Hello I am a newbie

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 10:08 AM

Hello I am a newbie to this forum but I also need some help with buying lenses for my pentax camera I have just bought, as I am a complete novice and I bought a Pentax K100D Super 6.1 MP Digital SLR Camera and I need to know what lens to buy for it for sharp, clean pictures. I want to take pics close up of my family, going on hols and I have read that a 50mm f1.8 would be the correct one? can anyone help me out??

bjake · 06-13-2011, 11:44 AM

Most any lens with the Pentax brand on it will take good pictures,a lot of the aftermarket ones do pretty good.Follow this link to the lens data bank to check out what users think about them.Pentax Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Pentax Lens Database
Jake

MichaelBilson · 06-13-2011, 11:56 AM

Hello and welcome. My recommendation would be to take a few pictures with the kit lens before you invest in new lenses. Once you get to know your camera, you will be able to decide for yourself what focal length you need.

As for the 50mm f1.8, you definitely can't go wrong with this lens. They're really inexpensive, if you find a good deal, then buy one.

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 11:58 AM

Thanks Jake, but I still don't know what I am looking for.....I have looke on ebay and so many pentax lens's come up and I don't know which one to choose for every day use etc...I am totally a beginner at this :-(

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 12:00 PM

Thank you Michael, but again, I don't know which one to buy, I will look around for a 50 mm f1.8, but someone told me to buy a FA one which on ebay they were over £200...I don't want to buy one for that price :-(, but thanis all the same x

normhead · 06-13-2011, 12:06 PM

Hmmm.. I wouldn't go with a 50mm , that's a telephoto on a K100D. The 35 macro 2.8 For would be the standard lens, with the 21 limited being a good second choice. But really, what's wrong with your kit lens, 18-55? They come with the camera for a reason. It took me years to want a better lens. It was good enough until I started selling pictures. And much of the time it's still good enough. Unless you want a fast lens for low light.

My store has an SMCP-FA 50mm/1.4 for less than any other fast lens. Maybe that's why your friend suggested it. For me, the DA 35 F2.8 macro would be the cat's meow.

jolepp · 06-13-2011, 12:26 PM

Another piece worth checking out might be the DA 35 1:2.4:

Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.4 AL - Review / Lens Test

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 12:29 PM

Thank you Normhead, my friend has sold me the camera with a Tokina 28-70 f3.5 lens.....but as I have said before, I am a complete novice and I don't know if this lens is okay for the camera that I have bought, or should I buy another one to get started. sorry for all the questions, but I am a bit blonde ;-0 lol x

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 12:30 PM

All these lenses look really expensive and I cannot find one that is reasonably priced. :-(

cats_five · 06-13-2011, 12:53 PM

Did your camera come with a lens? If so, what is it?

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 01:04 PM

Cats five it is coming with a Tokina 28-70 f3.5 lens

InlawBiker · 06-13-2011, 01:20 PM

Chiantiuk - most people start with this one. $99 or look for one on the forum marketplace for a kit version. 21717 Pentax SMCP-DA 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Autofocus Zoom Lens for Digital SLRs.

I saw somebody selling the 18-55mm DA L for $30. It's like the one listed above but with no hood and is mostly plastic. Still works great though.

chiantiuk · 06-13-2011, 01:22 PM

thank you inlawbiker, but still being a novice, I really don't understand about lenses. Will this tokina one that is coming with the camera, do me as a starter lens?? or do I need to buy a pentax DA one straight away???

normhead · 06-13-2011, 01:24 PM

I don't know that lens at all the Tokina, but, the kit lens for that camera (the one that would have come with it is the DA 18-55. You can probably find one of the old non-WR ones for $100. Hell, if you lived next door to me I'd sell you one of mine for $50. I have one that's less than a year old (came on a camera I bought at Christmas.)

Rocketvapor · 06-13-2011, 01:30 PM

Unless you are in the mood to spend money and start your never ending quest for the perfect lens try the Tokina zoom. You will be able to take fine pictures of the family and scenes while on holiday. After using this lens for a while you will know if you need a wide angle or a telephoto beyond what this lens will do. Master the camera and your first lens.

06-13-2011, 10:08 AM	#1
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10	Hello I am a newbie Hello I am a newbie to this forum but I also need some help with buying lenses for my pentax camera I have just bought, as I am a complete novice and I bought a Pentax K100D Super 6.1 MP Digital SLR Camera and I need to know what lens to buy for it for sharp, clean pictures. I want to take pics close up of my family, going on hols and I have read that a 50mm f1.8 would be the correct one? can anyone help me out??

