[Franky2step]

I just switched to Pentax 1 month ago and have the FA 15mm ltd, the FA 77mm ltd, but was just asked to shoot a local golf tornament. I'm thinking I'll need a zoom lens and wanted to know what advice you may have. I guess I'm thinking 17-70 f4, or 18-135WR, or Tamron 17-50. I'm sure there will be a group shot so I need the wide angle. HELP!!! this is my first ecer invitation to be the official photographer!!

[68wSteve]

DA* 50-135... That would be my choice. Love the lens!!

[Franky2step]

Would 50-135 be too telephoto on a cropped sensor?

[Adam]

No, not by any stretch of the imagination: that lens has a FOV of 31.5-11.9 degrees.

I'd go as far as recommending a Tamron 70-200mm- longer reach, faster, and cheaper.
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro AF Lens AF001P-700 B&H

Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax - 70-200mm Sigma & Tamron

Adam
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[68wSteve]

Depends on how close you are guaranteed to get to the competitors. Min focus distance is 100cm, which equates to 30ft. This may be further back then you would want i don't know. If you need something shorter, i would pick up the Tamron 17-50 2.8. Im waiting to get mine in the mail on friday. Great lens for the price.

Here is the review on the 50-135

Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[68wSteve]

No, not by any stretch of the imagination: that lens has a FOV of 31.5-11.9 degrees.

I'd go as far as recommending a Tamron 70-200mm- longer reach, faster, and cheaper.
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro AF Lens AF001P-700 B&H

Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax - 70-200mm Sigma & Tamron

I have had this lens as well in the past a couple of years ago. Sigma Version This is a great lens also. I did go back to the 50-135, because it was a little smaller and just loved the feel of the lens.

Either way 50-135 or 70-200 are both great lenses.

[psychdoc]

DA* 50-135... That would be my choice. Love the lens!!

I second the recommendation. You would only need the 70-200 if you can't get close or plan to shoot other sports that need you to shoot from longer distances.

[cfraz]

Depends on how close you are guaranteed to get to the competitors. Min focus distance is 100cm, which equates to 30ft.

????

100 cm (minimum focus distance for Pentax 50-135) is 39.37 inches - just over 3 ft. The Tamron has similar MFD, 95 cm. Either lens will focus close enough to count dimples on the golf ball.

[Rupert]

Call me crazy.....but I would shoot it with my Bigma 50-500. It is plenty fast enough on my K5, and for me it would not be a chore to handle. I do admit that if I had the 70-200, it would most likely be my first choice. Which reminds me....that is a lens I do need........have for a while now.
Regards!

[Clicker]

The 17-50 2.8 Tamaron should be perfect for groups, individuals and later at the awards/dinner indoors, might want to add a flash for fill outside and later at the dinner/awards and lots of batteries.

The Bigma is great for the cart girls

[johnmflores]

If I were the official photographer, I'd probably go with the DA*16-50 F2.8 and the DA* 60-250 F4.0. On two K-5s.

[68wSteve]

????

100 cm (minimum focus distance for Pentax 50-135) is 39.37 inches - just over 3 ft. The Tamron has similar MFD, 95 cm. Either lens will focus close enough to count dimples on the golf ball.

bahhhh i can't read my #'s when i did the conversion lol

[Schraubstock]

Hi

The 60-250 DA* F4 I would consider ideal. Do not forget the fact Golf action shots, those when teeing off, bunker shots and so on are those where you can't get close to the players to take shots because they get quite hostile over the shutter noise. That means you have to position yourself a bit further away. The quite shutter noise of the K-5 will be of benefit here. The 250mm will help. Also at this distance the out of focus background so desirable with golf shots is easier achieved at longer distances.

Think of those beautiful bunker shots with sand flying and ball just leaving the club head suspended in mid air, taken from a low position, everything sharp except for the soft background. You need a long lens for this! I have taken those shots and in my opinion 135mm is not long enough. Again the shutter noise must be taken into consideration with this sport, stay as far away as possible and if you are the official photographer it should be not too difficult to find a good position to avoid the crowd.

Greetings

[Schraubstock]

Call me crazy.....but I would shoot it with my Bigma 50-500

Rupert, I am tempted to do that sometimes but not this time, you are right on the money

Greetings

[unixrevolution]

I would say a Tele zoom would be the way to go. You can bring along your 15mm F/4 limited for the wide angle shot or two...it's not like you'll need the WA shot right before a Tele shot, from what I hear.

A Sigma or Tamron 70-200 F/2.8 would be ideal, especially for freezing the action of a golf swing. Gotta love f/2.8. If you think the 70mm is a little too long on the close end, you can add a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 to the kit for not much more.

If I were picking lenses from my kit to do this, my old Sears manual focus 80-200 f/4 would be on my K10D, and my 90mm f/2.8 or 35mm f/2 would be on the other, till I needed the wide angle shot, for which I'd pull out the Sigma 10-20 or Pentax 18-55 WR.

Overall, if you want something super-versatile after the shoot is over, the 18-135 may be a pretty good deal. Not as fast as any of the other glass mentioned here, but reasonably sharp and with a very good focal length range.