[gemini]

i'm finding some economic but nice lenses with KA ("A" position on aperture ring).
i will use in on a aps-c digital pentax.

can you suggest me:

- 1 wide lens
- 1 normal lens
- 1 tele lens

(or tell me about a zoom)

i prefer pentax lenses, but also other brand is ok if the lens is nice (russian, japanese, germanian...)

i find only nice lens!
pleaase can you hel me?
thanks

[Nick Siebers]

I can help a little:

Wide -
Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 available in KA, very nice little lens
Sigma Super Wide II 24mm f/2.8 - I haven't used it but online samples look great.

Normal -
You can't go wrong with a $50-60 Pentax A 50 f/1.7, although maybe it will feel too long on an APS sensor. There's the FA 35mm f/2, but that will run you $300 or more. And the DA 40mm limited is a great lens, that is what I use for a normal lens.

Tele - I like my K 80-200 zoom, but no "A" position. Supposedly the Pentax A 70-210 is great, butI do not know.

[arpaagent]

I'm not sure if you are talking about wide/normal/tele with respect to the APS-C crop, or just regular 35mm standard focal lengths. I'll assume you want true wide/normal/tele on APS-C, which will be something like <= 24mm, 28-35mm, and >= 85mm.

Getting a wide angle lens with KA mount for cheap might be difficult. The Pentax-A 24/2.8 would come in at at least $200 probably more. I am not familiar with many 3rd party brands, but I think that Vivitar made a few 24mm lenses for the KA mount, which I'm sure could be had for cheaper (maybe ~$100). You also have the option of the more recent FA-J 18-35mm lens, which is an AF lens so if you are looking for a nice MF lens then it wouldn't work. I'm not sure what this one costs, but I think it's around $100 or slightly more. That would cover your wide angle and normal focal lengths, but with slightly slower speed than primes.

For a normal lens, the Pentax-A 28mm and 35mm f/2.8 lenses are both around $100, with the 35mm slightly cheaper usually. Both are nice lenses and would fill your normal requirement well. Again, you could look for 3rd party lenses here and probably save some money, but you would need to check eBay to see what's out there. A possibility to cover the normal range and then into the tele range would be the Pentax-A 35-105mm f/3.5. It is a very highly regarded zoom, usually for a bit over $100 I think (don't hold me too that, I haven't been tracking it's price). It is a pretty heavy lens so won't be as easy to handle as a single prime lens, but will be more convenient when you need tele reach and normal length at the same time.

For a KA tele lens, the Pentax branded KA mount ones are not cheap. 100mm f/2.8 is usually ~$250 and the 135mm f/2.8 I've seen anywhere from $100 to $200, I guess depending on condition and current demand. I've heard great things about the 100mm, the 135mm is pretty good too but not the best 135mm. It's a sharp lens but has some noticeable purple fringing at the wider apertures near high contrast borders. It's not a deal breaker though and really it's not much different than the highly regarded F/FA 135 in terms of this. I've seen Sears and maybe Vivitar KA mount 135mm lenses, but I was not all that impressed with the Sears lens that I tried out, other than some interested effects that I could create. But they would certainly be cheaper.

For the tele option, you could also try the Pentax-F 70-210mm f/4-5.6. It's an AF zoom, you can probably find one for $125 or so in decent condition. It fills the spot nicely for a tele zoom, but won't give you the speed of a prime. it's also built like a tank which is nice. Also, as previous poster mentioned, the A70-210 zoom lens is a great one. Probably a little under $100 and constant f/4 aperture, it's a winner. Has great IQ, especially after f/5.6, but is pretty big. Pretty sure that it's even bigger than the DA* 50-125/2.8 zoom. But it's fun to use, has one touch zoom/focus barrel.

Hope this helps a little bit. Be sure to check out th lens review database for other ideas.

[monochrome]

One of the sharpest all-around A Zooms is the smc PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm.

They typically run $100 - $125 in very good condition to perhaps $150 in almost untouched excellent+ condition. They're a bit heavy but I don't mind.

Due to the economic times I have listed for sale all my manual glass except this lens, the A50/1.4 and the M100/2.8

Pentax-Forums Review

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Last edited by monochrome; 06-13-2009 at 07:34 AM.

[Just1MoreDave]

I think you could get three useful lenses for under $250.

My wide lens would be the Sigma Super-Wide II 24mm f2.8, about $80. OK, not amazingly wide on APS-C, but if you must have a nice but wider lens, it won't be cheap. I think the best inexpensive but high quality solution here is the DA 16-45, which can also cover the normal range.

For normal, the cheapest option is a 50mm, like the Pentax-A 50mm f1.7. For those who don't think that still qualifies as "normal" on APS-C, a 28mm lens fits one of the strict definitions of "normal", and there are lots of 28mm choices. I liked the Pentax-A 28mm f2.8. A number of Vivitar 28mms have the A position. Although a 35mm sounds like a good idea, few good choices are available. If you don't like these exact focal lengths, look for an older zoom in the typical film range, such as a 28-70. I always skip over these because of zoom prejudice, so I can't recommend a particular one.

At telephoto, I would start thinking seriously about zooms. The Pentax-A 70-210mm f4 lens is a good option. The Pentax-F 70-210mm f4-5.6 is smaller and has AF, but costs more. You have more options here, so get this one last and choose a focal range that complements the other two lenses.

[gemini]

thanks fot info!

when i talk about wide/normal/tele, i want to try to find 3 lenses for a true wide/normal/tele on APS-C.
i try.


for example i prefer a 20mm or 24mm but then i can tell you that i like a lot a "vivitar 28mm f2.8 close focus" (on aps-c it is not a real wide... but dont' worry).
it is nice, not expensive and good.

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about the Pentax A70-210 zoom lens.

what is a normal price for a perfect Pentax A70-210 ?

[Lowell Goudge]

I picked up a tamron 28mm F2.5 for $12 the other week. I already had a spare KA adaptor so it was no big deal for me.

[Canada_Rockies]

Also, as previous poster mentioned, the A70-210 zoom lens is a great one. Probably a little under $100 and constant f/4 aperture, it's a winner. Has great IQ, especially after f/5.6, but is pretty big. Pretty sure that it's even bigger than the DA* 50-125/2.8 zoom. But it's fun to use, has one touch zoom/focus barrel.

Hope this helps a little bit. Be sure to check out th lens review database for other ideas.

The A 70-210/4 feels about the same as the DA*50-135 on my K10 with grip. It's actually a bit more compact, but is solidly heavy.

[Just1MoreDave]

about the Pentax A70-210 zoom lens.

what is a normal price for a perfect Pentax A70-210 ?

I'd say $100 to $120.

[gemini]

ok, thanks


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have you also other suggestions for other brands?