[Sandy Hancock]

My preferred kit (with the lenses I currently own) is:

F28/2.8 - I hope one day that will be replaced with a K28/2.0
A50/1.2
K135/2.5

The FA31, FA43 and FA77 are also a wonderful compliment despite their relative modernity

[nickthetasmaniac]

So the question is - what's folks ideal lens set-up for the LX? I'm thinking maybe a small classic 3-lens prime set-up...

As others have said, a classic set-up for the LX would be no different to any other manual focus Pentax SLR...

If you want to go for the ultimate:
SMC-K 28/f2
SMC-K 50/f1.2
SMC-K 85/f1.8

The latter two come up for sale relatively frequently, and can be had for relatively normal money. The K28/f2, not so much Although that said, it's still about a third of what you would pay for a Leica 28mm Summicron... These things are relative.

If you want smaller, cheaper and 49mm filters:
SMC-M 28/f2 (excellent, just not quite as excellent as the K version)
SMC-M 50/f1.4
SMC-M 85/f2 or 100/f2.8

---------- Post added 02-19-2019 at 10:22 AM ----------

F28/2.8 - I hope one day that will be replaced with a K28/2.0

There's one for sale in the classifieds at the moment (not mine)

[gofour3]

Lots of great recommendations for the LX!

One that I would add is a fish-eye lens, specifically the A16/2.8. It has built-in filters for b+w & colour film shooting and is fast & sharp.

Phil.

[stevebrot]

This might be crazy talk but I like the IQ of my M 50 1.7 more than my M 50 1.4.

You are not alone. Some might argue the inferior nature of having 6 aperture blades, but what do they know.


Steve

[photoptimist]

You are not alone. Some might argue the inferior nature of having 6 aperture blades, but what do they know.


Steve

Maybe they fear that their photos will be hexed by that lens!

[womble]

I started with a KX so most of my lenses are K series. In 1984 I got an MESuper and a couple lenses. When it died I replaced it with a very nice LX. I carried

• M28.3.5 (I had an M28/2 for a couple years recently)
• M50/1.4
• M100/2.8

with the MESuper and they work just fine on the LX (as do any of the K lenses).

I made a lot of nice pictures with the MESupwer kit from 1984 - 2006.

The M150/3.5 is a gem of a lens. Very sharp. It’s a sleeper that a few people here know about.

Great trio. I love my M100/2.8.

I agree with whoever suggested keeping to Ms (49mm filters) or Ks (52mm). If I'm using my Ks I'd go with the 30/50/105 trio. The 50 could be either the 1.2 or 1.4 versions. If you can fit one more lens in, the 85mm is pretty sweet too.

[pres589]

[puts on flame retardant pants]

Sigma Super-Wide II 24mm f2.8, Pentax M 35-70 zoom, and Tamron 52B 90mm f2.5 Macro Adaptall?

[niblue]

Thanks for the advice. I've got what looks like a nice SMC-M 135mm F3.5 coming from Ebay and will go with that and the likes of the SMC-M 50mm F1.7, Sigma 28mm F2 and Sigma 24mm F2.8 for starters.

[niblue]

The SMC-M 135mm F3.5 arrived so, with an SMC-M 50mm F1.7 and a Vivitar 28mm F2, that's my initial set of lenses for the LX complete:

[ryanM]

SMC Pentax 50mm F1.4 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database K 50mm f1.4


SMC Pentax 105mm F2.8 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database K 105mm f2.8


SMC Pentax 28mm F3.5 Reviews - K Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database K 28mm f3.5


Here are my suggestions for the LX. Since you have a winder the little bigger size of the K series lenses aren't a big deal (it's not a big deal without the winder either, but the winder adds some bulk to the whole setup so these might balance a bit better.) I also prefer the look of a few of the K series over the m and a series. This makes for a great three lens set that should cover a lot of situations and they are all pretty nice when shot on film, black and white or color. These all take a 52mm filter too, so that is a bonus.


I also like the M 28 f2.8, but that is a 49mm filter. It's a nice lens that performs really well on film. Also, if you can find a nice K 35mm f2, pick it up. It's a great film lens.

[pres589]

The Pentax 28 f3.5 primes are supposed to be wonderful to use and have excellent IQ and rendering. Me myself, I'd rather have something faster, so that indoor shots are easier to get without a tripod or similar equipment. This is especially important to me with film where you can't just tweak the ISO up a few stops for a few shots. I'd rather have the f2 and deal with the slightly lesser IQ.

... and then for my film travel trio, I found an M 20 f4 and an M 35 f2.8 or M 40 f2.8 instead, so maybe don't listen to me too close.

[ctrout]

As I look at my LX collection, I see that I have a hole in my primes. It looks like I need something in the 100-135mm range. So many great choices though, which one to get?

[womble]

As I look at my LX collection, I see that I have a hole in my primes. It looks like I need something in the 100-135mm range. So many great choices though, which one to get?

M100/2.8 is a sweet lens. One of my favourites. If size isn't an issue, the K135/2.5 is pretty sweet too.

[nickthetasmaniac]

As I look at my LX collection, I see that I have a hole in my primes. It looks like I need something in the 100-135mm range. So many great choices though, which one to get?

Yep, M100/f2.8 is exceptional and relatively compact. I also have the K135/f2.5 and almost always take the M...


Portra400


Tmax100


Tmax100


Portra400

[Lord Lucan]

I don't think it has been mentioned, but for a convenince in the field it is a good idea to have lenses with the same filter size as far as possible. In the range you are talking about, that would be 49mm with M-series lenses. I tend to carry around a M28/F2.8, M50/F1.4 (or 1.7), and M100/F4 Macro (or M135/F3.5). While I have a skylight filter for every lens, you want to minimise the number of specials such as red, orange and polarising filters - for handling convenience as well as expense.

Those lenses (the M100 Macro, not the M135) are here in my "ideal" LX kit :