Only One Lens -What Would it Be ?

uptheriver · 07-18-2011, 06:13 PM

Hi All:

If you could only have one lens for your K- 5 what would it be and why ?
Might sound a little silly but should get some interesting posts.

dave2k · 07-18-2011, 06:20 PM

I don't have a good answer but I'm glad you asked as I would like to see suggestions on this very topic. I'm leaning toward the Sigma 17-70 2.8/4. I look forward to seeing more useful responses than this one.

**GregK8** · 07-18-2011, 06:27 PM

I thought about this from the standpoint of assuming it would be a zoom, but as I thought about it, I think of the lenses I have, the DA 35mm Macro Ltd. would be the one I would keep. It isn't as wide as my DA* 16-50, but I can always back up a bit, it's quite sharp and the K-5 will let me crop it down quite a bit if necessary to get a telephoto effect, it does macro, so that is still an option, it's quite compact, so will make it easy to carry around, it's pretty fast at f/2.8, so it will work in many different lighting situations.

Thesorus · 07-18-2011, 06:28 PM

I'm using a lot the da* 50-135.

It offer a good range, it's WR and quite fast.

(but now, with the da 35mm macro ltd that might change!)

sjwaldron · 07-18-2011, 06:31 PM

Pentax FA 31mm f1.8 limited.

Edit: Why...
I like the normal focal length and small depth of field photography. I also like sharp images and high contrast.

dmort · 07-18-2011, 06:53 PM

The 43mm, just a superb lens

robr7 · 07-18-2011, 06:55 PM

Just got my 18-135 WR and if all I was carrying was my camera I'd guess itd be that one. I do very much like my 40 Limited and its given me some of my best shots but the truth of the matter is that my DA* 16-50 is the one that is on my camera the most and if I could only save one it'd be that one.

I am interested to see which lens gets more love on this thread, the DA* 50-135 or the DA* 60-250... I'm leaning towards the DA* 60-250 (since I already have the 18-135 WR) as my next purchase to go with me to the Boundary Waters. After that I'm done. LOL

<A quick froogle search after this post reminded me the DA* 60-250 is a pipe dream but I also noticed its not available for purchase on the Pentax site, is it up for a refresh?>

Last edited by robr7; 07-18-2011 at 07:09 PM.

Eagle_Friends · 07-18-2011, 07:01 PM

Zoom would be DA* 50-135mm f2.8

Prime would be DA 15mm f4

of the two... i would pick the zoom.

Rupert · 07-18-2011, 07:06 PM

Bigma 50-500...it'll get you near or far, has very decent IQ at any range, and only requires a small forklift for operation.

Best Regards!

gtl · 07-18-2011, 08:02 PM

DA 21mm limited. Small, good IQ, extremely versatile focal length.

sagiboy · 07-18-2011, 08:15 PM

DA 35mm macro...or DA 21mm

dgaies · 07-18-2011, 08:18 PM

DA35 or FA31; it would be a tough call but I think I'd go with the 31.

If it were two lenses, I'd go with the 31 and 100WR, but I realize that's not the point of this thread

goddo31 · 07-18-2011, 08:25 PM

I never would have expected this before buying it, but for me it would have to be the A-50 f/1.2.

hcc · 07-18-2011, 08:26 PM

+1 for FA31mm f1.8 Ltd.

selar · 07-18-2011, 08:33 PM

DA* 16-50 for zoom; FA31 Ltd for Prime.

07-18-2011, 06:13 PM	#1
uptheriver Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 50	Only One Lens -What Would it Be ? Hi All: If you could only have one lens for your K- 5 what would it be and why ? Might sound a little silly but should get some interesting posts.

07-18-2011, 06:27 PM	#3
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	I thought about this from the standpoint of assuming it would be a zoom, but as I thought about it, I think of the lenses I have, the DA 35mm Macro Ltd. would be the one I would keep. It isn't as wide as my DA* 16-50, but I can always back up a bit, it's quite sharp and the K-5 will let me crop it down quite a bit if necessary to get a telephoto effect, it does macro, so that is still an option, it's quite compact, so will make it easy to carry around, it's pretty fast at f/2.8, so it will work in many different lighting situations. Last edited by GregK8; 07-18-2011 at 06:42 PM.

07-18-2011, 06:31 PM	#5
sjwaldron Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,235	Pentax FA 31mm f1.8 limited. Edit: Why... I like the normal focal length and small depth of field photography. I also like sharp images and high contrast. Last edited by sjwaldron; 07-18-2011 at 07:44 PM.

07-18-2011, 08:18 PM	#12
dgaies Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland / Washington DC Posts: 3,917	DA35 or FA31; it would be a tough call but I think I'd go with the 31. If it were two lenses, I'd go with the 31 and 100WR, but I realize that's not the point of this thread Last edited by dgaies; 07-18-2011 at 08:39 PM.

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07-18-2011, 06:20 PM	#2
dave2k Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Michigan Photos: Gallery Posts: 419	I don't have a good answer but I'm glad you asked as I would like to see suggestions on this very topic. I'm leaning toward the Sigma 17-70 2.8/4. I look forward to seeing more useful responses than this one.

07-18-2011, 06:28 PM	#4
Thesorus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Montreal (Canada) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 200	I'm using a lot the da* 50-135. It offer a good range, it's WR and quite fast. (but now, with the da 35mm macro ltd that might change!)

07-18-2011, 06:53 PM	#6
dmort Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Bronx, NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 415	The 43mm, just a superb lens

07-18-2011, 06:55 PM	#7
robr7 Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 88	Just got my 18-135 WR and if all I was carrying was my camera I'd guess itd be that one. I do very much like my 40 Limited and its given me some of my best shots but the truth of the matter is that my DA* 16-50 is the one that is on my camera the most and if I could only save one it'd be that one. I am interested to see which lens gets more love on this thread, the DA* 50-135 or the DA* 60-250... I'm leaning towards the DA* 60-250 (since I already have the 18-135 WR) as my next purchase to go with me to the Boundary Waters. After that I'm done. LOL <A quick froogle search after this post reminded me the DA* 60-250 is a pipe dream but I also noticed its not available for purchase on the Pentax site, is it up for a refresh?> Last edited by robr7; 07-18-2011 at 07:09 PM.

07-18-2011, 07:01 PM	#8
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	Zoom would be DA* 50-135mm f2.8 Prime would be DA 15mm f4 of the two... i would pick the zoom.

07-18-2011, 07:06 PM	#9
Rupert Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 25,123	Bigma 50-500...it'll get you near or far, has very decent IQ at any range, and only requires a small forklift for operation. Best Regards!

07-18-2011, 08:02 PM	#10
gtl Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 349	DA 21mm limited. Small, good IQ, extremely versatile focal length.

07-18-2011, 08:15 PM	#11
sagiboy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: LI Posts: 230	DA 35mm macro...or DA 21mm

07-18-2011, 08:25 PM	#13
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	I never would have expected this before buying it, but for me it would have to be the A-50 f/1.2.

07-18-2011, 08:26 PM	#14
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	+1 for FA31mm f1.8 Ltd.

07-18-2011, 08:33 PM	#15
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	DA* 16-50 for zoom; FA31 Ltd for Prime.