Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Tonto · 03-31-2013, 04:05 AM

Zoom- 28-75 2.8 (I don't own one yet!)

Prime- FA31, boring I know ;p

Primes4ever · 03-31-2013, 04:30 AM

FA31 is an easy choice.

GibbyTheMole · 03-31-2013, 05:46 AM

Originally posted by magkelly

My Tamron 28-200. It's far from my best lens but it does have the most versatile range and if I can carry only one lens, that's what I'd carry.

Yep. I'd pick the Pentax (or Tamron) 18-250 for exactly that reason.

calculator01 · 03-31-2013, 02:16 PM - **1 Like**

Pentax 18-135 and DA 300

**Papa Lazarou** · 03-31-2013, 02:32 PM

Prime - FA 31 Ltd - mine arrived earlier this week. Just stunning and perfect focal length on APS-C. It hasn't been off the K-5 since.

Zoom - DA 18-135 WR - Quiet, versatile, small/light, weather sealed - a great travel lens.

My first post BTW - Hi everyone from the UK.

**newmikey** · 03-31-2013, 02:50 PM

Let me go a bit against the stream here - the one lens that has earned more than just my respect is the DA*50-135mm. From the first moment I put it on a body (I think it was my K20D) I fell in love with it. Its hefty hood enhances its clarity and contrast even when shooting concerts with lots of stray lights hitting the stage and myself. Outside and during the day, its sharpness and color rendition are unequalled.

**Ex Finn.** · 03-31-2013, 05:30 PM

The 15 ltd. for it`s awesomeness and the DA16-50 for versatility and bad weather.

MPrince · 03-31-2013, 06:02 PM

There's just no way I can narrow it down to one lens, so I won't even try. After all, the whole point of an SLR is lens interchangeability.

The DA 18-135 for vacation/walk-around because of its versatility.

The F 35-70 for general use with zoom flexibility.

The DA 40 Ltd for general/studio use.

The DA 70 Ltd for portrait/studio use.

**PPPPPP42** · 03-31-2013, 06:51 PM

The APSC sensor really makes one lens a crappy proposition as you need a lot more on the wide end than you would otherwise.
Also I only use manual focus lenses as I can always do a better (and usually faster) job on focusing than the camera. I only use the A series because I want to quickly adjust aperture and shutter speed with the front and rear dials on the camera since I almost always use just M mode.

On my film cameras my A35-105 F3.5 is truly a wonderful one lens as it does just the perfect range for most photography (on FF 35 is nicely wide, on APSC a bit narrow).
It is also fast and good quality while still being a useable size and weight.
It is parfocal meaning you can zoom in, focus and zoom out without changing focus, this is freaking huge for me on the DSLR as I am used to the bright bay window of a viewfinder on my Super Program and all the dslr's are fairly well worthless in this regard since manual focus was an afterthought for them. It is also great for recomposing a shot after focus.
It has a macro setting you shift into that works at all focal lengths (as opposed to just a half assed close focus ability like modern lenses) that allows focusing on objects as close as 4" away at 35mm to 24" away at 105mm.
It can always be found for sale in like new condition with lens caps for under $200.

If I had to combine it with a prime it would be an A300* F4 as it would make up for the lack of reach for nature stuff and is still a normal sized lens as opposed to the Tasco telescopes you get into with the F2.8 stuff and is nowhere near as comically overpriced so you could afford to drop it and not have to take out a second mortgage to replace it. Being a star lens it is also of excellent quality.

curlednoodles · 03-31-2013, 07:46 PM

Originally posted by newmikey

Let me go a bit against the stream here - the one lens that has earned more than just my respect is the DA*50-135mm. From the first moment I put it on a body (I think it was my K20D) I fell in love with it. Its hefty hood enhances its clarity and contrast even when shooting concerts with lots of stray lights hitting the stage and myself. Outside and during the day, its sharpness and color rendition are unequalled.

I was actually thinking the same thing yesterday. Ive changed my mind to keeping my 24mm Sigma as for my photography its the perfect length. Id also get the DA*50-135mm for the extra reach, optic quality and weather sealing. Now to start saving. Uh oh...Just checked the price. Now to start selling my kidney

jkomp316 · 03-31-2013, 08:11 PM

I'm going to say any FAST manual 50mm. Even though it crops to 75mm - light gathering is way more useful than zoom IMHO. I dislike flashes and can zoom just fine with my feet in most situations. I actually think zooms make me lazy and a less creative photographer. Most of my photos are of people and events.

