Walkabout lens for low light
Posted 30/06/2009 - 11:44 - Helpful Comment
Link
The 50mm is ideal, but you might like something wider.
I read this link by Hin Man - a Pentaxian after my own heart with his obsession with inexpensive lenses!
After my own research I ended up with a 24mm Sigma Super-wide II f2.8 rather than the Vivitar. I find the extra stop is significant, and the extra brightness through the viewfinder, compared to the kit lens, and enjoy the restriction of a fixed focal length.
The lens is also close focussing, which is something your current lenses do not offer! At f2.8 the DOF is wafer thin at the minimum focussing distance.
I read this link by Hin Man - a Pentaxian after my own heart with his obsession with inexpensive lenses!
After my own research I ended up with a 24mm Sigma Super-wide II f2.8 rather than the Vivitar. I find the extra stop is significant, and the extra brightness through the viewfinder, compared to the kit lens, and enjoy the restriction of a fixed focal length.
The lens is also close focussing, which is something your current lenses do not offer! At f2.8 the DOF is wafer thin at the minimum focussing distance.
Posted 30/06/2009 - 11:53
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Thanks for the reply, seems a good (and importantly, inexpensive) option.
Ebay the best option for something like this?
Ebay the best option for something like this?
If you can't say something nice about Pentax, you won't say anything at all.
Apparently.
Apparently.
Posted 30/06/2009 - 11:57
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Robbie, You would enjoy a 50mm sometimes very much, but you may prefer a less telephoto angle for general use. What is your budget?
Regarding the 24mm Sigma Super Wide II (only super wide on film, by the way): I had one of those but didn't like its low contrast and cyan colour cast, despite the high resolution.
Instead for a budget prime walkabout lens, I suggest a Pentax A or F 28mm f2.8.
If your budget is quite high then you could consider a modern fast zoom, such as Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or Pentax 16-50mm f2.8.
Regarding the 24mm Sigma Super Wide II (only super wide on film, by the way): I had one of those but didn't like its low contrast and cyan colour cast, despite the high resolution.
Instead for a budget prime walkabout lens, I suggest a Pentax A or F 28mm f2.8.
If your budget is quite high then you could consider a modern fast zoom, such as Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or Pentax 16-50mm f2.8.
~Pete
Posted 30/06/2009 - 12:43
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Someone is selling the 28mm version of the lens I mentioned on here (it's called Sigma Mini-wide II).
I haven't seen any evidence of a cyan colour cast on my Sigma, btw. Maybe a smidge less contrast than the Pentax kit lens, but nothing a tweak in Silkypix won't sort out!
I haven't seen any evidence of a cyan colour cast on my Sigma, btw. Maybe a smidge less contrast than the Pentax kit lens, but nothing a tweak in Silkypix won't sort out!
Posted 30/06/2009 - 14:26 - Helpful Comment
Link
robbie_d wrote:
evenings/overcast, landscapes, cities at night, etc.
For these a wider lens then 50mm is more pleasant most of the time, it can surely be done with 50mm though but 50mm is better suited for portrait and the likes.evenings/overcast, landscapes, cities at night, etc.
28mm are good for your type of photos and are easy to get secondhand.
If you want to thread yourself get one of the limited lens, 21mm is perfect for landscapes and architecture where as the 35mm is more a general lens.
You have the 18-55mm so try to find out what you would like the most by simply setting the zoom on one length and use that for a day.
Stefan
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
K10D, K5
DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135, D-FA 100 Macro, DA 40 Ltd, DA 18-55
AF-540FGZ
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1569 posts
17 years
Victory Mansions
Having recently purchased a K-m with both the 18-55 and 50-200 lenses (which I love), I've been looking to add a lens or two. I was investigating the option of a good prime walkabout lens, but then I thought that I might be better off adding a lens which offers something my existing lenses don't. I'm therefore looking to add a lens for outdoor low light photogaphy (evenings/overcast, landscapes, cities at night, etc.), and was hoping that someone might be able to give me some advice.
Would a 50mm 1.4/1.7 fit the bill or is that way off the mark?
Apparently.