If you could only have one Limited prime lens (inc. the 20-40).......

35mm ltd for me

Seeing love for the 35mm. Does this not have quite a long throw on the AF due to the macro or is it easy to use quick shift and then fine focus with the AF?

I did think about the 16-85 until I saw how long the barrel extends. The whole aim of my thinking is to slim down the bulk of the big zooms so that I actually take the camera with me! I will keep the 50-135 regardless. UNtil it failed I was even finding the 16-50 DA* too bulky for everyday. I suppose this makes it highly unlikely I will ever go full frame. I suppose this is why I am rethinking my whole approach, hence have a prime lens and work around the limitations and hopefully engage with my lost creativity again. Maybe!

I have them all except the 35mm. Of the ones that I have experience of I feel the DA 21mm might best meet your requirements. The 40mm is a fine lens but a bit limiting on APS-C as a one lens solution. The 20-40 gives good results with very small zoom extension. However it is not nearly as compact as the limited primes. It is also surprisingly lightweight, so lacks the quality feel of the other limiteds IMO.


An alternative suggestion would be to purchase a Ricoh GR. Excellent results on an APS-C sensor and small enough to slip into your pocket. Costs very little more than a limited prime.

Thanks for everyones` opinions and advice! At the moment I decided to go for the DA 18-135 (hopefully everything goes well with the order from SRS! I always worry!) that was at a very good price in their refurb section. Read a lot about it and saw the size comparison between the 16-85 and the 18-55 and was surprised at how compact it is! I`ll live with any compromises for IQ..... Also ordered the AF 201 mini flash just for a bit of fill.

I would still like to have a prime I just have no idea what I would like!!! THough I think it is between the 21, 35 or the FA 43................ Now that is a choice.............. If I fond a decent example used!

The 35mm Macro is mindblowingly good as a standard lens on APS-C. The only downside is the slower aperture at f/2.8, and maybe if you're nitpicking you can call the AF a bit slower due to the longer focusing range.

I really like the FA43 on film (I don't have a K-1), but it's too long for me on APS-C. I haven't used them, but I'm not a great fan of the concept of the DA Ltds - having manual film cameras means I need an aperture ring. I really like the dual purpose of the FA35/2 - a good focal length for film/FF and a fast-ish 50 on APS-C (useful if I travel with the K-5 and film).


+1, much less bulky than a DSLR and 28mm equivalent and produces excellent results.

+2 My GR is always with me when we are out and about.

If only one:
31mm Limited...will stay almost certainly
But FA43 will be missed a lot. Then DA*55 and Limited zoom

and that's moreless all my lenses at the moment....those 4