K1 users: what lenses do you use?

**clackers** · 05-21-2019, 06:04 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

A member that I trade PM’s with communicates with Hirakawa by email. IIRC he has been managing the Design Department at Tamron for several years and is (reportedly) now transitioning into retirement. We can infer what we will about the 15-30 and 24-70 from that information. I think the business and social relationships still exist, but I also think the design team at Ricoh Imaging is some really bright and creative younger (probably) men now.

Oh, I'm all for nostalgia, romance, etc, but his younger replacement at Pentax, Masakazu Saori, has an incredible CV now of his own, probably more impressive now … at a guess from the lower end DA18-135, 16-85, DFA 28-105 to the DFA 70-200 to the DFA* primes that will also be sold by Tokina to Canon and Nikon owners.

**monochrome** · 05-21-2019, 07:02 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by clackers

Oh, I'm all for nostalgia, romance, etc, but his younger replacement at Pentax, Masakazu Saori, has an incredible CV now of his own, probably more impressive now … at a guess from the lower end DA18-135, 16-85, DFA 28-105 to the DFA 70-200 to the DFA* primes that will also be sold by Tokina to Canon and Nikon owners.

Maybe you misunderstood me. I’m with you 100%. I think the lens design team is doing some really interesting things. The * lenses are each an Opus and the 28/-105 ‘kitlens’ punches far above its cost. The new blood seem excited to be at Ricoh.

**clackers** · 05-21-2019, 08:25 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Maybe you misunderstood me. I’m with you 100%. I think the lens design team is doing some really interesting things. The * lenses are each an Opus and the 28/-105 ‘kitlens’ punches far above its cost. The new blood seem excited to be at Ricoh.

Yeah, genuinely exciting time. I'm sure Saori wishes he had a bigger budget But I'm sure he understands that with their knife edge financial position they have to spread the products right out, you can't release one until the one before it has generated enough funds, the money can't be sitting in inventory in some warehouse.

wanderer2 · 05-26-2019, 06:25 AM

Originally posted by Seeck

2 years ago I have sold all my Canon gear (5d mkII / 24mm f1.4 / 17-40mm f4 / 85mm f1,8) to go for the K1 with the 31mm limited.
Yes.. I went from my somewhat ideal set of lenses to - literally - one 'limited' lens. I guess I like limitations from time to time, but after 2 years it's time to think about buying a new lens.

To get some inspiration I am curious to hear about the lenses you all are using and in what situations. Are here also any frequent vintage glass users?

Im curious to hear about your most loved lenses and it's time to confess what your dislikes about them!

I'm a bit late on this but I see this thread is still active so here's my list. My K-1 use is almost exclusively for landscapes and do make some large prints so I value sharpness.

Pentax: The Three Amigos, FA 100 macro, FA 135, DA 300
Tamron: 28-75, 70-200
Other: A built in the Soviet Union 500 mirror lens. I bought this to photograph the solar eclipse and haven't used it
since.

When I purchased the K-1 not long after it was introduced my budget did not allow the purchase of a set of primes then as I would have preferred, so I bought the two Tamrons and a Tokina 20-35. Since then I have been building a prime lens kit slowly, one by one. I still plan to get a DA 200 and a couple of wide angles, probably a FA 20 or 24 (any suggestions between the two?), and probably something in the mid teens like an Irix 15, although I prefer auto lenses (again, any suggestions are welcome). Again, any suggestions. Most of my landscape photography is done in the mountains so I have less need for wide angles than most landscape photographers, thus they are last on the list (and also because all of those remaining lenses are quite expensive, even used).

paolojackson · 05-30-2019, 11:54 AM

I dropped and broke my D-FA 28-105 about a month ago and I am surprised at how much I miss it. Currently I'm left with the DA* 55 and FA 77 so I have no wide options for over a month!

vaeianor · 07-18-2019, 01:38 PM - **1 Like**

My collection of lenses include Pentax FA 28-105mm, FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited, DA 55-300mm. I just bought a Pentax D FA 15-30mm lens which is still on the way.

saladin · 07-20-2019, 05:54 PM

I'm making do with a pair of cheap primes -DA35/2.4 and DA50/1.8 . The 35 has had most use in my three weeks of K1 ownership. Yesterday I bought a cheap FA-J 75-300 in a thrift shop. I have a k55/1.8 somewhere around here that I haven't used on the K1 as yet. I have a 50/1.4 Sigma but I'm having problems with AF accuracy and I find I prefer the smaller form factor of the DA's.

