Lens Advice...for fun!

I realise that asking for advise is opening up a thousand views and a lens choice is subjective, but just for fun, what do you suggest I buy next? I have a k200d with DA18-55 II kit and DA55-300 and have been browsing the web for my next lens. I did have a FA28-80 F3.5-5.6 and a sigma 70-300 and an A50 F2 before they were stolen. Using Exposureplot I discovered that I take photos predominantly at the ends of the zoom (where they are not so good!)

Which of the following should I get next?
- Pentax DA18-135 F3.5-5.6 ED AL DC WR
- Pentax DA35 F2.4 AL
- Pentax DA40 F2.8 Limited
- Tamron 28-75 F2.8 XR Di LD

Are there any that I should avoid?

Thanks!

Get an FA50mm f1.4 . They're relatively cheap, and it'll open up a world of creative options you don't have with your current lenses.

I'd love to; While Pentax is a minority, here in South Africa we are an absolute minority. I don't seem to be able to find a shop that sells it. In addition, second hand lenses are rare or else more than new lenses!

Totally agree with the FA50 F1.4, you will love the shallow DOF.

Although you are in SA, surely someone like SRS will ship there?

The 35/2.4 is a brilliant lens, but by the sounds of it you'd do better with the 50/1.4. I just find 50mm a bit long on digital, in fact I reckon the ideal standard lens would be something like a 28mm f1.8 (which Pentax don't make, but we can dream!)

I love my 35mm f2.4, but in many ways wish I'd gone for the Sigma 30mm f1.4...

Tamron 28-75 is a good lens and is quite good for occasions like weddings when you don't want anything too wide nor too tele. Somewhere in the middle, normal (for group) to short tele (for portraits). I would have bought this lens if the Sigma 50-150 had not popped up with a good price.

The 18-135 is the best travel zoom for Pentax if you can ignore the price and the photozone review.

The 40mm Ltd IQ is compact, cheap and good but I'm not sold on the focal length. It's neither short enough to be normal nor long enough for portraits.
35mm f2.4 has plastic mount which immediately scratches it off my list. IQ is much better than the kit lens. But it's something to do with plastic and mount together that make me reluctant to get this one.
The 35mm macro limited is an alternative to both of the above. I hate changing lens due to possibility of dust landing on sensor. Yet, I found myself changing back to the 35mm ltd after almost every session because the current lens on the camera is too specialised. IQ is also very good.

If you find that you are predominantly at the ends of your zoom, then buy some primes and use your legs. One part of this advice is significantly cheaper to practise than the other

My primes are:
- Pentax FA 35mm / f2
- Pentax FA 50mm / f1.4
- Sigma DG macro 105mm / f2.8

It's fair to say that I take the 50mm/f1.4 everywhere I go. I don't always haul it out, but I know it's there if I need it.

It's also fair to say that I normally have my DA*50-135mm/f2.8 fitted. And yes, I tend to use this at either 50mm or 135mm...

EM

Have thought the same about plastic mounts, but have seen and studied images of 2 Pentax 55-300 zooms with broken mounts on ebay.

First was a plastic mount DA-L version, and the mount screws were still in place in the lens, but only 1 was still attaching the mount. The mount had allowed the other tapered screw heads to pull straight through the now larger holes in the mount.

Seemed a real condemnation of plastic mounts, until a few months later I saw a DA version - that had failed exactly the same. One screw still holding, other heads having pulled clean through the damaged holes in the mount.

Of course the forces involved in each event may have been different, but the weak link seems to be the very small amount of mount material surrounding the countersunk screw heads - irrespective of what base material is used. But then perhaps they are designed this way for a reason - as a failure point to spare the camera mount?

Sigma 30/1.4 is a great lens for shallow DOF.

But you said 'just for fun', so I shall recommend the Pentax DA 10-17 fish eye.

One of my most used lenses. Great fun. Very creative. Damn sharp lens too!!

I suggest the new DA35 f/2.4 & a 2nd hand K55 f/1.8. These will give you a wonderful introduction to the world of Pentax primes and as an added bonus a really good portrait lens in the case of the 55. You will also discover a whole new world image wise once you go wider than f/2.8

Indeed. Also remember the viewfinder is not capable of showing such shallow DOFs.

You won't see the Bokeh until you view the pic. It can also make focussing harder :0

I'll second the K 55/1.8, keep an eye open for KM/KX/K2 bodies too as it was one of the standard lenses for these and you might find one that way.

I've seen a lot of FUD about plastic lens mounts, all I can say is that Pentax have been making cameras with plastic mounts since the Z-series era and I don't seem to see many broken examples (or not as many as you'd expect to see if they weren't robust enough for normal use). Don't throw it off a mountain and it'll be fine!

After the recent price reductions (in the UK anyway) the 35mm Limited is now cheaper than the 40, is slightly wider, and has macro capability. Plus for sheer fun, I can heartily recommend the 35: aside from its general usefulness as an all-round lens ("from 2 inches to infinity"), the petiteness and the lovely pull-out lens hood make it a joy to use.

Well, I actually meant the query was for fun. Of course all my photography is for fun, but not for humourous shots.

My natural bent is to zoom in close to the detail - more tele than wide, so wider than 18 is not so appealing....yet (LBA.)

So, I've added the FA50f1.4 to my wish list, put a tick on the Tammy and the 18-135.

...now I need to find the funds!