|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-25-2018, 05:51 AM
|
| |
The world is your oyster as far as manual focus lenses go. The A mount lenses gives fully automated exposure but they are a little harder to find than the all manual M mount. I suspect that demand is higher because of the automation benefits. Supply of A's is lower because the M's were available for much longer. There are also the even older K lenses, but they are becoming collectible and prices are rising. There are lots of old third party K mount stuff, but these tend to be zooms for the most part. If you stick to Pentax you will rarely go wrong. All of my comments therefore apply to the Asahi stuff.
As for focal lengths, I would start with a 50mm. Easy to find and cheap too. The make marvelous portrait lenses. Get the f/1.7 for best value. The f/2 will be cheaper but are also highly regarded. The f/1.4 is more expensive. You get half a stop of sensitivity and bokeh for your money. Some say that the f/1.7 is sharper. The holy grail of fifties is the f/1.2 but they go for big money and nailing the focus can be intimidating for a beginner.
On the wide side, there are plenty of choices. 20mm or wider is expensive and hard to find. A 24mm is just wide enough on the K5 to be useful. The 28mm is the most plentiful and cheapest. A 35mm is not that different from a 50mm to make it useful when starting out. Note that Pentax made a great many in these focal lengths, mostly in f/2.8 or f/2. All are very good, but some are excellent. Read up the reviews to find out.
For a tele, start with an 85mm, 100mm or 135mm. The 135mm f/3.5 is cheap and cheerful, but has been called ridiculously sharp. Forget about the A* 135mm f/1.8, nice but rare and big bucks.
The 100mm f/2.8 is compact and nice. Regarding an 85mm Pentax, things are complicated. The A* f/1.4 is very, very expensive. And older is actually better. The K 85mm f/1.8 is considered to be better than the M 85mm f/2 that replaced it.
For something longer, look at the A or M 200mm f/4. They are compact, sharp and cheap. The same goes for the A or M 400mm f/5.6. 300mm is a bit of a mixed bag, varying from not quite sharp by modern standards to very expensive.
If you want something new and manual focus in K mount, you are in luck. Check out the offerings from Rokinon/Samyang, Mitakon, Irix and Lensbaby. Focal lengths vary from 11mm to 135mm.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
08-25-2018, 05:51 AM
|
| |
The world is your oyster as far as manual focus lenses go. The A mount lenses gives fully automated exposure but they are a little harder to find than the all manual M mount. I suspect that demand is higher because of the automation benefits. Supply of A's is lower because the M's were available for much longer. There are also the even older K lenses, but they are becoming collectible and prices are rising. There are lots of old third party K mount stuff, but these tend to be zooms for the most part. If you stick to Pentax you will rarely go wrong. All of my comments therefore apply to the Asahi stuff.
As for focal lengths, I would start with a 50mm. Easy to find and cheap too. The make marvelous portrait lenses. Get the f/1.7 for best value. The f/2 will be cheaper but are also highly regarded. The f/1.4 is more expensive. You get half a stop of sensitivity and bokeh for your money. Some say that the f/1.7 is sharper. The holy grail of fifties is the f/1.2 but they go for big money and nailing the focus can be intimidating for a beginner.
On the wide side, there are plenty of choices. 20mm or wider is expensive and hard to find. A 24mm is just wide enough on the K5 to be useful. The 28mm is the most plentiful and cheapest. A 35mm is not that different from a 50mm to make it useful when starting out. Note that Pentax made a great many in these focal lengths, mostly in f/2.8 or f/2. All are very good, but some are excellent. Read up the reviews to find out.
For a tele, start with an 85mm, 100mm or 135mm. The 135mm f/3.5 is cheap and cheerful, but has been called ridiculously sharp. Forget about the A* 135mm f/1.8, nice but rare and big bucks.
The 100mm f/2.8 is compact and nice. Regarding an 85mm Pentax, things are complicated. The A* f/1.4 is very, very expensive. And older is actually better. The K 85mm f/1.8 is considered to be better than the M 85mm f/2 that replaced it.
For something longer, look at the A or M 200mm f/4. They are compact, sharp and cheap. The same goes for the A or M 400mm f/5.6. 300mm is a bit of a mixed bag, varying from not quite sharp by modern standards to very expensive.
If you want something new and manual focus in K mount, you are in luck. Check out the offerings from Rokinon/Samyang, Mitakon, Irix and Lensbaby. Focal lengths vary from 11mm to 135mm.
|
