K-1 Lens Bundle Decision (for mainly low light work)
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 15:09
With ISO performable such as the K-1 offers then I don't think the 'light gathering' aspect of a wide aperture is important. So the 28-105 is more versatile for your purposes.....
However, so far I am seeing more evidence of good image quality from the 24-70 than from the 28-105 ......
You may not feel that 70mm is long enough on FF .... However you could crop out , say, 1/4 of the frame I'm sure with little loss of quality in order to make things look bigger.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
However, so far I am seeing more evidence of good image quality from the 24-70 than from the 28-105 ......
You may not feel that 70mm is long enough on FF .... However you could crop out , say, 1/4 of the frame I'm sure with little loss of quality in order to make things look bigger.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
Last Edited by McGregNi on 18/05/2016 - 15:17
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 16:40
Both lenses are sharp, the 24-70mm marginally sharper, but there's not a lot in it. Probably the 28-105mm will be more useful to you as it has a longer reach.
Low light will be fine, just use a higher ISO.
Best regards, John
Low light will be fine, just use a higher ISO.
Best regards, John
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 16:44
It is a bit early to have a strong opinion but my initial impression of the 28-105 is that it is a bit ordinary - lacks 'bite'. I was hoping for a FF equivalent of the 16-85, which I love, but I'm not sure it is as good. So far I have achieved better results from my Sigma 24-70 f2.8.
So I would say go for the Pentax 24-70 if you don't mind the extra weight.
Regards, Philip
So I would say go for the Pentax 24-70 if you don't mind the extra weight.
Regards, Philip
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 17:07
It's near enough twice the price as well, so I'd be expecting some more bite! So the best value for now is likely to be in the bundles with camera.
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 17:18
I think the problem is that as the pixel counts go up our expectations go up even more. The real advantage will always lie with the very best technique - so tripods, very careful focusing, etc., will yield super crisp images that take the breath away. We can achieve that with hand held shooting as well, especially with SR being so effective, but there will be more near misses that will no longer be acceptable.
Sue has found this moving from the K-5 to the K-3. Now she gets amazingly sharp pictures, but rejects much more quickly those that aren't quite the same standard. I've been doing the same with the K-1. When it's right it's amazing, but if I'm just a whisker off then it's no longer good enough. Photography is becoming more and more demanding.
Best regards, John
Sue has found this moving from the K-5 to the K-3. Now she gets amazingly sharp pictures, but rejects much more quickly those that aren't quite the same standard. I've been doing the same with the K-1. When it's right it's amazing, but if I'm just a whisker off then it's no longer good enough. Photography is becoming more and more demanding.
Best regards, John
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 17:21
Took this a few days ago with the 28-105 - iso 400 f9, so stopped down a bit. I have printed at A3+ and am very impressed by the detail and colour. I think the 24-105 is a great lens and every bit as as good as the 16-85. If weight and price are an issue , hen it is a no brainer!
Miles
Miles
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 18:34
After deliberation I opted for the Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR for two reasons; first it is lighter than the 24-70 so more manageable as a walk-around lens, and second as prices will drop I expect the more expensive one will go down by more than the other, so if I want the 24-70 I would rather wait. However I am currently thinking of supplementing the 28-105 with a couple of FF primes which will of course be the best option for low light conditions, be lighter in the bag and be at a relatively lesser cost. Bear in mind the current range is planned to be updated next year. John is right, of course, in that your expectations are higher so you become more hypercritical of your results but when it works the results are great! And I have found that reducing noise in post processing can be achieved without noticeable loss of sharpness.
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 19:02
But Rob, you gave a poor impression of your results in another thread recently. It sounded like you were disappointed and images were a bit soft. I was not particularly impressed by the examples shown in that other thread either ... They had a sort of 'kit lens' look to them. (if that's a 'look' !) ....
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
My Guides to the Pentax Digital Camera Flash Lighting System : Download here from the PentaxForums Homepage Article .... link
Pentax K7 with BG-4 Grip / Samyang 14mm f2.8 ED AS IF UMC / DA18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL WR / SMC A28mm f2.8 / D FA 28-105mm / SMC F35-70 f3.5-4.5 / SMC A50mm f1.7 / Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 Di LD macro / SMC M75-150mm f4.0 / Tamron Adaptall (CT-135) 135mm f2.8 / Asahi Takumar-A 2X tele-converter / Pentax AF-540FGZ (I & II) Flashes / Cactus RF60/X Flashes & V6/V6II Transceiver
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 20:13
I defer to John Riley's review so I am putting my experience to my own shortcomings. I have noticed an improvement in using spot focus but not quite the effortless crispness as with the 100mm macro, and I must say the Sigma 150-500 before it was quarantined. My pics were taken with a polarising filter and someone has mentioned this affects the lens; it's a Marumi so it should be ok but I will be testing this a bit more.
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Posted 18/05/2016 - 23:38
Certainly ditch the filter except for situations where you really need it. Filters can affect some lenses quite noticeably.
Best regards, John
Best regards, John
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Posted 19/05/2016 - 00:23
Thank you all for your input, still not sure though.
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
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CiderDrinker
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I can really only buy one FA lens to start with and I would like a good low light lens, but also want something that can be used for landscape and wildlife.
I currently use the Tamron 18-50mm 2.8 for gigs with proper lighting setups and the Pentax 50mm 1.8 for badly lit venues.
I have narrowed it down to 2 lenses.
Pentax HD PENTAX-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
HD PENTAX-D FA 24-70mm F2.8 ED SDM WR
Does anyone have either of these lenses on the K-1 and have you tried them in low light?
Digital: Pentax K-1 II + Grip, Pentax K3II + Grip, Pentax MX-1.
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.