[Des]

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OK- I need to make this more challenging- Top two lenses and I have $1200 to spend. Period.Wife will be watching!

Second hand OK?

Pentax DA 12-24 + FA 43 limited + change (or a fun lens like the Promaster/Cosina 100).

Or maybe just one: DA*60-250.

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Last edited by Des; 05-26-2014 at 08:19 PM.

[Mistlefoot]

Tamron 90mm 2.8 macro.
Pentax 55-300 wr
Still undecided on a wide zoom...

[Sandy Hancock]

Two kick-arse lenses for around $1200 all up?
DA 35mm f/2.8 macro limited, FA 77mm f/1.8 limited. In silver if you can. Your wife will love them so much she'll let you splash out on a DA 15mm limited soon afterwards

[OregonJim]

My favorite lenses and daily kit were all made in the previous century. I am eyeing the Pentax 12-24, however.

[DSims]

I thought everyone would tell me to get the FA31mm & FA77mm !??- are they not the cat's ass?
I like the way the sun looks with the DA15mm- no?
I will shoot anything- but can K5iis handle sports?- thought AF was not quick enough?… and then what do you stick on it, the 200mm f2.8?
OK- I need to make this more challenging- Top two lenses and I have $1200 to spend. Period.Wife will be watching!

Sorry, I missed this the first time I posted.



Sports is definitely possible with the K-5 IIs. It's what I use. But you may need to decide how much of a priority sports is, because you have to be specific in your choices if it is.

The bottom line is that with the K-5 IIs, Pentax improved the AF performance enough to make it feasible for sports. The AF motor for screw-drive lenses now performs well, unlike previous Pentax DSLRs. With a $1200 budget you'll have to take advantage of this faster in-body motor. This is because (unlike Canon) the in-lens AF motors are only fast enough on the latest Sigma 70-200/2.8 OS HSM, the DA*300/4, and possibly the DA*60-250/4. Since each of these uses up your entire budget by itself, and AF performance isn't really better than screw-drive anyway, look elsewhere.

Actually the DA18-135 and DA55-300 can work, but they both have slower apertures and aren't my style (or yours, I suspect).


So you have the F or FA135/2.8 as your cheapest option (example here: Top Highlights - Central Park Invitational 2012 - EventTime Photos ). Or you can spend all your money on an FA*85 ( Highlights - CIF Finals 2012 - EventTime Photos ) or F*300 ( Top Photos - EventTime Photos and Highlights - CIF Finals 2012 - EventTime Photos ). Alternately, a used FA77 will come close to the FA*85 and still preserve some of your budget.

Outside of these I think the Tamron 70-200/2.8 is your main option (you get to take advantage of the fact that they haven't updated it for Pentax mount, so you get good quality and fast screw-drive AF while paying the previous generation price).



If sports AF isn't a priority, just get a used DA*50-135/2.8 plus whatever other lens you can afford (e.g. Tamron 17-50/2.8): http://www.eventtimephotos.com/Laguna-Niguel-Holiday-Parade/2012/Photos/i-xkCD4Zz/A

[skunktail]

My 2 cents, for what it's worth.

On my K5 iis, my two most used lenses are

DA 16-50 / 2.8 and
Tamron 70-200 / 2.8

versatile and fast.
Beyond that, any of the limiteds

[Silverstierna]

Since I received my 31mm ltd it rarely leaves the camera. But on a $1200 budget that would be it... A set of used da* lenses could be a good idea. I am probably downsizing to three lenses in total my self and will keep my 15mm ltd, 31mm ltd and the da* 60-250mm.

[Deimos]

Da15, fa31, fa77

[wizofoz]

The best lens I have, by far, is the FA77. If you ever want to take portraits (and who doesn't?), if you ever want a creamy, dreamy, painterly background (and who doesn't) if you appreciate finely crafted tools of extraordinary quality and compactness, this is the first lens to get. I have all 3 of the FA amigo's, the DA* 55, the DA*16-50 and 50-135 and the DFA 100 WR among others. All of these are truly exceptional at doing what they are designed to do, but the 77 crowns them all IMHO. It just has a certain 'feel' to it that no other lens I have ever used comes close to. Some folk call it Pixie Dust.

All of the above lenses except the 31 I bought 2nd hand. All are in first class condition. If I were limited to $1200 and only 2 lenses I would definitely be looking at the 2nd hand market.

Good luck with limiting yourself to $1200 once LBA sets in...

[eddaytona]

How 'bout something old and cheap? That's half the fun of the Pentax system.

FA 28-105 f4-5.6 with power zoom. Less than $100 usd. Sharp and very good IQ and the power zoom works on k-5.

[wizofoz]

BTW, I owe you a thanks. I was looking to see what a FA77 could be had for on the local market, when I found this - Pentax SMC 50mm F1 7 A Lens FOR Film Digital SLR Cameras | eBay

Needless to say the A50 1.7 is no longer for sale..

Thanks

[DSims]

Since I received my 31mm ltd it rarely leaves the camera. But on a $1200 budget that would be it... A set of used da* lenses could be a good idea. I am probably downsizing to three lenses in total my self and will keep my 15mm ltd, 31mm ltd and the da* 60-250mm.

Wow - so you're willing to give up almost 3 usable stops at 77mm? The FA77 is the last lens I'd give up there. But of course each of us has his own needs and style.

[carrrlangas]

DA15, DA21, DA35/2.4 or DA40, DFA100, DA55-300 and optional tamron/sigma 17-50 / Pentax 16-50 / 18-135

[Des]

As it happens the three amigos plus the DA 15 are all for sale at the moment on Camera Market | Pentax Lenses:
- DA 15 $A500 (about $US463)
- FA 31 (silver) $A650 (about $US600)
- FA 43 $A385 (about $US356)
- FA 77 $A500 (about $US463)
(Three different sellers: one is offering both the 31 and 77.)

So you could get the whole set for under $A2000.

These are private sales, and there are few protections. Caveat emptor.

[felixkh]

OP please see my signature for the options for great lenses.