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Newbie.:)	femimystic	Welcomes and Introductions	4	10-06-2009 10:44 AM
Newbie also	Gold	Welcomes and Introductions	8	08-11-2009 02:54 AM
Help a Newbie	98CarmineRedTN	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	16	07-31-2009 04:15 PM
Newbie Needs HELP!	hillerby	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	13	07-12-2009 02:03 AM
Help for a newbie!	davidlpa	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	6	07-09-2009 01:52 AM

06-13-2011, 11:44 AM	#2
bjake Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Eastern Kentucky Posts: 416	Most any lens with the Pentax brand on it will take good pictures,a lot of the aftermarket ones do pretty good.Follow this link to the lens data bank to check out what users think about them.Pentax Reviews - Pentax Lens Reviews & Pentax Lens Database Jake

06-13-2011, 11:56 AM	#3
MichaelBilson Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 40	Hello and welcome. My recommendation would be to take a few pictures with the kit lens before you invest in new lenses. Once you get to know your camera, you will be able to decide for yourself what focal length you need. As for the 50mm f1.8, you definitely can't go wrong with this lens. They're really inexpensive, if you find a good deal, then buy one.

06-13-2011, 11:58 AM	#4
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thanks Jake, but I still don't know what I am looking for.....I have looke on ebay and so many pentax lens's come up and I don't know which one to choose for every day use etc...I am totally a beginner at this :-(

06-13-2011, 12:00 PM	#5
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thank you Michael, but again, I don't know which one to buy, I will look around for a 50 mm f1.8, but someone told me to buy a FA one which on ebay they were over £200...I don't want to buy one for that price :-(, but thanis all the same x

06-13-2011, 12:06 PM	#6
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Hmmm.. I wouldn't go with a 50mm , that's a telephoto on a K100D. The 35 macro 2.8 For would be the standard lens, with the 21 limited being a good second choice. But really, what's wrong with your kit lens, 18-55? They come with the camera for a reason. It took me years to want a better lens. It was good enough until I started selling pictures. And much of the time it's still good enough. Unless you want a fast lens for low light. My store has an SMCP-FA 50mm/1.4 for less than any other fast lens. Maybe that's why your friend suggested it. For me, the DA 35 F2.8 macro would be the cat's meow.

06-13-2011, 12:26 PM	#7
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	Another piece worth checking out might be the DA 35 1:2.4: Pentax SMC DA 35mm f/2.4 AL - Review / Lens Test

06-13-2011, 12:29 PM	#8
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	Thank you Normhead, my friend has sold me the camera with a Tokina 28-70 f3.5 lens.....but as I have said before, I am a complete novice and I don't know if this lens is okay for the camera that I have bought, or should I buy another one to get started. sorry for all the questions, but I am a bit blonde ;-0 lol x

06-13-2011, 12:30 PM	#9
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	All these lenses look really expensive and I cannot find one that is reasonably priced. :-(

06-13-2011, 12:53 PM	#10
cats_five Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835	Did your camera come with a lens? If so, what is it?

06-13-2011, 01:04 PM	#11
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	Cats five it is coming with a Tokina 28-70 f3.5 lens

06-13-2011, 01:20 PM	#12
InlawBiker Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Seattle, WA Photos: Gallery Posts: 123	Chiantiuk - most people start with this one. $99 or look for one on the forum marketplace for a kit version. 21717 Pentax SMCP-DA 18mm - 55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Autofocus Zoom Lens for Digital SLRs. I saw somebody selling the 18-55mm DA L for $30. It's like the one listed above but with no hood and is mostly plastic. Still works great though.

06-13-2011, 01:22 PM	#13
chiantiuk New Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: plymouth Posts: 10 Original Poster	thank you inlawbiker, but still being a novice, I really don't understand about lenses. Will this tokina one that is coming with the camera, do me as a starter lens?? or do I need to buy a pentax DA one straight away???

06-13-2011, 01:24 PM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I don't know that lens at all the Tokina, but, the kit lens for that camera (the one that would have come with it is the DA 18-55. You can probably find one of the old non-WR ones for $100. Hell, if you lived next door to me I'd sell you one of mine for $50. I have one that's less than a year old (came on a camera I bought at Christmas.)

06-13-2011, 01:30 PM	#15
Rocketvapor Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Louisiana Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 102	Unless you are in the mood to spend money and start your never ending quest for the perfect lens try the Tokina zoom. You will be able to take fine pictures of the family and scenes while on holiday. After using this lens for a while you will know if you need a wide angle or a telephoto beyond what this lens will do. Master the camera and your first lens.