Your Choice ?

If you could only chose one lens for your camera as a keeper, what would it be ?

It doesn't have to be a Pentax lens.

Thanks,

RG.

This is a toughie but if i had too choose it would be my DA 16-45 just ahead of my 90mm Tamron macro

DA 16-45.

Tough choice between the Sigma 10-20 and the Pentax DA 16-45 for me, but probably the latter as it's more versatile.

Sigma 17-70mm (then the 10-20mm)

50/1.2 on the LX.
31Ltd on the D's

Kim

Not quite sure what you mean by this.

If you mean, you have to choose one lens, and only ever have that, then it would be the new Pentax 18-250, without a doubt. To sacrifice (forever) the flexibility of a good focal length range to get the undoubted optical qualities of something less flexible is something I could never do.

If on the other hand, you mean 'which one out of your lenses will you always keep and never sell', then for me it'll be my trusty, and still almost mint condition, manual focus Sigma A 28-200. It was with me and my ME Super for 20 years, wherever I took photos. I don't use it much these days, since the FA 28-200 is much better in almost every way. But I get it out every so often for old times sake.

FA43 Limited

Only had it a week but it's been off the camera just once in that time. My D-FA 100 Macro would run it very close but my DA12-24 would trail them both by a margin. The latter is very good quality and takes lovely photos but not in a focal range I find myself drawn to very often.

DA16-45

I would sell my SLR and get a point and shoot. Little point in having such a camera and be limited to one lens.

For the sake of argument, the closest I would come would be for a no hassle, packing light, vacation lens. In which case I'd have to stick with my 18-200mm. As mentioned, sacrificing the flexibility would be difficult to give up.

But I would really miss my 50mm f/1.4 if I had to give that up permanently.

I'd still take my K10D and DA 16-45 over a point and shoot anytime.

Ditto

It depends what I'd be doing. For general stuff it'd be the 16-45... but I'd need the ND grads for landscapes too

Matt

I almost bought the 16-45 but wanted a more versatile lens and so I went for the Sigma 17-70 and don't regret the decision, so that would be my choice.
Harry

Another way to put this is, which lens would you least like to be stolen?

For me, the 77mm Ltd.

G

Although at least, being a current lens, it'd be straightforward enough to replace. I'd be very unhappy indeed if either my FA* 85 or Tokina 80-200 F2.8 were stolen as I like both lenses and neither are now available new. Of the two I use the 80-200 more so probably it's the lens I'd be least happy to have stolen.