I'm strongly considering the 28-105 for it's weathersealing, and the FA 43 for its focal length. It's a shame the 15 Limited doesn't cover FF. I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue. I can get a 15-30 for a very decent price but it's very big and filters are awkward.

Last edited by saladin; 07-20-2019 at 06:53 PM.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-21-2019, 12:32 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by saladin

I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue

Have you considered using what I call my “Mistress" (Pentax-A 15mm F3.5)? yes I know it's manual focus... but to be honest at this focal length, just about everything in front it, appears to be in focus... just a thought.

**clackers** · 07-21-2019, 01:04 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by saladin

I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue. I can get a 15-30 for a very decent price but it's very big and filters are awkward.

The DA*11-18 and DA12-24 both work if you leave out the very shortest focal lengths.

My DA12-24 is fine from say, 17 or 18mm onwards. That's wider than legacy 20mm\24mm primes.

**ivanvernon** · 07-21-2019, 06:32 AM

My two main cameras are the 645Z and the K-1. I use P645, P67, and CZJ lenses on the 645Z (and on the 645D as well). On the K-1, I use the three amigos, the D FA 50 f 2.8, several different Mamiya 645 lenses, and occasionally some of the 645 and P67 lenses.

**BruceBanner** · 07-21-2019, 01:48 PM

If you click here Behance you can find a short album to each of my favourite lenses and a little text at the bottom explaining why I enjoy these specific lenses so much.

beachboy2 · 07-31-2019, 11:53 AM

Just started trying a few of my AF lenses on New K1 mark 2.
Sigma 28-70 F2.8 DF EX . This has advantage of 77mm filter ring so CPL is installed. Seems much sharper on the FF camera than I remember in crop mode.
Sigma 105 F2.8 DG Macro. Seems to lock on focus better.
Sigma 70-200 EX Macro II HSM. No problems. Mount is close to FF body, but just a v light scuff if any.
Sigma 50-500 EX DG APO. Not HSM. Works fine.
Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC EX fine in square crop mode.
Sigma 18-200 DC Contemporary fine in square crop mode and FF from about 135 to 200mm.
Sigma 10-20 needs crop mode.
Lots of manual focus lenses to check. All FF though.
Update: Just tried my 17mm F3.5 RMC Tokina. It needs step out ring to avoid vignetting when adding polarizer, so tried Nisi filter holder with 67-82mm adapter and the 82mm CPL. Works well. I think this might be my goto wide angle lens.

Nunavut · 07-31-2019, 09:40 PM - **1 Like**

Out of all the ff lenses I have- the 35mm f2, 50 macro 2.8, 77mm legend, the lense I am using the most on the k1 for paid work isn't even ff. It's the 50-135 in 1:1 crop mode. Would I buy a ff zoom - yes probably, but the 50-135 is doing good enough that my clients haven't asked for otherwise.

saladin · 08-02-2019, 01:18 AM

After much deliberation, I just added the DFA 28-105. For a few hundred dollars to get a weathersealed, versatile zoom, it just made sense. especially since i'm viewing the k1 as my landscape camera.

The 43 will be my next and possibly final lens. Actually, i keep getting tempted by helios 44 and lensbaby velvet, lol, so maybe them as well!

**Rondec** · 08-02-2019, 02:57 AM

DFA 15-30/24-70/* 70-200.
FA 31/77
DA *55
DFA 100 macro WR

Occasionally the DA 40 limited.

I really don't "need" anything else right now...

