DA* 50-135 or DA* 55 for portrait?
My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
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If you go for the 55mm I would suggest it is from a retailer who is flexible enough to swap it over for another if you are not happy. My first copy was never right - contrast was not good, focus was erratic, my second copy still needs focus adjustment (on a K20D) but is a pleasure to use.
Hope this helps
For portraits I tend to use my 50, it allows me to get close enough to do nice head / shoulders without needing to be far away.
Bret
my kit: K3, K5, K-01, DA 18-55, D-FA50 macro, Siggy 30/1.4, 100-300/f4, 70-200/2.8, Samsung 12-24/f4, Tamron 17-50, and lots of other bits.
Simon
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So for a subject 10 feet away, the 55mm @ f1.4 will give you a DOF of 0.56 feet.
For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet.
You could also save a fair bit of cash by looking at the Sigma 50-150 f2.8.
AF - Pentax K5, Sigma 10-20/4-5.6, Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 30/1.4, Sigma 70-200/2.8, Tamron 70-300/4-5.6
MF - Vivitar CF 28/2.8, Tamron AD2 90/2.5, MTO 1000/11
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Don't forget that the DOF (which gives you the subject isolation you desire) will get smaller the longer your lens.
So for a subject 10 feet away, the 55mm @ f1.4 will give you a DOF of 0.56 feet.
For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet.
You could also save a fair bit of cash by looking at the Sigma 50-150 f2.8.
Seconded, get one while you can, the new one won't be four hundred quid!
My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.
www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
For the same subject 10 feet away, a 100mm lens @ f2.8 will give you a DOF of 0.33 feet
True, but to get the same composition (e.g. to get the person's head and shoulders in the frame) you'd need to be roughly twice as far away.
EDIT: Torn over whether to get the Sigma 50-150 before they disappear. I liked the handling (and especially the AF speed) when I had two, but I did go through two without getting one that focused properly. Plus I already have the 100 macro. Isn't LBA lovely?
I also have a 55mm (not a DA but an F1.8 M model)
Yes the 55 is a nice length but it is limited in its application, but gives you that shallow DOF (also it may give you the effective FOV of an 83mm, but it is still a 55mm lens and will act as such)
Personally, I would go for the 50-135 as it is a lot more versatile and it is'nt a compromise. In fact I would go to say it is the finest Portrait zoom out there.
I have the 50-135 and do a lot of portraits, both available light and studio.
I also have a 55mm (not a DA but an F1.8 M model)
Yes the 55 is a nice length but it is limited in its application, but gives you that shallow DOF (also it may give you the effective FOV of an 83mm, but it is still a 55mm lens and will act as such)
Personally, I would go for the 50-135 as it is a lot more versatile and it is'nt a compromise. In fact I would go to say it is the finest Portrait zoom out there.
Agreed! I seem to be agreeing with a lot of people today
Like I say though I am a bit biased currently toward the 50-135...
My viewfinder is 576,000,000 pixels.
My other viewfinder is 5.76,000,000.
www.exaggeratedperspectives.com
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
if I had to choose between the two the op mentioned I'd grab the 50-135.
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148 posts
13 years
London
For 55: lighter, more compact, larger aperture, cheaper
For 50-135: more versatile
The versatility is quite an important factor for me (e.g. I bought the 35mm macro limited because it is both normal - good for my style of street photography and a macro) but I'm quite concerned about the f2.8 aperture which is 2 stops slower than the 55 so harder to isolate subject.
What are your opinions?
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