Thanks John, that is a great help.
The Tamron, although great, is a bit of a pain on the K20D And K10D, yet perfect on the DS, probably due to my eyes, I just don't seem to get the diopter just so on the K cameras, but that is another matter.

Macro is not the be all and end all for me, I have even been using extension tubes with my m42 mount lenses on the DS, so you could say that in many ways I am covered for macro.
What I might do, is that I will try the 70mm DA and see if it will suit, plus, if I can stretch the funds, try the 77mm as well, not that any shop on Manchester has the 77mm . So that would mean blow the budget! But it would have the advantage of useability on my Film cameras too.

Does anyone want to go on a local photoshoot, who have the 77mm?


Oh the choices! Now I am more cunfused than ever.

There is a third way, ditch buying a lens, and buy the 160 ringflash instead!

On dear!

Thanks all,

In response to John, I have a budget of up to £350 (so that means the 77mm is out ) but I have been look for a great prime, and these two have really caught the eye.
Although they are two different focal lengths, there are valid reasons for this.

With the 35mm, I wanted an excellent wider prime to what I currently have (namely the fab FA50mm F1.4) which no only would do group photos, but would be nearer to "standard" on APS-C crop. Plus, with a lot of reading and browsing the web, it is also a cracking walkabout lens which is unheard of with a macro in the past (my Tamron 90mm macro is certainly not an excellent general lens, only a great macro). I have not used the 16-45mm for group shots as yet, (until tomorrow night) so, I don't know if it will be a suitable portrait lens. Plus, being a prime, it is less prone to pincushion than the zoom of a similar length.

With the 70mm, not only is it small, but would be a perfect partner on travel, along with my fifty and 16-45mm. The 50-135 was just heavy to carry around with other kit whilst on a trip to Budapest. Again I have read how good this lens is, and very discreet.

If I had the available funds, then no question, I would buy both, but I don't, hence the question.

So, do I go for the extra flexibilty of the 35mm, or do I go for the compactness of the 70mm?

I think I am leaning towards the 35mm, just because of the macro, yet still a cracking walkabout lens. Then, at a later date I can go for the 70mm.

Anvh, 21mm? not though of that, any good?

I have a bit of money for a new lens, but which one to get.

My choices are either the 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited or the 70mm F2.4 Limited.
I can't afford both, so which should I get?

I do a lot of Portraits, and landscapes, with the occasional Macro.

Currently I use the 50-135 for portaits, so would having a fix lens such as the 70 be a good addition (plus it is small so would be great for travel, unlike the 50-135)
However the 50-135 is too long, focal wise, for group images.

This is where the 35mm comes in, would it be good for group portraits, I have heard that is not just good for macro, but as a general lens too.

One advantage with the 35mm, is the macro too, but is it better than my old manual Tamron 90mm? you can get closer of course, but is it too short for macro?

Of course both should be good for Landscape, albeit differing perspectives, but would the 35mm be better than my 16-45 for landscapes at 35mm?

Advices please.

I was at Focus, but no Pentax Stand for the second year running
However, at least a couple of stands did have Pentax gear, in fact one did have the full range of lenses, especially the 60-250 and 55 DA*
Jessops? won't be missed, used to be good, but lousy now.
At least here in Manchester there are a couple of shops who sell and display Pentax gear, with good staff etc. Namely Jacobs and LCE.
Now if only SRS opened up a store on Manchester I would probably never leave the place......

Long live Pentax!

Any macro will be an excellent portait lens, being a prime. And as for softness wide open, personally I think that adds to a portrait.

Depends on what type of portraits you want to do, but any of the following would be a good combo

35mm Limited Macro
50mm F2.8 DFA Macro
100mm F2.8 DFA Macro (150mm effective FOV is good for close portaits)
Or
Tamron 90mm SP Macro
Sigma 105mm Macro.

Hold on, any Macro lens would be good.

Well, the 80-200 in Manchester looks okay through the window, if you want I will have a look into it more closely, and let you know the overall quality of it.
As for the 18-200, why bother at £149? LCE sell them new at £169. Personally I would find the extra £20 and buy new

All i can say is......you lucky lucky person! I wish I had the D as although I have the DS, the K10D and the K20D, the D would be perfect for travel. Pentaprism, twin dials, CF cards (not that SD is bad, but CF is fast!) older and more reliable TTL flash, and of course the size of the mini beast. If I had one I would probably get rid of the DS and accompany it with my K cameras.

Lucky you.

so as a post script, if anyone has a working *istD they have no use for and want it to go to a good home, let me know.

Glad to be of assistance hardgravity

I forgot one other thing that might be important, all the recommended cameras will take SDHC cards with a firmware update. So, if you want to put the 4gb/8gb SDHC cards in, update the firmware and voila!