07-21-2019, 06:32 AM	#145
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	My main cameras My two main cameras are the 645Z and the K-1. I use P645, P67, and CZJ lenses on the 645Z (and on the 645D as well). On the K-1, I use the three amigos, the D FA 50 f 2.8, several different Mamiya 645 lenses, and occasionally some of the 645 and P67 lenses.

07-31-2019, 11:53 AM	#147
beachboy2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 222	Just started trying a few of my AF lenses on New K1 mark 2. Sigma 28-70 F2.8 DF EX . This has advantage of 77mm filter ring so CPL is installed. Seems much sharper on the FF camera than I remember in crop mode. Sigma 105 F2.8 DG Macro. Seems to lock on focus better. Sigma 70-200 EX Macro II HSM. No problems. Mount is close to FF body, but just a v light scuff if any. Sigma 50-500 EX DG APO. Not HSM. Works fine. Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC EX fine in square crop mode. Sigma 18-200 DC Contemporary fine in square crop mode and FF from about 135 to 200mm. Sigma 10-20 needs crop mode. Lots of manual focus lenses to check. All FF though. Update: Just tried my 17mm F3.5 RMC Tokina. It needs step out ring to avoid vignetting when adding polarizer, so tried Nisi filter holder with 67-82mm adapter and the 82mm CPL. Works well. I think this might be my goto wide angle lens. Last edited by beachboy2; 08-02-2019 at 07:56 AM. Reason: Update

08-02-2019, 01:18 AM	#149
saladin Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 427	After much deliberation, I just added the DFA 28-105. For a few hundred dollars to get a weathersealed, versatile zoom, it just made sense. especially since i'm viewing the k1 as my landscape camera. The 43 will be my next and possibly final lens. Actually, i keep getting tempted by helios 44 and lensbaby velvet, lol, so maybe them as well! Last edited by saladin; 08-02-2019 at 01:26 AM.

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05-21-2019, 06:04 PM	#136
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by monochrome A member that I trade PM’s with communicates with Hirakawa by email. IIRC he has been managing the Design Department at Tamron for several years and is (reportedly) now transitioning into retirement. We can infer what we will about the 15-30 and 24-70 from that information. I think the business and social relationships still exist, but I also think the design team at Ricoh Imaging is some really bright and creative younger (probably) men now. Oh, I'm all for nostalgia, romance, etc, but his younger replacement at Pentax, Masakazu Saori, has an incredible CV now of his own, probably more impressive now … at a guess from the lower end DA18-135, 16-85, DFA 28-105 to the DFA 70-200 to the DFA* primes that will also be sold by Tokina to Canon and Nikon owners.

05-21-2019, 07:02 PM - 2 Likes	#137
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by clackers Oh, I'm all for nostalgia, romance, etc, but his younger replacement at Pentax, Masakazu Saori, has an incredible CV now of his own, probably more impressive now … at a guess from the lower end DA18-135, 16-85, DFA 28-105 to the DFA 70-200 to the DFA* primes that will also be sold by Tokina to Canon and Nikon owners. Maybe you misunderstood me. I’m with you 100%. I think the lens design team is doing some really interesting things. The * lenses are each an Opus and the 28/-105 ‘kitlens’ punches far above its cost. The new blood seem excited to be at Ricoh.

05-21-2019, 08:25 PM	#138
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by monochrome Maybe you misunderstood me. I’m with you 100%. I think the lens design team is doing some really interesting things. The * lenses are each an Opus and the 28/-105 ‘kitlens’ punches far above its cost. The new blood seem excited to be at Ricoh. Yeah, genuinely exciting time. I'm sure Saori wishes he had a bigger budget But I'm sure he understands that with their knife edge financial position they have to spread the products right out, you can't release one until the one before it has generated enough funds, the money can't be sitting in inventory in some warehouse.

