Only One Lens -What Would it Be ?

**GregK8** · 07-18-2011, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by selar

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

The question isn't one zoom AND one prime, it's one lens. make your choice

Ray Pulley · 07-18-2011, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by uptheriver

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.

The 16-50 stays on my K5 (and K10, K20 before that) most of the time.

It isn't great wide open at the wide end and I wish it had a bit more reach (I had high hopes for the 17-70 but it really does not seem to be a very good lens).

The 16-50 is quite good stopped down to the range I work at most often (f4.0 - f5.6) and produces good IQ in the mid-zoom range.

Note that I have access to many very good lenses, and have owned and sold several other well regarded Pentax lenses over the years, so if forced to pick one prime lens, it would likely be my 31 ltd.

I love my 43ltd, but it is just a tad too long for a normal lens on an APS-C body.

Ray

Rickster · 07-18-2011, 08:52 PM

Torn between FA31mm f1.8 Ltd and the DA 55mm f/1.4 SDM. Probably go with the 55mm for portraits.

rvannatta · 07-18-2011, 08:59 PM

I have a weakness for buying lenses and have more than I can count or even find at any one time, but probably 75% of all my photos are taken with the DA* 16-50. If I couldn't have a zoom it would be a fast prime on wide end of that zoom range. Second lens would be a 100 mm macro. I love macro photos..... Usually use a 50mm macro, but if lens count is limited the longer one is preferred because of its other uses (as a telephoto)

rfortson · 07-18-2011, 09:06 PM

Easy, the DA18-250, especially since Lightroom now has the lens profile for automagic corrections. I have a dozen or more lenses (including DA* and DA Limiteds) and I use the 18-250 more than any of them. It's just that handy.

If I could only have one, it would be the one. Thank goodness I don't have to limit myself, though.

wwwmorrell · 07-18-2011, 09:11 PM

As alway's, the DA* 50-135mm.

NotaxPen · 07-18-2011, 10:06 PM

The only lens I bought when I bought my K-5 was the DA* 55/1.4. The K-5 was my first ever DSLR, before that I was a medium-format film shooter. It was my only lens for awhile and if I could only have one lens for my K-5, I would not consider any other for an instant. I currently own the DA* 16-50, the DA* 50-135, the 21/40/70 DA Limited trio, and a Sigma 30/1.4. If I leave the house without a big bag of gear, It's the DA* 55/1.4 that I bring nearly every time. It's a fast 1.4, it's relatively lightweight and compact, field of view is perfect for what I photograph most, Image quality is superb, and I love the large manual focus ring.

calsan · 07-18-2011, 10:51 PM

DA 35 macro.

Clavius · 07-18-2011, 11:59 PM

Easy! The DA 35mm f2.8 macro ltd, for multiple reasons. The same reasons for why this lens is stuck on my K5. It's super sharp. I can get as close to my subject as I want. The 35mm on the crop sensor makes about ~55, so it's a very natural focal length. It's just fast enough to isolate my subject from the background. And the bokeh is beautiful.

But of course: I only have experience with the lenses in my own collection.

TOUGEFC · 07-19-2011, 12:04 AM

Easy, FA 77 LTD without a doubt. Wouldnt even think twice.

Francis · 07-19-2011, 12:05 AM

+1 on DA 18-250mm

Simply a good lens for all around.

Next would be the Sigma 10-20

And that would be both my lenses already lol

kanzlr · 07-19-2011, 12:08 AM

Zeiss 25/2.8 or 28/2

CMW · 07-19-2011, 12:36 AM

Originally posted by uptheriver

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.

It may sound daft to nominate a lens I don't (yet?) have, the fa 31, but I've seen some great results from it on others' cameras. If only duty and tax didn't make it SO expensive in the UK I'd already own one. If I have to pick one I own, it'd be the da 70 ltd. Sure, it imposes some limitations, but I love the focal length and there are no limitations where quality is concerned. I also like my da 15, too, but as usual with wide-angles there is some trade between breadth and sharpness at the very edges.

campdog · 07-19-2011, 02:50 AM

My FA*80-200. Nothing else.

macTak · 07-19-2011, 08:56 AM

S-M-C Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. I just love the IQ this lens delivers, and the size (especially considering you don't need a hood) is excellent. The FOV this provides on APS-C has always been my favorite, and I do a lot of close-focusing work where this lens truly shines.

