Recommend lens for classic & hotrod cars

**tonyzoc** · 07-15-2021, 06:14 AM

So I'm taking the K-3 III to the Syracuse Nationals which is a classic/hotrod car show and swap event near me. I want to take 1 lens... So should I take the 20-40 limited, 18-135, or Tamron 10-24? I'm leaning toward to 20-40 but I can imagine shots at ultra-wide or tele... I don't want to carry a bag of lenses. Also I'm going in the evening, so late afternoon light, possible rain and darkness under lights.

**pepperberry farm** · 07-15-2021, 06:16 AM

are those three lenses the only choices?

**tonyzoc** · 07-15-2021, 06:24 AM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

are those three lenses the only choices?

No, but I can't think of any others I'd consider... I've got an 18-55 WR, a Tamron 18-200, a Sigma 70-300 apo, a Pentax 35/2.8 and 100/2.8 macros, a 50/1.4 FA, a few others...

Fogel70 · 07-15-2021, 06:32 AM

Aren't the cars quite close packed together? Then you might need a UWA.
IMO the exaggerated perspective being close with UWA lenses can be nice for cars too.

**tonyzoc** · 07-15-2021, 06:38 AM

Originally posted by Fogel70

Aren't the cars quite close packed together? Then you might need a UWA.
IMO the exaggerated perspective being close with UWA lenses can be nice for cars too.

Yeah that's am image I've got in my head. Maybe I mount the 10-24 and get my wife to carry a second lens in her purse

lesmore49 · 07-15-2021, 07:13 AM

I would choose either the 18-135 or 20-40. The thing about the 18-135 is that you get a bit wider angle than the 20-40, at 18 mm, but also the opportunity to take some moderate telephoto shots, from say 70-135mm, if you want to take some people shots...or zoom in on a car or a part (say at the swap meet) from a distance.

The 20-40 is a nice lens, but at it's extreme end...40mm is not too far off of a moderate wide angle like a 35mm lens.

I think the 18-135 has WR.

But maybe mount either the 18-135 or 20-40 and carry one lens.

The Tamron 's advantage is that it is a super wide angle at the 10mm end and this could give you some nice , really wide angle shots.

I don't think I've been of much help.

When I go to car shows, I usually take either my 12-24 for my ASP-C K5, or my 28-105 for my FF K1.

kypfer · 07-15-2021, 07:27 AM

I've got a great deal of faith in my Tamron 18-200mm, it's provided sterling service and continues to deliver. The slightly limiting maximum aperture shouldn't be a problem on the K-3iii with it's superlative low-light performance. If you can beg, steal or borrow a spare pocket or some bag space, pad out the range with the 10-24mm and you've got just about all bases covered

Enjoy the show!

ChristianRock · 07-15-2021, 08:20 AM

Since you are taking two lenses I'd take the Tamron 10-24mm and then the 50mm f/1.4 in your wife's purse. I find a 50mm lens for car details works very well but of course you want to also be able to take shots of the whole cars, and sometimes you need to get very close otherwise you'll have people in front of you while you're trying to take a shot... at other times 24mm is long enough to take a car without too much distortion.

That's what I would do...

**roberrl** · 07-15-2021, 08:39 AM

I've covered many of these shows and found that the major problem in getting pictures of cars is that other people get in the way.
I used a Sigma 10-20 for years and then upgraded to a Sigma 8-16. I have rarely been embarrassed by this choice at a show.
So my advice would be to take the Tamron 10-24 and crop if you need to - with a K3 iii that's not a problem.
But if you can't move away to get a clear shot there's no substitute.

**tonyzoc** · 07-15-2021, 09:16 AM

Good input, thanks. I'm mounting the 10-24 for sure and I was leaning toward the 20-40 (because of the faster aperture after the sun goes down and because I just got it) but the 50/1.4 is starting to sound like a good choice... It faster and more compact and has a bit more reach.

