Which Prime lenses will balance off K1 weight

ruvy · 04-30-2016, 10:59 PM

Hi

In the past 4 years I am a Fuji XPRO 1 shooter. Its time to change. Under consideration are Sony A7R2, XRPO 2 and K1, K1 being heaviest and largest. While weight has no bearing on IQ, with age it became quite a significant factor in my rational, however not at the expense of good glass. I am not really familiar with Pentax lenses post M42 and wonder if there are any excellent prime lenses that by their light weight can balance off this exceptionally heavy body (2.5 times heavier than my Fuji) in such a way that the total weight difference will not be so huge. Getting into a new system is quite expensive so I want to keep them affordable too - let say anywhere between $200 and $800 +/- yet, still stellar in quality.

The FF equivalence of lenses I am using right now are: 18mm (better slightly wider), 27mm, 50mm 85mm. Want to add in the future 120mm and something around 22mm). I don't mind some deviation from these sizes.

Thanks
Ruvy

Adam · 04-30-2016, 11:12 PM

Here's a link to a list of Pentax FF lenses under 400 grams. You can adjust the search parameters at the top of the page if you'd like to narrow things down further. Our main lens database will also help you get a better overview of Pentax lenses.
<= 400g Full Frame Lenses | PentaxForums.com

See also these two articles to learn about the different lens series after M42:

My recommendations would be:
Ultra-wide: FA 20-35mm F4 (or 17-28mm fisheye)
Wide: FA 31mm Limited
Normal: FA 50mm F1.4
Short tele: FA 77mm F1.8
Tele: FA 135mm F2.8

All of the above are under 300g, except for the 31mm which is 345g, and the 135mm which is 395g. A pretty light kit overall!

Note that both the ultra-wide lenses are out of production, so you'd need to find them used.

One last alternative:
The D FA 28-105mm zoom is 440 grams, weather sealed, and it covers most common focal lengths

HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Reviews - D FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Wild Mark · 05-01-2016, 12:55 AM

great heads up from Adam there.

If you can tolerate a manual lens I would TOTALLY recommend the K30/2.8 ........ that is soooo light and sooooo excellent and within the lower end of your price range.

Dom't forget the FA43/1.9 ...... people buy Pentax cameras just to use this lens.

zapp · 05-01-2016, 01:01 AM

K3II can be had with all the nice DA primes. Small means APS-C in Pentax land.
K1 requires bigger lenses. FA ltd may be a good start, but bigger lenses are coming. At the moment only bvery large zooms.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-01-2016, 01:24 AM

I'm the opposite to you, I actually like to have a bit of "weight forward" like I get with my fast manuals, as it seems to stabilise my shooting.

Mind you also having big hands and grips on my bodies helps too I guess. K1s in transit to me as I speak, but grips are to follow, so that's gonna feel a bit strange for a while until they arrive.

zmohie · 05-01-2016, 01:28 AM

Fa 43. Fa 35. DA 70. Fa 50.
All are lighter than any fuji lenses except for the XF 27 and xf 18

Venom3300 · 05-01-2016, 03:51 AM - **1 Like**

Fa* 600/4

Sandy Hancock · 05-01-2016, 04:03 AM

In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA*600/4

):

FA20/2.8 = 225g
F28/2.8 = 180g
DA*55/1.4 = 375g
DFA100/2.8 macro WR = 340g

cmohr · 05-01-2016, 04:12 AM

FA*85mm f1.4..

The lens.

Venom3300 · 05-01-2016, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA*600/4

):

Sarcasm in terms of weight. A very good balance in terms of IQ

ruvy · 05-01-2016, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by Adam

Here's a link to a list of Pentax FF lenses under 400 grams. You can adjust the search parameters at the top of the page if you'd like to narrow things down further. Our main lens database will also help you get a better overview of Pentax lenses.
<= 400g Full Frame Lenses | PentaxForums.com

See also these two articles to learn about the different lens series after M42:

My recommendations would be:
Ultra-wide: FA 20-35mm F4 (or 17-28mm fisheye)
Wide: FA 31mm Limited
Normal: FA 50mm F1.4
Short tele: FA 77mm F1.8
Tele: FA 135mm F2.8

All of the above are under 300g, except for the 31mm which is 345g, and the 135mm which is 395g. A pretty light kit overall!

Note that both the ultra-wide lenses are out of production, so you'd need to find them used.

