Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
08-10-2011, 09:27 PM   #1
Inactive Account




Join Date: Nov 2009
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 8
k5 or FA31

Now I have the K20d da17-70 da*55 and DA70.
I want to sell out the DA70 and buy a new lens or upgrade my k20d up to k5,
which is better for me? FA31 or k5.

08-10-2011, 11:06 PM   #2
Inactive Account




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 7,484
I would say sell the zoom and the K20d and get the k5 and the FA31. But that's just me. Without knowing what you really want to do, it's difficult to guide.

08-10-2011, 11:12 PM   #3
Veteran Member




Join Date: Feb 2010
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 971
QuoteOriginally posted by JeffJS Quote
I would say sell the zoom and the K20d and get the k5 and the FA31. But that's just me. Without knowing what you really want to do, it's difficult to guide.


I second that. K5 with an all prime set up would be monster.

maybe add a 15mm in the distant future.
08-10-2011, 11:14 PM   #4
Inactive Account




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 7,484
QuoteOriginally posted by Eagle_Friends Quote
I second that. K5 with an all prime set up would be monster.

maybe add a 15mm in the distant future.
That's what I was thinking too. I think it would be a mistake to sell the 70 in favor of a slower zoom.



08-10-2011, 11:20 PM   #5
Veteran Member
selar's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,042
Faced with same choice, I chose FA31. But then I already had Kx, so not such a hard choice.
08-10-2011, 11:58 PM   #6
hcc
Pentaxian
hcc's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 3,999
I have the K-7 and I chose to buy the bFA31mm f1.8 instead of upgrading. No regret.

The FA31mmm is an oustanding lens, superb IQ, very nice focal length and it is fast. It works great with the K-7.

Go for the FA31mm.
08-11-2011, 03:59 AM   #7
Veteran Member
aurele's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Paris, France
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,217
Get the lense, the body can wait. And in 2 month, there is Photokina, maybe Pentax will unleash something new who knows ?

08-11-2011, 04:27 AM   #8
Veteran Member
chalion's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Photos: Albums
Posts: 628
QuoteOriginally posted by aurele Quote
Get the lense, the body can wait. And in 2 month, there is Photokina, maybe Pentax will unleash something new who knows ?
I have to agree with this. If the K20D was holding my photography back, I would choose the K5, but since mine is going strong, the lens would be a must. The prices on cameras are almost always going to reduce as time goes on, but lenses invariably go up.

Edit: 1 caveat: If I was looking to use the video on the K5, that would sway my choice back to the K5.
08-11-2011, 05:33 AM   #9
Veteran Member
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Rupert's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 25,123
The K5....no question about it. The 31Ltd is a game changer......at 31mm, nothing more. The K5 is a game changer at every mm and in more other ways than you can imagine until you shoot with one. Ordinarily, I would say lens....but I have a K5, I know better.
Best Regards!
08-11-2011, 05:51 AM   #10
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Douglas_of_Sweden's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Stockholm
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,374
QuoteOriginally posted by lmhuang Quote
Now I have the K20d da17-70 da*55 and DA70.
I want to sell out the DA70 and buy a new lens or upgrade my k20d up to k5,
which is better for me? FA31 or k5.
Normally I would have been saying that new glass will make more for your shooting than a new camera. But the K-5 is the first camera in a long time that have really changed how I shoot. It is changing the rules by allowing to do things that previous Pentax SLRs could not. The great low light ability, the fantastic dynamic range, the much improved autofocus.
On the other hand I wouldn't sell the D70ltd.
08-11-2011, 06:07 AM   #11
Veteran Member
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Rupert's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 25,123
I don't have the 31Ltd...yet...I do have the 43Lts, and it is a superb lens. I can tell you this, the 43Ltd has made little difference in my shooting joy or otherwise improved my abilities...but the K5 has been a game changer.
Maybe it depends on what you shoot most often? I could not knock the K20D, it has served me very well and is a fine camera, but since I got the K5 I haven't shot a single frame with the K20D.

Best Regards!
08-11-2011, 06:20 AM   #12
Inactive Account




Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Michigan, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 7,484
QuoteOriginally posted by Rupert Quote
I don't have the 31Ltd...yet...I do have the 43Lts, and it is a superb lens. I can tell you this, the 43Ltd has made little difference in my shooting joy or otherwise improved my abilities...but the K5 has been a game changer.
Maybe it depends on what you shoot most often? I could not knock the K20D, it has served me very well and is a fine camera, but since I got the K5 I haven't shot a single frame with the K20D.

Best Regards!
Well, that would depend on what you Expect to get out of the lens. No equipment, camera or lens, will make one a better photographer. What it will do is enable results. The K5 is in fact a game changer as you say but more so because less fiddling around with it is needed to Get those results. The FA31 is just simply a gorgeous lens in every way and I still say, if you can afford both, Buy both. However, if you are typically a telephoto shooter (Otis through the Bigma) then the FA31 may serve little need. Not because of the quality of the lens but because the focal length doesn't serve your purpose. I can tell you This, Having and Using the FA31, Does add to my enjoyment of this hobby. Coupled with the K5... simply divine.

08-11-2011, 06:27 AM   #13
Veteran Member
Frogfish's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 4,490
You should have made this a poll

You could also consider the K5 and a lens with the equivalent IQ but is slower and has no AF - the gorgeous Contax Zeiss Distagon 28/2.8 which can easily be adapted to PK mount - it's ca. $400 used.

K5 for me for the reasons Rupert & Douglas stated. It's a game changer and so far ahead of my K7 I had to sell that body once I became dissatisfied with it.
08-11-2011, 07:13 AM   #14
Veteran Member
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Rupert's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 25,123
QuoteOriginally posted by Frogfish Quote
You should have made this a poll

You could also consider the K5 and a lens with the equivalent IQ but is slower and has no AF - the gorgeous Contax Zeiss Distagon 28/2.8 which can easily be adapted to PK mount - it's ca. $400 used.

K5 for me for the reasons Rupert & Douglas stated. It's a game changer and so far ahead of my K7 I had to sell that body once I became dissatisfied with it.
Another option, and a range I find perfect for portraits.....the Nokton 58mm F1.4. Near perfect on the K5 and even shoots Squirrels @ F1.4......see those tiny mosquitoes behind his ear? (K20D in this shot)
[IMG] [/IMG]

Regards!
08-11-2011, 11:26 PM   #15
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: eastern Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 151
QuoteOriginally posted by aurele Quote
Get the lense, the body can wait. And in 2 month, there is Photokina, maybe Pentax will unleash something new who knows ?
Ditto. Your 31mm ltd will only increase in value (and may be difficult to obtain at some point).

Your K-5 will be 'old technology' in a year or two. Go for the glass.


P.S. As for the K-5 being a 'game changer'... Not everyone agrees with this. I sent mine back after a couple weeks. The difference in IQ between it and the K-7 was not enough to justify the headaches.

Last edited by Byrd-2020; 08-11-2011 at 11:36 PM.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
camera, da70, dslr, fa31, k-5, k-5 ii, k-5 iis, k20d, k5, pentax k-5
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FA31 Ltd. DogLover Ask B&H Photo! 6 04-07-2011 10:20 AM
My brand new FA31 Limited Naim Khan Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 12-24-2010 04:31 PM
FA31 and K-7 Danny Delcambre Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 7 07-16-2010 09:27 PM
Swapped the FA31 zenspector Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 02-14-2010 08:37 PM
FA31 problem maybe.. what do you think? joele Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 9 11-22-2009 04:27 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:58 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top