**pres589** · 07-15-2021, 09:22 AM

Another vote for the 10-24. It seems created for this sort of thing. I might grab the 35 as a backup instead of the 50; a short telephoto is going to be hard to utilize here unless you're treating it like street shooting and grabbing candid shots with it. And the 35 will still do that for you as well.

**jatrax** · 07-15-2021, 09:32 AM

When I've shot cars (or tractors

) I found that I needed either a UWA or a fairly long telephoto. The UWA is nice if you can get up close but sometimes there are people in the way and getting a good shot means standing back a bit and using a longer lens.

If I had to choose only one lens it would be the 18-135. It is WR and gives you a reasonable shot at both wide and telephoto. But if you could squeeze in 2 lenses take the 10-24 and the 18-135. The 20-40 in my experience is just wrong for how I would shoot that venue. YMMV

stevebrot · 07-15-2021, 09:59 AM - **1 Like**

I like to shoot hot rods and classics and my kit with the K-3 usually consists of:

Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.0 (C)
FA 35/2.0 or Tamron 24/2.8 (01BB)
Rokinon 8/3.5 or Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye

The zoom because it's versatile, the fisheye for creative potential, the 35mm because of its size and near-normal perspective, the 24mm because of it is good for "street" work. Be sure you have something capable of close focus for trim details.

In regards to your 18-55...One of my favs, taken with the 18-55/3.5-5.6 kit lens on the K10D at a local concours d'elegance...

1954 Jaguar XK-120 drophead coupe

Steve

(...I vote the 18-55 plus 10-24...both will get a work-out...)

Wasp · 07-15-2021, 10:11 AM

A ultra-wide could be fun or it could get old after a few shots. You will be locked into a certain look and feel, although at the 24 end it would not be so extreme.

The sensible answer would be the 18-135.

I, for one, always take a bag of lenses to events like this.

**gofour3** · 07-15-2021, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Rokinon 8/3.5 or Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye

Ditto!

Yeah I was thing of a fish-eye lens as well.

Phil.

07-15-2021, 06:14 AM	#1
tonyzoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 992	Recommend lens for classic & hotrod cars So I'm taking the K-3 III to the Syracuse Nationals which is a classic/hotrod car show and swap event near me. I want to take 1 lens... So should I take the 20-40 limited, 18-135, or Tamron 10-24? I'm leaning toward to 20-40 but I can imagine shots at ultra-wide or tele... I don't want to carry a bag of lenses. Also I'm going in the evening, so late afternoon light, possible rain and darkness under lights.

07-15-2021, 09:59 AM - 1 Like	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I like to shoot hot rods and classics and my kit with the K-3 usually consists of: Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.0 (C) FA 35/2.0 or Tamron 24/2.8 (01BB) Rokinon 8/3.5 or Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye The zoom because it's versatile, the fisheye for creative potential, the 35mm because of its size and near-normal perspective, the 24mm because of it is good for "street" work. Be sure you have something capable of close focus for trim details. In regards to your 18-55...One of my favs, taken with the 18-55/3.5-5.6 kit lens on the K10D at a local concours d'elegance... 1954 Jaguar XK-120 drophead coupe Steve (...I vote the 18-55 plus 10-24...both will get a work-out...) Last edited by stevebrot; 07-15-2021 at 10:04 AM.

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07-15-2021, 06:16 AM	#2
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,660	are those three lenses the only choices?

07-15-2021, 06:24 AM	#3
tonyzoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 992 Original Poster	Originally posted by pepperberry farm are those three lenses the only choices? No, but I can't think of any others I'd consider... I've got an 18-55 WR, a Tamron 18-200, a Sigma 70-300 apo, a Pentax 35/2.8 and 100/2.8 macros, a 50/1.4 FA, a few others...

07-15-2021, 06:32 AM	#4
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	Aren't the cars quite close packed together? Then you might need a UWA. IMO the exaggerated perspective being close with UWA lenses can be nice for cars too.

