One camera one lens!!!

ProdigalPentaxian · 12-22-2012, 08:15 AM

Any ideas for a returning Pentax user!!!

I am sorry, I'll Elaborate... As a start. Which lens and body should I get FIRST!!! I will expand my collection later..

I want the BEST Contrast, Sharpness,
I want to travel light, and I dont want to loose a shot because I am changing lenses.

I place low light AF performance as the utmost Priority!!!

Which body and which lens should I get on DAY ONE

Last edited by ProdigalPentaxian; 12-27-2012 at 09:47 AM. Reason: to explain my question

Docrwm · 12-22-2012, 08:18 AM

Welcome back!

Really depends on what you want to shoot and how intensely you want to go. If its casual across the board then the K-30 + 18-135 is a very versatile and Weather Resistant combination that ought to serve you well.

smf · 12-22-2012, 08:42 AM

I am enjoying a K-x I bought used. Recently I saw a couple of them for sale in the Marketplace here at Pentaxforums.
Best wishes.

**mattt** · 12-22-2012, 09:04 AM

One Camera, one lens... check out the "Single In" group.... All participants are shooting with one lens for a whole month (most are just using one body)

normhead · 12-22-2012, 09:41 AM

Are you going to tell us how much you're spending...?

Personally if it were on the cheap, I'd go for a used K-x DA 18-55 and used Sigma 70-300 can be had for around $100.

To me the K-x is still the best budget camera Pentax has made. We still have one. Tess dropped the first one and we had to get a second. It's also better low light performance compared to anything but a K-5. You could probably do the setup above for $400. The Sigma 70-300 does 1:2 macro, so there isn't much you can't do with the above.

If you want to spend a couple thousand, the possibilities become endless.

snake · 12-22-2012, 09:56 AM

Tough question to answer without more info.

Everything I do is with the FA35 and K-5, but is that a FL you can live with?

**twilhelm** · 12-22-2012, 10:15 AM

I could live with my K-5 and FA 43. If I had to that is.

zmohie · 12-22-2012, 10:28 AM

k5 and fa35.
both are great.or k30 with 16-45

**jatrax** · 12-22-2012, 10:32 AM

One lens? That's not funny........

But seriously, one lens one camera is just too broad. The biggest advantage of a dslr is that it can be configured to the job at hand. So you need to provide more information about what that job is.

k-x + 18-55: one of the best budget combos out there
k-30 + 18-135: one of the best general purpose combos and its WR as well
k-5 + 18-270: most range and will cover anything within an enormous range

If you really never want more than one lens then maybe the X-5 is what you should look at: 22-580mm zoom, nice and light and not expensive

PALADIN85020 · 12-22-2012, 10:34 AM

I gave this very concept a lot of thought last year when my wife and I took a trip to Hawaii for our 50th anniversary. I wanted to take my K-5 with just one lens, a spare battery, the charger, and a bunch of memory cards. This would enable me to travel light, with the camera, a spare battery and extra mem cards in a camera pouch as we rode and walked through the islands. My choice for the lens was the 18-135mmWR. It covered 90% of the situations that presented themselves, and was resistant to the constant rain in Hawaii. I couldn't have made a better choice; it's still my "grab and go" combination at home.

John

mikeSF · 12-22-2012, 10:41 AM

one lens? make it an iPhone then.

RonHendriks1966 · 12-22-2012, 11:48 AM

Well I did a little travel with K-5 and DA40mmLtd and that works great. My combo K-01 and FA31mm is also a blast. So many combo's possible. Buy a good lens!

HSV · 12-22-2012, 01:08 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

Well I did a little travel with K-5 and DA40mmLtd and that works great. My combo K-01 and FA31mm is also a blast. So many combo's possible. Buy a good lens!

It's no fun for your only lens to be a zoom...it takes away the "restrictive" creativity of having just one focal length. If you're doing a lot of indoor shots, the higher speed of the zoom makes a significant difference on the AF (at least with the K-5).

In my last trip, I took the DA21, 40, and 70 with the K-5...just checking the EXIF, I noticed that 90% or more of my shots were done with the 40!

I just wished that I took more shot stopped down, like 70% of all the shots were done wide open. When reviewing, I actually prefer more of the stopped down shots.

I guess that for a one prime one body kit...anything from 30-50 should work, depending on your style. I had a very good time with the 40, next time I'll try with the FA43 and then with the FA50 1.4.

RonHendriks1966 · 12-22-2012, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by HSV

It's no fun for your only lens to be a zoom...it takes away the "restrictive" creativity of having just one focal length.

Big + on this

K-5 with DA40mm:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/162001-travel-paris.html

K-5 and FA31mm:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/181822-people-duindigt-l...-pictures.html

But I'm also so happy to have more lenses.

Pentikonian · 12-22-2012, 03:07 PM

Prime? K-5/ K-5II and DA Ltd 35/2.8 Macro. Beautiful normal-ish focal length with some macro capability. Good camera to base a kit on later if you decide to expand. (I've wanted to try the DA Ltd 21 and the FA Ltd 31 as well for a one-prime walk-around setup. Haven't had the chance yet.)

Zoom? Haven't used it, but for the weather resistance and focal range, I'd look at the 18-135WR.