07-18-2011, 08:41 PM	#17
Ray Pulley Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fallon Nevada Photos: Albums Posts: 504	16-50 f2.8 Originally posted by uptheriver 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. The 16-50 stays on my K5 (and K10, K20 before that) most of the time. It isn't great wide open at the wide end and I wish it had a bit more reach (I had high hopes for the 17-70 but it really does not seem to be a very good lens). The 16-50 is quite good stopped down to the range I work at most often (f4.0 - f5.6) and produces good IQ in the mid-zoom range. Note that I have access to many very good lenses, and have owned and sold several other well regarded Pentax lenses over the years, so if forced to pick one *prime* lens, it would likely be my 31 ltd. I love my 43ltd, but it is just a tad too long for a normal lens on an APS-C body. Ray

07-18-2011, 10:06 PM	#22
NotaxPen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 123	*Da 55/1.4** The only lens I bought when I bought my K-5 was the DA* 55/1.4. The K-5 was my first ever DSLR, before that I was a medium-format film shooter. It was my only lens for awhile and if I could only have one lens for my K-5, I would not consider any other for an instant. I currently own the DA* 16-50, the DA* 50-135, the 21/40/70 DA Limited trio, and a Sigma 30/1.4. If I leave the house without a big bag of gear, It's the DA* 55/1.4 that I bring nearly every time. It's a fast 1.4, it's relatively lightweight and compact, field of view is perfect for what I photograph most, Image quality is superb, and I love the large manual focus ring.

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07-18-2011, 08:37 PM	#16
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	Originally posted by selar DA* 16-50 for zoom; FA31 Ltd for Prime. The question isn't one zoom AND one prime, it's one lens. make your choice

07-18-2011, 08:52 PM	#18
Rickster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SE Idaho - Rocky Mtns Photos: Gallery Posts: 580	Torn between FA31mm f1.8 Ltd and the DA 55mm f/1.4 SDM. Probably go with the 55mm for portraits.

07-18-2011, 08:59 PM	#19
rvannatta Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Apiary, Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,181	I have a weakness for buying lenses and have more than I can count or even find at any one time, but probably 75% of all my photos are taken with the DA* 16-50. If I couldn't have a zoom it would be a fast prime on wide end of that zoom range. Second lens would be a 100 mm macro. I love macro photos..... Usually use a 50mm macro, but if lens count is limited the longer one is preferred because of its other uses (as a telephoto)

07-18-2011, 09:06 PM	#20
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	Easy, the DA18-250, especially since Lightroom now has the lens profile for automagic corrections. I have a dozen or more lenses (including DA* and DA Limiteds) and I use the 18-250 more than any of them. It's just that handy. If I could only have one, it would be the one. Thank goodness I don't have to limit myself, though.

07-18-2011, 09:11 PM	#21
wwwmorrell Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mount Buller, Australia Posts: 397	As alway's, the DA* 50-135mm.

07-18-2011, 10:51 PM	#23
calsan Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,549	DA 35 macro.

07-18-2011, 11:59 PM	#24
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	Easy! The DA 35mm f2.8 macro ltd, for multiple reasons. The same reasons for why this lens is stuck on my K5. It's super sharp. I can get as close to my subject as I want. The 35mm on the crop sensor makes about ~55, so it's a very natural focal length. It's just fast enough to isolate my subject from the background. And the bokeh is beautiful. But of course: I only have experience with the lenses in my own collection.

07-19-2011, 12:04 AM	#25
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Easy, FA 77 LTD without a doubt. Wouldnt even think twice.

07-19-2011, 12:05 AM	#26
Francis Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hilversum Photos: Gallery Posts: 215	+1 on DA 18-250mm Simply a good lens for all around. Next would be the Sigma 10-20 And that would be both my lenses already lol

07-19-2011, 12:08 AM	#27
kanzlr Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vienna Posts: 92	Zeiss 25/2.8 or 28/2

07-19-2011, 12:36 AM	#28
CMW Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Herts Posts: 4	Originally posted by uptheriver 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. It may sound daft to nominate a lens I don't (yet?) have, the fa 31, but I've seen some great results from it on others' cameras. If only duty and tax didn't make it SO expensive in the UK I'd already own one. If I have to pick one I own, it'd be the da 70 ltd. Sure, it imposes some limitations, but I love the focal length and there are no limitations where quality is concerned. I also like my da 15, too, but as usual with wide-angles there is some trade between breadth and sharpness at the very edges.

07-19-2011, 02:50 AM	#29
campdog Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bonny Hills, NSW, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 202	My FA*80-200. Nothing else.

07-19-2011, 08:56 AM	#30
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	S-M-C Macro-Takumar 50mm f4. I just love the IQ this lens delivers, and the size (especially considering you don't need a hood) is excellent. The FOV this provides on APS-C has always been my favorite, and I do a lot of close-focusing work where this lens truly shines.