I must be strong

LBA is taking it's grip again. I thought I was holding it off (that Sigma 100-300 kept me happy for a while) but I am finding myself watching the classified ads more and more...

To complete* my lens collection I need something wide and something fast ina normal focal length. I've been eyeing up primes in the 30-50 region but these are either limiteds (expensive!) or slow (the new 35 f2.4) if buying new. Secondhand is another matter but I'm not sure I can take the waiting. My options are:

1) Just get the 35mm f2.4 - however, it's relatively slow and I'm not a fan of the plastic mount. It seems like too many compromises and I think I would end up replacing it

2) Bite the bullet and jump straight in with a limited - expensive and would involve me being economical with the truth with my wife if I didn't find a bargain secondhand

3) Wait it out until a secondhand lens comes up

4) Accept that Pentax doesn't offer what I'm after and get one of the Sigma primes

5) Skip the fast prime for now and get something wide - probably the Sigma 10-20. There have been a couple on the classified boards but only marginally cheaper than buying them new.


What would people recommend?

WG


* Note: I realise a lens collection is never complete

First, admit to yourself that you just want to buy a lens. Not quite any lens, but the 35mm and 10-20mm lenses are quite different in application, so you have an open mind to some extent.

Then analyse what is missing that you can't achieve with the lenses you already have. Once you know this, it should clarify what lens you want.

Or even need....

not a good situation.

Just get the FA31!

You know you want to!

Oh, wait, you could get 7 DA35s for the same price!

Essentially I have two gaps in the line-up. If money was no object I would buy a wide angle zoom and a fast prime. I lack something wider for landscape shots that the Sigma 17-70 doesn't do justice to. I also want to be able to take some indoor/lower light shots (without flash) and with the image quality of a prime.

I think my question is badly worded. It's probably more a question of which would people recommend from 1-4. Then whether I should put the fast prime on hold and get a wide angle as I'd get more use out of it.

I realise its a personal choice but I'm interested to hear what other people would do.

Are you sure that the 10-20 is the lens for your landscape shots? Unless you always include a fair bit of foreground the shots don't work imho.

I sold mine as I just didn't like most of landscapes I took with it. They didn't look right. It isn't always possible to find something foreground filling for landscapes. I now prefer to either make do with the 17mm or shoot a panorama - which gives a better feel for the landscape than everything squashed into the traditional 3:2 format.

Generally I find the 17-70 plenty wide enough for landscape work (though I am contemplating 14 or 15mm prime :wink.

I can use my 50-135 2.8 quite comfortably in low light without flash, and think the DA35 would be fast enough for most situation. Indeed I can use the F4 17-70 in most low light situations pretty well without flash too, and without upping the ISO too much.

Aha! Option 6 - make use of what I have!

Probably the most sensible solution Gwyn. I haven't tried taking panoramas so I should probably do that first.

I have definitely found that f2.8 is a benefit above f4.5 when taking pictures of babies & pets though. I presume that another stop would open up more opportunities (assuming the depth of field is there).

Well you could go for the DA35 - it seems to be a great lens for a great price. Or maybe the Sigma 30 1.4 would be better (more affordable )if you really want the extra stop.

To be honest I don't find f2.4 terribly limiting. With SR you can use lower shutter speeds handheld than you could with film, so low light isn't much of a problem. Likewise the plastic mount isn't noticeable other than in the weight of the lens. Treat it with care (it is a precise piece of optical equipment after all!) and it won't be a problem. Remember that Pentax have a history of making slower wide angle lenses with incredible image quality, like the K 28mm f3.5 which can still show those newfangled zoom things how it's done! The 35/2.4 is definitely in that tradition.

As a walkabout lens it's perfect. Tiny, light, makes a K-m look like a bridge camera so you aren't attracting attention with a huge professional-looking outfit.

I find anything wider than 50mm works perfectly for landscapes. If you want a wider field of view then just get a panorama stitching program like Hugin and feed your shots to it. You can make images as big as you want without any distortion, as opposed to the results from an ultrawide.

If you just want another lens to play with then have a look for a cheap Pentax-M 50mm. The f1.7 is widely regarded as one of the best standard lenses ever made and should you get bored it will hold its value. Even better if it comes with an ME, ME Super or MX attached - buy a couple of rolls of film and have a play with that for a while!

I know I keep harping on about it, but the DA35 is a stunning lens. It is Pentax's little secret. Sure it has a plastic mount, but the lens is so light it really does'nt matter (unless you are very heavy handed with your camera) So, it's only F2.4, but it is so sharp and wonderful bokeh, it gives the 31mm Limited a real run for its money. Yes, the 31mm it probably the finest Pentax prime out there, but is it worth 7 times the DA?

It's a bargain and then some. Well worth £150 of anyones money.

LBA is a funny thing... think I have cured my Pentax LBA except for that elusive super-telephoto and a couple of FA* lenses.

You might not NEED the FA 31, but you'll certaily WANT it

An inexpensive K 50/1.2 is going in the marketplace. Not affiliated with the seller but I have owned the lens and it's a "cracker", as some say.

If you have more money, buy the FA43 Limited.

For even more, get the FA31 Limited.