[jawats]

All,

I am taking pictures for my wife's upcoming charity event. The ceiling is reflective, so I will be using a diffuser on my flash. However, for normal "low light" photos, I know my K-3 has decent ISO low-light. But I'm pondering a lens selection. I have the following I am considering:

(1) 24mm and 28mm primes - one manual-focus, auto-iris Sigma Superwide II, and one Promaster re-badge of the same lens, also-manual focus.

(2) Quantaray 28-80 AF Asph. 3.5-5.6 - this one, only 28-80: Quantaray 28-90mm f3.5-5.6 version 5 Lens Reviews - Quantaray Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

(3) Pentax 18-55 AL 3.5 - 5.6 - this one: SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

(4) Tamron Adaptall-2 60-300

(5) Tamron Adaptall-2 70-210 (the 19AH)

(6) Takumar 35mm 3.5 - this one: S-M-C/Super/Auto Takumar 35mm F3.5 Reviews - M42 Screwmount Wide-Angle Primes - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

The Pentax 18-55 is a meh lens, but it's the only zoom I have under 20mm. The Quantaray zoom is even lower rated. The 24 and 28mm aren't bad, but they're not auto-focus and (obviously), not as versatile. OTOH, the 70-210 AH would make for great longer-range photography in the venue.

Thoughts / recs?

[hcc]

I shoot in low-light without flash on my K-3 and a fast prime lens is always my preferred selection.

Have you considered a fast prime (f1.8 or 1.4)? The plastic fantastic DA50mm f1.8 come in mind for AF, or an older fast 50mm f1.4 with MF. All of these are relatively cheap lenses. Off course you could also conside higher end lens (DA*55mm, D-FA50mm f1.4) .


Food for thoughts

[jawats]

I shoot in low-light without flash on my K-3 and a fast prime lens is always my preferred selection.

Have you considered a fast prime (f1.8 or 1.4)? The plastic fantastic DA50mm f1.8 come in mind for AF, or an older fast 50mm f1.4 with MF. All of these are relatively cheap lenses. Off course you could also conside higher end lens (DA*55mm, D-FA50mm f1.4) .


Food for thoughts

I have a 55 f/2 Tak, and the 24mm is a 2.8 (as is the 28mm). Not super fast, but faster than any of the others.

---------- Post added 05-01-19 at 06:32 PM ----------

I shoot in low-light without flash on my K-3 and a fast prime lens is always my preferred selection.

Have you considered a fast prime (f1.8 or 1.4)? The plastic fantastic DA50mm f1.8 come in mind for AF, or an older fast 50mm f1.4 with MF. All of these are relatively cheap lenses. Off course you could also conside higher end lens (DA*55mm, D-FA50mm f1.4) .


Food for thoughts

I had a plastic fantastic - I sold it because I wasn't that enamored with the 50mm range - I didn't seem to be using it for anything for months at a time.

[Dartmoor Dave]

I shoot at quite a few events each year for the charity I volunteer for, and usually use my SMC Takumar 24mm/3.5 on my K-S1. I use available light where possible, and the camera/lens combination is so small and unintimidating that I tend to get the natural, relaxed, unposed looking results that people seem to prefer. Of course the Takumar isn't particularly fast at f/3.5, but I've only once encountered a situation where the light was so low that I had to give in and resort to flash.

I should point out, though, that my role at these events is to get informal reportage-style shots. I leave the cheesy posed group shots for the local newspaper's pro with his huge Canon and supernova-bright flash.

[jawats]

I shoot at quite a few events each year for the charity I volunteer for, and usually use my SMC Takumar 24mm/3.5 on my K-S1. I use available light where possible, and the camera/lens combination is so small and unintimidating that I tend to get the natural, relaxed, unposed looking results that people seem to prefer. Of course the Takumar isn't particularly fast at f/3.5, but I've only once encountered a situation where the light was so low that I had to give in and resort to flash.

I should point out, though, that my role at these events is to get informal reportage-style shots. I leave the cheesy posed group shots for the local newspaper's pro with his huge Canon and supernova-bright flash.

So my 24 / 28 2.8s might work (these: Sigma 24mm F2.8 Super Wide II Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database and Promaster Spectrum 7 28mm f/2.8 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database / Sigma 28mm F2.8 Mini Wide II Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database)

[rogerstg]

I am taking pictures for my wife's upcoming charity event.

I think you might be missing an important opportunity for getting a new lens to help your wife out.

On that note, I'll help you out: IMO, you have no AF lenses that are fast enough or the suitable range to do a good job at her event. I recommend buying a DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 ED Limited, currently on sale at Adorama.

Now you can honestly tell her you received the above advice from an online photography forum.

You're welcome.

[Kobie]

I have a 55 f/2 Tak, and the 24mm is a 2.8 (as is the 28mm). Not super fast, but faster than any of the others.

---------- Post added 05-01-19 at 06:32 PM ----------



I had a plastic fantastic - I sold it because I wasn't that enamored with the 50mm range - I didn't seem to be using it for anything for months at a time.

What about the DA 35 2.4?

[jawats]

What about the DA 35 2.4?

I ended up using a combination of my 28mm Super-Wide and my 60-300 Tamron Adaptall.

I also ordered a Sigma 17-50 2.8 - 42nd Street Photo - Sigma 583109 - 17-50mm - Sigma Lenses For Pentax Mount - f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens for Pentax (77mm) - because I had a gift card for 42nd Street. I paid too much for it, but then, the gift card. So, I am hoping the 17-50 will serve well. It seems decently rated on here. Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database