D FA 28-105 vs. Lower-Light Options

**jawats** · 02-12-2022, 03:12 PM

Originally posted by normhead

You have a 70-200 2.8.?

Try a DA*55 1.4.... or 35 2.4. It doesn't matter what you do you have to change lenses if you need shorter than 70... Both of those lenses are better in low light than any 2.8 lens.... the 1.4 is two stops better.

But before you do that maybe give Topaz Denoise and 3200 ISO a try. I think you can download a trial version for free.

Wait...try new software over a new lens? But Norm...my LBA...it's....I need a new lens.... :P

I've been told that 35mm will have some distortion in closer photos. Isn't the 55mm for APS-C?

**tduell** · 02-12-2022, 03:27 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by jawats

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - $425
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - ?
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR Di LD Macro SP - $200
HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm F2.8 - $1,196
SMC Pentax-FA* 28-70mm F2.8 AL - $400
Pentax HD 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM - $1,092

I have the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG HSM, and it is an excellent lens. Close minimum focus distance, fast AF, and very sharp.

Cheers,
Terry

**pres589** · 02-12-2022, 03:35 PM - **1 Like**

An 85 f1.4 might be nice, and there's a few different options with autofocus available, one of them new from Pentax.

OP mentions a 50 f1.7. That + a fast 85 might be a nice pairing.

This system needs a 100ish mm f2.0 (or f1.8) option...

**jawats** · 02-12-2022, 03:36 PM

Originally posted by pres589

An 85 f1.4 might be nice, and there's a few different options with autofocus available, one of them new from Pentax.

OP mentions a 50 f1.7. That + a fast 85 might be a nice pairing.

This system needs a 100ish mm f2.0 (or f1.8) option...

YES! HAHAHAHA! MORE LENSES! HAHAHAHA!

Thank you! And all of you! Keep the rec's coming!

I suppose it was only a matter of time before the Prime Time Pentaxians noticed something was amiss...

Last edited by jawats; 02-12-2022 at 03:45 PM.

Grokh · 02-12-2022, 03:46 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Oldbayrunner

Both the Sigma DC lens are Aps-c

No. Both are FF.
They are DG, not DC.

---------- Post added 13th Feb 2022 at 01:49 ----------

Originally posted by jawats

All,

[*]Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - $425
[*]Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - ?

...
[*]Pentax HD 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM - $1,092

Both Sigmas are very good lenses but very massive.
The Pentax lens optical is like an ideal but APS-C only.

**jawats** · 02-12-2022, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by Grokh

No. Both are FF.
They are DG, not DC.

---------- Post added 13th Feb 2022 at 01:49 ----------

Both Sigmas are very good lenses but very massive.
The Pentax lens optical is like an ideal but APS-C only.

I actually had three DC lenses there originally, but edited them out once I was told to look again.

I have a 150-450 I carry for miles in the woods. It's good exercise.

Grokh · 02-12-2022, 07:08 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jawats

I have a 150-450 I carry for miles in the woods. It's good exercise.

I own the Bigma.

jimr-pdx · 02-12-2022, 09:45 PM

Instead of benching the 28-105 I put primes in the mix. I can bring along DA35 macro, A50/1.4 and/or M85/2 instead of a massive fast zoom. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it.

**i_trax** · 02-13-2022, 12:23 AM - **1 Like**

There is also:
Sigma 28 - 70 2.8 EX DG , my first kit for K-1 ,
then I upgraded to Tamron 28 - 75 2.8 SP - great lens ,
then I added D FA 28 - 105 , needs good light ,

after that we go big or huge zooms,
D FA 15 - 30 very good but huge - sold ,
D FA 24 - 70 very good but big , still have it ,
and primes , if one likes them ,

DA 40 , yes it works well on K-1 , probably my favorite Auto Focus prime ,
FA 31 , FA 43 both great + many more AF primes ,
Plus many manual focus primes like Voigtlander 20 / 3.5 ; 58 / 1.4 etc etc

normhead · 03-16-2022, 12:35 PM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by jawats

Wait...try new software over a new lens? But Norm...my LBA...it's....I need a new lens.... :P

I've been told that 35mm will have some distortion in closer photos. Isn't the 55mm for APS-C?

Technically Pentax says the 55 1.4 is an APS-c lens, but the only reason for that , that I can tell is the lens hood. I bought a 3rd party lens hood an It works fine on the K-1.