One last alternative:
The D FA 28-105mm zoom is 440 grams, weather sealed, and it covers most common focal lengths

HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Reviews - D FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Thank you Adam for your good advises. Your search engine is very impressive! and effective. can't remember a equal in other forums. Thaks also for the link to the articles. Will read them tonight

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:29 PM ----------

Originally posted by Wild Mark

great heads up from Adam there.

If you can tolerate a manual lens I would TOTALLY recommend the K30/2.8 ........ that is soooo light and sooooo excellent and within the lower end of your price range.

Dom't forget the FA43/1.9 ...... people buy Pentax cameras just to use this lens.

Than you Mark.

Will have to learn about the A30. The 43mm looks very tempting as its angle of view is more like the human eye than the 50mm (may be wrong).

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:30 PM ----------

Originally posted by zapp

K3II can be had with all the nice DA primes. Small means APS-C in Pentax land.
K1 requires bigger lenses. FA ltd may be a good start, but bigger lenses are coming. At the moment only bvery large zooms.

Thank you ZAPP. I am more interested in prime lenses,

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:36 PM ----------

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

I'm the opposite to you, I actually like to have a bit of "weight forward" like I get with my fast manuals, as it seems to stabilise my shooting.

Mind you also having big hands and grips on my bodies helps too I guess. K1s in transit to me as I speak, but grips are to follow, so that's gonna feel a bit strange for a while until they arrive.

Thank you Krrowdown
I remember time I felt the same but now overall weight is a factor specially that I love trekking and hiking. In long walks even my camera can be a challenge to carry.

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:39 PM ----------

Originally posted by zmohie

Fa 43. Fa 35. DA 70. Fa 50.
All are lighter than any fuji lenses except for the XF 27 and xf 18

I'm building on it...;-)

Probably so, I don't remember the exact weights with the exception of the 18mm that is 110gr.

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:45 PM ----------

Originally posted by Venom3300

Fa* 600/4

Thank you Vernon

You must love long lenses. The longest lens I own now is 100mm its an old manual Nikon type. Its one rarest in use, I have recently sold my second long lens which had been 60mm which got very little use too.

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:48 PM ----------

Originally posted by cmohr

FA*85mm f1.4..

The lens.

Thank you CMOHR

agree, it should be on of the first to be purchased.

---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:51 PM ----------

Originally posted by Sandy Hancock

In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA*600/4

):

FA20/2.8 = 225g
F28/2.8 = 180g
DA*55/1.4 = 375g
DFA100/2.8 macro WR = 340g

Thank you Sandy, its a reall logical suggestion. Onething I wonder, doesn't DA mean a lens for APSc body?

Sandy Hancock · 05-01-2016, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by ruvy

Thank you Sandy, its a reall logical suggestion. One thing I wonder, doesn't DA mean a lens for APSc body?

Yes, but the DA*55 has been pretty clearly demonstrated to work (very) well on the full frame. I have used it on film, and there are plenty of examples of its output on Sony A7 bodies and now even on the K-1. When it was released there was no full frame camera on the horizon, so designating it DFA would have seemed a little pointless.

For the record, the DA35/2.4, DA40/2.8 limited, DA50/1.8, DA70/2.4 limited, DA*200/2.8 and DA*300/4 are also full frame lenses.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-01-2016, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by ruvy

weight is a factor specially that I love trekking and hiking

Might I suggest engaging the services of a Sherpa.

**pres589** · 05-01-2016, 03:31 PM

DA 40 XS seems to work well as a full frame lens; https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/178336-da40...old-200-a.html - Some folks don't really like the bokeh it produces at times, but I'd give it a shot. The 40mm focal length seems much more useful on FF than APS-C; this is why I've never gotten very interested in spending my own money on one. An FA 20 seems like a great lens but is rare on the ground from what I can tell.

Looking at the focal lengths asked about in the original post, I'm not sure what to recommend for something wider than 20mm. Probably something 3rd party and perhaps in a zoom.

One3rdEV · 05-01-2016, 07:12 PM

For hiking and trekking- if a near-normal prime is of interest: I'd like to emphasize taking a closer look at the DA* 55mm. It is weather protected, and if you take a closer look at image samples within the PentaxForums or across the web it is a consistent performer producing images with something a little extra-special in rendering. Just my personal opinion as an observer and non-owner.