07-15-2021, 06:38 AM	#5
tonyzoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 992 Original Poster	Originally posted by Fogel70 Aren't the cars quite close packed together? Then you might need a UWA. IMO the exaggerated perspective being close with UWA lenses can be nice for cars too. Yeah that's am image I've got in my head. Maybe I mount the 10-24 and get my wife to carry a second lens in her purse

07-15-2021, 07:13 AM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342	I would choose either the 18-135 or 20-40. The thing about the 18-135 is that you get a bit wider angle than the 20-40, at 18 mm, but also the opportunity to take some moderate telephoto shots, from say 70-135mm, if you want to take some people shots...or zoom in on a car or a part (say at the swap meet) from a distance. The 20-40 is a nice lens, but at it's extreme end...40mm is not too far off of a moderate wide angle like a 35mm lens. I think the 18-135 has WR. But maybe mount either the 18-135 or 20-40 and carry one lens. The Tamron 's advantage is that it is a super wide angle at the 10mm end and this could give you some nice , really wide angle shots. I don't think I've been of much help. When I go to car shows, I usually take either my 12-24 for my ASP-C K5, or my 28-105 for my FF K1.

07-15-2021, 07:27 AM	#7
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,593	I've got a great deal of faith in my Tamron 18-200mm, it's provided sterling service and continues to deliver. The slightly limiting maximum aperture shouldn't be a problem on the K-3iii with it's superlative low-light performance. If you can beg, steal or borrow a spare pocket or some bag space, pad out the range with the 10-24mm and you've got just about all bases covered Enjoy the show!

07-15-2021, 08:20 AM	#8
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Since you are taking two lenses I'd take the Tamron 10-24mm and then the 50mm f/1.4 in your wife's purse. I find a 50mm lens for car details works very well but of course you want to also be able to take shots of the whole cars, and sometimes you need to get very close otherwise you'll have people in front of you while you're trying to take a shot... at other times 24mm is long enough to take a car without too much distortion. That's what I would do...

07-15-2021, 08:39 AM	#9
roberrl Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 345	I've covered many of these shows and found that the major problem in getting pictures of cars is that other people get in the way. I used a Sigma 10-20 for years and then upgraded to a Sigma 8-16. I have rarely been embarrassed by this choice at a show. So my advice would be to take the Tamron 10-24 and crop if you need to - with a K3 iii that's not a problem. But if you can't move away to get a clear shot there's no substitute.

07-15-2021, 09:16 AM	#10
tonyzoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 992 Original Poster	Good input, thanks. I'm mounting the 10-24 for sure and I was leaning toward the 20-40 (because of the faster aperture after the sun goes down and because I just got it) but the 50/1.4 is starting to sound like a good choice... It faster and more compact and has a bit more reach.

07-15-2021, 09:22 AM	#11
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Another vote for the 10-24. It seems created for this sort of thing. I might grab the 35 as a backup instead of the 50; a short telephoto is going to be hard to utilize here unless you're treating it like street shooting and grabbing candid shots with it. And the 35 will still do that for you as well.

07-15-2021, 09:32 AM	#12
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	When I've shot cars (or tractors ) I found that I needed either a UWA or a fairly long telephoto. The UWA is nice if you can get up close but sometimes there are people in the way and getting a good shot means standing back a bit and using a longer lens. If I had to choose only one lens it would be the 18-135. It is WR and gives you a reasonable shot at both wide and telephoto. But if you could squeeze in 2 lenses take the 10-24 and the 18-135. The 20-40 in my experience is just wrong for how I would shoot that venue. YMMV

07-15-2021, 10:11 AM	#14
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,660	A ultra-wide could be fun or it could get old after a few shots. You will be locked into a certain look and feel, although at the 24 end it would not be so extreme. The sensible answer would be the 18-135. I, for one, always take a bag of lenses to events like this.

07-15-2021, 11:52 AM	#15
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Originally posted by stevebrot Rokinon 8/3.5 or Zenitar 16/2.8 Fisheye Ditto! Yeah I was thing of a fish-eye lens as well. Phil.