Hi,

As a beginner in the world for photography, more or less, and have just acquired myself a Pentax K1000, I'd like some advice for a prime 35mm lens.

Would could you recommend as the best K1000 35mm prime lens?

thank you all in advance for all your help.

regards

[Aaron28]

smc 50/f1.7.....smc 35/f2.8.....135/f2.8 any flavor ya like

Thank you very much.
Why not the smc 35mm f2?

[luftfluss]

This review and comparison might be helpful: SMC Pentax-FA 35mm F2 AL Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

In Pentaxland, the FA 31/1.8 Limited is a Queen: SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[TwoUptons]

Hi,

As a beginner in the world for photography, more or less, and have just acquired myself a Pentax K1000, I'd like some advice for a prime 35mm lens.

Would could you recommend as the best K1000 35mm prime lens?

thank you all in advance for all your help.

regards

It’s really a situation where you have an embarrassment of riches... there are a number of excellent 35mm primes that will work with a K1000

Just from Pentax, there’s been a 35mm f2 since before the K-mount.
I have one for my M42 cameras, and it’s great.

I’ve noticed that some of the prices on Pentax 35mm lenses have gone a little weird.
I’ve seen people selling the old M35mm f2.8 for about the same price as a used FA35mm f2.0.
Yeah, you get better feel in the focus ring, but that seems backwards...

The original K lenses had the f2.0 and f3.5, iirc. When they switched to the M lenses, Pentax sped the f3.5 up to f2.8, which was continued to the A lenses.

There also some discontinued third-party 35mm lenses that are well regarded, if you want something more exotic. Zeiss did a 35mm f2.0 a while back, and I think one was for sale in the marketplace not long ago.

-Eric

[dms]

Thank you very much.
Why not the smc 35mm f2?

There is no best lens, every lens tries to satisfies a subset of constraints. Some try to do one or two things very well, some try to on average be be good. You must decide/prioritize what is important. Size, weight, price, speed, bokah, coma, MF, AF, resolution, etc., etc.

[Aaron28]

Thank you very much.
Why not the smc 35mm f2?

you bet.......reckon always have some type of budget on my mind.......

Thank you very much for all your comments and advice, it is truly helpful.
My two main subject for photograpy will be (mainly but not always) street photos and indoor people photos. Mostly shot in B&W and for the indoor shots, some close up of the body and face.

So I am thinking that 50, 35 (31) and 85mm might be the best option for what I am intended to shoot. I already have a 50mm f/2 lens, so I will start with that.

the 31mm seem very interesting indeed.

Regards

[clickclick]

50 and above will be kinder for faces - go wide, and noses will grow! Something in the 70-85 range is good for portraits. If you're after the full view of the room inside, look towards 28mm. The m28/2.8 is easy to find and affordable.

Thank you very much. 28mm seem like a very good choice too.
The m28/2.8 is f2.8 enough for darker photos?
By the way, is this the m28 you are talking about?
SMC Pentax-M 28mm F2.8 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

[ChristianRock]

There were also a couple of 28mm f2 lenses made. The SMC-M version will cost less than the K version but its still 300 dollars or so, maybe more.

[Papa_Joe]

I think a 35 mm is the lens to have for street photography. There is no bad 35 mm lens from Pentax, they are only to come by harder then the other standard focal lenghtes. The 28 mm seem to have been more widespread. The 35mm / 2.0 is surley one of the best lenses you can get for the K1000.

[aslyfox]

. . . the 31mm seem very interesting indeed. . . .

Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited (APS-C)
Quality and Design

As the "Limited" qualification indicates, it is one of the high quality metal bodies which comes in two choices of colors, either black or silver finish. Moreover, the rather unusual 31 mm focal length tells us that is part of the special series of lenses along with the 43mm and 77mm FA Limited’s. Most probably a marketing decision to allow a clear distinction of these lenses from other models, Pentax wanted these lenses special, but also wanted their users to know it explicitly. The lens includes a glass-molded aspherical lens elements which is made to minimize spherical aberrations (hence the AL denomination). The ED stands for extra low dispersion to reduce color aberrations. And finally it uses the "Ghostless Coating" as well as its sister lenses and some star "*" lenses. This coating is said to have been developed for the Tokyo and British Traffic Police Unit for cameras used to take pictures of license plates at distance, an application especially prone to flaring with traffic and car lights at night. All these aspects put together provides an incredibly high quality of rendering to these limited lenses. . . .

Read more at: Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 Limited Review - Quality and Design | PentaxForums.com Reviews

the 31mm " Limited " was the third " Limited " to be produced, the 43mm was the first followed by the 77mm. you can still buy the three FA limiteds -


SMC Pentax-FA 31mm F1.8 AL Limited, SMC Pentax-FA 43mm F1.9 Limited and SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited aka " three amigos or three princesses "

new if you want; the FA limiteds are full frame sensor lenses

the SMC DA Limiteds 15mm, 20mm, 35mm macro, 40mm, and 70mm were next and their production has been ended, in favor of the HD DA Limiteds

and then there is the oddity, a " Limited " zoom the HD DA 20-40mm Limited

_____________________________

the Limiteds have quite a following:

the limiteds do they live up to the reputation and why

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/358446-lim...ml#post4169799

and some warn that if you buy one " limited " it is hard to stop acquiring more if $ allows

Thank you everyone for wonderful advice and guidance.
I seem to slowly come to a conclusion with the choice of lens.

So i truly appreciate everyones wonderful help.

[pres589]

M 35mm f2.8 would be a 35 to consider if it hasn't been already.