04-30-2016, 10:59 PM	#1
ruvy New Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12	Which Prime lenses will balance off K1 weight Hi In the past 4 years I am a Fuji XPRO 1 shooter. Its time to change. Under consideration are Sony A7R2, XRPO 2 and K1, K1 being heaviest and largest. While weight has no bearing on IQ, with age it became quite a significant factor in my rational, however not at the expense of good glass. I am not really familiar with Pentax lenses post M42 and wonder if there are any excellent prime lenses that by their light weight can balance off this exceptionally heavy body (2.5 times heavier than my Fuji) in such a way that the total weight difference will not be so huge. Getting into a new system is quite expensive so I want to keep them affordable too - let say anywhere between $200 and $800 +/- yet, still stellar in quality. The FF equivalence of lenses I am using right now are: 18mm (better slightly wider), 27mm, 50mm 85mm. Want to add in the future 120mm and something around 22mm). I don't mind some deviation from these sizes. Thanks Ruvy

04-30-2016, 11:12 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Here's a link to a list of Pentax FF lenses under 400 grams. You can adjust the search parameters at the top of the page if you'd like to narrow things down further. Our main lens database will also help you get a better overview of Pentax lenses. <= 400g Full Frame Lenses \| PentaxForums.com See also these two articles to learn about the different lens series after M42: Pentax K-1 Lens Compatibility Guide - Articles and Tips \| PentaxForums.com Comprehensive Pentax Lens Guide - Gear Guides \| PentaxForums.com My recommendations would be: Ultra-wide: FA 20-35mm F4 (or 17-28mm fisheye) Wide: FA 31mm Limited Normal: FA 50mm F1.4 Short tele: FA 77mm F1.8 Tele: FA 135mm F2.8 All of the above are under 300g, except for the 31mm which is 345g, and the 135mm which is 395g. A pretty light kit overall! Note that both the ultra-wide lenses are out of production, so you'd need to find them used. One last alternative: The D FA 28-105mm zoom is 440 grams, weather sealed, and it covers most common focal lengths HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Reviews - D FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

05-01-2016, 08:04 AM	#11
ruvy New Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 12 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam Here's a link to a list of Pentax FF lenses under 400 grams. You can adjust the search parameters at the top of the page if you'd like to narrow things down further. Our main lens database will also help you get a better overview of Pentax lenses. <= 400g Full Frame Lenses \| PentaxForums.com See also these two articles to learn about the different lens series after M42: Pentax K-1 Lens Compatibility Guide - Articles and Tips \| PentaxForums.com Comprehensive Pentax Lens Guide - Gear Guides \| PentaxForums.com My recommendations would be: Ultra-wide: FA 20-35mm F4 (or 17-28mm fisheye) Wide: FA 31mm Limited Normal: FA 50mm F1.4 Short tele: FA 77mm F1.8 Tele: FA 135mm F2.8 All of the above are under 300g, except for the 31mm which is 345g, and the 135mm which is 395g. A pretty light kit overall! Note that both the ultra-wide lenses are out of production, so you'd need to find them used. One last alternative: The D FA 28-105mm zoom is 440 grams, weather sealed, and it covers most common focal lengths HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR Reviews - D FA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Thank you Adam for your good advises. Your search engine is very impressive! and effective. can't remember a equal in other forums. Thaks also for the link to the articles. Will read them tonight ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:29 PM ---------- Originally posted by Wild Mark great heads up from Adam there. If you can tolerate a manual lens I would TOTALLY recommend the K30/2.8 ........ that is soooo light and sooooo excellent and within the lower end of your price range. Dom't forget the FA43/1.9 ...... people buy Pentax cameras just to use this lens. Than you Mark. Will have to learn about the A30. The 43mm looks very tempting as its angle of view is more like the human eye than the 50mm (may be wrong). ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:30 PM ---------- Originally posted by zapp K3II can be had with all the nice DA primes. Small means APS-C in Pentax land. K1 requires bigger lenses. FA ltd may be a good start, but bigger lenses are coming. At the moment only bvery large zooms. Thank you ZAPP. I am more interested in prime lenses, ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:36 PM ---------- Originally posted by Kerrowdown I'm the opposite to you, I actually like to have a bit of "weight forward" like I get with my fast manuals, as it seems to stabilise my shooting. Mind you also having big hands and grips on my bodies helps too I guess. K1s in transit to me as I speak, but grips are to follow, so that's gonna feel a bit strange for a while until they arrive. Thank you Krrowdown I remember time I felt the same but now overall weight is a factor specially that I love trekking and hiking. In long walks even my camera can be a challenge to carry. ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:39 PM ---------- Originally posted by zmohie Fa 43. Fa 35. DA 70. Fa 50. All are lighter than any fuji lenses except for the XF 27 and xf 18 I'm building on it...;-) Probably so, I don't remember the exact weights with the exception of the 18mm that is 110gr. ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:45 PM ---------- Originally posted by Venom3300 Fa* 600/4 Thank you Vernon You must love long lenses. The longest lens I own now is 100mm its an old manual Nikon type. Its one rarest in use, I have recently sold my second long lens which had been 60mm which got very little use too. ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:48 PM ---------- Originally posted by cmohr FA85mm f1.4.. The lens. Thank you CMOHR agree, it should be on of the first to be purchased. ---------- Post added 05-01-16 at 06:51 PM ---------- Originally posted by Sandy Hancock In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA600/4 ): FA20/2.8 = 225g F28/2.8 = 180g DA*55/1.4 = 375g DFA100/2.8 macro WR = 340g Thank you Sandy, its a reall logical suggestion. Onething I wonder, doesn't DA mean a lens for APSc body?

