[kiwi_jono]

Forgot to add before that I also use the DFA28 - 105 for WR capability and when traveling (the k-01 for traveling very light).

---------- Post added 10-09-2019 at 05:04 PM ----------

the 55-300? How is it with the full frame?

I have one and its not too bad on the K-1 in that:
1. Covers the frame from about 100 - 300mm.
2. Center is as sharp as on APS-C (not surprise there)
3. Corners sharpness lags a bit and benefits from stopping down a stop or two (but honestly better than I was expecting).

So I was using it for a while but now have a cheap (second hand) Sigma 70-300 APO (https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/sigma-70-300mm-f4-5-6-apo-dg-macro.html), which in comparison:
1. Obviously full range full frame coverage
2. Center sharpness similar
3. Better corner sharpness
4. Rubbish build (zoom sticky at times).

---

Last edited by kiwi_jono; 10-08-2019 at 09:08 PM.

[PF752]

I use the Pentax D FA 15-30 f/2.8 and D FA 24-70 f/2.8 (probably in that order) for landscapes. If I'm going somewhere that might spray up mist or dust (e.g. on a recent trip in an ocean going RIB with three big outboard motors on the back) I will go for the 24-70 as I have a filter protecting the front element on that lens but mostly I will use the 15-30. That lens got a serious workout last month when we took a two week vacation in Tasmania and the results were very pleasing indeed.
I use a Sigma APO DG 70-200 f/2.8II for most of my theatre photography (If I hadn't picked that up for a relative song and if it didn't perform as brilliantly as it does, I probably would have the Pentax equivalent by now).
Pentax FA 100 f/2.8 macro for... well... macro and also for portraits.
I also use a Pentax D FA 150-450 but I've only had that for about a month.
Occasionally I will use my Pentax DA* 55mm f/1.4 if I need the extra light. Even though that lens is for a crop sensor, it works pretty nicely on the K1 if you stop it down a little.
My really wide lenses are not getting much use now given that they are for crop sensors (Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8 & Pentax DA 10-17mm fisheye zoom)

[Le Fanfoué]

Hi, my pack to travel :
Pentax K-1 mark 2.
DA* 300mm F/4..
FA* 85mm F/1.4.
FA 50mm F/1.4
FA 20-35mm F/4.


I use all these lenses for sailing competition, street view, landscape...
All these lens are interesting, That why I use the backpack for have all these lens on hand.
the 85mm is terrible for street and landscape.

[pathdoc]

For my kids' dance recitals, ice-skating performances, etc? D-FA* 70-200/2.8, because only the best will do (and flexibility is a must).

If I know I won't need flash, I'll sometimes be trashy and put an FA 28-90 3.5-5.6 on it. I know that sounds like a terrible thing to do to a camera like this, but if I'm mostly shooting for 6x4 glossies and Facebook, I can live with the result.

For film scanning, the DA 35/2.8 macro gets the job because I can put the old M42-era film/slide holder right on the end of the lens. Thank you Pentax for keeping the 49mm thread on your shorter macro primes, and for that incredibly close manual focus distance. At MFD there are no vignetting issues, and even if there were, they would get cropped.

For parades and other outdoor stuff in bad weather I'll stick the D-FA 100/2.8 WR macro on it. It's a nice enough lens, I can stand back far enough for most purposes, and the nasty hunting behaviour it exhibits on the K-5 and the *istDS doesn't happen on the K-1.

[niblue]

I've been searching for a longer lens for my K1 for a while. I bought a Sigma 135-400mm but have ended up giving that to my son for use on his K5 (he likes long lenses so will probably love it), replacing that with a Sigma 400 F5.6 which I quite like. Today I've got my hands on a Sigma 100-300mm F4 and that seems more my sort of thing, so I'm hoping for good results with it.

[Craigbob]

Too many according to my other half.

My main Lenses are (all Pentax):
15-30 f/2.8

28-105
24-70 f/2.8
70-200 f/2.8
150-450
300mm f/4
100mm Macro f/2.8 WR
FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro
FA 50mm 1.7
Sigma 50-500 (though I prefer the IQ of the 150-450)

I've also got a bunch that I don't use as much

[ivanvernon]

I use the K-1 for a wide range of "native" lenses as well as adapted Mamiya C, Pentax 645, and Pentax 67 lenses. By "native," I mean any lens currently on K-mount.

