[seventysixersfan]

I second the FA 35 suggestion. But if you already have sigma 30 it may not add much except be lighter and more compact. I recommend da 70 so that you have a discreet da 21 and da 70 street shooting combo!

[sheld]

I second the FA 35 suggestion. But if you already have sigma 30 it may not add much except be lighter and more compact. I recommend da 70 so that you have a discreet da 21 and da 70 street shooting combo!

Thanks everyone for there comments. I bought the DA21mm on this forum, and then a DA70mm appeared locally on craigslist, and I couldn't resist it. So I now have the DA15, DA21/3.2, Sigma30/1.4, and DA70. So far its a wonderful combo! My first reactions
o The DA15, which I've had since last year is too darn wide for a lot of photos. The DA21mm focal length is really quite nice for most shots. (but I love the DA15!)
o The DA70 has fantastic bokeh, and is sharp wide open. Its much much less intrusive looking than my Tamron 28-75mm. Both of these pancakes are good for more discreet shooting.
o All four lenses fit in my current shoulder bag, which surprised me. The DA limited lenses are compact, and well protected in their leather pouches. The shoulder bag I have is exactly big enough for the K-x, 55-300mm and the Tamron 28-75, with no space to spare. The four prime lenses and the K-x fit a little easier.

I took some shots on South Congress, in Austin Tx. This is roughly my first photo taken with the DA70, wide open, F/2.4


And this is with the DA21, a few minutes later, from roughly the same spot, also wide open, at F/3.2

[Allison]

Congrats on getting a good case of LBA

I know you went the 21 and 70 route, but if you ever get a chance to get in on an FA limited, I think you would be pleased. I think that is why at the beginning you were seeing a lot of votes for option 4, since it included the FA77.

You seem to really like the wides. I can see where you prefer the 21 a little more now that the 15, especially if you are shooting people. Still, I would imagine (my wides are all zooms) that the 15 is pretty awesome for a landscape.

[seventysixersfan]

if you ever get a chance to get in on an FA limited, I think you would be pleased.

sheld -- I think your lineup of "DA15, DA21/3.2, Sigma30/1.4, and DA70" could stand to include a FA 43 limited, which would slide in very nicely between the Sigma and DA70...

[sheld]

Congrats on getting a good case of LBA

I know you went the 21 and 70 route, but if you ever get a chance to get in on an FA limited, I think you would be pleased. I think that is why at the beginning you were seeing a lot of votes for option 4, since it included the FA77.

You seem to really like the wides. I can see where you prefer the 21 a little more now that the 15, especially if you are shooting people. Still, I would imagine (my wides are all zooms) that the 15 is pretty awesome for a landscape.

Seventysixerfan, I could consider swapping the DA70 for an FA77, which is known for having a little bit softer bokeh, (less harsh), plus more bokeh. I don't know about the FA43 focal length. Seems kinda blah to me. Not telephoto enough to be interesting, but too long to be really usable. When I used the Tamron 28-75mm as my main lens (alongside the DA15), my two favorite focal lengths were 28mm and 75mm, with an occasional photograph at 55-60mm. I actually really like the Tamron, but it seems too big.

Allison, yeah, hopefully I'm over my bad case of LBA. It seems I now have a very large number of different camera options, depending on which lenses I decide to bring with on any given day! I'm looking forward to trying an outing with the DA15, DA21, and the Tamron 28-75mm combo. The DA15mm is awesome, and an old friend. The DA21 focal length is also very wide, but is more people friendly, and is a closer match to how people see the world where I think normal would be 28-31mm APSC. I find that the DA15 is really tricky to use for shots including people, but it can be done. Here's a great DA15 street shot, from our recent trip overseas to Israel. It also shows some of the DA15's unique perspective.


But things get out of control really easy. Here's a DA15 shot with my son and daughter, where my son's head is all stretched out. Kinda cool, but kinda wierd.
- Sheldon