Walk Around Prime Advice

Frogfish · 07-01-2011, 01:39 PM

I don't think the Sigma 31/1.4 is too wide for everyday use (or too heavy - come on, it's small, just not tiny). It's a superb lense to walkaround with. Great for street, close focusing, and of course that brilliant low DoF. I love this lense and it offers something completely different to my 43 Ltd. Definitely worth considering.

Last edited by Frogfish; 07-01-2011 at 09:39 PM.

**bjdavey** · 07-01-2011, 03:51 PM

My walkaround preference is the DA21, 40, and 70 trio (sometimes also add the 15). There is no other equipment so light and compact, and with such good IQ. With one lens on the camera, and the others in your pockets, you don't even need a bag. The 21 is the lens that lives on my camera - its just right for many applications.

spicy cho · 07-01-2011, 07:09 PM

I could not go anywhere without my 21. The 40 is great though because you can bring it anywhere regardless of your need of it.

Immunogirl · 07-01-2011, 07:32 PM

My da 21 seems to meter funny compared to my da 35 - it seems to overexposed the highlights a lot, so I'm constantly adjusting the exposure when using it to try to compensate for this.

Anyone else have this problem?

**mtngal** · 07-01-2011, 08:17 PM

Some personal thoughts - While I don't have the Sigma, I do have the FA 31 along with the DA 35 macro. I prefer the pictures with the FA 31, but find the field of view a bit more difficult for me to figure out (since I'm more of a telephoto type person). The DA 35's field of view is more natural for me but I find the bokeh a little harsh at times. It's not horrible but it was enough that it didn't stop my desire for the FA31. I got a chance to play with the DA 35 f2.4 and really liked it, it's bokeh is better than the macro and I was impressed with it's sharpness. Plus it's lighter than the other two.

On the other hand, the macro capability of the DA is great fun, and I use it enough that it hasn't managed to be rotated out of my bag for long.

I've never used the DA 40 and until I bought the FA31 would have said that the field of view wouldn't be enough different from the 50. However, now that I personally find the difference between the 31 and 35 significant - enough that I find myself always having to take a couple of steps closer with the 31, which I don't with the 35, something that surprised me. I wonder if you'd find the same thing with the 40?

JeffJS · 07-01-2011, 08:33 PM

Originally posted by Immunogirl

My da 21 seems to meter funny compared to my da 35 - it seems to overexposed the highlights a lot, so I'm constantly adjusting the exposure when using it to try to compensate for this.

Anyone else have this problem?

You may want to start a different thread with samples to receive help. Give details as well (post the EXIFs from the photos).

kthung · 07-01-2011, 11:46 PM

Of all the lenses I have ever owned in my lifetime as a pentax user, my FA 35/2.0 will probably be the very last lens I would ever sell (yes, even after an A50/1.2 and a DA* 50-135). It is the most natural focal length for APS-C sensors. Among your three lenses, I've only had experience with the DA40. While the size was amazing, I felt that 40mm was just a little too tight and f/2.8 was not quite fast enough. It's not as flashy as the FA31 but the FA 35 is truly a workhorse lens, plain and simple. It's a do-all lens. Its great for portraits if you want to provide a little context to your subject, it can also be used for landscape shots (I had a 10-20 but eventually sold it, in my opinion sometimes when you go too wide, you kinda have nothing to really focus on in the picture). I would highly recommend looking for one in the marketplace if possible.

dreamfoto · 07-02-2011, 07:35 AM

If you can get the FA35F2 maybe it is the most obvious choice. If you are in Europe it is not at fair price so you may consider ordering on eBay from Asia.

Otherwise the choice is b/w AF and MF.

AF - you have Sigma 30mm and Pentax 35mm/2.8 macro - I prefer the Sigma!

In MF - the mighty Samyang 35mm/1.4 or why not an older used lens from Pentax or Sigma...

**EsBee** · 07-02-2011, 09:49 AM

For a prime lens solution, my choice would be FA35mm f2 also. It seems to have all the right ingredients such as price, size, speed, and IQ, and it pairs well with bodies like K200D or K-7.

Even though I use FA28-70mm f4 more for walk-around, mainly for its versatility, I see most of what I shoot falls between focal lengths 28mm and 40mm.

