If you had $600.....

madisonphotogrl · 03-25-2008, 07:16 PM

Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600.

Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL

Stratman · 03-25-2008, 07:27 PM

And since you're getting the grip, a spare battery or two would be a good idea also !! and maybe a few more memory cards

I am thinking about putting mine towards a lens to replace the Kit, something faster, and a lil wider, possibly the new Tamron 17-50, or the Sigma 17-70

madisonphotogrl · 03-25-2008, 07:51 PM

that would be nice for your set up. I don't want to repeat my zoom length. I think I will eventually have a collection of sweet fast primes.. hopefully in time.

Stratman · 03-25-2008, 07:52 PM

That would be ideal, but to do that it would take a LOT more than $600 !! LOL

twinda1 · 03-25-2008, 07:57 PM

I can highly recommend the M50 1.4; I picked mine up for $66+shipping, and it's one of my favorite lenses, and definitely my favorite 50 (and I have the M50 1.7, M50 2.0, Super Tak 55 1.8, and A50 1.2 -- I'd sooner give up the 1.2 than the M50 1.4). Very sharp wide open, and very nice colors. Plus it's so smooth and solid when focusing. Built like a tank; I actually had it roll from a couch onto hardwood floors, and it survived just fine (though I won't be doing that again!) I'm actually on the look out for a mint copy to keep as a backup.

M50 1.4, ISO 200, 1/50, f/2:

madisonphotogrl · 03-25-2008, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by Stratman

That would be ideal, but to do that it would take a LOT more than $600 !! LOL

Oh yes, the primes would take a lifetime of collecting.. and also does one REALLY want to manually focus on an auto focus camera all the time? (I was suggesting manual focus primes.) my justification is that the manual focus lenses will not allow me to "cheat green" for an easy picture. They would be my creative lenses. I could get a standard zoom for those snapshots and quick picts.

You like that 17-50, isn't it a bit short? I find the kit lens short in focal length. I don't think I'd need the extra "speed" on that sort of focal length. do you find it useful?

madisonphotogrl · 03-25-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by twinda1

I can highly recommend the M50 1.4; I picked mine up for $66+shipping, and it's one of my favorite lenses, and definitely my favorite 50 (and I have the M50 1.7, M50 2.0, Super Tak 55 1.8, and A50 1.2 -- I'd sooner give up the 1.2 than the M50 1.4). Very sharp wide open, and very nice colors. Plus it's so smooth and solid when focusing. Built like a tank; I actually had it roll from a couch onto hardwood floors, and it survived just fine (though I won't be doing that again!) I'm actually on the look out for a mint copy to keep as a backup.

M50 1.4, ISO 200, 1/50, f/2:

beautiful baby! Do you get tired of the manual focusing?

APEHAUS · 03-25-2008, 08:19 PM

I'm using mine to offset whatever taxes I owe Uncle Sam.

creampuff · 03-25-2008, 08:23 PM

Originally posted by madisonphotogrl

...i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600.

That $600 is anything but free. You're really borrowing from the future.

madisonphotogrl · 03-25-2008, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by ivoire

Hmmmmm... might sell the K10d for 550 and get a k20

wow that is a thought! Make the most of that money.

Stratman · 03-25-2008, 08:34 PM

I don't mind manual focusing, I have several older totally manual lenses, including the SMC-M 50MM F1.4, love it !! Also have an RMC Tokina 28MM F2.8 that I really like, and a cheapo 135MM F2.8.

messthetics · 03-25-2008, 08:37 PM

Originally posted by ivoire

Hmmmmm... might sell the K10d for 550 and get a k20

She will still have lenses :P, IMO a body is no priority when you don't have a decent collection of lenses (such as...hey! myself :P).

First off, you're going to want all of your lenses to be used and not just a collection as many of these seem to become. Anyways, yeah you're going to want a nice prime to start off with. If it was me I would go either FA 50 or a DA 40 as a nice starter lens. Choose on whether you need the extra stops of the FA 50 or the small size of the DA 40, both will produce awesome images. If you feel like you'll be fine with manual focusing one of the older ones will be great to save some money.

