If you could only take one lens..

For me it would be the DA35 Ltd - its got IQ, a "normal" field of view, True Macro capabilities, solid construction and it's light - the only thing that's missing from it is WR

In practice my DA17-70, which is on my K20D about 70% of the time.

If I don't expect to need the wider end, then the FA24-90 - IQ just as good, lighter, and less pincushion distortion. It also maintains (manual) focus better when zooming, though on auto it's noisier and lacks quick shift.

I will be interested to see the planned DA*17-85 (approx) if it materialises next year.

Pentax DA 18-135 did it for me during recent trip to france from the expanse of the vinyards to a glass being filled from a 100 euro bottle of saint emillion, this lens seemed to cover all bases.

I'd take the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 its my real workhorse and does passable macro too...

Although as its a Desert island I might plump for something with WR, that sand will get everywhere

If I could take just one lens, it would be a Zeiss Biotar 50/58mm adapted for the PK mount.

One lens on a desert island? I think it would have to be a normal range zoom - and the only one I have is the Pentax 18-55mm MK2 kit lens. A useful range of focal lengths and sharp enough.

If the desert island is typical of the cartoon version, how many different photographs of a palm tree could you take, assuming you had already photographed and eaten the coconuts, before going insane

Sunsets, a picture a day of you getting older, the sea creatures, maybe a turtle or two, patterns in the sand, close ups of split coconuts, birds, and images of the tree for starters.

Then you paint an exit and step through it....

Hahahaha But once the madness sets in there will be all the fairy's, gnomes and platypusses playing ping pong to shoot

Hello,

My A* 85mm f/1.4 .

Regards.

Malsi

Hi,
having now used my f 35-70 lens for a while, I am convinced this is the lens I would take with me.
Why?
It is light and not to bulky.
I like the focal length. I am not to keen on wide angles.
It has some macro facility.
It auto-focuses very well and quick on my K5.
It has a 49mm thread. This lets me use relatively inexpensive filters,
It makes very nice portraits (in case some mermaids visit me)
I am not as fuzzy about the last bit of edge sharpness, probably wouldn't even notice it.
Despite the relatively small aperture of 3.5 - 4.5, this can be overcome by the large range of sensitivity the K5 lets me select.

And finally: I just like it the best of all my lenses, at least, at this time.

Regards, Horst

If I had to pack my bag and go today I'd be taking my recently bought sigma 18-125 hsm with me. Now having just wrote that I'm already running back from the taxi to swap it for my 50mm!!

I like the back to basics simplicity of my A 28mm f/2.8 or newly acquired DA 21mm. I'd be sad to leave the 12-24mm, but if it is really one lens only then it would have to be my 18-250mm which has served me well and covers pretty much all the bases while being compact and light. For me it's more about getting the shot than peeping the pixels.

I'd bring the DA35 Limited

DA* 60-250mm for me