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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-13-2015, 01:17 AM
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First I would see with you wife if using prime is acceptable. It is very different in use, and many dislike.
On the opposite with cell phones more and more are used with 1 focal length.
I have the impression you want the 18-135 range, but higher quality and also gathering more light.
If you go for the zoom and want brighter, I think the tamron 28-75 or sigma 24-70 would do the trick in many situations. Brighter, cover most of the range. A bit expensive but more interresting range for the sigma. This lense would work well for weddings, event, low light interiors in general.
Otherwise, if you don't mind to need to change lense when changing framing... if you enjoy trying to get best possible picture and don't mind cropping a bit in post prod, and moving arround your subject, prime lenses can offer your more quality, smaller/lighter/less intrusive gear and even more light.
As kh1234567890 explains, I tend to use most arround 20mm and 70mm. A bit like you.
The 21mm would cover just well the 21-30mm range for all kind of wide shoots, landscapes and so on. It would not be that lighter as 18-135 is f/3.5 I think bellow 24mm and the 21 is f/3.2. But it is so small/unobtrusive that it is a joy to use. And the rendering would be really better.
For the long end, kh use DA70, smaller, less expensive, very sharp lense. And gathering much more light than the 18-135. It would cover well say the 60-120mm range. As apparently you are not too after past 135mm, that would do the job well.
Me I prefer, the FA77, even more light gathering and a rendering that to me is more pleasing. A bit less agressive/chirurgical, more subtle and with more 3D/pixie dust look. The issue is the price. Very expensive. If you buy it, you'll never want to use the DA70 again!... But if you are on budget, it is likely not worth the trouble. A used DA70 would be much more affordable and bring 90% of it.
If you do most in the 20-70 range through you should look where you shoot the most. If there lot of pictures in the 30-60mm range, you should really think of a lense like FA31, DA35 (plastic wonder or ltd), FA43. It might be more use for you than 70mm if you don't got past 70. And you could always get it after.
To just try primes, I think FA43 would be nice. Expensive but still acceptable. Very sharp closed down, great for portraiture and details due to its ability to isolate the subject. And Yes it would replace the 35 & 50. You could buy a cheap used DA21 for the wide angle after.
The issue is not what it could replace (or not) the issue is to know the focal you'll love the more. I know that using a great lense help me love the focal too. You'll be more willing to adapt when you see the far superior shoot, but really you shoot look where you take many shoots.
The best way likely to cover the whole range in prime is DA21, FA31, FA77, but the prices of the last 2... oh my !
Me I'am 99% decided for DA35 f/2.8 ltd. Very contrasty picture, exceptionnal resistance to flare, very adaptable focal length (from portrait to landscapes) and the macro feature to see things differently. That could also be a good first try !
If money is a concern (it always is at some point for most of us!), really, just try with DA35 f/2.4 (not the limited version) play quite some time with it... and only after see if you want to continue or not.
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