thinking of consolidating this lot somehow

All are Pentax lenses

18-55mm WR kit lens
15mm DA f4 definitely a keeper
35mm FA f2
50mm M f1.7
100mm WR f2.8
55-300mm DA f3.5-5.8


The 15mm is the one I can't see losing. The rest could possibly go. I think it makes to keep the 50mm M 1.7 for night stuff and street.

I'm looking at various zooms.

I'm now able to increase ISO having gone from K-7 to K-5iis. In the past I've had the 35mm f2 glued to the K-7.

I'm seriously thinking of going to

15mm DA f4
50mm M f1.7
50-135mm DA* f2.8

If I found myself missing the FA 35mm f2 I could perhaps get the 35mm DA f2.4 down the line.

Any input welcome. Yes I may have lost the plot

The rationale to some extent is less is more. I can't carry this lot. Some aren't seeing much use.

Well I think many of us face similar dilemmas but it is something only ourselves can sort out. Just bear in mind that you don't have to carry everything for every photographic expedition. If you're going to the cliffs to take some bird photos then you'd take the longest telephoto and maybe a wide angle for some scenic shots. For night time you probably wouldn't bother with the long zoom, just take a couple of fast lenses (even with the newer body.) If you're looking to do some macro the 100mm is likely to be preferable; so really, how can anyone advise you? You just need to do a bit of planning each time or get a Q so you can carry the lot!

You don't have to carry them all

Based on what you have said, I would end up with 15, 35 and 50-135 as the main kit and 18-55 and 55-300 at home for those occasions where they can be useful.


My reasoning (based on personal preferences):
1)
I would not get rid of the 35mm; it is a far too useful focal length. Unless you plan to buy the FA31Ltd
2)
I also would not want to loose the 55-300; I bought it years ago and it hardly sees any use (and stays at home most of the time) but I take it when I go to game reserves.
3)
If you buy the 50-135 and macro is not your baby, I would get rid of the macro.
4)
If you buy the 50-135, the 50mm becomes redundant from a focal length perspective; and the 35mm is only half a stop slower. So I would get rid of the 50mm.
5)
I sometimes find it useful to have a standard zoom (parties and reportage type things); like the 55-300, it often stays at home.
6)
I don't have a need for a 15mm so would get rid of it; I've kept it in the list for your sake

My walk-around / landscape kit is the FA31Ltd plus DFA100WR. Less is indeed better
My wildlife kit is FA31Ltd plus DA55-300. Again, less is better

And all the other lenses (manual focus) that I have are for the fun.

I think you should keep your lenses and follow John's advice. Just carry the lenses you need for the trip you are going to make. The rest are your reserve stock to be taken out as needed.

Agreed. I have quite a few lenses. It makes shooting more fun and diverse to take out a different selection each time.

Of that collection I would not get rid of any! You would only regret it. Each one has its own use. My 35 f2 is the lens I leave on my camera at all times unless something specific calls for a different lens it is after all the APSC equivalent of 50mm (virtually). My advice, keep them all and add the DA*50-135 to the fold.

Which ever one you get rid of you can guarantee it will be the one that after you think you miss the most!

I agree with everyone above. I would go out and buy a smaller bag, just big enough for your camera and one spare lens.
I have 5 lenses but only carry one on the camera and one (max 2 very infrequently) other with me when go out.

if I were you I would keep the 35/2. you have 50mm twice with your 50/1.7 and 50-135/2.8, but 50/1.7 M lenses are cheap and small, if you like to keep it. My proposed lineup would be something like this:

DA15/4
FA35/2
DA*50-135/2.8
with optional M50/1.7 or I WOULD suggest something longer if you leave your ZOOM at home, maybe K55/1.8 or M85/2.

Btw. I am facing similar lens reduction, I wrote it in thread just above yours.

+1

I'd keep the 15, 35 & 50 and possibly the 55-300 (if I wanted a long lens - who doesn't?). It all comes down to how much you can sell the ones you don't think you need. The M50/1.7 has low value and is a cracking lens. The 18-55WR is really handy if the weather turns, and again possibly isn't worth enough to warrant selling.

Haven't done anything yet

Might be awhile yet before I do

I guess part of it is the wondering what one of the FA 31/43/77 and the DA* etc .. might do with the K-5iis... unleash even more potential?

The FA 35mm f2 is pretty sharp.. but perhaps [one of] those will take it to the next level?

For me the FA31 is too expensive to justify (especially new) for a single DSLR prime lens. The 43 would interest me first but only on film (FF) as it's close to my preferred 40mm focal length. The British Journal of Photography commented that "with the 77mm f/1.8 FA Limited Edition Pentax offers one of the best compact full-frame portrait lenses ever made." (Nov 2013 pg81).

I have always found myself in very simlar dilemmas to conqueror.

But then I only got rid of lenses really due to practical and financial reasons. There were the odd one, or two that I decided that I would never use and hence sold them off.

Looking at the logic, if you really don't find yourself using anything at the tele end at all, then the only change I would make to the setup is swap the 55-300 for the 50-135mm, and probably sell the 100mm off at the same time if you don't do much macro.

I personally own the 18-55mm WR, 10-17mm fisheye, FA 31mm and the DA 70mm, and have previously had a 70-300mm Tamron, a 90mm macro, M-135mm, various old primes of 28mm/50mm, the fa43mm and the da40mm (and XS too).

I've eventually settled for what I have now, with the soon-coming addition of the DA 20-40mm to the collection, and in years time maybe the 15mm. My predominant lens is the 31mm, even when I'm backpacking I can take two or three lenses along, but the DA20-40 will allow me to take just one, and save space for gear that would save my life if needed. As you may have guessed, size and weight is my biggest concern, but if you're considering the 50-135mm then that's unlikely to be your issue.

If I were in your position I'd probably give most of your photos a bit of an analyse and see what do you end up using most, and think if you're likely to take up something drastically different in the future, if you aren't, then probably don't need to change anything, as your current set-up actually covers you for more or less every aspect you can possibly venture into.

P.S. Someone's already mentioned this, but unless you're to get the 31mm, don't sell the 35mm off.