DA*55 1.4 @ƒ1.4

I'm really not clear on what the issue might be. It's only a smidge off the DFA 50 1.4 in terms of optics and definitely better than the 50 1.8 , FA 50 1.4 etc.

At ƒ8

**pres589** · 03-16-2022, 04:16 PM

Great shots Norm.

normhead · 03-16-2022, 04:59 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pres589

Great shots Norm.

If you have the location and the lenses you're in business. Thanks.

biz-engineer · 03-17-2022, 04:32 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by jawats

Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR Di LD Macro SP - $20

If on a budget, for the Pentax K1, I highly recommend the Tamron SP 28-175 f2.8 for its aperture and sharpness/price performance. I used the Tamron SP 28-75 2.8 on my K1, along with the Tamron SP 70-200 2.8. I replaced the 28-75 by the 24-70 for having 24mm and also because the 28-75 wasn't as sharp as the 24-70 in corners. I sold my Tamron SP 28-75 for 125 Euro, which was a steal for the buyer, because the Pentax 24-70 2.8 is far from being 10 times better than the Tamy 28-75.

tibbitts · 03-18-2022, 11:14 PM

What kind of photos are you taking in these interiors? Are you going to be able to focus accurately enough and have sufficient depth of field for the subject at, say, f2.8 or faster? Is there something about the subject that makes noise particularly limiting? 3200 doesn't seem like a particularly high ISO, although I don't have any experience with full-frame. Maybe others could comment better if you posted an example or two.

Wheatfield · 03-19-2022, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by tibbitts

What kind of photos are you taking in these interiors? Are you going to be able to focus accurately enough and have sufficient depth of field for the subject at, say, f2.8 or faster? Is there something about the subject that makes noise particularly limiting? 3200 doesn't seem like a particularly high ISO, although I don't have any experience with full-frame. Maybe others could comment better if you posted an example or two.

ISO 3200 on the K1 isn't particularly noisy and really isn't noticably noisier than ISO 1600 which is all the one stop faster zoom is going to give him.

02-12-2022, 03:27 PM - 2 Likes	#17
tduell Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2015 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,514	Originally posted by jawats Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - $425 Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - ? Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR Di LD Macro SP - $200 HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm F2.8 - $1,196 SMC Pentax-FA* 28-70mm F2.8 AL - $400 Pentax HD 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM - $1,092 I have the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG HSM, and it is an excellent lens. Close minimum focus distance, fast AF, and very sharp. Cheers, Terry

03-16-2022, 12:35 PM - 4 Likes	#25
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by jawats Wait...try new software over a new lens? But Norm...my LBA...it's....I need a new lens.... :P I've been told that 35mm will have some distortion in closer photos. Isn't the 55mm for APS-C? Technically Pentax says the 55 1.4 is an APS-c lens, but the only reason for that , that I can tell is the lens hood. I bought a 3rd party lens hood an It works fine on the K-1. DA55 1.4 @ƒ1.4 I'm really not clear on what the issue might be. It's only a smidge off the DFA 50 1.4 in terms of optics and definitely better than the 50 1.8 , FA 50 1.4 etc. At ƒ8 Last edited by normhead; 03-16-2022 at 12:42 PM.*

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02-12-2022, 03:12 PM	#16
jawats Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 756 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead You have a 70-200 2.8.? Try a DA*55 1.4.... or 35 2.4. It doesn't matter what you do you have to change lenses if you need shorter than 70... Both of those lenses are better in low light than any 2.8 lens.... the 1.4 is two stops better. But before you do that maybe give Topaz Denoise and 3200 ISO a try. I think you can download a trial version for free. Wait...try new software over a new lens? But Norm...my LBA...it's....I need a new lens.... :P I've been told that 35mm will have some distortion in closer photos. Isn't the 55mm for APS-C?

02-12-2022, 03:35 PM - 1 Like	#18
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	An 85 f1.4 might be nice, and there's a few different options with autofocus available, one of them new from Pentax. OP mentions a 50 f1.7. That + a fast 85 might be a nice pairing. This system needs a 100ish mm f2.0 (or f1.8) option...

