The perfect kit

My top 5 would change on a daily basis, today I think if I had to choose just 5 and had no opportunity to add to the collection (my Desert Island Lenses) I think I'd like:

Pentax DA12-24
Hartblei 35 Super-Rotator
Pentax FA77 Limited
Voigtlander APO-Lanthar 125 Macro
Pentax DA*300 (to spot passing ships with )

Ask me again tomorrow and it will have changed...

I loved my Super-A too, and used it for many years. I think the *istD in years to come will be held in a similar regard to the K1000, MX, LX etc. and the DL's, DS's, DL2's etc (the interim models) will be forgotten.

Apologies to the OP, we are way OT now.

My most used kit, and the one that's in my bag all the time, is:

Pentax 16-45mm
Pentax FA50mm 1.4
Pentax DA*300mm
Sigma 105mm macro
Tamron 1.4x TC

Dan

My brother's got one, and it wasn't till after I'd had the '10 for a while that I had a play with it. The slowness and tiny screen made a big impression.
Also, though, it struck me how all the controls on the '10 are very similar to the *istD, but they feel sooooo much nicer.

There's been some nice design/development work in the intervening years.

To answer the question, though...

My fave 5 at the moment (out of what I have, not the ideal, which would be a *-studded cast) are:

Sigma 10-20
FA 28-200
Sigma-A 400mm F5.6 AF (deceptively capable)
SMC-A 100mm F4 Macro
SMC-A 50mm F1.7

The four way switch in particular is much nicer on the K10D IMHO. And I prefer the position of the Green button. And there's the storage space in the grip. And a green button there too...

Dan

If I had to take only 5 of what we have it would be:-

DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
31mm Limited
77mm Limited
FA 100mm Macro

What it could be in a year's time?

DA* 11-16
DA* 16-50
DA* 50-135
DA* 300
FA 100mm Macro

Like others have said, it would change every day depending on what your doing!

I still use the D when I want to use my old M42 or K lenses, as it's so much more compatible (even flash works correctly)

I also prefer the way it renders skin tones for portraits, particularly for people with darker skin.

But as others have said, whenever I use it I'm struck by how SLOW it is!

My preferred choice of lenses is:

Zenitar 16
DA 21
FA 31
FA 77
Voigtlander SL 180

OR

DA* 16-50
F 70-210

R

That Zenitar is keeping rather exalted company. Is it any good?

G

The sigma 10/20 seems to be a popular choice pleased I bought this one took a bit getting used to at first. I have the K100D but the peoples choice seems to be the k10 would I see a marked inprovement in the picture quality over the 100 D ? IF I also thought of adding this to the kit as well. I can see it's going to take a year or two to assemble all the toys LOL.

I'm continually impressed by how good it is on digital Even on the K20D, it's sharpness and rendering quality are more than up to the task once stopped down below f2.8. It's also very compact - about half the size and weight of the DA14. There's a fair bit of cyan/yellow CA, but that's easily removed in Silkypix.

It's not so good on film as it's soft round the edges (happily the bit that gets cropped off in APS-C ).

R

Bit complex answer. Despite being happy with the K10D, I also use my Z-1, Z-1p and MZ-S from time to time....my Dad has the loan of my *istD.

On the K10D....

DA*16-50
Sigma EX 100-300 f4
FA* 85
D-FA 100

On the MZ-S

FA 24-90

On the Z-1

F 35-70

On the Z-1p

Sigma EX 15-30
Sigma EX 24-70

As you notice the 'cream' of the lenses go on the K10D and MZ-S....Obviously I don't carry all my kit around with me...

Only 5 lenses ? Are you mad ?

DA* 16-50 F2.8
DA* 30 Fx.x or DA Ltd 35 F2.8
DA* 50 F1.4
DA* 50-135 F2.8
DA* 200 F2.8
DA* 300 F4

Ok so that is six lenses...

Or

DA 12-24 F4
FA Ltd 31 F1.8
DA* 50-135 F2.8
DA* 300 F4

It really is so hard to choose. Especially with lenses like the Llds.

The DA 16-50 Also seems a very popular choice can someone you tell me why this seems such a well liked lens please and what area of photography suited best to.

istDS

On manual focus days:

24/2.8 SMCA

35/2.8 SMCA

50/1.7SMCA

35-105SMCA


Plus the odd 50/1.4 Super Tak or 85/2 SMC-M.


On AF days:

24/2.8 Sigma (amazing flare!)

35/2 FA - very nice indeed

50/1.7F

28-105FA Powerzoom - not sure why, but I really like this lens

I tend to like smaller lenses and rarely change them once they are on the camera (hence why I bought a cheap, second istDS body).