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70mm Limited or DA* 50-135

vrapan
Posted 14/07/2011 - 14:39 Link
Which one would you choose, I am trying to balance the need for extra reach with my desire to keep my kit as simple and light as possible.

I am getting both eventually just because I would love to have the flexibility of the zoom and also the portability of the 70mm in case I need to go light but I feel the 40mm is not long enough, however I have to choose one for right now.

In that case which one would you choose...
Dangermouse
Posted 14/07/2011 - 15:18 Link
I would go for the 50-135mm for now. That way if you find that you can live with the size of it (not that big or heavy a lens for an f2.8 zoom really) then you don't need to buy the 70mm later on.

I do suspect that Pentax intend replacing this lens - why else are they popping up for well below RRP? I ignored them initially as I didn't think they were affordable (was looking at Sigma/Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 ) but £40 more for a DA* was a pretty irresistible deal!
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
japers45
Posted 14/07/2011 - 15:55 Link
Well I would say that the 50-135 is an alternative to the 70mm ltd but that it does not work the other way around. So much more flexible- I have the former and really like it- I have not owned a ltd (yet) but would love to handle one to check out what all the fuss is about. I think I would struggle without the compositional flexibility i can from the zoom.
vrapan
Posted 14/07/2011 - 16:02 Link
Dangermouse wrote:
I would go for the 50-135mm for now. That way if you find that you can live with the size of it (not that big or heavy a lens for an f2.8 zoom really) then you don't need to buy the 70mm later on.

I do suspect that Pentax intend replacing this lens - why else are they popping up for well below RRP? I ignored them initially as I didn't think they were affordable (was looking at Sigma/Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 ) but £40 more for a DA* was a pretty irresistible deal!

You think Pentax is about to replace the 50-135? Cause if that is the case I'd rather get the 70mm and wait to see what the the next zoom will be.

Also despite of the fact that the 50-135 is not that massively big it still is 6 times the weight of a 70mm and even more than that long. So the difference is very substantial.

Of course the logical thing is to get the 50-135 and if it is ok walking around with it skip the 70, though the other thing the 70mm will give you is making your photography more discreet.
Edited by vrapan: 14/07/2011 - 16:08
Dangermouse
Posted 14/07/2011 - 16:41 Link
I've no idea to be honest. I'm just putting two and two together from the fact that at least a couple of sellers seem to have them new for well below RRP. I may quite well be coming up with five (it could just as likely be the case that Pentax decided to reduce them to improve their cashflow after the natural disasters in Japan), the actions of large companies often make little sense!

I'd just find 70mm a bit too long for situations where I'm likely to want a small, discreet camera. Something in the 28mm-35mm range is more useful to me as a walkabout lens to clip on before exploring a city centre and grabbing a few shots on the way.
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
vrapan
Posted 14/07/2011 - 16:51 Link
I do have the 40mm for
Dangermouse wrote:
I've no idea to be honest. I'm just putting two and two together from the fact that at least a couple of sellers seem to have them new for well below RRP. I may quite well be coming up with five (it could just as likely be the case that Pentax decided to reduce them to improve their cashflow after the natural disasters in Japan), the actions of large companies often make little sense!

I'd just find 70mm a bit too long for situations where I'm likely to want a small, discreet camera. Something in the 28mm-35mm range is more useful to me as a walkabout lens to clip on before exploring a city centre and grabbing a few shots on the way.

Oh ok right!

I do have the 40mm for that kind of thing, the 70mm would be a bit of my midrange tele so to speak in cases where I do not want to carry the 50-135, what I was really wondering is if anyone is using it or anyone could see it as their tele and can comment on it.

I know it is not long to be a tele but is it long enough and good enough that with a bit of cropping manage to work as a tele when I really would rather not carry the 700gr of the 50-135.
Anvh
Posted 14/07/2011 - 18:30 Link
Dangermouse wrote:
I'd just find 70mm a bit too long for situations where I'm likely to want a small, discreet camera. Something in the 28mm-35mm range is more useful to me as a walkabout lens to clip on before exploring a city centre and grabbing a few shots on the way.

Without the hood it isn't so long though but with a hood you will draw some attention.
About using the lens, it doesn't feel big on your camera, it's very well balanced i've to say and a joy to use.
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
beginner
Posted 14/07/2011 - 18:40 Link
Go for the 50/135!...it's an amazing lens!

Comment Image


Taken from across the road!....if you look carefully you can see the hairs on her chest!
K20D...ist DS ,DA18/55,DA16/45.DA* 50/135,"A"1.7 50MM..."A" 70/210..M 50mm f2...Tamron 90mm macro,28/300 Tamron,200/500 Tamron 6.9....A Pentax DA*300... Sigma10/20,FA31mm 1.8 Ltd*********,FA 77mm Ltd!
Edited by beginner: 14/07/2011 - 18:45
Smeggypants
Posted 14/07/2011 - 19:23 Link
Breasts!!! - Cool


I love my DA* 50-135 as well as breasts. It's great for nearfield candid shots.

If I was going to get a prime around the 70mm mark I would go for the Sigma 85/1.4
[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
vrapan
Posted 14/07/2011 - 19:26 Link
Well the point is to keep the weight down the 85mm 1.4 Sigma is not really a light weight lens

Ok the 50-135 it is as long as SRS hurry's up and brings one in stock
beginner
Posted 14/07/2011 - 19:49 Link
They have a used one for £675!
K20D...ist DS ,DA18/55,DA16/45.DA* 50/135,"A"1.7 50MM..."A" 70/210..M 50mm f2...Tamron 90mm macro,28/300 Tamron,200/500 Tamron 6.9....A Pentax DA*300... Sigma10/20,FA31mm 1.8 Ltd*********,FA 77mm Ltd!
vrapan
Posted 14/07/2011 - 20:07 Link
I'd rather get a new for 639 no ?
fatspider
Posted 14/07/2011 - 20:22 Link
Smeggypants wrote:
Breasts!!! - Cool

I disagree Smeggy, I find them quite warm

I personally feel the 50-135 is a bit big for a walkabout lens, and unless your going to spend a lot of cash on a cracking quality UV filter then you really need the lens hood in place, the front element of the 50-135 screams out "SCRATCH ME"
Having said that if you believe everything thats said about it then its one of the best zooms Pentax have ever produced.
My Names Alan, and I'm a lensaholic.
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Dangermouse
Posted 14/07/2011 - 20:23 Link
Yeah, that had me slightly baffled too!

Of course, if you buy a new Pentax lens from SRS you get a two year guarantee. This is why I'm not worried about the SDM problems which appeared early on in the production life of the lens (plus I suspect Pentax have upgraded it as I don't seem to see many recent posts about this, suggesting that older lenses were more prone and the design has been improved).
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.
Anvh
Posted 14/07/2011 - 20:25 Link
vrapan wrote:
I'd rather get a new for 639 no ?

I paid even less 1,5 years ago... how fast things can change...
Stefan
Comment Image

K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ

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