Well either save me or push me in to the abyss. I have been very satisfied with my K5/K5IIs (and still am) for everything other than the Milky Way (just a matter of physics). I do know that the only way to improve there is to spend money for a K1 and a 15-30/f2.8, for the larger sensor, and then a wide fast lens. I really don't want the size or weight. but it is only slightly larger than the old K20D - so it should be OK.
The original plan was to wait for the K3II replacement. Based on the KP perhaps the replacement will be lower noise than the K1 (or not). I have been looking and comparing the KP against the K1 - making some extrapolations on what the replacement may bring. Then there was the brief 5 day price reduction on the K1 that I missed. I know that the only real path forward here on ambient low light is a full frame - regardless of how well I like my K5. I just came to the decision to essentially go do the K1 and go do more shooting.
I have 3 old Contax AE lenses that I can't remount to Pentax (they are not the MM version of the C/Y mount) so, I'm packing them up for sale on some other websites.
Now to the question - lenses. I'm very happy with my lenses, but if I upgrade to a full frame, it's going to be a two step process. Buy the K1, use it while selling some lenses, then picking up the 15-30. I'm primarily concerned with the wide end of things. So right now I have....
- DA 10-17 - will probably go - I do like the thought of having a fisheye, I have shot several of my most favorite images with this.
- Sigma 8-16/f4.5 - I like the field of view, but the FDA 15-30/f2.8 will cover this (larger and heavier), however it's faster and with little to no coma. So, it will go.
- DA 12-24 - I really like this lens, but again the FDA 15-30/f2.8 will cover this, so it will be going.
- Sigma 18-35/f1.8 - this has been my Milky Way lens and again the FDA 15-30/f2.8 will cover this. In theory, I'll gain a stop on the sensor size, but overall all will loose a 1/3 of a stop overall. 1/3 of a stop is not too much to get upset over.
- Zeiss ZK 25/f2.8 - will become my main Milky Way lens until I acquire the FDA 15-30/f2.8.
- Contax 28/f2.8 Distagon - Will also supplement with the Milky Way.
- K 28/f3.5 - I would really like to use this to its full capabilities shifted wide all around, but depending on how it compares to everything else, we will see. Jury is out on this. Anyone have any experience with this shift lens on the K1?
- FA 31/f1.8 Ltd - ain't going anywhere - even though folks say that it has seen its day and may not be up to the rigors of the K1's sensor. Don't know will see...
- A 50/f1.7 - Will probably keep, pending on perhaps a 50/f1.8 with auto focus or perhaps FA 43/f1.9 Ltd - probably need to look and see how this performs on the K1
- DA 60-250/f4 - Will keep, but remove the light baffle so that it will be full frame. I really do not need anything faster for distance. Has anyone found any problems with using this as essentially the only telephoto lens on the K1?
So, my plan is to buy the K1, and use the 25, 28 and 31 to shoot wide angle for a while. Sell off the 10-17, 8-16, 12-24, 18-35 to fund the 15-30/f2.8. Anything that I am missing here?
I haven't heard any more about the white dot issue since the first of the year. I've been following it, but it seems to have died out. I'm guessing that this has not been a continuing problem with new bodies? Any further insight on this?
Over the last 10 years, I have shot very little between 30 and 60mm. I have no idea if this will remain the same or if the 43 will be sufficient. I kind of hate the idea of acquiring the 28-70. I would then have 3 large and heavy zooms with me all the time.
Weight wise the K1 and 15-30 would top out at ~3.5 pounds. My nodal ninja 3 has an ideal working weight of 3 pounds with a maximum working weight of 7 pounds. Overall, I should be fine there. My heads and tripods will carry the overall weight.
Any one have any preference between the L brackets - the Kirk and the RRS. The only difference I can see is that the Kirk has the ability to handle cables from the left side of the body for potential tethering? So, anyone using tethering with the K1?
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I have spent the weekend looking at some images I have shot (Landscape Milky Way), along with some daytime shots with my little Q hiking around some areas looking for better locations. I have been contemplating (perhaps over thinking) this for awhile, but the 15-30/2.8 will shoot 111 degrees wide. In portrait, that would provide me with
- The full 90 degrees from the horizon to straight up vertical.
- Plus another 21 degrees below the horizon of foreground.
- It also provides 72 degree wide verticals, and when stitched another 40 degrees wide per stitch (even with a 1/3 overlap).
That right there pretty much made up my mind when I was looking at some other location that I want to shoot from. Single row, with no need to futz around with multiple rows, unless I really want to. It eliminates the need for compositing and makes post processing much simpler.