[Frogfish]

Tamron AF 28-75mm 2,8 XR DI LD ASL SP Macro
+ Pentax SMC-P DA 55-300mm / f4,0-5,8 ED
+ Tamron 10-24mm F/3,5-4,5 SP Di II LD ASL IF
+ Metz MB 50 AF-1

does that sound ok? bang on budget if new ...

You might want to check out the Sigma 10-20 as well as an option to the Tamron - about US$100 less. Take a look at the Sigma thread on here - lots of wonderful shots from the 10-20. The older version (still available new) is generally considered a touch sharper than the newer constant f3.5 version which is supposedly softer wide open.

I don't see the UWA lens as suitable for your baby shots though, far too much distortion, and you are now short a fast low light lens (look for something at f1.4) - however you said you don't mind MF lenses, which means if you go for the Sigma UWA instead of the Tamron then you have US$100 left in the kitty to buy one of Pentax's older, fabulous, f1.4 MF 50mm lenses !

[slartibartfast]

I hear you!
I already have an eye on one or two 50's on ebay.
the baby isn't due before March so I still have a little time to look around (and they aren't THAT photogenic in the fist month anyway- )

thanks for your help everybody!

I shoot 3200 and 6400 all the time. I have a photo shot at 12,800 Juried into a very competitive show. And babies first month, take lots of photographs. All you need is soft window light which provides the same light a softbox does.

[slartibartfast]

what you're saying is that I don't necessarily have to have a F1.4 50mm lens?

[Frogfish]

what you're saying is that I don't necessarily have to have a F1.4 50mm lens?

I usually use Tav set to max at 6,400 ... though I rarely allow it to get that high. You will get more keepers if you can keep it below 3,200 / 4,000 because although the K5 can easily shoot much higher the amount of contrast and shadows in a shot will influence the quality of those high ISO shots.

There is more to a fast lens such as a 50mm f1/4 that just the ability to shoot in the near dark (e.g. when you just don't have any window light or other ambient light source other than a soft lamp in the baby's room), there is the wonderful low DoF that can create a shot that is just not possible on f2.8 and above lenses. But then I'm addicted to low DoF shots anyway (1 x 50mm f1,4 lens and 2 x 50/55mm f1.2 lenses)

[slartibartfast]

I'm currently bidding on a SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1:1.4 - let's see how it goes...

I browsed the pics taken with some 50s and they look quite appealing-


sooner or later I'll get one

[8540tomg]

I'm currently bidding on a SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1:1.4 - let's see how it goes...

I browsed the pics taken with some 50s and they look quite appealing-


sooner or later I'll get one

The M 50/1.4 is a very good lens. I have one myself and took lots of baby shots with it.

If you are going to opt for a manual focus lens might I suggest you look at the A version of this optic. The A setting will save you a lot of time and effort and missed shots.

Tom G

[slartibartfast]

thanks for the advice!

I would LOVE to have 2 more stops on my lenses at 1.4 but I really need zooms for my work. If I had a baby coming ( haven't had that happen for over 25 years) a 50 1.something would be nice. Its not perfect but high ISO on the K-5 is useable. I have to stop action on stage with the available light and in performances I can't get close so a 50 does me no good. Here is a an example of why I sometime use up to ISO 12,800. This was with a Sigma 100-300/4 at f4, 1/250 sec and ISO 12,800.

[slartibartfast]

well after spending (too much? ) a lot of time in this forum (partly due to a foot injury) I changed my lens set-up al least 50 times. on my wishlist- not for real of course.

the "final" set-up looks like this:

DA*50-135 (got this one used for a reasonably good price)
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM (s.o.)
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM (currently gettting a firmware update, fixing LV compatibility problem )
DA 18-55 WR (for a wider WR option)
DA 12-24 (planning on getting this one in about two months- I MIGHT change my mind to a DA 15mm ltd. not sure there)
Metz MB 50 AF-1
Cullmann MAGNESIT 532C Carbon tripod (have to wait until my trip to Germany in May for that one, you get a 10year warranty there)
Cullmann MAGNESIT MB8 Ball Head (s.o.)
K-5 S TYPE Focusing Screen from focusingscreen.com
Raynox DCR-150


this is some serious dough for a humble chef's salary, so I hope I made some good decicions there...

had some Tamrons on my list, but Sigma is being pushed more here in Norway with much better warranty conditions.

I am not sure if I "need" a longer lens than the 50-135, as I have never had a longer tele(zoom). so I'll save that one for later

thanks, everyone, for your input and help so far !

[Frogfish]

Nice list Bart.

The only one I'd maybe do a comparison between, if I were you, is the Sigma 50/1.4 and the Sigma 30/1.4. 30mm is a much more usable and flexible FL IMHO (especially for street - it's one of my main lenses - whereas 50mm is generally too long in that arena). If you are sold on the 50mm FL then do consider the excellent FA 50/1.4 too.

[slartibartfast]

thanks, I'll see if I can test a sigma 30 1.4 somewhere- I haven't got the 50, yet. it's still in the mail....

[Jean Poitiers]

Bonjour,

Just my "two cents worth" ... the DA 55-300 is very good; have it and like it a lot. But I don't know if I could go for the DAL version, because I'd really miss the Quickshift capability.

If budget is the main constraint, I would suggest the DA 35mm f 2.4 AL lens which a super value for the performance it renders IMHO. Look at the reviews, especially on PF. Plus a fixed focal lens will make you think more about your photo composition, etc. I find that I'm using less and less my zooms, and reverting back to the 35mm which is a 50-ish on a APS-C DSLR ... just a thought maybe to consider.

Bon courage et bonne photo, J Frog

PS - forgot to mention that my SMC A 50 f1.7 is very good ... I'd opt for an A 1.7 over a M 1.4 ... not convinced that extra stop is really worth it and the "A" capability is very useful and you can always use an "A" lens in full manual as well ... of course an A 1.4 or 1.2 would be great to have, too!

[Jean Poitiers]

The M 50/1.4 is a very good lens. I have one myself and took lots of baby shots with it.

If you are going to opt for a manual focus lens might I suggest you look at the A version of this optic. The A setting will save you a lot of time and effort and missed shots.

Tom G

M lenses are great, but I agree that the "A" optics allow for faster reaction and avoid more missed shots. I have a M 75-150 f4 which is wonderful IMHO, but it takes an extra moment or so to set up correctly ... thus a fleeting moment shot could be lost due to the time delay ... and maybe I'm just too darned slow ...

Allez et encore bon courage, J