NATIVE (K-mount)
Pentax-DFA 50mm f 2.8 macro
Canon-FD 55mm f 1.2
Pentax-FA 77mm f 1.8 Limited (when I can get it from my wife)
Zeiss 100mm Planar f 2.0 T* macro

MAMIYA
Mamiya 645 N 80mm f 1.9
Mamiya 645 C 120mm f 4.0 macro

PENTAX 645
Pentax-FA 35mm f 2.8
Pentax-FA 120mm f 4.0 macro

PENTAX 67
Pentax 67 100mm f 4.0 macro
Pentax 67 75mm f 2.8

[Serkevan]

As a "do everything" lens I always keep the DFA 28-105/3.5-5.6 on the camera: WR, good IQ, light and practical... the *only* "but" is that it doesn't go to 24mm.

Then, I might add the "specialty" lenses:
Pentax-M 50/1.7, if I really need the speed. Tamron 90/2.5 macro, which is a tad heavy but doubles as a portrait lens.
For tele, I might take the Tokina 70-210/4.5 or the M135/3.5, depending on how much I'm willing to carry (and the M135 makes better portraits I think).

[dcpropilot]

My go-to lenses for portraits are the DFA 24-70, the DFA*50, and the DFA*70-200.

[niblue]

My K1 kit has slowly been revising but has settled down for the moment.

In my camera bag this is what I usually have with me now:
- Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 (this is by a long way my most used lens on the K1)
- Samyang 14mm F2.8 (a very good lens, especially given the low price - and massively better than the Sigma 14mm that I also have)
- Tokina ATX-Pro 20-35mm F2.8 (which I might stop carrying as it's not getting a lot of use as more often I'll use the wide end of the Sigma or, for wider, the Samyang)
- Sigma 50mm F2.8 1:1 Macro (while a nice lens it might well get replaced as I find I prefer a longer macro lens)
- Pentax FA50mm F1.7 (always nice to have something reasonably fast along and it doesn't take up much space)
- Sigma 100-300 F4 (this is a recent addition and has become my preferred long option - and I don't now tend to carry the Tokina ATX-Pro 80-200 F2.8)
- Sigma 1.4x TC (for use with the 100-300 and works well)

A lot of the time I travel lighter with just the 14mm, 24-70mm F2.8, 100-300 F4 and the TC in my hillwalking rucksack.

I might put together a small(ish!), prime only bag, for occasional use - and that'll be:
- 14mm F2.8 Samyang
- 24mm F1.8 Sigma
- 50mm F1.7 FA Pentax
- 85mm F1.4 FA* Pentax
- 400mm F5.6 Sigma

I might also put together an manual-focus only bag as well - need to give some thought what'll go in that.

[bikehead90]

The two lenses that are primarily on my K-1 is the FA 50mm 1.4 and the FA* 28-70mm 2.8. I have zero complaints with the 50/1.4, and love the 28-70. The best part: it’s easy to find a copy of the 28-70 for a more than reasonable price. If I had to suggest another lens, it’d be the DFA 15-30mm. I’m currently saving for one, and the photos shot on this thing is amazing.

[emmany]

I have the Pentax K-1 Silver Limited edition . I just love it . The lenses , I use with the camera are,

Sigma Art 35mm 1.4
Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX EG HSM
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 SP Di Macro Lens
Samyang 135mm 2.0
Tamron 70-200mm 2.8
Pentax DA* 300mm f/4

The only lens I want to add to is a good super wide angle lens like the iris 15mm or something similar .


Its just a pleasure to shoot with the K-1 .

[Austro-Diesel]

I'm using some K-1 bodies for my business and one for my own -- I like the serious performance and the very appropriate price. Three cameras in the studios for advertising photography (with USB tethering) and on location with Profoto B1 and D1 lighting. Used with this lenses as a result of more than 15 years hanging around with Pentax:

Most loved, heavily used and best lenses:
Sigma 35/1.4 [Art]
D-FA* 50/1.4 (two copies)
D-FA* 70-200/2.8
DA* 300/4

Not so far behind -- sometimes a bit compromising wide open, but still premium glass:
FA 31/1.8 Ltd. (cream machine)
Sigma 50/1.4 DG EX HSM (some focus shift from f/1.4 to f/2.8, AF a bit nervous)
DA* 60-250/4
FA 77/1.8 Ltd. (cream machine)
Sigma 85/1.4 DG EX HSM (AF a bit nervous)
DA* 200/2.8

Winner of the hearts:
D-FA 28-105/3.5-5.6 (two copies)
HD DA 40/2.8 Ltd. -- so tiny and so good!

