If you could only have one prime Pentax lens…

rams · 07-19-2009, 04:48 PM

…which one would it be? (only made by Pentax) This might have been asked before, but I am fairly new Pentaxian, switched from Olympus, and I though I’d ask. The twist I’d put on this question is that you could only have ONE lens, no zooms.
I know that choosing a lens is subjective to the photographer’s style, but if you had “a gun to your head” which one would you choose.

I have the DA* 55mm coming next week...

**DAZ** · 07-19-2009, 05:31 PM

31mm f1.8 Limited

Andi Lo · 07-19-2009, 06:12 PM

Depends on the body

K100D (or other K digital bodies) > 31mm ltd
ES II (or other Scremount body) > Tak 50/1.4
ME Super (or other MF film bodies) > A 50mm/1.2
ZX-7 (or other AF film bodies with Panorama mode) > FA 35mm / anything wider and AF
ZX-L (or other AF film bodies without Panorama mode) > FA 50mm

**Ash** · 07-19-2009, 06:13 PM

Look, there are lots of great Pentax primes - if it were up to me it would be the FA 77 ltd. But it's no macro, and I just love the ability of the 100/2.8 macro to capture small life in brilliant fashion.

Though I've never tried the 31 ltd, something tells me it would quickly become a fave....

nostatic · 07-19-2009, 06:15 PM

31 or 77. Hard to pick.

Mike Cash · 07-19-2009, 06:22 PM

If you could only have one "If you could only have one lens" thread, which "If you could only have one lens" thread would it be?

Taikonaut · 07-19-2009, 06:34 PM

21mm for aps-c, such as K20D
31mm for full frame, such as ZX-5N

rams · 07-19-2009, 06:48 PM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

If you could only have one "If you could only have one lens" thread, which "If you could only have one lens" thread would it be?

I am about to commit hara-kiri now....

Pentaxor · 07-19-2009, 06:50 PM

I dunno but the FA 35 f/2 really made an impression on me.

ll_coffee_lP · 07-19-2009, 06:58 PM

77ltd...no question.

c[_]

kristoffon · 07-19-2009, 07:05 PM

Isn't this the 50th thread with the same question?

Anyway, 31ltd.

raymeedc · 07-19-2009, 07:12 PM

That's an especially tough question to answer, as the cropping factor affects the lens greatly, depending on whether you're shooting film or digital. But taking the question at face value, & realizing I'll be compromising on one end or the other whatever my choice is (as I shoot both film & digital), I'd pick a 50mm 1.4 or 1.7 "A".
If I was choosing a favorite, though, in spite of it's maximum versatility, I'd pick the "lowly" 55mm f:1.8 SMC M42 Takumar.

seacapt · 07-19-2009, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by rams

I am about to commit hara-kiri now....

Don't do it man!!!!!!
If your just switching to Pentax take a little time to figure what works for you.
Lens discussions tend to be a hot topic here and all the answers to your question don't mean athing if that lens doesn't fit your style of shooting.
To answer your question : SMC A 50/1.7 You should check some of the pictures in the "Traveling Nifty Fifty " Thread in the Mini Chalenges and Games section.

Andrew Faires · 07-19-2009, 07:45 PM

Beyond any shadow of a doubt it would be the FA 43mm f/1.8 Limited. That is the only lens I refuse to leave at home no matter what I'm going out to photograph.

Votesh · 07-19-2009, 08:16 PM

31mm Ltd or FA* 85mm

07-19-2009, 04:48 PM	#1
rams New Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 23	If you could only have one prime Pentax lens… …which one would it be? (only made by Pentax) This might have been asked before, but I am fairly new Pentaxian, switched from Olympus, and I though I’d ask. The twist I’d put on this question is that you could only have ONE lens, no zooms. I know that choosing a lens is subjective to the photographer’s style, but if you had “a gun to your head” which one would you choose. I have the DA* 55mm coming next week...

07-19-2009, 07:12 PM	#12
raymeedc Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 951	That's an especially tough question to answer, as the cropping factor affects the lens greatly, depending on whether you're shooting film or digital. But taking the question at face value, & realizing I'll be compromising on one end or the other whatever my choice is (as I shoot both film & digital), I'd pick a 50mm 1.4 or 1.7 "A". If I was choosing a favorite, though, in spite of it's maximum versatility, I'd pick the "lowly" 55mm f:1.8 SMC M42 Takumar. Last edited by raymeedc; 07-20-2009 at 10:17 AM.

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07-19-2009, 05:31 PM	#2
DAZ Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Everett, WA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 744	31mm f1.8 Limited

07-19-2009, 06:12 PM	#3
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	Depends on the body K100D (or other K digital bodies) > 31mm ltd ES II (or other Scremount body) > Tak 50/1.4 ME Super (or other MF film bodies) > A 50mm/1.2 ZX-7 (or other AF film bodies with Panorama mode) > FA 35mm / anything wider and AF ZX-L (or other AF film bodies without Panorama mode) > FA 50mm

07-19-2009, 06:13 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Look, there are lots of great Pentax primes - if it were up to me it would be the FA 77 ltd. But it's no macro, and I just love the ability of the 100/2.8 macro to capture small life in brilliant fashion. Though I've never tried the 31 ltd, something tells me it would quickly become a fave....

07-19-2009, 06:15 PM	#5
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	31 or 77. Hard to pick.

07-19-2009, 06:22 PM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	If you could only have one "If you could only have one lens" thread, which "If you could only have one lens" thread would it be?

07-19-2009, 06:34 PM	#7
Taikonaut Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New York Posts: 62	21mm for aps-c, such as K20D 31mm for full frame, such as ZX-5N

07-19-2009, 06:48 PM	#8
rams New Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: seattle Photos: Gallery Posts: 23 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mike Cash If you could only have one "If you could only have one lens" thread, which "If you could only have one lens" thread would it be? I am about to commit hara-kiri now....

07-19-2009, 06:50 PM	#9
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	I dunno but the FA 35 f/2 really made an impression on me.

07-19-2009, 06:58 PM	#10
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	77ltd...no question. c[_]

07-19-2009, 07:05 PM	#11
kristoffon Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Brazil Posts: 532	Isn't this the 50th thread with the same question? Anyway, 31ltd.

07-19-2009, 07:33 PM	#13
seacapt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Carolina , USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,271	Originally posted by rams I am about to commit hara-kiri now.... Don't do it man!!!!!! If your just switching to Pentax take a little time to figure what works for you. Lens discussions tend to be a hot topic here and all the answers to your question don't mean athing if that lens doesn't fit your style of shooting. To answer your question : SMC A 50/1.7 You should check some of the pictures in the "Traveling Nifty Fifty " Thread in the Mini Chalenges and Games section.

07-19-2009, 07:45 PM	#14
Andrew Faires Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 744	Beyond any shadow of a doubt it would be the FA 43mm f/1.8 Limited. That is the only lens I refuse to leave at home no matter what I'm going out to photograph.

07-19-2009, 08:16 PM	#15
Votesh Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 817	31mm Ltd or FA* 85mm