Stick with Pentax or switch?!

GateCityRadio · 02-10-2017, 01:28 PM

Get the 55/1.4 and the 50-135/2.8.....two of the best lenses I've used for portraiture on Pentax DSLRs.

The DA70 isn't bad either as a budget option to the FA77. I've owned both and both render differently. I feel like the DA70 was easier because it was sharp wide open and nailed focus more often than not. The FA77 has some serious magic though...I just liked it a lot more on FF film than APS-C.

I didn't find Pentax's AF shortcomings to be all that much of a problem with portraiture....most of the time you are posing your subject and they are still. A million points isn't going to make AF any more accurate in that situation.

**clackers** · 02-10-2017, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Wired

negative. Not with the Profoto anyways. I bought three different cactus and strobepro triggers to try that. Not to mention it's a very silly work around with multiple blobs of radios sticking up above the camera.

Including the v6 ii that a forum member has used to fire his Gooix 360 HSS?

Wired · 02-10-2017, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by clackers

Including the v6 ii that a forum member has used to fire his Gooix 360 HSS?

don't know what to tell you, it doesn't trigger the Profoto TTL Trigger

**clackers** · 02-10-2017, 02:41 PM

Originally posted by Wired

don't know what to tell you, it doesn't trigger the Profoto TTL Trigger

Okay, that's handy to know.

Since one day I'll probably get a portable HSS strobe, I'll look at the Godox/Flashpoint stuff.

Wired · 02-10-2017, 02:44 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clackers

Okay, that's handy to know.

Since one day I'll probably get a portable HSS strobe, I'll look at the Godox/Flashpoint stuff.

I'd try out the Lightrein stuff as well. those strobes are pretty awesome for the price, especially compared to the Godox/Flashpoint. I was going to go with the Lightrein 600w wireless one but it was way too big compared to the B1 and portability is huge for me... at the time I had a project shooting a fashion session in the mountain rainforests.

**UncleVanya** · 02-10-2017, 03:41 PM

Originally posted by GateCityRadio

The DA70 isn't bad either as a budget option to the FA77. I've owned both and both render differently. I feel like the DA70 was easier because it was sharp wide open and nailed focus more often than not. The FA77 has some serious magic though...I just liked it a lot more on FF film than APS-C.

I don't own the 55, but the 50-135 and the 77 and the 70 are all quite sweet for portrait work. For that matter so is the DA* 200 but the working distance gets long.

Could the love of the 77 on film have been related to format? Have you tried it on the K-1?

gatorguy · 02-10-2017, 03:47 PM

Originally posted by GateCityRadio

Get the 55/1.4 and the 50-135/2.8.....two of the best lenses I've used for portraiture on Pentax DSLRs.

I'm also toying with portraiture, currently using the *55 and Bower 85 for it. I JUST ordered the DA*50-135 early yesterday morning after some research. Your glowing endorsement has me looking forward to it even more.

mee · 02-10-2017, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

I'm also toying with portraiture, currently using the *55 and Bower 85 for it. I JUST ordered the DA*50-135 early yesterday morning after some research. Your glowing endorsement has me looking forward to it even more.

Wonderful lens optically.

**clackers** · 02-10-2017, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by mee

Wonderful lens optically.

Yeah, a real favourite of mine.

It has such beautiful rendering I've thought many times over the years, 'Maybe its sister, the 16-50, is just as good, and I ought to get it, too', but people don't seem to think that's the case.

mee · 02-10-2017, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by clackers

Yeah, a real favourite of mine.

It has such beautiful rendering I've thought many times over the years, 'Maybe its sister, the 16-50, is just as good, and I ought to get it, too', but people don't seem to think that's the case.

mmm I have both and think the 50-135 is a 'stop' sharper easily and that it renders a little more nicely than the 16-50. That said, the 16-50 is nice, if you can find it less than retail price imo.