12-22-2012, 08:15 AM	#1
ProdigalPentaxian New Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 9	One camera one lens!!! Any ideas for a returning Pentax user!!! I am sorry, I'll Elaborate... As a start. Which lens and body should I get FIRST!!! I will expand my collection later.. I want the BEST Contrast, Sharpness, I want to travel light, and I dont want to loose a shot because I am changing lenses. I place low light AF performance as the utmost Priority!!! Which body and which lens should I get on DAY ONE Last edited by ProdigalPentaxian; 12-27-2012 at 09:47 AM. Reason: to explain my question

12-22-2012, 10:28 AM	#8
zmohie Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: egypt Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 435	k5 and fa35. both are great.or k30 with 16-45 Last edited by zmohie; 12-22-2012 at 10:51 AM.

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12-22-2012, 08:18 AM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Welcome back! Really depends on what you want to shoot and how intensely you want to go. If its casual across the board then the K-30 + 18-135 is a very versatile and Weather Resistant combination that ought to serve you well.

12-22-2012, 08:42 AM	#3
smf Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Midland, MI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,083	I am enjoying a K-x I bought used. Recently I saw a couple of them for sale in the Marketplace here at Pentaxforums. Best wishes.

12-22-2012, 09:04 AM	#4
mattt Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Niagara Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,907	One Camera, one lens... check out the "Single In" group.... All participants are shooting with one lens for a whole month (most are just using one body)

12-22-2012, 09:41 AM	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Are you going to tell us how much you're spending...? Personally if it were on the cheap, I'd go for a used K-x DA 18-55 and used Sigma 70-300 can be had for around $100. To me the K-x is still the best budget camera Pentax has made. We still have one. Tess dropped the first one and we had to get a second. It's also better low light performance compared to anything but a K-5. You could probably do the setup above for $400. The Sigma 70-300 does 1:2 macro, so there isn't much you can't do with the above. If you want to spend a couple thousand, the possibilities become endless.

12-22-2012, 09:56 AM	#6
snake Banned Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NY/Germany Posts: 1,183	Tough question to answer without more info. Everything I do is with the FA35 and K-5, but is that a FL you can live with?

12-22-2012, 10:15 AM	#7
twilhelm Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,369	I could live with my K-5 and FA 43. If I had to that is.

12-22-2012, 10:32 AM	#9
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	One lens? That's not funny........ But seriously, one lens one camera is just too broad. The biggest advantage of a dslr is that it can be configured to the job at hand. So you need to provide more information about what that job is. k-x + 18-55: one of the best budget combos out there k-30 + 18-135: one of the best general purpose combos and its WR as well k-5 + 18-270: most range and will cover anything within an enormous range If you really never want more than one lens then maybe the X-5 is what you should look at: 22-580mm zoom, nice and light and not expensive

12-22-2012, 10:34 AM	#10
PALADIN85020 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 442	I gave this very concept a lot of thought last year when my wife and I took a trip to Hawaii for our 50th anniversary. I wanted to take my K-5 with just one lens, a spare battery, the charger, and a bunch of memory cards. This would enable me to travel light, with the camera, a spare battery and extra mem cards in a camera pouch as we rode and walked through the islands. My choice for the lens was the 18-135mmWR. It covered 90% of the situations that presented themselves, and was resistant to the constant rain in Hawaii. I couldn't have made a better choice; it's still my "grab and go" combination at home. John

12-22-2012, 10:41 AM	#11
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	one lens? make it an iPhone then.

12-22-2012, 11:48 AM	#12
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well I did a little travel with K-5 and DA40mmLtd and that works great. My combo K-01 and FA31mm is also a blast. So many combo's possible. Buy a good lens!

12-22-2012, 01:08 PM	#13
HSV Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 321	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 Well I did a little travel with K-5 and DA40mmLtd and that works great. My combo K-01 and FA31mm is also a blast. So many combo's possible. Buy a good lens! It's no fun for your only lens to be a zoom...it takes away the "restrictive" creativity of having just one focal length. If you're doing a lot of indoor shots, the higher speed of the zoom makes a significant difference on the AF (at least with the K-5). In my last trip, I took the DA21, 40, and 70 with the K-5...just checking the EXIF, I noticed that 90% or more of my shots were done with the 40! I just wished that I took more shot stopped down, like 70% of all the shots were done wide open. When reviewing, I actually prefer more of the stopped down shots. I guess that for a one prime one body kit...anything from 30-50 should work, depending on your style. I had a very good time with the 40, next time I'll try with the FA43 and then with the FA50 1.4.

12-22-2012, 02:52 PM	#14
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by HSV It's no fun for your only lens to be a zoom...it takes away the "restrictive" creativity of having just one focal length. Big + on this K-5 with DA40mm: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/162001-travel-paris.html K-5 and FA31mm: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/181822-people-duindigt-l...-pictures.html But I'm also so happy to have more lenses.

12-22-2012, 03:07 PM	#15
Pentikonian Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 780	Prime? K-5/ K-5II and DA Ltd 35/2.8 Macro. Beautiful normal-ish focal length with some macro capability. Good camera to base a kit on later if you decide to expand. (I've wanted to try the DA Ltd 21 and the FA Ltd 31 as well for a one-prime walk-around setup. Haven't had the chance yet.) Zoom? Haven't used it, but for the weather resistance and focal range, I'd look at the 18-135WR.