new k5 owner - DA21, 18-250, third lens??

cantona · 05-09-2011, 02:19 PM

dear pentaxforum members,

on saturday i finally received my k5 and I truly appreciated the first few days and switch from my nex5 to this mighty camera.

my so far only lens option is a da21 limited which I got used via eBay for a pretty decent price.
as a walk around lens I got myself a pentax 18 250 and now consider my third lens purchase.
I was considering either a DA40 or DA70 limited to have a second prime option but are a bit unsure - also whether to go for the DA or FA options here. one more lens is in my budget so any input would be greatly appreciated

thanks a lot
chris

MrCynical · 05-09-2011, 02:27 PM

If one more lens is in your budget, then the DA70 would be better because it will give more of a difference (compared to your DA21) than the DA40. The DA70 is a well-regarded portrait and short-telephoto lens (it's on my wishlist, for what that's worth), and it is very compact so you should be able to take it everywhere with you.

One thing you should consider though is whether you'll want to take 'macro' photographs - closeups of (for example) flowers or insects. If you do, then you should get a macro lens instead of the DA70. The Sigma 70mm f2.8 has the same focal length as the DA70, but it has a macro capability. Don't be put off by the fact that it isn't Pentax: it has been described as 'exceptionally sharp' by Photozone and those who have the lens seem to love it. It is, however, much bigger and heavier than the DA70 (525g Sigma vs 130g Pentax). Also, in the UK the Sigma lens is about £100 cheaper than the Pentax lens - I'm not sure what the price differences are elsewhere in the world.

Photozone has reviewed both of the lenses (though the Sigma was reviewed on a Canon camera, so you can't compare the graphs in the Analysis section):

http://www.photozone.de/pentax/127-pentax-smc-da-70mm-f24-limited-review--test-report (Pentax)

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/300-sigma-af-70mm-f28-ex-dg-macro-canon-review--test-report (Sigma, on a Canon camera)

And the review section here has reviews of both lenses written by people who bought them and use them:

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-70mm-F2.4-Limited-Lens.html (Pentax)

https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Sigma-MACRO-70mm-F2.8-EX-DG-AF-Lens-for-Pentax.html (Sigma)

Eagle_Friends · 05-09-2011, 02:42 PM

Get the 70mm now, and complete the pancake series with the 40mm when able.

cantona · 05-09-2011, 02:42 PM

wow, thanks a lot for the quick and detailed reply!!

my main use will be family (2y daughter) and landscape/ architecture as well as experimenting and hopefully growing my skills with the excellent primes - one reason I made the switch to pentax here.

I am not too much into macros so from your post i guess the da70?!

cantona · 05-09-2011, 02:48 PM

oh, and one more thing...
would you recommend the DA70 over the FA77?

SpecialK · 05-09-2011, 02:57 PM

Originally posted by cantona

oh, and one more thing...
would you recommend the DA70 over the FA77?

Recent thread on that...

You don''t have a really wide lens, such as a 12-24 or 10-17, so I would consider something along those lines before upgrading existing focal lengths.

**David** · 05-09-2011, 03:13 PM

Fa 43mm Limited

GLXLR · 05-09-2011, 03:42 PM

Another cheaper route (and maybe not worse) is the new DA 35mm f/2.4! It seems the results are great and also a fantastic FL... Can't say much on the DA 70mm or FA 77mm... thinking about getting one of those 2 myself

twitch · 05-09-2011, 04:03 PM

I have the DA70 and (very recently) the FA77. I'd be hard pressed to recommend the FA77 over the DA70 given the price difference. From my experience I think the DA70 is the best lens of the DA limiteds. It took until I bought the FA31 to finally see a lens that had even better IQ than the DA70, and there's no shame in that as the FA31 is probably the best pentax lens of all.

The FA77 has a much bigger following than the DA70 though, and resale is probably better on that lens, and it is almost a stop faster. I have both and can't decide which one to keep

If you don't mind bulk, and aren't spooked by SDM, the DA*50-135 is a mighty fine zoom, Pentax hit a home run with the optical design of that lens.

JeffJS · 05-09-2011, 04:19 PM

Hi, Chris... Welcome to the forums and to the club.