As for zooms, you might want to start by trying something like the tamron/pentax 18-250. It would be a great way to decide what focal lengths you prefer the most when buying more expensive glass as well as providing an extremely flexible lens that will always be useful. If you want a great telephoto, the Sigma and Tamron 70-200 f2.8's are coming up, but that would take up all of your funds but would probably be worth it. From my limited experience quality seems better than quantity.

The 70-300 you listed would be nice for a cheap but effective solution. But really, it's about you finding lenses to best fit what you're going to do.

nostatic · 03-25-2008, 09:18 PM

If I had $600, I'd buy a 35mm ltd macro and a spare battery.

I'd rather have a small set of lenses that *really* thrill me than a bunch that are "ok" or "good enough." But everyone is different...

jsherman999 · 03-25-2008, 09:29 PM

If you want to build a collection of nice primes, I think you should consider:

1) Voigtlander SL 180mm f/4 APO-Lanthar $380
2) SMC-M 50mm f/1.4 $60-$120 -or- FA 50mm f/1.4 $150-$200
=~ $450 - $580

Or, what you *really might want to do is kick in a few bucks of your own on top of the $600 and nab a DA* 50-135. Sweet, sweet, sweetness. Actually I'd probably recommend that. You can think of the 50-135 as a 'collection of nice primes', 50, 70, 85, 100, 135mm primes!

.

clawhammer · 03-25-2008, 09:54 PM

mmm... $600.... I'd get the 50-135 (with a little extra, of course); or a pair of Nikon SB 28's, another light stand/umbrella, another sync cord, etc etc; or a 77 limted; or a new hard drive for my laptop, external enclosure for the current one, and a new LCD; buy an FAJ 75-300, Tamron 70-300, and Sigma 70-300 to put that age-old debate to rest; save it for the new 17-70; the possibilities are endless! Too bad the cash isn't

03-25-2008, 07:16 PM	#1
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270	If you had $600..... Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600. Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL

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03-25-2008, 07:27 PM	#2
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	And since you're getting the grip, a spare battery or two would be a good idea also !! and maybe a few more memory cards I am thinking about putting mine towards a lens to replace the Kit, something faster, and a lil wider, possibly the new Tamron 17-50, or the Sigma 17-70

03-25-2008, 07:51 PM	#3
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	that would be nice for your set up. I don't want to repeat my zoom length. I think I will eventually have a collection of sweet fast primes.. hopefully in time.

03-25-2008, 07:52 PM	#4
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	That would be ideal, but to do that it would take a LOT more than $600 !! LOL

03-25-2008, 07:57 PM	#5
twinda1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston Posts: 142	I can highly recommend the M50 1.4; I picked mine up for $66+shipping, and it's one of my favorite lenses, and definitely my favorite 50 (and I have the M50 1.7, M50 2.0, Super Tak 55 1.8, and A50 1.2 -- I'd sooner give up the 1.2 than the M50 1.4). Very sharp wide open, and very nice colors. Plus it's so smooth and solid when focusing. Built like a tank; I actually had it roll from a couch onto hardwood floors, and it survived just fine (though I won't be doing that again!) I'm actually on the look out for a mint copy to keep as a backup. M50 1.4, ISO 200, 1/50, f/2:

03-25-2008, 08:15 PM	#6
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by Stratman That would be ideal, but to do that it would take a LOT more than $600 !! LOL Oh yes, the primes would take a lifetime of collecting.. and also does one REALLY want to manually focus on an auto focus camera all the time? (I was suggesting manual focus primes.) my justification is that the manual focus lenses will not allow me to "cheat green" for an easy picture. They would be my creative lenses. I could get a standard zoom for those snapshots and quick picts. You like that 17-50, isn't it a bit short? I find the kit lens short in focal length. I don't think I'd need the extra "speed" on that sort of focal length. do you find it useful?