07-02-2011, 07:35 AM	#23
dreamfoto Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: france Photos: Albums Posts: 163	if not FA35F2 go sigma 30/14 or SY35/1.4 If you can get the FA35F2 maybe it is the most obvious choice. If you are in Europe it is not at fair price so you may consider ordering on eBay from Asia. Otherwise the choice is b/w AF and MF. AF - you have Sigma 30mm and Pentax 35mm/2.8 macro - I prefer the Sigma! In MF - the mighty Samyang 35mm/1.4 or why not an older used lens from Pentax or Sigma...

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07-01-2011, 01:39 PM	#16
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	I don't think the Sigma 31/1.4 is too wide for everyday use (or too heavy - come on, it's small, just not tiny). It's a superb lense to walkaround with. Great for street, close focusing, and of course that brilliant low DoF. I love this lense and it offers something completely different to my 43 Ltd. Definitely worth considering. Last edited by Frogfish; 07-01-2011 at 09:39 PM.

07-01-2011, 03:51 PM	#17
bjdavey Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Alexandria, VA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 162	My walkaround preference is the DA21, 40, and 70 trio (sometimes also add the 15). There is no other equipment so light and compact, and with such good IQ. With one lens on the camera, and the others in your pockets, you don't even need a bag. The 21 is the lens that lives on my camera - its just right for many applications.

07-01-2011, 07:09 PM	#18
spicy cho Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 73	I could not go anywhere without my 21. The 40 is great though because you can bring it anywhere regardless of your need of it.

07-01-2011, 07:32 PM	#19
Immunogirl Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 313	My da 21 seems to meter funny compared to my da 35 - it seems to overexposed the highlights a lot, so I'm constantly adjusting the exposure when using it to try to compensate for this. Anyone else have this problem?

07-01-2011, 08:17 PM	#20
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	Some personal thoughts - While I don't have the Sigma, I do have the FA 31 along with the DA 35 macro. I prefer the pictures with the FA 31, but find the field of view a bit more difficult for me to figure out (since I'm more of a telephoto type person). The DA 35's field of view is more natural for me but I find the bokeh a little harsh at times. It's not horrible but it was enough that it didn't stop my desire for the FA31. I got a chance to play with the DA 35 f2.4 and really liked it, it's bokeh is better than the macro and I was impressed with it's sharpness. Plus it's lighter than the other two. On the other hand, the macro capability of the DA is great fun, and I use it enough that it hasn't managed to be rotated out of my bag for long. I've never used the DA 40 and until I bought the FA31 would have said that the field of view wouldn't be enough different from the 50. However, now that I personally find the difference between the 31 and 35 significant - enough that I find myself always having to take a couple of steps closer with the 31, which I don't with the 35, something that surprised me. I wonder if you'd find the same thing with the 40?

07-01-2011, 08:33 PM	#21
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by Immunogirl My da 21 seems to meter funny compared to my da 35 - it seems to overexposed the highlights a lot, so I'm constantly adjusting the exposure when using it to try to compensate for this. Anyone else have this problem? You may want to start a different thread with samples to receive help. Give details as well (post the EXIFs from the photos).

07-01-2011, 11:46 PM	#22
kthung Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 359	Of all the lenses I have ever owned in my lifetime as a pentax user, my FA 35/2.0 will probably be the very last lens I would ever sell (yes, even after an A50/1.2 and a DA* 50-135). It is the most natural focal length for APS-C sensors. Among your three lenses, I've only had experience with the DA40. While the size was amazing, I felt that 40mm was just a little too tight and f/2.8 was not quite fast enough. It's not as flashy as the FA31 but the FA 35 is truly a workhorse lens, plain and simple. It's a do-all lens. Its great for portraits if you want to provide a little context to your subject, it can also be used for landscape shots (I had a 10-20 but eventually sold it, in my opinion sometimes when you go too wide, you kinda have nothing to really focus on in the picture). I would highly recommend looking for one in the marketplace if possible.

07-02-2011, 09:49 AM	#24
EsBee Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: National Capital Region Posts: 739	For a prime lens solution, my choice would be FA35mm f2 also. It seems to have all the right ingredients such as price, size, speed, and IQ, and it pairs well with bodies like K200D or K-7. Even though I use FA28-70mm f4 more for walk-around, mainly for its versatility, I see most of what I shoot falls between focal lengths 28mm and 40mm.

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