between the 12-24 and 24-60. It's not like I'm lusting for the 16-50. I just thought it would be a logical fit. Oh well, time for a bigger bag...

04-01-2009, 04:43 PM	#11
heliphoto Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Region 5 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,539	I sold the Sigma 24-60 and some other stuff to buy the DA* 16-50, and I don't regret it. As good as the 24-60 is, the Pentax is a superior lens in a lot of ways (color, flare control, SDM, quickshift, wx. sealing, zoom and focus rings move the same way as your other Pentax lenses, color, color (it has really fantastic color rendition), focal length range...). The only real downsides to the pentax are cost and it vignettes more than the Sigma, but I can fix vignette in Post... I haven't compared sharpness or distortion directly, but I think sharpness is comparable, and since you like the fisheye so much, you're probably like me in that a little distortion doesn't bug you that much. My advice is go for it.