I personally, in your shoes, after fiddling with kit content for the past 4 years would actually go with the 70ish option. I have the 77 and love it but I use it on film cameras as well. Your mileage may vary of course.

mtwo · 05-09-2011, 04:25 PM

i'm in this same boat - looking at the DA 70 as well in this case. i have the 21mm and the 35mm macro limiteds and love them.

i also want to pick up the 10-17mm fisheye to play with. cursed LBA!

MrCynical · 05-09-2011, 05:38 PM

If you aren't interested in macro, then I would go for the DA70 since it gives you a very nice option for portraits and for 'normal' shots of flowers and such things. For photos of your daughter it is a much better option than the Sigma macro, because the DA70 will autofocus much faster giving a better chance of getting an in-focus picture of her when she's playing and moving about (macro lenses like the Sigma have to move focus from as close as 1 inch away up to infinity, which takes AF motors a long time regardless of how good the lens is).

The point others have made above about an ultrawide lens is a good one: they can be very useful for indoor photographs (you can't always move backwards enough when there are walls and furniture!), and can also be very good outdoors particularly with blue sky and sunshine. However you say that photos of your daughter and other family members are your main priority, so get the DA70.

If money allows later, then you could consider the Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 (not the newer f3.5 version, which isn't as sharp). It is about half the price of Pentax's DA 12-24mm, but it is still a very sharp lens (I own one myself) and also allows a substantially wider view than the Pentax lens (2mm is actually a big difference at these focal lengths).

PS: Welcome to the world of Pentax photography!

pcarfan · 05-09-2011, 05:53 PM

Pentax FA 43 f1.9 LIMITED

You get a fast lens, the best of the best in IQ (IMO the best lens ever made) and compact. love to carry my DA21 and the FA43 in the pocket with no need for a camera bag.

Photography had taken an extreme back burner for me, haven't dwelled in it for months and frankly have lost the passion...but, thinking about the FA43/1.9 is literally getting my heart rate going... what a marvelous lens.

**crewl1** · 05-09-2011, 09:28 PM

You might also consider the FA 50 1.4. It's a great lens for indoor available light portraits.

twitch · 05-09-2011, 09:41 PM

photozone.de has just posted an updated review of the DA70, this time on a K-5. It's an even more impressive result than the original. Like I've said before, I think it's the best of all the DA ltd lenses.

05-09-2011, 02:19 PM	#1
cantona New Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 9	new k5 owner - DA21, 18-250, third lens?? dear pentaxforum members, on saturday i finally received my k5 and I truly appreciated the first few days and switch from my nex5 to this mighty camera. my so far only lens option is a da21 limited which I got used via eBay for a pretty decent price. as a walk around lens I got myself a pentax 18 250 and now consider my third lens purchase. I was considering either a DA40 or DA70 limited to have a second prime option but are a bit unsure - also whether to go for the DA or FA options here. one more lens is in my budget so any input would be greatly appreciated thanks a lot chris

05-09-2011, 02:27 PM	#2
MrCynical Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 132	If one more lens is in your budget, then the DA70 would be better because it will give more of a difference (compared to your DA21) than the DA40. The DA70 is a well-regarded portrait and short-telephoto lens (it's on my wishlist, for what that's worth), and it is very compact so you should be able to take it everywhere with you. One thing you should consider though is whether you'll want to take 'macro' photographs - closeups of (for example) flowers or insects. If you do, then you should get a macro lens instead of the DA70. The Sigma 70mm f2.8 has the same focal length as the DA70, but it has a macro capability. Don't be put off by the fact that it isn't Pentax: it has been described as 'exceptionally sharp' by Photozone and those who have the lens seem to love it. It is, however, much bigger and heavier than the DA70 (525g Sigma vs 130g Pentax). Also, in the UK the Sigma lens is about £100 cheaper than the Pentax lens - I'm not sure what the price differences are elsewhere in the world. Photozone has reviewed both of the lenses (though the Sigma was reviewed on a Canon camera, so you can't compare the graphs in the Analysis section): http://www.photozone.de/pentax/127-pentax-smc-da-70mm-f24-limited-review--test-report (Pentax) http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/300-sigma-af-70mm-f28-ex-dg-macro-canon-review--test-report (Sigma, on a Canon camera) And the review section here has reviews of both lenses written by people who bought them and use them: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-70mm-F2.4-Limited-Lens.html (Pentax) https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/Sigma-MACRO-70mm-F2.8-EX-DG-AF-Lens-for-Pentax.html (Sigma) Last edited by MrCynical; 05-09-2011 at 02:36 PM.