03-25-2008, 08:16 PM	#7
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by twinda1 I can highly recommend the M50 1.4; I picked mine up for $66+shipping, and it's one of my favorite lenses, and definitely my favorite 50 (and I have the M50 1.7, M50 2.0, Super Tak 55 1.8, and A50 1.2 -- I'd sooner give up the 1.2 than the M50 1.4). Very sharp wide open, and very nice colors. Plus it's so smooth and solid when focusing. Built like a tank; I actually had it roll from a couch onto hardwood floors, and it survived just fine (though I won't be doing that again!) I'm actually on the look out for a mint copy to keep as a backup. M50 1.4, ISO 200, 1/50, f/2: beautiful baby! Do you get tired of the manual focusing?

03-25-2008, 08:19 PM	#8
APEHAUS Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Whittier, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 93	I'm using mine to offset whatever taxes I owe Uncle Sam.

03-25-2008, 08:23 PM	#9
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Originally posted by madisonphotogrl ...i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600. That $600 is anything but free. You're really borrowing from the future.

03-25-2008, 08:29 PM	#10
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by ivoire Hmmmmm... might sell the K10d for 550 and get a k20 wow that is a thought! Make the most of that money.

03-25-2008, 08:34 PM	#11
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	I don't mind manual focusing, I have several older totally manual lenses, including the SMC-M 50MM F1.4, love it !! Also have an RMC Tokina 28MM F2.8 that I really like, and a cheapo 135MM F2.8.

03-25-2008, 08:37 PM	#12
messthetics Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Oakland, CA Posts: 137	Originally posted by ivoire Hmmmmm... might sell the K10d for 550 and get a k20 She will still have lenses :P, IMO a body is no priority when you don't have a decent collection of lenses (such as...hey! myself :P). First off, you're going to want all of your lenses to be used and not just a collection as many of these seem to become. Anyways, yeah you're going to want a nice prime to start off with. If it was me I would go either FA 50 or a DA 40 as a nice starter lens. Choose on whether you need the extra stops of the FA 50 or the small size of the DA 40, both will produce awesome images. If you feel like you'll be fine with manual focusing one of the older ones will be great to save some money. As for zooms, you might want to start by trying something like the tamron/pentax 18-250. It would be a great way to decide what focal lengths you prefer the most when buying more expensive glass as well as providing an extremely flexible lens that will always be useful. If you want a great telephoto, the Sigma and Tamron 70-200 f2.8's are coming up, but that would take up all of your funds but would probably be worth it. From my limited experience quality seems better than quantity. The 70-300 you listed would be nice for a cheap but effective solution. But really, it's about you finding lenses to best fit what you're going to do.

03-25-2008, 09:18 PM	#13
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	If I had $600, I'd buy a 35mm ltd macro and a spare battery. I'd rather have a small set of lenses that really thrill me than a bunch that are "ok" or "good enough." But everyone is different...

03-25-2008, 09:29 PM	#14
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	If you want to build a collection of nice primes, I think you should consider: 1) Voigtlander SL 180mm f/4 APO-Lanthar $380 2) SMC-M 50mm f/1.4 $60-$120 -or- FA 50mm f/1.4 $150-$200 =~ $450 - $580 Or, what you really might want to do is kick in a few bucks of your own on top of the $600 and nab a DA 50-135. Sweet, sweet, sweetness. Actually I'd probably recommend that. You can think of the 50-135 as a 'collection of nice primes', 50, 70, 85, 100, 135mm primes! .

03-25-2008, 09:54 PM	#15
clawhammer Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Logan, Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 971	mmm... $600.... I'd get the 50-135 (with a little extra, of course); or a pair of Nikon SB 28's, another light stand/umbrella, another sync cord, etc etc; or a 77 limted; or a new hard drive for my laptop, external enclosure for the current one, and a new LCD; buy an FAJ 75-300, Tamron 70-300, and Sigma 70-300 to put that age-old debate to rest; save it for the new 17-70; the possibilities are endless! Too bad the cash isn't