I don't feel 'limited' by using primes in the least... The whole point is that I've come to prefer it...

At the moment I'm pretty much using the FA28 and FA50 exclusively and the Tamron 17-50 stays in the bag...
I tend to shoot wide (ish) as a walkaround and the 28 is perfect for this and enjoy the 50 for portraiture and as a short-tele...

I just want to know how much better people think the DA*55mm is over the FA50mm...

I would 'have' to lose the Tammy and the FA50 to be able to afford it... Is it really worth the premium?

Is the DA*55mm 1.4 significantly better than the FA50-1.4 or just a bit better?

The images I'm seeing from the 'other forum' say 'much' better but to be fair to the FA50 they're coming from stunning photographers...

I've been thinking about an all (or most) prime set-up for a while and I'm now rarely using the Tamron 17-50mm-2.8...

I'm thinking sell the Tamron-17-50 and the FA50-1.4 and buy the DA*55 and the later the FA77Ltd or DA*50-135mm 2.8...

Means for a while my main set-up would be FA28 and DA*55 (and F35-70 and DA50-200 if I want to go long)...

Any thoughts?

Vivitar 19mm 3.8 will be UW on film...

I've got the 'F' version - Are the F & A versions optically similar?

+1 on Freeman... Super inspirational!!

TBH... The manual that came with the camera will teach you the most...

Strobist blog is good later on, and the 'other site' (pentaxforums.com) is very useful too!

A Weather-sealed re-issue of all the FA primes... FA-WR

Did you mean DA in your OP or DA-WR?

I have the DA18-55-kit (without WR) AND the WR version of the 50-200mm (although I don't have a WR-body) and it's my longest lens...

'They' say the 55-300 has better IQ (image quality) than the 50-200...

I rarely shoot long and the 50-200 suits me fine (I believe after much discussion that I'm in possession of a good copy) as my 'long when I need long' lens... but for the most part it either stays in my bag or gets left in the cupboard...

Redundant is a difficult word for me as different lenses have different characteristics... EG: I have an F35-70 which is covered by the range of other lenses I own... However the colour it produces is drastically different from those other lenses... Not a lens I often use but one I'm reluctant to part with...

As for my kit-18-55... It's been in the cupboard since I upgraded to Tamron-17-50-2.8 (really a much better lens...)
And I got an FA28 this week and can't envisage the Tamron being attached to the K-x for the foreseeable future...

My aim is to develop an all AF prime kit for the K-x (K5 later) that can also be used on Pentax 35mm-film SLRs (drooling over MZ-S, but can't afford)such as my ME and MZ-6/7 which I hope to own soon...

Just to be clear... When Pentax users say 'bayonet' they are referring to the K-mount as opposed to m42 fitting, which is screw mount and requires an adapter...

If your sigma lens does not fit K-x it is either:
1)Faulty (or damaged)- possible the mount is bent slightly...
2)bayonet fitting (but not K-mount - perhaps nikon-F or olympus...)
3)M42 (screw thread (this will work on K-x but will require an adaptor..)



With regard to your search for a macro lens...

I too would really love a decent macro and intend to save for either a Tamron 90mm macro or a Pentax-FA 100mm f2.8 macro lens... But looking at around £300+

If you have DAL version of the kit-18-55 I really wouldn't bother with a DA version (unless it's the WR-version but I don't know your gear...)

If you really want to add to your line-up maybe a DA35-2.4 prime lens...

Agreed...

Simplified - - -It's really just a case of either: - opening-up (to brighten), closing-down (to darken) apertures
OR - turning the flash up or down in power
OR - moving the flash about
OR - a combination of the above
AND keeping you shutter-speed at or below 1/180 (the slower the shutter the more ambient light you allow into the exposure)

Get a Teddy-bear (teddy's don't get bored) and practice for an hour or so and you'll soon pick it up...

Strobist blog is great... I also like Zack Arias's 'OneLight' if you can download a copy (although I obviously don't condone piracy)