05-26-2019, 06:25 AM	#139
wanderer2 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 301	Originally posted by Seeck 2 years ago I have sold all my Canon gear (5d mkII / 24mm f1.4 / 17-40mm f4 / 85mm f1,8) to go for the K1 with the 31mm limited. Yes.. I went from my somewhat ideal set of lenses to - literally - one 'limited' lens. I guess I like limitations from time to time, but after 2 years it's time to think about buying a new lens. To get some inspiration I am curious to hear about the lenses you all are using and in what situations. Are here also any frequent vintage glass users? Im curious to hear about your most loved lenses and it's time to confess what your dislikes about them! I'm a bit late on this but I see this thread is still active so here's my list. My K-1 use is almost exclusively for landscapes and do make some large prints so I value sharpness. Pentax: The Three Amigos, FA 100 macro, FA 135, DA 300 Tamron: 28-75, 70-200 Other: A built in the Soviet Union 500 mirror lens. I bought this to photograph the solar eclipse and haven't used it since. When I purchased the K-1 not long after it was introduced my budget did not allow the purchase of a set of primes then as I would have preferred, so I bought the two Tamrons and a Tokina 20-35. Since then I have been building a prime lens kit slowly, one by one. I still plan to get a DA 200 and a couple of wide angles, probably a FA 20 or 24 (any suggestions between the two?), and probably something in the mid teens like an Irix 15, although I prefer auto lenses (again, any suggestions are welcome). Again, any suggestions. Most of my landscape photography is done in the mountains so I have less need for wide angles than most landscape photographers, thus they are last on the list (and also because all of those remaining lenses are quite expensive, even used).

05-30-2019, 11:54 AM	#140
paolojackson Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 379	I dropped and broke my D-FA 28-105 about a month ago and I am surprised at how much I miss it. Currently I'm left with the DA* 55 and FA 77 so I have no wide options for over a month!

07-20-2019, 05:54 PM	#142
saladin Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 427	I'm making do with a pair of cheap primes -DA35/2.4 and DA50/1.8 . The 35 has had most use in my three weeks of K1 ownership. Yesterday I bought a cheap FA-J 75-300 in a thrift shop. I have a k55/1.8 somewhere around here that I haven't used on the K1 as yet. I have a 50/1.4 Sigma but I'm having problems with AF accuracy and I find I prefer the smaller form factor of the DA's. I'm strongly considering the 28-105 for it's weathersealing, and the FA 43 for its focal length. It's a shame the 15 Limited doesn't cover FF. I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue. I can get a 15-30 for a very decent price but it's very big and filters are awkward. Last edited by saladin; 07-20-2019 at 06:53 PM.

07-21-2019, 12:32 AM - 2 Likes	#143
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,815	Originally posted by saladin I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue Have you considered using what I call my “Mistress" (Pentax-A 15mm F3.5)? yes I know it's manual focus... but to be honest at this focal length, just about everything in front it, appears to be in focus... just a thought.

07-21-2019, 01:04 AM - 2 Likes	#144
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by saladin I'm not sure what to do with the wide angle issue. I can get a 15-30 for a very decent price but it's very big and filters are awkward. The DA*11-18 and DA12-24 both work if you leave out the very shortest focal lengths. My DA12-24 is fine from say, 17 or 18mm onwards. That's wider than legacy 20mm\24mm primes.

07-21-2019, 01:48 PM	#146
BruceBanner Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 5,404	If you click here Behance you can find a short album to each of my favourite lenses and a little text at the bottom explaining why I enjoy these specific lenses so much.

07-31-2019, 09:40 PM - 1 Like	#148
Nunavut Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 37	Out of all the ff lenses I have- the 35mm f2, 50 macro 2.8, 77mm legend, the lense I am using the most on the k1 for paid work isn't even ff. It's the 50-135 in 1:1 crop mode. Would I buy a ff zoom - yes probably, but the 50-135 is doing good enough that my clients haven't asked for otherwise.

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08-02-2019, 02:57 AM	#150
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,650	DFA 15-30/24-70/* 70-200. FA 31/77 DA *55 DFA 100 macro WR Occasionally the DA 40 limited. I really don't "need" anything else right now...