02-12-2022, 03:36 PM	#19
jawats Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 756 Original Poster	Originally posted by pres589 An 85 f1.4 might be nice, and there's a few different options with autofocus available, one of them new from Pentax. OP mentions a 50 f1.7. That + a fast 85 might be a nice pairing. This system needs a 100ish mm f2.0 (or f1.8) option... YES! HAHAHAHA! MORE LENSES! HAHAHAHA! Thank you! And all of you! Keep the rec's coming! I suppose it was only a matter of time before the Prime Time Pentaxians noticed something was amiss... Last edited by jawats; 02-12-2022 at 03:45 PM.

02-12-2022, 03:46 PM - 1 Like	#20
Grokh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: St.-Petersburg Photos: Albums Posts: 267	Originally posted by Oldbayrunner Both the Sigma DC lens are Aps-c No. Both are FF. They are DG, not DC. ---------- Post added 13th Feb 2022 at 01:49 ---------- Originally posted by jawats All, []Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - $425 []Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - ? ... [*]Pentax HD 16-50mm F2.8 ED PLM - $1,092 Both Sigmas are very good lenses but very massive. The Pentax lens optical is like an ideal but APS-C only.

02-12-2022, 03:59 PM	#21
jawats Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2017 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 756 Original Poster	Originally posted by Grokh No. Both are FF. They are DG, not DC. ---------- Post added 13th Feb 2022 at 01:49 ---------- Both Sigmas are very good lenses but very massive. The Pentax lens optical is like an ideal but APS-C only. I actually had three DC lenses there originally, but edited them out once I was told to look again. I have a 150-450 I carry for miles in the woods. It's good exercise.

02-12-2022, 07:08 PM - 1 Like	#22
Grokh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: St.-Petersburg Photos: Albums Posts: 267	Originally posted by jawats I have a 150-450 I carry for miles in the woods. It's good exercise. I own the Bigma.

02-12-2022, 09:45 PM	#23
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	Instead of benching the 28-105 I put primes in the mix. I can bring along DA35 macro, A50/1.4 and/or M85/2 instead of a massive fast zoom. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it.

02-13-2022, 12:23 AM - 1 Like	#24
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	There is also: Sigma 28 - 70 2.8 EX DG , my first kit for K-1 , then I upgraded to Tamron 28 - 75 2.8 SP - great lens , then I added D FA 28 - 105 , needs good light , after that we go big or huge zooms, D FA 15 - 30 very good but huge - sold , D FA 24 - 70 very good but big , still have it , and primes , if one likes them , DA 40 , yes it works well on K-1 , probably my favorite Auto Focus prime , FA 31 , FA 43 both great + many more AF primes , Plus many manual focus primes like Voigtlander 20 / 3.5 ; 58 / 1.4 etc etc

03-16-2022, 04:16 PM	#26
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	Great shots Norm.

03-16-2022, 04:59 PM - 1 Like	#27
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by pres589 Great shots Norm. If you have the location and the lenses you're in business. Thanks.

03-17-2022, 04:32 AM - 1 Like	#28
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,236	Originally posted by jawats Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR Di LD Macro SP - $20 If on a budget, for the Pentax K1, I highly recommend the Tamron SP 28-175 f2.8 for its aperture and sharpness/price performance. I used the Tamron SP 28-75 2.8 on my K1, along with the Tamron SP 70-200 2.8. I replaced the 28-75 by the 24-70 for having 24mm and also because the 28-75 wasn't as sharp as the 24-70 in corners. I sold my Tamron SP 28-75 for 125 Euro, which was a steal for the buyer, because the Pentax 24-70 2.8 is far from being 10 times better than the Tamy 28-75.

03-18-2022, 11:14 PM	#29
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,196	What kind of photos are you taking in these interiors? Are you going to be able to focus accurately enough and have sufficient depth of field for the subject at, say, f2.8 or faster? Is there something about the subject that makes noise particularly limiting? 3200 doesn't seem like a particularly high ISO, although I don't have any experience with full-frame. Maybe others could comment better if you posted an example or two.

03-19-2022, 07:20 AM	#30
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,986	Originally posted by tibbitts What kind of photos are you taking in these interiors? Are you going to be able to focus accurately enough and have sufficient depth of field for the subject at, say, f2.8 or faster? Is there something about the subject that makes noise particularly limiting? 3200 doesn't seem like a particularly high ISO, although I don't have any experience with full-frame. Maybe others could comment better if you posted an example or two. ISO 3200 on the K1 isn't particularly noisy and really isn't noticably noisier than ISO 1600 which is all the one stop faster zoom is going to give him.