Alizarine · 04-01-2013, 01:21 AM

body.... The Pentax mythical FF from the future

Prime: FA 31 f1.8 Limited (I have only the 77, but I've tried the 31 before... and I want one

)
Zoom: FA*80-200 f2.8, but replace the PZ motor with Sigma's HSM... (yup, not SDM! lol)

macTak · 04-01-2013, 06:05 AM

Pentax's 50mm f4 optic for me; such great IQ and macro, plus that focal lengh (on APS-C) is the one that just works for me.

scratchpaddy · 04-01-2013, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by jkomp316

I actually think zooms make me lazy and a less creative photographer.

I've come to the same conclusion. It's not just about the (slightly) better IQ of primes. My zoom pictures are just boring. A prime often pushes me into framing the picture in odd ways, and I usually like the results better than the image I originally had in mind. I haven't used a zoom since last year.

My one lens would be the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, hands down. It's been my most-used lens since I got it. Actually, that's when I stopped using zooms. It's fast, and the normal focal length is good for 90% of situations where I use it.

If I were to get a full-frame, I'd switch over to the FA 50 f/1.4. That's the one I use now when I need a little more reach. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with that lens, but the FL isn't as versatile on APS-C.

lister6520 · 04-01-2013, 10:35 AM

If I could have only one lens I'd rather have a superzoom bridge camera than an SLR.

If it had to be an SLR and a single lens then it would probably be the 18-135WR or the Tamron 18-250, probably the latter - but I would eventually go crazy without my Sigma 150-500 and the Tamron 90 macro. The 18-135 is the better one in most respects but I would probably often miss the extra reach given by the 18-250, which might make me choose it over the 18-135.

The 18-135 is the lens which is always with me and then either the 90mm Macro or the 150-500 if I'm taking only one more lens.

03-31-2013, 07:46 PM	#25
curlednoodles Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Far North Qld, Australia Posts: 184 Original Poster	Originally posted by newmikey Let me go a bit against the stream here - the one lens that has earned more than just my respect is the DA50-135mm. From the first moment I put it on a body (I think it was my K20D) I fell in love with it. Its hefty hood enhances its clarity and contrast even when shooting concerts with lots of stray lights hitting the stage and myself. Outside and during the day, its sharpness and color rendition are unequalled. I was actually thinking the same thing yesterday. Ive changed my mind to keeping my 24mm Sigma as for my photography its the perfect length. Id also get the DA50-135mm for the extra reach, optic quality and weather sealing. Now to start saving. Uh oh...Just checked the price. Now to start selling my kidney Last edited by curlednoodles; 03-31-2013 at 08:32 PM.

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03-31-2013, 04:05 AM	#16
Tonto Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wellington Posts: 969	Zoom- 28-75 2.8 (I don't own one yet!) Prime- FA31, boring I know ;p

03-31-2013, 04:30 AM	#17
Primes4ever Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 179	FA31 is an easy choice.

03-31-2013, 05:46 AM	#18
GibbyTheMole Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Iowa Photos: Albums Posts: 2,275	Originally posted by magkelly My Tamron 28-200. It's far from my best lens but it does have the most versatile range and if I can carry only one lens, that's what I'd carry. Yep. I'd pick the Pentax (or Tamron) 18-250 for exactly that reason.

03-31-2013, 02:16 PM - 1 Like	#19
calculator01 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 817	Pentax 18-135 and DA 300

03-31-2013, 02:32 PM	#20
Papa Lazarou Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, UK Posts: 340	Prime - FA 31 Ltd - mine arrived earlier this week. Just stunning and perfect focal length on APS-C. It hasn't been off the K-5 since. Zoom - DA 18-135 WR - Quiet, versatile, small/light, weather sealed - a great travel lens. My first post BTW - Hi everyone from the UK.

03-31-2013, 02:50 PM	#21
newmikey Site Supporter Join Date: May 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,290	Let me go a bit against the stream here - the one lens that has earned more than just my respect is the DA*50-135mm. From the first moment I put it on a body (I think it was my K20D) I fell in love with it. Its hefty hood enhances its clarity and contrast even when shooting concerts with lots of stray lights hitting the stage and myself. Outside and during the day, its sharpness and color rendition are unequalled.