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05-09-2011, 02:42 PM	#3
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	Get the 70mm now, and complete the pancake series with the 40mm when able.

05-09-2011, 02:48 PM	#5
cantona New Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 9 Original Poster	oh, and one more thing... would you recommend the DA70 over the FA77?

05-09-2011, 02:57 PM	#6
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	Originally posted by cantona oh, and one more thing... would you recommend the DA70 over the FA77? Recent thread on that... You don''t have a really wide lens, such as a 12-24 or 10-17, so I would consider something along those lines before upgrading existing focal lengths.

05-09-2011, 03:13 PM	#7
David Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 347	Fa 43mm Limited

05-09-2011, 03:42 PM	#8
GLXLR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sugar Land, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 684	Another cheaper route (and maybe not worse) is the new DA 35mm f/2.4! It seems the results are great and also a fantastic FL... Can't say much on the DA 70mm or FA 77mm... thinking about getting one of those 2 myself

05-09-2011, 04:03 PM	#9
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I have the DA70 and (very recently) the FA77. I'd be hard pressed to recommend the FA77 over the DA70 given the price difference. From my experience I think the DA70 is the best lens of the DA limiteds. It took until I bought the FA31 to finally see a lens that had even better IQ than the DA70, and there's no shame in that as the FA31 is probably the best pentax lens of all. The FA77 has a much bigger following than the DA70 though, and resale is probably better on that lens, and it is almost a stop faster. I have both and can't decide which one to keep If you don't mind bulk, and aren't spooked by SDM, the DA*50-135 is a mighty fine zoom, Pentax hit a home run with the optical design of that lens.

05-09-2011, 04:19 PM	#10
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Hi, Chris... Welcome to the forums and to the club. I personally, in your shoes, after fiddling with kit content for the past 4 years would actually go with the 70ish option. I have the 77 and love it but I use it on film cameras as well. Your mileage may vary of course.

05-09-2011, 04:25 PM	#11
mtwo New Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 2	i'm in this same boat - looking at the DA 70 as well in this case. i have the 21mm and the 35mm macro limiteds and love them. i also want to pick up the 10-17mm fisheye to play with. cursed LBA!

05-09-2011, 05:38 PM	#12
MrCynical Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 132	If you aren't interested in macro, then I would go for the DA70 since it gives you a very nice option for portraits and for 'normal' shots of flowers and such things. For photos of your daughter it is a much better option than the Sigma macro, because the DA70 will autofocus much faster giving a better chance of getting an in-focus picture of her when she's playing and moving about (macro lenses like the Sigma have to move focus from as close as 1 inch away up to infinity, which takes AF motors a long time regardless of how good the lens is). The point others have made above about an ultrawide lens is a good one: they can be very useful for indoor photographs (you can't always move backwards enough when there are walls and furniture!), and can also be very good outdoors particularly with blue sky and sunshine. However you say that photos of your daughter and other family members are your main priority, so get the DA70. If money allows later, then you could consider the Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 (not the newer f3.5 version, which isn't as sharp). It is about half the price of Pentax's DA 12-24mm, but it is still a very sharp lens (I own one myself) and also allows a substantially wider view than the Pentax lens (2mm is actually a big difference at these focal lengths). PS: Welcome to the world of Pentax photography!

05-09-2011, 05:53 PM	#13
pcarfan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,978	Pentax FA 43 f1.9 LIMITED You get a fast lens, the best of the best in IQ (IMO the best lens ever made) and compact. love to carry my DA21 and the FA43 in the pocket with no need for a camera bag. Photography had taken an extreme back burner for me, haven't dwelled in it for months and frankly have lost the passion...but, thinking about the FA43/1.9 is literally getting my heart rate going... what a marvelous lens.

05-09-2011, 09:28 PM	#14
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	You might also consider the FA 50 1.4. It's a great lens for indoor available light portraits.

05-09-2011, 09:41 PM	#15
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	photozone.de has just posted an updated review of the DA70, this time on a K-5. It's an even more impressive result than the original. Like I've said before, I think it's the best of all the DA ltd lenses.