Lens Help please ... Solved & broke!

I am pulling my hair out and need some advice or guidance ...

I have just ordered a K20D along with DA*16-50 and DA*50-135 and collect them on Friday. I need them for an event in a couple of weeks so could not think of waiting until August/September to allow me to look at the 60-250.

I would also like another lens to go with them and cannot decide: DA*200 or DA*300.

I tend to do landscape, some wildlife, portraits, family events, scenery, holidays &c. I also have an A series X2 converter and could buy the new SDM when available. That could be used on the 50-135 if I bought the 300 or on the 200 if I went for that.

Currently I have an *istD with 24-90 and 18-35 along with a film MZ-S which I will be keeping - plus an assortment of other older lenses and bodies which I will be selling in the near future.

I also have the Pentax 400-600 mirror zoom for those real far off shots - but may sell that too!

So, what should I do? DA*200 or DA*300

A second question; Hoya Pro1D UV or Protector filters for the front?



Comments and votes please?

300mm. Better for most wildlife.

No filter.

G

Not sure how to answer for someone else's needs, but isn't the field of view of 135mm so close to 200mm that it would hardly make sense to add a 200mm? Unless there were other special requirements, I would probably go for the 300mm just to stretch out the range a bit.

Oh yeah... and a second for no filter.

DA* 300

Forgot to mention that the DA* 300 with the lens hood in place is extremely well protected.

I'd generally agree with 'no filter' but if you want to work in a camera hostile environment such as sea spray, dust or sand then I use them.

I see that no filter seems to be the preference.

What about on the 16-50 and 50-135 ? Yes or No or teh Pro1D protector?

The DA* 16-50 and the DA* 300 both take 77mm filters, so you can economise and share a filter between the two lenses.

If you really want to know what people think about filters, you should search for the several threads where the debate pro- and con- has raged.

In summary:

- evidence for actual image degradation (other than wide-angle vignetting) with a filter seems anecdotal at best

- SMC coatings are tough, so gentle cleaning of lens front elements is Ok

- the Pro 1 filters are very thin, and one person here reports that they shatter into scratchy shards quite easily.

I do commend the relevant threads, though (there've been several), for entertainment value at least.

I use UV filters. I never bash the front of my lens on things (well, not so far) but muck of various kinds is forever getting on the filters, and I'd rather clean those than the front elements.

Economise?

Have you seen what the OP is buying?

(Jealous? Moi?)

Having re-read the post, I see what you mean

In that case, might as well buy a full set

for all the arguments, pro and con, the only thing I can add is this:
I don't use filters, for lens protection, and rarely use filters on lenses at all. (only when needed).
only carrycir polarizers, nd grads, and varicolor polarizers for general shooting....
lighting gels is another matter...

I have lenses that are older than some of the posters on this forum.
have never lost a lens to damage on the front element, or have any scratched up.

some of my equipment has seen service in the arctic, in swamps and sand dunes, from cars, boats, motorcycles, and occasionally hanging off a cliff, and once while skydiving.

so I figure, I've saved a couple hundred bucks in filter costs. By being careful. I wear equipment out, I don't break it.

You decide what works for you, and don't bother deciding what is "Right".

Well, finally decided and spent £2k6 this afternoon.

K20D
DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
DA* 300

2 x UV filters
1 x protectors

4GB Sandisk Extreme III SDHC


Will have a good weekend playing with it all ...

That's an expensive set of toys, have fun!

Fantastic. I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time.

The downside is that you'll know what to blame if the pictures aren't too good...