What lens should I buy next?

pcarfan · 04-04-2009, 05:13 PM

As you can see with the lenses I have listed below. A lens in the range of 50-150 is needed.

Requirements:
- Not too large or heavy, as I can always use my sigma 100-300 instead.
- AF for sure...MF is not for me.
- High quality lens with the highest IQ.

I am considering the FA77 or Tamron 90mm macro.

My FA 43 is so tack sharp, that I can crop heavily and still be fine with it.
So, what is 77 and 90 going to give me that the 43 crops cannot.

Then I am thinking along the lines of a 135mm prime, the best candidate seems to be the FA 135mm f2.8, but they are difficult to find and I am not totally sold on them being equal to the Pentax Limiteds. Is there any primes close to 135mm that can rival the limiteds ?

I want to get a lens when the FA 43 is just too short and I really don't want to pull out the bazooka (sigma 100-300)

The 50-135 and 70-200's are too large.

Is there any choices that I am missing?

Thank you.

Last edited by pcarfan; 04-04-2009 at 05:32 PM.

jsherman999 · 04-04-2009, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by pcarfan

As you can see with the lenses I have listed below. A lens in the range of 50-150 is needed.

Requirements:
- Not too large or heavy, as I can always use my sigma 100-300 instead.
- AF for sure...MF is not for me.
- High quality lens with the highest IQ.

I am considering the FA77 or Tamron 90mm macro.

My FA 43 is so tack sharp, that I can crop heavily and still be fine with it.
So, what is 77 and 90 going to give me that the 43 crops cannot.

Then I am thinking along the lines of a 135mm prime, the best candidate seems to be the FA 135mm f2.8, but they are difficult to find and I am not totally sold on them being equal to the Pentax Limiteds. Is there any primes close to 135mm that can rival the limiteds ?

I want to get a lens when the FA 43 is just too short and I really don't want to pull out the bazooka (sigma 100-300)

The 50-135 and 70-200's are too large.

Is there any choices that I am missing?

Thank you.

As good as the 43ltd is, a crop from it is not going to quite match the native
magnification of the 77ltd. You'll start to see a bot of noise, also, when you crop
too much to try to match telephoto effects.

Also, you can consider this - with the 77ltd, you can crop even more, out to
135 or even 200mm equiv!

The following is a tight crop from the 77ltd, about the equiv of 200mm:

Here's a 77ltd snap, with a crop out to about 135mm equiv following:

pcarfan · 04-04-2009, 06:51 PM

The 77mm was my number one choice. There has to be a reason why so many Pentaxians pick this as there favorite lens...the crop of the guy is very convincing, so I went ahead bought it.

Just needed that last nudge I guess

jsherman999 · 04-04-2009, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by pcarfan

The 77mm was my number one choice. There has to be a reason why so many Pentaxians pick this as there favorite lens...the crop of the guy is very convincing, so I went ahead bought it.

Just needed that last nudge I guess

Congrats! Silver or black?

pcarfan · 04-04-2009, 07:00 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Congrats! Silver or black?

Thanks. Black, just like my other FA lens.

04-04-2009, 05:13 PM	#1
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	What lens should I buy next? As you can see with the lenses I have listed below. A lens in the range of 50-150 is needed. Requirements: - Not too large or heavy, as I can always use my sigma 100-300 instead. - AF for sure...MF is not for me. - High quality lens with the highest IQ. I am considering the FA77 or Tamron 90mm macro. My FA 43 is so tack sharp, that I can crop heavily and still be fine with it. So, what is 77 and 90 going to give me that the 43 crops cannot. Then I am thinking along the lines of a 135mm prime, the best candidate seems to be the FA 135mm f2.8, but they are difficult to find and I am not totally sold on them being equal to the Pentax Limiteds. Is there any primes close to 135mm that can rival the limiteds ? I want to get a lens when the FA 43 is just too short and I really don't want to pull out the bazooka (sigma 100-300) The 50-135 and 70-200's are too large. Is there any choices that I am missing? Thank you. Last edited by pcarfan; 04-04-2009 at 05:32 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Should I buy this lens?	seachunk2	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	8	09-25-2010 11:50 AM
Should I buy this laptop to speed up my workflow or buy a new lens?	crossover37	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	26	09-24-2010 09:41 AM
SIGMA 70-200mm f/2.8 II EX DG APO Macro HSM Lens for PENTAX:To buy or not to buy?	thelittlecar	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	21	12-31-2009 06:01 AM
Would you buy this lens?	ftpaddict	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	39	01-31-2009 10:13 AM
Shall I buy this lens?	Wombat	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	13	08-08-2008 07:43 PM

04-04-2009, 06:02 PM	#2
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by pcarfan As you can see with the lenses I have listed below. A lens in the range of 50-150 is needed. Requirements: - Not too large or heavy, as I can always use my sigma 100-300 instead. - AF for sure...MF is not for me. - High quality lens with the highest IQ. I am considering the FA77 or Tamron 90mm macro. My FA 43 is so tack sharp, that I can crop heavily and still be fine with it. So, what is 77 and 90 going to give me that the 43 crops cannot. Then I am thinking along the lines of a 135mm prime, the best candidate seems to be the FA 135mm f2.8, but they are difficult to find and I am not totally sold on them being equal to the Pentax Limiteds. Is there any primes close to 135mm that can rival the limiteds ? I want to get a lens when the FA 43 is just too short and I really don't want to pull out the bazooka (sigma 100-300) The 50-135 and 70-200's are too large. Is there any choices that I am missing? Thank you. As good as the 43ltd is, a crop from it is not going to quite match the native magnification of the 77ltd. You'll start to see a bot of noise, also, when you crop too much to try to match telephoto effects. Also, you can consider this - with the 77ltd, you can crop even more, out to 135 or even 200mm equiv! The following is a tight crop from the 77ltd, about the equiv of 200mm: Here's a 77ltd snap, with a crop out to about 135mm equiv following:

04-04-2009, 06:51 PM	#3
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978 Original Poster	The 77mm was my number one choice. There has to be a reason why so many Pentaxians pick this as there favorite lens...the crop of the guy is very convincing, so I went ahead bought it. Just needed that last nudge I guess

04-04-2009, 06:55 PM	#4
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by pcarfan The 77mm was my number one choice. There has to be a reason why so many Pentaxians pick this as there favorite lens...the crop of the guy is very convincing, so I went ahead bought it. Just needed that last nudge I guess Congrats! Silver or black?

04-04-2009, 07:00 PM	#5
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978 Original Poster	Originally posted by jsherman999 Congrats! Silver or black? Thanks. Black, just like my other FA lens.