Lens for shooting family around the home?

Hi,
So I have a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (slightly faulty), Pentax 70-200 f2.8, Sigma 30m f1.4, Pentax 100mm f2.8
What automatic lens, without breaking the bank, would suit best for capturing my family around the house (not group family photo)?A Pentax X SMC-DA 50mm F1.8, SIGMA 50MM F1.4 EX DG HSM or something else? (doesn't have to be a 50mm).
The 30mm Sigma is fantastic but have to get in quite close.

Thanks,
Pa.

---

Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.

I would suggest one of the "plastic fantastics" - if on crop sensor the 35mm f/2.4 and if on full frame the 50mm f/1.8 Pentax lenses.

---

Best regards, John

+1 . The grandkids indoors is the only time I use the 35mm f/2.4 (on K3). Light weight, small enough, wide enough max aperture to use natural light in a well lit room, focuses quick enough - and cheap enough not to worry if it should somehow get damaged by a wayward child! It does the job.

Steve

The opening post seems to imply an interest in only wide aperture lenses. Otherwise perhaps consider the more versatile focal lengths (for house and garden) of the HD Pentax-DA 18-50mm F4-5.6 - the enhanced kit lens - compact and lightweight, fast accurate focus, and respectable image quality. Or, for a bit more cash, the SMC Pentax-DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 - a great all purpose zoom.

Philip

If you can stand the extra cost I would second the DA 18-135. It is a fantastic 'go anywhere' lens with good image quality and gives you that added range to capture both groups indoors and close up views of individual family members. For general outdoor use it is light, WR and quick to focus.

Peter

I would suggest any of the four generations of the Sigma 17-70 as they are all very versatile, quick to focus and SHARP - take a look here on the US site.

The only downside I've found with mine is that the lens hood is very loose and comes off too easily.

You should be able to pick up an early one (the one I have) for £100 or less - mine cost around £70 from a member of this forum 4-5 years ago but it ain't going anywhere anytime soon!

---

K-3 II, K-3 and a K-70 from SRS (having now relegated the K-30 /"K-50" to a backup body), & some Sigma and Pentax lenses (and a lot of old 35mm gear!)

It seems the OP is looking for something around 50mm and faster than f/2.8 but also relatively cheap. That really only leaves the FA 50/1.4 and DAL 50/1.8 as lenses that are still in production. The other possibility might be a used 43/1.9 Limited, though this would still be significantly more expensive.

The 50/1.8 is a nice lens but not really sharp until f/2.5 and I find that the AF is more hit-and-miss than many other lenses, which limits it's use at wide apertures.

---

Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3 & K200D, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses

HI,
Thanks for the replies. It doesn't have to be faster than f/2.8. I was just thinking of lovely bokeh for portraits and the nifty fifty sprang to mind & no zooming in or out, light lens.

I could just replace my Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 with the Sigma 17-70.

It's not something I'd use that much so didn't even consider a limited lens. Out of the 50mm lenses what one is sharp (even at 'only' f2.5), & good focusing & doesn't break the bank please?

Thanks,
Pa.

---

Cheers,
Pa
http://www.photoblog.ie where every post have a musical reference as it's title.

You can usually find a good secondhand Pentax FA50mm f1.7 for around £100. One of the sharpest lenses for portraits you'll find.

---

Paul

K1000, Espio 140, ist, istD, K70, K3iii and numerous lenses, just don't tell my wife.

Given your standard zoom lenses are APS-c lenses, I think suggestions of the 35mm f2.4 DA or maybe an SMC-FA 35 f2 will be better, or if you can find one of the wider FA lenses cheaply, or the DA 21 Limited. I think you'd find a 50 mm too restrictive on a crop sensor body.

Alternatively a DA*16-50 or Sigma 17-70 as all purpose lenses.

Definitely 35 or wider is the way to go.

---

Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. DFA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. D-FA 100. The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon