[monochrome]

With a K-3 and 3 not-so-extreme great lenses (say, DA 21, DA40, DA70) in a waist pouch it would be a matter of seconds to switch lenses. That kit on APSc approximates the traditional 3-lens kit I was taught way back in the dark ages of Spotmatics (28, 55, 105) at a fraction of the size and weight.

With 24 Megapickles one can crop an awful lot of zoomishness (yes, I know the perspective isn't the same, but life is full of compromises).

[stevebrot]

one can crop an awful lot of zoomishness (yes, I know the perspective isn't the same

In that case, the perspective would be the same...that is one of the advantages of tons of megapickles.


Steve

[Stickl]

Maybe something like this Sigma 18-35/1.8, Pentax 50/1.4 and FA 77/1.8 would be cool?

[Kerrowdown]

Holy trinity of lenses

We're all something different here, but the three ladies who get the most dates with me are... my "Special Lady", my "Sweetheart" and my "Lady Luck", for those that don't know me that translates to the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, SMC Pentax A* 85mm F1.4 and SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8.

[mariakruse]

Not a whole lot, really. Most people just start shooting with a couple of zooms and branch out to other options when their kit no longer fits their needs. Curiosity is also a factor.


Steve

---------- Post added 09-09-14 at 12:30 PM ----------



Great lens, though not so great for shooting loaves at 20'


Steve

I will probably pretty much use the lenses I have for now and see what I will end up wanting . I will want a close macro tho since I do a lot of work in my tiny studio area. I have a nice 90mm that is very useful but I want maybe a 35mm macro down the road. I have the zooms that I had with the Kx, the 50-250mm and 55-300mm as well as the 18-55. When I got the K3 I did get a 50mm, 35mm, and the 90mm so it seems I should have enough to play with for a while. I just wanted to trade out the Kx lenses for something a bit better later on.
thank you all so much for all the help and information.
maria

[nicoprod]

Haha one of these "what lens should I get" thread...

[mariakruse]

Haha one of these "what lens should I get" thread...

Not so much, mostly just a question about the different systems and what people consider most useful. Interesting comments and info.
maria

[KDAFA]

.... I want maybe a 35mm macro down the road....

Hi, you mentioned you might want a 35mm macro. I would strongly recommend the DA 35 f2.8 Limited. A totally brilliant macro lens, with the added bonus of being a very good general walkabout lens also. Stunning colours and contrast, astonishing detail, and beautiful macro-range bokeh. This lens is truly a Pentax gem.

On zooms and primes, as several here have described, they both have their pros and cons.

However, ALWAYS REMEMBER that one of the core strengths of Pentax is their highly respected prime lenses. (This includes the older manual-focus Takumars.)

Personally, I use both the FA Limited and DA Limited ranges of primes, and they are quite simply without parallel outside of Pentax - here I'm speaking in particular of their "image rendering" qualities. I'm not talking so much of things like sharpness, abberations, vignetting etc. - every lens has their respective strengths and weaknesses when measured technically. Rather, I mean in how they subjectively RENDER an image in real-world situations; there's unique character in the way these lenses create stunningly beautiful pictures! I think that's something important, and you need to see the results to appreciate it. But once you do, you may find, as many here have, that there's no going back... Without a doubt, one of the advantages of PENTAX is its legendary prime lenses.

On zooms, I have a DA* 50-135 f2.8. Like many others have said, this is a really special lens. It is weather proof, constant f2.8 max aperture, solidly constructed, and compact compared to a 70-200 (full frame equivalent focal length).

All that is true, but to me the REAL magic lies in the pictures! Despite several years of my using it, this lens continues to regularly impress me with the beautiful, impactful images it creates. It's probably due to the lens' unique cocktail of sharpness, colour, contrast and bokeh - whatever it is, the results are very eye-catching. An outstanding zoom lens!

[johnmflores]

Hi, you mentioned you might want a 35mm macro. I would strongly recommend the DA 35 f2.8 Limited. A totally brilliant macro lens, with the added bonus of being a very good general walkabout lens also. Stunning colours and contrast, astonishing detail, and beautiful macro-range bokeh. This lens is truly a Pentax gem.