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05-01-2016, 12:55 AM	#3
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	great heads up from Adam there. If you can tolerate a manual lens I would TOTALLY recommend the K30/2.8 ........ that is soooo light and sooooo excellent and within the lower end of your price range. Dom't forget the FA43/1.9 ...... people buy Pentax cameras just to use this lens.

05-01-2016, 01:01 AM	#4
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,388	K3II can be had with all the nice DA primes. Small means APS-C in Pentax land. K1 requires bigger lenses. FA ltd may be a good start, but bigger lenses are coming. At the moment only bvery large zooms.

05-01-2016, 01:24 AM	#5
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,860	I'm the opposite to you, I actually like to have a bit of "weight forward" like I get with my fast manuals, as it seems to stabilise my shooting. Mind you also having big hands and grips on my bodies helps too I guess. K1s in transit to me as I speak, but grips are to follow, so that's gonna feel a bit strange for a while until they arrive.

05-01-2016, 01:28 AM	#6
zmohie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: egypt Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 435	Fa 43. Fa 35. DA 70. Fa 50. All are lighter than any fuji lenses except for the XF 27 and xf 18

05-01-2016, 03:51 AM - 1 Like	#7
Venom3300 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 714	Fa* 600/4

05-01-2016, 04:03 AM	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA600/4 ): FA20/2.8 = 225g F28/2.8 = 180g DA55/1.4 = 375g DFA100/2.8 macro WR = 340g

05-01-2016, 04:12 AM	#9
cmohr Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Brisbane. Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,824	FA*85mm f1.4.. The lens.

05-01-2016, 05:12 AM	#10
Venom3300 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 714	Originally posted by Sandy Hancock In addition to those mentioned above (apart from the FA*600/4 ): Sarcasm in terms of weight. A very good balance in terms of IQ

05-01-2016, 02:47 PM	#12
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Originally posted by ruvy Thank you Sandy, its a reall logical suggestion. One thing I wonder, doesn't DA mean a lens for APSc body? Yes, but the DA55 has been pretty clearly demonstrated to work (very) well on the full frame. I have used it on film, and there are plenty of examples of its output on Sony A7 bodies and now even on the K-1. When it was released there was no full frame camera on the horizon, so designating it DFA would have seemed a little pointless. For the record, the DA35/2.4, DA40/2.8 limited, DA50/1.8, DA70/2.4 limited, DA200/2.8 and DA*300/4 are also full frame lenses.

05-01-2016, 02:56 PM	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,860	Originally posted by ruvy weight is a factor specially that I love trekking and hiking Might I suggest engaging the services of a Sherpa.

05-01-2016, 03:31 PM	#14
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	DA 40 XS seems to work well as a full frame lens; https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/178336-da40...old-200-a.html - Some folks don't really like the bokeh it produces at times, but I'd give it a shot. The 40mm focal length seems much more useful on FF than APS-C; this is why I've never gotten very interested in spending my own money on one. An FA 20 seems like a great lens but is rare on the ground from what I can tell. Looking at the focal lengths asked about in the original post, I'm not sure what to recommend for something wider than 20mm. Probably something 3rd party and perhaps in a zoom.

05-01-2016, 07:12 PM	#15
One3rdEV Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: So-central, MI Posts: 285	For hiking and trekking- if a near-normal prime is of interest: I'd like to emphasize taking a closer look at the DA* 55mm. It is weather protected, and if you take a closer look at image samples within the PentaxForums or across the web it is a consistent performer producing images with something a little extra-special in rendering. Just my personal opinion as an observer and non-owner.