**clackers** · 02-10-2017, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by mee

mmm I have both and think the 50-135 is a 'stop' sharper easily and that it renders a little more nicely than the 16-50. That said, the 16-50 is nice, if you can find it less than retail price imo.

Thanks for the info, Mee.

It would need to be better than what I use at the moment - the excellent Sigma 17-50 f2.8.

I know sharpness is not everything, but ...

gatorguy · 02-10-2017, 07:11 PM

Originally posted by clackers

Thanks for the info, Mee.

It would have to be better than what I use at the moment - the Sigma 17-50 f2.8.

I know sharpness is not everything, but ...

Same here. I've really tried to listen to the advice from you and other well-experienced shooters.

...Except that I have bucked the advice on strobes and gone with constant lighting, sometimes augmenting with controlled natural lighting from a dormer window.. I know from reading comments here that LED lighting doesn't get many props but so far so good.

**clackers** · 02-10-2017, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by gatorguy

Same here. I've really tried to listen to the advice from you and other well-experienced shooters.

...Except that I have bucked the advice on strobes and gone with constant lighting, sometimes augmenting with controlled natural lighting from a dormer window.. I know from reading comments here that LED lighting doesn't get many props but so far so good.

Yeah, I'm not a fan because of the lack of power (meaning can't use low ISO at f5.6 or f8), but best of luck to you!

JHD · 02-11-2017, 02:15 AM

I'm no longer a Pentaxian but given what the OP is doing and what his needs are, IMO he's best off staying put with Pentax. Switching systems can be very expensive, especially when you go through a few systems. If you're shooting action, that would be a different story.

OTOH, I'm not into flash photography, and perhaps there may be some benefit with another brand. However, even with that in mind one still has to consider the 645z. That's one of the best cameras for the OPs line of work.

gatorguy · 02-11-2017, 07:10 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clackers

Yeah, I'm not a fan because of the lack of power (meaning can't use low ISO at f5.6 or f8), but best of luck to you!

Perhaps that's why I've got a fondness for low-key?

02-10-2017, 06:14 PM	#26
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by mee mmm I have both and think the 50-135 is a 'stop' sharper easily and that it renders a little more nicely than the 16-50. That said, the 16-50 is nice, if you can find it less than retail price imo. Thanks for the info, Mee. It would need to be better than what I use at the moment - the excellent Sigma 17-50 f2.8. I know sharpness is not everything, but ... Last edited by clackers; 02-10-2017 at 11:25 PM.

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02-10-2017, 01:28 PM	#16
GateCityRadio Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 503	Get the 55/1.4 and the 50-135/2.8.....two of the best lenses I've used for portraiture on Pentax DSLRs. The DA70 isn't bad either as a budget option to the FA77. I've owned both and both render differently. I feel like the DA70 was easier because it was sharp wide open and nailed focus more often than not. The FA77 has some serious magic though...I just liked it a lot more on FF film than APS-C. I didn't find Pentax's AF shortcomings to be all that much of a problem with portraiture....most of the time you are posing your subject and they are still. A million points isn't going to make AF any more accurate in that situation.

02-10-2017, 01:34 PM	#17
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Wired negative. Not with the Profoto anyways. I bought three different cactus and strobepro triggers to try that. Not to mention it's a very silly work around with multiple blobs of radios sticking up above the camera. Including the v6 ii that a forum member has used to fire his Gooix 360 HSS?

02-10-2017, 01:47 PM	#18
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	Originally posted by clackers Including the v6 ii that a forum member has used to fire his Gooix 360 HSS? don't know what to tell you, it doesn't trigger the Profoto TTL Trigger

02-10-2017, 02:41 PM	#19
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by Wired don't know what to tell you, it doesn't trigger the Profoto TTL Trigger Okay, that's handy to know. Since one day I'll probably get a portable HSS strobe, I'll look at the Godox/Flashpoint stuff.

