In market for walkaround lens

ENicolas · 08-03-2012, 07:21 PM

Don't sell the 18-55mm kit lens short! It's actually a very nice lens for the price. I bought the 16-45mm f/4 as a replacement, and it is a better lens, but only marginally so: what you pick up in corner sharpness is offset by the blue and green fringing.

Tonto · 08-03-2012, 09:20 PM - **1 Like**

I'm going to chip in ranges here to give you a sense of what can be shot with emphasis on social portraits.

Wide End
16-18 will give you a decent range for creative landscape/archetechture and large group shots.
18-24 is your range to comfortable three people in a shot across a table.
28-35 gets pretty hard to squeeze things in but can if you have the space to walk backwards. Can do about two people in a tight framing across a table. Similar framing to what one sees. Also less distortion which can be cropped abit if a tighter shot is required. Hence FA31/DA35 etc

Tele End
45-55 is a great short tele range if you want to focus on a particular subject in front of you. about a 3/4 shot of a person. Need to shoot sometime uncomfortably close for a tight headshot.
55-80 is for those beautiful tight headshots and great to get something the same size across a road as in front of you (eg Road means you can get closer).
80-135 tighter still and giving your subject more room, great for candid shots, can be cropped for unexpected wildlife shots. Also a great range for closer seats in a concert.
135-250 I call this zoo range. Basically it can never be too long. More wildlife than anything but if your kids do sports or you like to watch stadium sports this is essential.

So after all that some lenses.

18-50 F2.8 / 28-75 F2.8 - low light but bulky lenses, best quality. Suit indoor.
17-70 F4 - better speed and okish size, great quality. Suit indoor.
30-70 - Vairable aperture, small size, great quality in ideal conditions.
28-105 - slow speed slightly bulky, good quality in ideal conditions.
18-135 - variable aperture slightly bulky, great quality in bright conditions.
18-250 - variable aperture, bulky, great quality in bright conditions

My pick would be a 17-70 which I use and a 55-300- if mainly outdoor go for a 18-135 / 18-250 and maybe a prime for indoors.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Walkaround lens	speedtrap63	Pentax K-r	55	12-27-2012 07:55 PM
Which 35mm lens to buy as a walkaround	MCSpitz	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	12	02-23-2012 11:16 AM
Best walkaround lens under $150	Alizarine	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	16	04-05-2011 01:13 AM
K 5 lens...Walkaround	Adk X	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	28	03-28-2011 10:13 PM
When did the market fall out of the manual lens market	GregK8	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	34	01-20-2011 08:48 PM

08-03-2012, 07:21 PM	#16
ENicolas Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Northern California Posts: 137	Don't sell the 18-55mm kit lens short! It's actually a very nice lens for the price. I bought the 16-45mm f/4 as a replacement, and it is a better lens, but only marginally so: what you pick up in corner sharpness is offset by the blue and green fringing.

08-03-2012, 09:20 PM - 1 Like	#17
Tonto Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wellington Posts: 969	I'm going to chip in ranges here to give you a sense of what can be shot with emphasis on social portraits. Wide End 16-18 will give you a decent range for creative landscape/archetechture and large group shots. 18-24 is your range to comfortable three people in a shot across a table. 28-35 gets pretty hard to squeeze things in but can if you have the space to walk backwards. Can do about two people in a tight framing across a table. Similar framing to what one sees. Also less distortion which can be cropped abit if a tighter shot is required. Hence FA31/DA35 etc Tele End 45-55 is a great short tele range if you want to focus on a particular subject in front of you. about a 3/4 shot of a person. Need to shoot sometime uncomfortably close for a tight headshot. 55-80 is for those beautiful tight headshots and great to get something the same size across a road as in front of you (eg Road means you can get closer). 80-135 tighter still and giving your subject more room, great for candid shots, can be cropped for unexpected wildlife shots. Also a great range for closer seats in a concert. 135-250 I call this zoo range. Basically it can never be too long. More wildlife than anything but if your kids do sports or you like to watch stadium sports this is essential. So after all that some lenses. 18-50 F2.8 / 28-75 F2.8 - low light but bulky lenses, best quality. Suit indoor. 17-70 F4 - better speed and okish size, great quality. Suit indoor. 30-70 - Vairable aperture, small size, great quality in ideal conditions. 28-105 - slow speed slightly bulky, good quality in ideal conditions. 18-135 - variable aperture slightly bulky, great quality in bright conditions. 18-250 - variable aperture, bulky, great quality in bright conditions My pick would be a 17-70 which I use and a 55-300- if mainly outdoor go for a 18-135 / 18-250 and maybe a prime for indoors.