1st prime lens - a little help please

Hello,

I bought my K-x with the kit 18-55 and 55-300 lens two years ago. I like both lenses despite what some reports say, but would now like a first prime lens for "general" use. My old 35 Minolta years ago had a 45mm Rokkor lens, which I liked a lot. I thought the extra 5mm down from 50mm was useful for Nat. Trust Houses etc.

Is there a Pentax or other make with a K fit that folks could recommend.

Regards

Geoff

Well personally I don't think you can go wrong with the Pentax DA 35mm 2.4 Yes its plastic but its cheap and light, relatively fast and has great IQ!

EDIT have a read here link

I agree the DA35-2.4 would be a good bet but if your wallet can take the strain the DA35-2.8-Ltd-macro would give you an extra arrow for your bow...

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Digital:
Pentax K5- Vivitar 19mm 3.8; FA35mm f2; D-Xenon 100mm macro f2.8; DA50-200mm WR...
Flash:
Yongnuo YN-560; Vivitar 285HV; Cactus V4 triggers...
Film:
Pentax-MX & M50mm f1.4; Spottie & 55mm f1.8; MG & M40mm 2.8...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/daveholmesphotos/

+1 for DA35 2.4
For children parties or other ocassions indoor I just take this one and do not need to change it.

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K-S2 + T28-75 + DA10-17 + DA18-135 + HD55-300 + LTD 21, 35, 40, 70 + Super A + A28 2.8 + A50 1.4 + A50 1.7

+2 for the 35mm, I have owned both, the DA 35 f2.4 is great, but the f2.8 is just so much more of a lens.

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Andrew

"I'm here because the whiskey is free" - Tyla

PPG link
Flickr link

I highly recommend the Sigma 30/1.4 - Superb character wide open.

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[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

I second that!

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Bob

My website (Hadfield Photography)

Pentax Gallery Artist page:link

Flickr Photostream: link

DA40 f2.8, great for street and buildings,although a little longer than the 35mm lenses I find it versatile and pleasing to use.

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Cheers, HG

K110+DA40, K200+DA35, K3 and a bag of lenses, bodies and other bits.

Mustn't forget the Zenits, or folders, or...

I've some gallerieshere CLICKY LINK! and my PPG entries.

Are you looking for an autofocus lens or would a manual focus one suit you?

If manual focus is an option, there are masses of fantastic lenses out there for relatively little money. The Pentax SMC 'K' series are among the best.

Regards
David

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Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Many variables, what what you intend to photograph, how important are auto features, how wide you want the max aperture and whether you want a macro option.

For buildings and landscapes then an old manual lens would represent excellent value. M28mm f3.5 is probably the best cheap option for £40 odd. More expensive is the K28mm f3.5. The M35mm f2 is very good, the K35mmf3.5 excellent. Both are more difficult to find. If AF and auto metering then the FA43Ltd is great, but expensive and maybe too long.

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You can see some of my photos here if you are so inclined

The most important question is "how much do you want to spend?"

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[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283

I'm not sure if that is the most important question. It's probably more important to first establish what it's primarily going to be used for and what features are most critical. Once these factors are known it's then valid to look at what is the limit on budget and to choose the best available for the price that fits the requirements.

Regards
David

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Flickr

Nicola's Apartments, Kassiopi, Corfu

Some cameras, some lenses, some bits 'n' bobs

Yes, I actually agree with both. The number of times we get asked questions on kit with no reference to purpose and budget. The question surely has to always be .... I want a lens for blah, blah, and my maximum budget is £x.
Make life easier for yourself and any respondents.

Thanks folks. Just walked in (11-45pm gmt) so will write again after a nights sleep.

I am possibly prepared to spend up to £350 (ish) if necessary, as I will probably not buy another lens. As I like birding, I probably need to spend £5000 to get what I need, but will not be doing that. I just want a good general purpose point and shoot type lens like as I said the 45mm old (35mm Rokkor)) was, and fancy a quality prime. How much difference I would see from the kit models I have these days, I do not know, but it would be nice to see

Might not be what you're looking for but for around £300 the FA50mm F1.4 is the first prime I'd buy after the standard zoom. Good in low light and good for head and shoulder shots and not insanely priced.

When I had a 43mm, 28mm & 35mm they mostly stayed at home and the FA50 was the one I took everywhere with the DA16-45.

Still if you liked the 45mm on the Minolta an FA28 would be almost exactley the same focal length if they still make them, small too.