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goldfishin · 06-12-2007, 10:16 PM

i'm actually willing to consider a prime... so post those too.

i need a lense that is great in low light... very fast... and has at least a modest zoom. ... something like 50-100mm... or 30-80mm. please name some

kathyk · 06-12-2007, 10:36 PM

Tamron 28-75/2.8 is a great lens, but just not quite wide enough for some situations. For primes any of the limiteds are very nice, and also the 50/1.4 I can recommend.

roscot · 06-13-2007, 02:16 AM

I heartily agree with Kathy's choices and would add either the FA31 Limited, or the FA 35 f2.0, depending on your budget. The 31 limited is simply one the finest AF lenses in the world, but you will pay a hefty price for it. The FA35 is more affordable, but you don't loose all that much compared to the 31. Both will make a great "normal" prime on a Pentax digital.

jeff1101 · 06-13-2007, 03:05 AM

If they only made the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 for the Pentax mount, Id buy it in an instant.

tasha_22 · 06-13-2007, 03:25 AM

I can speak about the A 50mm 1.4, its my best lowlight so far. Im getting an F 50mm 1.7 shortly and will let you know if that is better.

egordon99 · 06-13-2007, 05:08 AM

My four low-light (f/2.8 or faster) lenses -
-Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, great range, great image quality. Not as good in REALLY low light (without flash) as the others.
-Pentax FA 35mm f/2.0 - Haven't had too much of a chance to use this one yet, but have been happy with what I've shot so far. Can somewhat use in low light without flash. (Sigma 30mm f/1.4 was out of my price range at the time)
-Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4. My fastest lens. Can use in candle light (still have to be wide-open with high ISO) and get great results. Image quality in "normal" lighting is amazing. Can be a bit tight, so I probably use my Tamron the most (that may chance now that I have the 35mm)
-Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. Although it's a macro lens, I probably use it more as a portrait/candid lens. Again, at f/2.8, it's "marginally" fast, but the image quality is great and it's a nice focal length. More affordable than the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom too!

Good luck!

neighhoma · 06-13-2007, 12:46 PM

Tamron 28-75mm
Tamron 17-50mm (if only they make this soon)
Pentax DA* 16-50mm (this is coming soon but very expensive)

Primes:
FA 35mm
FA 50mm
FA 43mm
FA 31mm
FA 77mm

Alfisti · 06-13-2007, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by roscot

I heartily agree with Kathy's choices and would add either the FA31 Limited, or the FA 35 f2.0, depending on your budget. The 31 limited is simply one the finest AF lenses in the world, but you will pay a hefty price for it. The FA35 is more affordable, but you don't loose all that much compared to the 31. Both will make a great "normal" prime on a Pentax digital.

Yeah they are all great zooms.

roscot · 06-13-2007, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by Alfisti

Yeah they are all great zooms.

Quote from the OP
"i'm actually willing to consider a prime... so post those too."

SpecialK · 06-13-2007, 08:22 PM

Cameta Camera may still have a Sigma 18-50 2.8 for $300.

Toshi · 06-14-2007, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by SpecialK

Cameta Camera may still have a Sigma 18-50 2.8 for $300.

I think the better option would be the newer Macro version. The older one Cameta has for sale has severe CA issues from what I researched. I actually just ordered the newer Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 Macro from Adorama.

06-12-2007, 10:16 PM	#1
goldfishin Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	good low light zooms? i'm actually willing to consider a prime... so post those too. i need a lense that is great in low light... very fast... and has at least a modest zoom. ... something like 50-100mm... or 30-80mm. please name some

06-13-2007, 03:05 AM	#4
jeff1101 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Manila, Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 86	RE: If they only made the Tamron 17-50 F2.8 for the Pentax mount, Id buy it in an instant.

06-13-2007, 05:08 AM	#6
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	My four low-light (f/2.8 or faster) lenses - -Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, great range, great image quality. Not as good in REALLY low light (without flash) as the others. -Pentax FA 35mm f/2.0 - Haven't had too much of a chance to use this one yet, but have been happy with what I've shot so far. Can somewhat use in low light without flash. (Sigma 30mm f/1.4 was out of my price range at the time) -Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4. My fastest lens. Can use in candle light (still have to be wide-open with high ISO) and get great results. Image quality in "normal" lighting is amazing. Can be a bit tight, so I probably use my Tamron the most (that may chance now that I have the 35mm) -Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. Although it's a macro lens, I probably use it more as a portrait/candid lens. Again, at f/2.8, it's "marginally" fast, but the image quality is great and it's a nice focal length. More affordable than the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom too! Good luck! Last edited by egordon99; 06-13-2007 at 05:10 AM. Reason: Forgot about my Sigma!

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06-12-2007, 10:36 PM	#2
kathyk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan/USA Posts: 173	Tamron 28-75/2.8 is a great lens, but just not quite wide enough for some situations. For primes any of the limiteds are very nice, and also the 50/1.4 I can recommend.

06-13-2007, 02:16 AM	#3
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	I heartily agree with Kathy's choices and would add either the FA31 Limited, or the FA 35 f2.0, depending on your budget. The 31 limited is simply one the finest AF lenses in the world, but you will pay a hefty price for it. The FA35 is more affordable, but you don't loose all that much compared to the 31. Both will make a great "normal" prime on a Pentax digital.

06-13-2007, 03:25 AM	#5
tasha_22 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 241	I can speak about the A 50mm 1.4, its my best lowlight so far. Im getting an F 50mm 1.7 shortly and will let you know if that is better.

06-13-2007, 12:46 PM	#7
neighhoma Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 84	Tamron 28-75mm Tamron 17-50mm (if only they make this soon) Pentax DA* 16-50mm (this is coming soon but very expensive) Primes: FA 35mm FA 50mm FA 43mm FA 31mm FA 77mm

06-13-2007, 01:32 PM	#8
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Originally posted by roscot I heartily agree with Kathy's choices and would add either the FA31 Limited, or the FA 35 f2.0, depending on your budget. The 31 limited is simply one the finest AF lenses in the world, but you will pay a hefty price for it. The FA35 is more affordable, but you don't loose all that much compared to the 31. Both will make a great "normal" prime on a Pentax digital. Yeah they are all great zooms.

06-13-2007, 05:09 PM	#9
roscot Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach VA USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,363	Originally posted by Alfisti Yeah they are all great zooms. Quote from the OP "i'm actually willing to consider a prime... so post those too."

06-13-2007, 08:22 PM	#10
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	Cameta Camera may still have a Sigma 18-50 2.8 for $300.

06-14-2007, 10:43 PM	#11
Toshi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 431	Originally posted by SpecialK Cameta Camera may still have a Sigma 18-50 2.8 for $300. I think the better option would be the newer Macro version. The older one Cameta has for sale has severe CA issues from what I researched. I actually just ordered the newer Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 Macro from Adorama.

good low light zooms?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!