02-10-2017, 02:44 PM - 1 Like	#20
Wired Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,519	Originally posted by clackers Okay, that's handy to know. Since one day I'll probably get a portable HSS strobe, I'll look at the Godox/Flashpoint stuff. I'd try out the Lightrein stuff as well. those strobes are pretty awesome for the price, especially compared to the Godox/Flashpoint. I was going to go with the Lightrein 600w wireless one but it was way too big compared to the B1 and portability is huge for me... at the time I had a project shooting a fashion session in the mountain rainforests.

02-10-2017, 03:41 PM	#21
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,398	Originally posted by GateCityRadio The DA70 isn't bad either as a budget option to the FA77. I've owned both and both render differently. I feel like the DA70 was easier because it was sharp wide open and nailed focus more often than not. The FA77 has some serious magic though...I just liked it a lot more on FF film than APS-C. I don't own the 55, but the 50-135 and the 77 and the 70 are all quite sweet for portrait work. For that matter so is the DA* 200 but the working distance gets long. Could the love of the 77 on film have been related to format? Have you tried it on the K-1?

02-10-2017, 03:47 PM	#22
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by GateCityRadio Get the 55/1.4 and the 50-135/2.8.....two of the best lenses I've used for portraiture on Pentax DSLRs. I'm also toying with portraiture, currently using the 55 and Bower 85 for it. I JUST ordered the DA50-135 early yesterday morning after some research. Your glowing endorsement has me looking forward to it even more.

02-10-2017, 04:07 PM	#23
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by gatorguy I'm also toying with portraiture, currently using the 55 and Bower 85 for it. I JUST ordered the DA50-135** early yesterday morning after some research. Your glowing endorsement has me looking forward to it even more. Wonderful lens optically.

02-10-2017, 04:20 PM	#24
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by mee Wonderful lens optically. Yeah, a real favourite of mine. It has such beautiful rendering I've thought many times over the years, 'Maybe its sister, the 16-50, is just as good, and I ought to get it, too', but people don't seem to think that's the case.

02-10-2017, 05:44 PM	#25
mee Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 7,403	Originally posted by clackers Yeah, a real favourite of mine. It has such beautiful rendering I've thought many times over the years, 'Maybe its sister, the 16-50, is just as good, and I ought to get it, too', but people don't seem to think that's the case. mmm I have both and think the 50-135 is a 'stop' sharper easily and that it renders a little more nicely than the 16-50. That said, the 16-50 is nice, if you can find it less than retail price imo.

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02-10-2017, 07:11 PM	#27
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by clackers Thanks for the info, Mee. It would have to be better than what I use at the moment - the Sigma 17-50 f2.8. I know sharpness is not everything, but ... Same here. I've really tried to listen to the advice from you and other well-experienced shooters. ...Except that I have bucked the advice on strobes and gone with constant lighting, sometimes augmenting with controlled natural lighting from a dormer window.. I know from reading comments here that LED lighting doesn't get many props but so far so good.

02-10-2017, 11:28 PM	#28
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	Originally posted by gatorguy Same here. I've really tried to listen to the advice from you and other well-experienced shooters. ...Except that I have bucked the advice on strobes and gone with constant lighting, sometimes augmenting with controlled natural lighting from a dormer window.. I know from reading comments here that LED lighting doesn't get many props but so far so good. Yeah, I'm not a fan because of the lack of power (meaning can't use low ISO at f5.6 or f8), but best of luck to you!

02-11-2017, 02:15 AM	#29
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	I'm no longer a Pentaxian but given what the OP is doing and what his needs are, IMO he's best off staying put with Pentax. Switching systems can be very expensive, especially when you go through a few systems. If you're shooting action, that would be a different story. OTOH, I'm not into flash photography, and perhaps there may be some benefit with another brand. However, even with that in mind one still has to consider the 645z. That's one of the best cameras for the OPs line of work.

02-11-2017, 07:10 AM - 1 Like	#30
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by clackers Yeah, I'm not a fan because of the lack of power (meaning can't use low ISO at f5.6 or f8), but best of luck to you! Perhaps that's why I've got a fondness for low-key?