Yup. I regret selling mine. If only it had a Macro switch to make AF quicker when walking about.

[JJJPhoto]

As many others have said, there are MANY options for the 3-lens holy trinity for Pentax.

My personal "trinity" tends to go back and forth between these sets:

FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited, DA* 55mm f/1.4, and FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited

or

Sigma 14mm f/2.8 (you could put the Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8 in here but I like the way the Sigma renders), DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited (or FA 31mm, depends on situation), and Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8

Bottom line, I mostly use primes except when I'm in a situation where I need more telephoto reach (which is when I break out the 70-200mm).

Taken with DA* 55mm:

[felixkh]

My current arsenal of lenses are:
K85/1.8
FA 43/1.9
FA77/1.8
FA* 85/1.4
DA*16-50/2.8
Sigma 70-200/2.8
DA 18-135/3.5-5.6 WR
DA 50-200/3.5-5.6 WR
Sigma 10-20/3.5-5.6
FA24-90/3.5-4.5
Chinon Auto Chinon 50/1.4
Ricoh Rikenon P 50/1.7
Ricoh Rikenon P 50/2
Polar 135/2.8

I used to have the D-FA 100/2.8 WR, DA* 50-135/2.8 & DA*200/2.8

When I bought the 50-135, I sold off the D-FA100. Then I sold off the 50-135 & 200 for the 70-200/2.8

[Rondec]

I'm a prime guy and so I use primes a lot. The ones I use most are:

DA 15 limited.



FA 31 limited.



DA *55.



FA 77.



I own the DA *16-50 and 50-135 and they are excellent lenses, but I just don't enjoy shooting with them the way I do with these primes...

[mariakruse]

Hi, you mentioned you might want a 35mm macro. I would strongly recommend the DA 35 f2.8 Limited. A totally brilliant macro lens, with the added bonus of being a very good general walkabout lens also. Stunning colours and contrast, astonishing detail, and beautiful macro-range bokeh. This lens is truly a Pentax gem.

On zooms and primes, as several here have described, they both have their pros and cons.

However, ALWAYS REMEMBER that one of the core strengths of Pentax is their highly respected prime lenses. (This includes the older manual-focus Takumars.)

Personally, I use both the FA Limited and DA Limited ranges of primes, and they are quite simply without parallel outside of Pentax - here I'm speaking in particular of their "image rendering" qualities. I'm not talking so much of things like sharpness, abberations, vignetting etc. - every lens has their respective strengths and weaknesses when measured technically. Rather, I mean in how they subjectively RENDER an image in real-world situations; there's unique character in the way these lenses create stunningly beautiful pictures! I think that's something important, and you need to see the results to appreciate it. But once you do, you may find, as many here have, that there's no going back... Without a doubt, one of the advantages of PENTAX is its legendary prime lenses.

On zooms, I have a DA* 50-135 f2.8. Like many others have said, this is a really special lens. It is weather proof, constant f2.8 max aperture, solidly constructed, and compact compared to a 70-200 (full frame equivalent focal length).

All that is true, but to me the REAL magic lies in the pictures! Despite several years of my using it, this lens continues to regularly impress me with the beautiful, impactful images it creates. It's probably due to the lens' unique cocktail of sharpness, colour, contrast and bokeh - whatever it is, the results are very eye-catching. An outstanding zoom lens!

Thank you, This has been a most informative thread for me. I do so appreciate the kind responses and the knowledge you all have been willing to share.
maria

[nicoprod]

I'm a prime guy and so I use primes a lot. The ones I use most are:

DA 15 limited.



FA 31 limited.



DA *55.



FA 77.



I own the DA *16-50 and 50-135 and they are excellent lenses, but I just don't enjoy shooting with them the way I do with these primes...

I think you have the most solid set of primes. That's exactly what I want, eventually.

[john5100]

My Holy Trinity

DA 12-24 mm

ChickenFoot Seattle by John Rudolph Photography, on Flickr

DA* 16-50mm

Volbeat @ The Paramount by John Rudolph Photography, on Flickr

DA* 50-135mm

Wallflowers by John Rudolph Photography, on Flickr