Workhorses without real flaws:
D-FA 24-70/2.8
D-FA 15-30/2.8
D-FA 150-450/4.5-5.6

Surprising good for the few bucks:
Sigma 70-300/4-5.6 DG OS HSM

For special effects with very nice performance:
Laowa 105/2.5 STF
Samyang 135/2.0

It's playtime:
A bunch of Lens Babies!

Seldom used, but good glass:
HD DA 35/2.8 Macro Ltd.
D-FA 50/2.8 Macro
HD DA 70/2.4 Ltd.
Sigma 70/2.8 DG EX Macro
D-FA 100/2.8 WR Macro
Sigma 180/3.5 DG EX
DA 1,4x Tele Converter
F 1,7x AF Tele Converter

Useable at medium apertures, but nothing special:
FA 28/2.8 AL (a bit soft)
FA 35/2 AL (best of all)
FA 43/1.9 Ltd. (hmmm)

Useless at FF but still good lenses:
Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6 DC
HD DA 16-85/3.5-5.6
DA* 50-135/2.8

The worst:
HD DA 15/4 Ltd. (very poor sharpness, heavy CAs)
HD DA 21/3.2 Ltd. (nice rendering, but poor sharpness)

Sold:
Sigma 10-20/4-5.6 DC HSM (nice lens)
Sigma 17-50/2.8 DC OS HSM (nice lens, but some focussing problems against bright backgrounds)
DA 18-135/3.5-5.6 (very poor corner sharpness, really heavy CAs)
FA 50/1.7 (good from medium apertures upwards, soft at wide open apertures)
FA 50/1.4 (good from medium apertures upwards, very soft at wide open apertures, heavy longitudinal CAs)
FA 135/2.8 (stunning fast AF, nice sharpness, but nearly unusable against bright light)

[texandrews]

I'm using some K-1 bodies for my business and one for my own -- I like the serious performance and the very appropriate price. Three cameras in the studios for advertising photography (with USB tethering) and on location with Profoto B1 and D1 lighting. Used with this lenses as a result of more than 15 years hanging around with Pentax:

Most loved, heavily used and best lenses:
Sigma 35/1.4 [Art]
D-FA* 50/1.4 (two copies)
D-FA* 70-200/2.8
DA* 300/4

Not so far behind -- sometimes a bit compromising wide open, but still premium glass:
FA 31/1.8 Ltd. (cream machine)
Sigma 50/1.4 DG EX HSM (some focus shift from f/1.4 to f/2.8, AF a bit nervous)
DA* 60-250/4
FA 77/1.8 Ltd. (cream machine)
Sigma 85/1.4 DG EX HSM (AF a bit nervous)
DA* 200/2.8

Winner of the hearts:
D-FA 28-105/3.5-5.6 (two copies)
HD DA 40/2.8 Ltd. -- so tiny and so good!

Workhorses without real flaws:
D-FA 24-70/2.8
D-FA 15-30/2.8
D-FA 150-450/4.5-5.6

Surprising good for the few bucks:
Sigma 70-300/4-5.6 DG OS HSM

For special effects with very nice performance:
Laowa 105/2.5 STF
Samyang 135/2.0

It's playtime:
A bunch of Lens Babies!

Seldom used, but good glass:
HD DA 35/2.8 Macro Ltd.
D-FA 50/2.8 Macro
HD DA 70/2.4 Ltd.
Sigma 70/2.8 DG EX Macro
D-FA 100/2.8 WR Macro
Sigma 180/3.5 DG EX
DA 1,4x Tele Converter
F 1,7x AF Tele Converter

Useable at medium apertures, but nothing special:
FA 28/2.8 AL (a bit soft)
FA 35/2 AL (best of all)
FA 43/1.9 Ltd. (hmmm)

Useless at FF but still good lenses:
Sigma 8-16/4.5-5.6 DC
HD DA 16-85/3.5-5.6
DA* 50-135/2.8

