Glass for a K1

Hi there,
I've been looking to pick up a full frame camera again following a brief sojourn into mirror less and despite being heavily Nikon in the past the Pentax K1 has really piqued my interest. Perhaps AF aside it seems he K1 is basically a D810 with some extra features which are very appealing, so much so that I've ordered an "open box" K1 from WEX.

I am however a little unstuck on glass, a zoom seems like an easy choice between 24-70 and 28-105 but beyond that I'm struggling to see prime options to match what I'd be looking for and am wondering on the prime from what the best 24mm, 35ishmm and 50mm would be for Pentax full frame?

The 50mm is probably the easiest one. You have a choice between the SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 and the SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited lenses. I prefer the latter for its overall quality.

The 35mm can be met by the SMC Pentax-FA 31mm f/1.8 Limited, an excellent lens.

The 24mm is trickier, but Samyang make some excellent manual focus wide angles in Pentax fit. Well worth a look.

For a 24mm there is always this choice http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/ultra-wide/FA24f2.html

Been out of production for over 10 years but it is a classy lens and the pop up on ebay pretty regularly. I have only just got a K1 so have not had a chance to try it out yet but was very happy with it on my K10D.

If you check out the lens charts in the news section, the first includes D-FA and FA lenses available now, and the second chart shows some new primes coming next year.

Nothing wrong with the budget 50mm f1.8 and 35mm f2.4, if cost is a concern.

Worth looking at the FA 35mm f2.0 and DA* 55mm f1.4 too.

Certain DA* lenses are full frame capable. The 55 is one of them. The 50-135 is not. So you need to check if you go for a DA* lens and plan to use in FF mode.

The FA 35mm f2.0 is good value and has a lot what the FA 31 does, but the FA 31mm wins because of its rendering of OOF in particularly. The FA 31 and FA 77 are exceptional lenses.

The DA* 55 is definitely worth a look, it has good weather sealing and pixie dust.

Theres loads of options at around 50mm ...
FA 43
DA 50 f1.8
FA 50 f1.4
DFA 50mm macro f2.8
DA* 55 f1.4

Don't discount legacy glass as well on the K-1


+1 to this also

Are you saying that these DA lenses cover the FF sensor?

(Not that I am looking. Would like a K1 with better AF, maybe my arrow of choice points the opposite way to the O/P?)

Generally, DA lenses do not fully cover the full frame sensor. There are a couple that Pentax say do, the 200mm f/2.8 and 300mm f/4 I think are amongst them. Full frame lenses will have FA somewhere in the descripition, so the 50mm f/2.8 macro is a full frame lens also.

DA 35mm f2.4 appears to be FF capable

See FF compatibility test list (DA lenses) on US forum:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/54-pentax-lens-articles/31629-da-lenses-full-...

See DA 35mm f2.4 user review from the user name reverendray :

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-DA-L-35mm-F2.4-AL.html

DA 50mm f1.8 shows some vignetting wide open on FF according to user review by geedee here:

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/smc-pentax-da-50mm-f1.8.html

Hi everyone, thanks for the suggestions so far!! Certainly a few I've not thought of although finding them to buy seems a little thin on the ground (24mm!).

Quite interested in the Limiteds (31 and 77), how does say the 31mm measure up for sharpness v a modern prime like the Sigma 35mm?

It is worth looking at www.pentaxphotogallery.com, there is drop down menu top right where you can select lenses to see what images have been produced.

Need to try my DA 70mm on the K1.

I have a lovely Sigma 70-200mm for sale!

Shameless plug ?

Thanks for the suggestions folks. Quite tempted to try some of the Ltd Primes!