03-31-2013, 05:30 PM	#22
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	The 15 ltd. for it`s awesomeness and the DA16-50 for versatility and bad weather.

03-31-2013, 06:02 PM	#23
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	There's just no way I can narrow it down to one lens, so I won't even try. After all, the whole point of an SLR is lens interchangeability. The DA 18-135 for vacation/walk-around because of its versatility. The F 35-70 for general use with zoom flexibility. The DA 40 Ltd for general/studio use. The DA 70 Ltd for portrait/studio use.

03-31-2013, 06:51 PM	#24
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 951	The APSC sensor really makes one lens a crappy proposition as you need a lot more on the wide end than you would otherwise. Also I only use manual focus lenses as I can always do a better (and usually faster) job on focusing than the camera. I only use the A series because I want to quickly adjust aperture and shutter speed with the front and rear dials on the camera since I almost always use just M mode. On my film cameras my A35-105 F3.5 is truly a wonderful one lens as it does just the perfect range for most photography (on FF 35 is nicely wide, on APSC a bit narrow). It is also fast and good quality while still being a useable size and weight. It is parfocal meaning you can zoom in, focus and zoom out without changing focus, this is freaking huge for me on the DSLR as I am used to the bright bay window of a viewfinder on my Super Program and all the dslr's are fairly well worthless in this regard since manual focus was an afterthought for them. It is also great for recomposing a shot after focus. It has a macro setting you shift into that works at all focal lengths (as opposed to just a half assed close focus ability like modern lenses) that allows focusing on objects as close as 4" away at 35mm to 24" away at 105mm. It can always be found for sale in like new condition with lens caps for under $200. If I had to combine it with a prime it would be an A300* F4 as it would make up for the lack of reach for nature stuff and is still a normal sized lens as opposed to the Tasco telescopes you get into with the F2.8 stuff and is nowhere near as comically overpriced so you could afford to drop it and not have to take out a second mortgage to replace it. Being a star lens it is also of excellent quality.

03-31-2013, 08:11 PM	#26
jkomp316 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 227	I'm going to say any FAST manual 50mm. Even though it crops to 75mm - light gathering is way more useful than zoom IMHO. I dislike flashes and can zoom just fine with my feet in most situations. I actually think zooms make me lazy and a less creative photographer. Most of my photos are of people and events.

04-01-2013, 01:21 AM	#27
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	body.... The Pentax mythical FF from the future Prime: FA 31 f1.8 Limited (I have only the 77, but I've tried the 31 before... and I want one ) Zoom: FA*80-200 f2.8, but replace the PZ motor with Sigma's HSM... (yup, not SDM! lol)

04-01-2013, 06:05 AM	#28
macTak Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 759	Pentax's 50mm f4 optic for me; such great IQ and macro, plus that focal lengh (on APS-C) is the one that just works for me.

04-01-2013, 07:30 AM	#29
scratchpaddy Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3,361	Originally posted by jkomp316 I actually think zooms make me lazy and a less creative photographer. I've come to the same conclusion. It's not just about the (slightly) better IQ of primes. My zoom pictures are just boring. A prime often pushes me into framing the picture in odd ways, and I usually like the results better than the image I originally had in mind. I haven't used a zoom since last year. My one lens would be the Sigma 30mm f/1.4, hands down. It's been my most-used lens since I got it. Actually, that's when I stopped using zooms. It's fast, and the normal focal length is good for 90% of situations where I use it. If I were to get a full-frame, I'd switch over to the FA 50 f/1.4. That's the one I use now when I need a little more reach. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with that lens, but the FL isn't as versatile on APS-C.

04-01-2013, 10:35 AM	#30
lister6520 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 733	If I could have only one lens I'd rather have a superzoom bridge camera than an SLR. If it had to be an SLR and a single lens then it would probably be the 18-135WR or the Tamron 18-250, probably the latter - but I would eventually go crazy without my Sigma 150-500 and the Tamron 90 macro. The 18-135 is the better one in most respects but I would probably often miss the extra reach given by the 18-250, which might make me choose it over the 18-135. The 18-135 is the lens which is always with me and then either the 90mm Macro or the 150-500 if I'm taking only one more lens.

If you could only have 1 lens...

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!