The worst:
HD DA 15/4 Ltd. (very poor sharpness, heavy CAs)
HD DA 21/3.2 Ltd. (nice rendering, but poor sharpness)

Sold:
Sigma 10-20/4-5.6 DC HSM (nice lens)
Sigma 17-50/2.8 DC OS HSM (nice lens, but some focussing problems against bright backgrounds)
DA 18-135/3.5-5.6 (very poor corner sharpness, really heavy CAs)
FA 50/1.7 (good from medium apertures upwards, soft at wide open apertures)
FA 50/1.4 (good from medium apertures upwards, very soft at wide open apertures, heavy longitudinal CAs)
FA 135/2.8 (stunning fast AF, nice sharpness, but nearly unusable against bright light)

I'd love to hear more about your experience shooting tethered in your specific usage.

[Austro-Diesel]

Okay. It's quite simple.

Some of our customers are trading companies, we design the advertising materials including the staged object photography and the simple product photos. For that we have one large studio with two full equipped "sets" and a smaller one for simple table-top photography.

We use eight Profoto D1 and B1 comapct flashes. They are robust and easy to use. I prefer Profoto because the flash bulbs are recessed and can't be broken when changing the light shapers. Especially the B1 battery driven flashes without any cables are very pleasant. The flashes are triggered in groups with the simple AirRemote transmitters without TTL.

Table-top photography is done by a simple and cheap Panasonic G-6 Micro-Four-Thirds camera, a very small camera on a big column stand. A bit antiquated but best suited for this job because it offers simple WLAN connectivity to our SMB share as a network client without any additional equiment. The 16 MP resolution is by far enough for small printed pictures, the optical quality of the Panasonic mFT-lenses 14-45 and 45-200 is legendary: the camera corrects CAs, distortion and vignetting at RAW level perfectly. A second G-6 ist waiting in the box for the day the older one is broken ...

Two, sometimes three of the K-1 are used in the other studio on another column stands and tripods. I prefer the very rigid and nevertheless very light Rollei Alpha and Alpha XL over the classic "bombproof" Manfrotto 161 metal tripod with spider. Mostly we use 3-way-heads like the Manfrotto 405 or the simplier MHXPRO.

The cameras are connected to an iMac by USB 2.0 cabling with one ore two active extension cables from Tether Tools. Be aware of the USB standard, USB 3.0 cables doesn't work properly!

The most used lenses are the D-FA* 50/1.4 and the D-FA 28-105 or D-FA 24-70 for advertising production. For special effects we love the Laowa 105 STF and Samyang 135/2 optics, real cream machines. The photos are focussed manually and the new option to adjust the focus by remote control by ImageTransmitter 2 is really great! Focus stacking get's simple and accurate repeatable.

Some times we portrait children for the advertisings or make step-by-step-instructions showing with working hands for a magazine, then the D-FA* 70-200 shows it's great potential. People shootings are mostly done without tethering, the USB connection ist too slow.

Some time we've tried to use the Pentax power adaptor for the cameras, but a second cable doesn't make things easier. So we have to change the batteries after a few hours of work. Because of the tripod we use the Battery Grip on each camera for undisturbed access to the battery.

The iMac runs Pentax' ImageTransmitter 2 to receive the JPG and DNG files. It takes about 20 seconds to transmit one JPG and the corresponding DNG file.

We tested Lighroom with the Tethered Capture Plugin for Lightroom, but it doesn't fit to our needs. Usually we take one photo, then place the cameras JPG directly into the advertising material, study the result for possible improvement and show the complete page as PDF to our customers. This process needs a few hours up to three days per photo, many people want to see their opinion considered ...

When the OK is received we check the final shot for optimum sharpness, dust and dirt on the set etc. and develop the DNG file simply by Adobe Camera RAW. The powerful organizing workflows of Lightroom and Capture One aren't helpful for us, so we stick to this "primitive" way.

Fortunately we can use our old Adobe Creative Suite 6 licences till today because of the ingenius DNG file format. Nice, nice! This saves a lot of money every month because of our 8 licenses ... I'm not amused about the new Adobe licence policy.

Since ImageTransmitter 2 can only connect to one camera at a time we have to switch off the other camera(s), luckily they can remain connected to USB. Luckily that's no problem because of the mostly slow, often delayed working process.