[kshapero]

Got the $999 deal (just too good to pass up), Now I need a lens(es). I love primes but dang, I want a WR lens. I hate flash and need a good indoor lens. Can the 18-55 WR lens serve the purpose?

[johnyeros]

hey pentax kits is pretty good. IF you going to use that as indoor, you just have to bump iso to around 800-1600 (depends on light condition). I usually shoot in door around that area with my k20d and it's fine.. However if u really don't like flash, prime is the way to go .

personally when in door i go with my 16-45mm ceiling bounce flash setup. my flash is an old 1990s sunpak flash. it works well

[maxfield_photo]

Got the $999 deal (just too good to pass up), Now I need a lens(es). I love primes but dang, I want a WR lens. I hate flash and need a good indoor lens. Can the 18-55 WR lens serve the purpose?

You'd need a lot of ambient light or a slow shutter speed.

If I might make an observation, if you shoot mainly indoors, you don't need the WR, rather a "fast" lens, so a prime like the FA 43 limited might make sense or even the DA 15 limited depending on how much FoV and DoF you want in your photos. Conversely, if you shoot outdoors, you may not need as wide of an aperture, but the WR may be that much more important. The 18-55 is a great kit lens, it does well outdoors, but if you want to use it indoors and don't want to use a flash, you will probably want to invest in a tripod. I like the DA*50-135 because it's fast AND weather sealed and as sharp as most primes @ 2.8. The DA*16-50 is also fast an weather sealed, though I'm not overly impressed with the IQ on that one.

What type of pictures are you going to be shooting?

[RonHendriks1966]

I vote for the cheap lens. So I have DA 40mm/f2.8 Ltd. but the DA 35mm/f2.4 is very nice to.

[Eric Seavey]

Lenses are the hard part. Indoors in small rooms you want a very wide angle starting around 10mm. In larger rooms shooting sports and such you want a fast telephoto starting around 200mm. Outdoors WR you want lenses ranging from wide for landscapes to fast super telephoto for wild life.

A very good super wide angle lens is the Sigma 8-16mm.
Would Pentax 18-135mm WR suffice for your outdoor work?
The Pentax 50-135mm might be an OK option for indoor sports, maybe you want to go longer.
I like the Sigma 17-70mm very much and it is actually my work horse that I use for indoor work, though sometimes I would like to go wider.
If you are serious about wildlife, the Sigma 50-500mm is very versatile but heavy. The Pentax 300mm is very good too and much lighter.

Good luck!

[JinDesu]

Well, the k-5 does pretty well at high ISO...

Indoors I would definitely suggest a fast prime like the 35mm F2.4 (hey, it's cheap too). Outdoors, something like the 18-135 would give you a good deal more range as well as the WR than the 18-55.

[kshapero]

I shoot a lot of events disguised as a guest. I was thinking either the 35/2.4 or 21/3.2. Then get one or two WR lens for just enjoying the outdoors. Maybe the kit and the telephoto zoom kit. Please advise.

[JinDesu]

The 35 2.4 should be enough, and would save you money to spend on an outdoor lens. Again, the 18-135 is going to give you enough range for almost everything outside except maybe shooting small wildlife that's a good distance away.

[toooldtocare]

I ordered my K5 with the kit lens, but hardly use it. I like my old 28mm f2.8 for photos like you take. If I need more light I use my even older 50mm f1.4, both are KA mount. I do not autofocus because of the issues associated with it (missed focus points, noisy, back focus, etc.) so I do not not miss not using the kit lens.

[Tchn226]

I would get the 35mm F2.4 then =) great small lens at a good price =) unfortunatly I've sold mine...

[geezer52]

For some odd reason I get the impression you're something like a private investigator, more concerned about evidence than image quality. No judgment being made here, just an observation. In any case the two basic WR kit lenses (18-55, 55-200) both have decent reputations and the K5s ability to handle high ISO shots should serve you well enough until your interests and/or requirements become more specific or defined. After that it will be easier for people to recommend specific lenses.

[humbr]

My approach is to use my zoom at 35 mm for a month, trying various shots. If I like that focal length then I will pick a lens. If I don't like the fl, then I will try another for a month, e.g. 50 or 21. You can do this with either of the 18-55 kit lenses (non-WR or WR).

The key is to decide if you like the focal length. Picking the specific lens after that is a combination of published iq tests and price.

Of course since you were already shooting as a disguised guest, you would already know what focal length you used most often?

Gerrit

[Docrwm]

The kit 18-55 doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves. I also own the 35/2.4 and the 50/1.4. I'd suggest starting with the 18-55 as it can be had for very little and really is a fairly competent little lens. Then look at your exif numbers to see what focal length and f stops are most common for you - that will help you spend your money more wisely.

[Tord]

I went the DA18-55 route (the basic version came with my K-x; another, this time water-resistant, and with a sunshade, came with the K-7). Then found the fairly inexpensive 17-50 Tamron being a superb lens. I do have a few primes, like those mentioned above, but I find the 17-50 being better, if slightly slower than the primes!

The Tamron isn't WR, though, but a lens with a friendly price. Combines very well with the DA55-300, or the DA50-135 (one of Pentax's best lenses, prime or no prime, superbly built, sharp as a knife, and very WR)! Expensive lenses like the FA43, and FA77, are superb, by the way! The DA21, and the DA40 are very small and compact, as is the FA50, but none of them are superbly sharp! My wife has the DA15, also a very nice compact lens, but in my book the Tamron 17-50 (or the more expensive, WR Pentax equivalent) replaces the bunch of them, except the FA77 and the FA43!

[Adam]

If you can swing it, I'd recommend the 18-135mm plus the FA 31mm.

Pentax-DA 18-135mm Zoom - Review