Originally posted by pres589 I'd totally take a 26. A D-FA 26mm f2.4, for instance, would be awesome. And you can't say that zooms as a general rule provide out of focus backgrounds that are as pleasing to look at / less distracting than a prime of similar focal length. I like my 18-135 a lot but no way does it give background out of focus IQ to the level of my Sigma 28 EX DG at the same f-stop.
And I did use my 18-135 in the bar. Its max aperture around 28mm is, what, f4? When you're hand holding, even with SR, that extra stop (or two, or two and some change) of light is worth getting. K-5 raw pushability or not.
Well that where you and I differ. I don't shoot in bars.Of my 88 28mm images taken this year, not one o my photos has any out o focus areas.
All the new lenses with the amazingly corrected backgrounds are huge. Another reason to go with the 31. Best background from a WA lens and compact. people just aren't making less like this anymore. The odds of you finding a lightweight like the 31 are slim to none, from any manufacturer. The odds that Pentax could make one is even more of a stretch. You're kind of hoping for lightning to strike twice.
I'm looking at this thinking ,well how bad could the DA 18-135 be, because don't see this as good?
I see it as distracting. But I can't check with an 18-135 image because I just don't take that kind of image with the DA 18-135.
I wonder what percentage of Pentax shooters, shoot in bars? Is this actually a niche that could be exploited?