[lulie553]

Hey there, I'm Alexa. A newbie photographer who has had her camera for forever and has a renewed sense of interest in learning how to use her camera after getting her best furiend.

Do you have any recommendations for a good lens for a K-50 camera for close-up photos of a dog?

[STARHUNTER94]

How close?

I used my 18-135 a fair amount with my dog, but if you can get close I think a lot of focal lengths will work.

[caliscouser]

Hi, if you are shooting indoors a bit then these two lenses will work nicely.

SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8 Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

They are fixed focus lenses, so they don't zoom, but they are small and light and fast with good image quality.
They typically run between $50-100 each used.

[Aaron28]

the one you have!!! have shot my puppers from 14mm to 200mm with a variety of lenses......i enjoy shooting mine around 3 feet with something wide say 14-35 and other times i am at distance when it's nice to have a longer focal length and most of the time with my K-50

all examples with the K-50.....19mm at f5.6 around 3 feet





other example at 90mm first at like 3-5 feet




and 90mm at somewhere around 15 feet





also on this thread some folks cite the lens used or can easily be asked what lens was used

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/26-mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/1...ml#post5273253

[clackers]

You might like the DA 35mm Macro f2.8, Alexa!

[Kerrowdown]

Welcome to the forum from the Highlands of Scotland

[Cerebum]

Hi Alexa
Welcome from Lancaster

In answer to your question, all of the above are superb. What is your budget?

[wkadruje]

is it a trend to go wide for pets? (I don't mean the really huge distortion thing, but I guess it's more acceptable than for people)

[Michail_P]

Welcome to the community. I like taking portraits of furiends... I think the wide end of my lens is used more. I often come close to them and they move a lot, so a tele-zoom option doesn't work for me, although it has worked great for some, as I can see in the shots above. The spontaneous shot is what I seek, so an all-arounder is the best choice imho. The 18-135 sounds a good and affordable idea. Maybe you could get some nice bokeh too from that lens.

[aslyfox]

I wonder what lenses the OP currently has

[aslyfox]

I wonder what lenses the OP currently has

Under the Articles section above there is an article about photographing pets

Taking Pet Portraits: A Guide
Capturing cats and dignifying dogs
By leadbelly in Articles and Tips on Jun 20, 2014

Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/articles/photo-articles/pet-portrait-photo-guid...#ixzz6tQF1jCyZ

[archaeodude]

... a renewed sense of interest in learning how to use her camera after getting her best furiend.

There's nothing like a new furiend to rekindle an interest in photography.

Welcome to the forums from Cambridgeshire!

[3by2]

If it's a shih tzu I recommend a telephoto, if it's a great Dane an Ultra wide angle.

[Bertrand3000]

Alexa, like the others, I will need to know your current lenses, and what is wrong with them (for your intended dog subject) to better advise you.

Many choices are available, depending on focal length (wide or tele), outdoor or indoor, and of course while trying not to duplicate what you currently have.

[taktoon]

Welcome to the forums.