Hi Ian.

Firstly, are you planning to use on both Film and Digital? If you are, then its a no brainer. If solely on Digital, then there are options.

Depends on the price advertised, as both of the other options are stunning on digital.

Well, the others are
DA-35mm F2.4 AL
and
DA-35mm F2.8 Macro Limited.

The former is a plastic bayonet, but don't let that put you off, but a tad slower.
The second is a classic Limited (metal body, AF clutch) but slower still.
Both produce great bokeh, but not designed for film.
I have read that the F2 FA model (the one you are talking about) produces fussy harsh bokeh, but not having tried it, I cannot confirm this.
But, if you are digital, and the cost of the FA35mm is more than the DA35 F2.4, I would seriously suggest this one instead, and save money. It is a mighty lens and I love mine.

Hope this helps.

Hi Pete.

I can see you are in a bit of a conundrum.

Firstly, being a past Sigma 70-300 user (and Sigma 100-300 DL user), I can say that optically the Pentax 55-300 is a better lens.
Now for Macro. Yes, the Pentax does not give you that close up you would like, but have a look on SRS, they have the excellent Sigma 105mm Macro for you to indulge in proper 1:1 macro, and it is on sale too.

total cost for both? less than the £600 you mentioned.
This might be just what you are looking for.

Hope it helps.

Okay, I know that the bag bit is not Pentax related, but what will go inside it will be

So, currently I have a number of bags and backpacks for my kit, depending on where I am going.
I have the following:-
Lowepro Mini-Trekker AW backpack
Lowepro Sling 222 AW
Lowepro Orion Trekker
Cheap Jessops Camera bag, initally to hold my MF camera, but not that good.

For City breaks I am looking for something less obvious, but enable to hold the following:-
Pentax K-5 and Grip
DA 21mm Limited
DA 35 F2.4
DA 40mm Limited
FA 50mm F1.4
K 55mm F1.8
MZ-5n body
Either DA*50-135mm, 55-300mm or Sigma 105mm Macro.
Lumix LX-5 compact camera.
Couple of rolls of film
Several Cards
Some filters and filter holder.
Obviously a document pocket will be a boon too.
As you can see, most of the lenses are tiny and could be stacked so it does'nt have to be that big, just big enough.
Thoughts?

Tethered? Why? In all honesty, unless you are doing a lot of event work which requires almost instant prints, you don't need it. Just have a few cards and transfer to the laptop whilst on the job (one card uploading and another in camera, and third as backup), or upload in the comfort of your own home.
As for lights, yes it does have the X-sync port, but in reality buy some wireless triggers for the lights, so much more flexible. (I have both, and the wireless are better)

Now for the C word. Trying to avoid being a brand Jock, will the 7D or 5D give you much more for shooting than the K-5? I am not so sure. At a recent studio shoot, friends of mine were using various Canon and Nikon models, and we are talking about serious expensive bodies and L lenses. But did they get better shots than the K-5? not really. The K-5 more than holds its own, and is superb in the studio. As you have a range of lenses, why not use them on the K-5 and save serious money changing.

Hope this helps.

[img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7177/6932799945_54f6a5537d.jpg" class="comment_image" />

Fab Feb Daily Challenge Day 26 by IHD Photography, on Flickr[/img]

Yes, he used an S3 and M42 55mm, but this is a close I could get...

Tell me.........

Sell the 35 and 55? Never! LOL
I love the 35 and the 55 is perfect on my MZ-5n film SLR.

I think you guys are right, buy both, and enjoy them in Tallinn in May. Anyway, they are such tiny lenses, it means I can leave the 16-45 at home..........

I have an opportunity to purchase a couple of lenses (Limiteds - Yey!) and I was wondering if they would be a good compliment to my current primes.
the combo would be a good group for travelling especially, but one I was wondering if it is too close to what I have.

So, What I currently have are:-
DA 35mm F2.4 AL
FA 50mm F1.4
K 55mm F1.8

What are reserved for me are:-
DA 21mm F3.2 Limited
DA 40mm F2.8 Limited.

So, it would be a selection of 21, 35, 40, 50 and 55 in the bag.
Is it worth getting the 40mm as well? Is it too close to either the 35 and 50? Is it really that good to stand on its own merits?
TBH, the price is a bargain, and it is in excellent condition, in fact both Limiteds are.
What would you do? Get both and have done with it, or just get the 21mm?

Ultimately I want the 70mm too, but you don't find many of those around secondhand, and might have to save up to get new.

I am a little surprised at the DxO results on these lenses (they DID after all put the K-5 as the 5Dmk2 killer..) but at the end of the day they do measured tests in the lab rather than real world tests of the lenses for the applications that they are intended for.
Initially I was taken aback with the results, as I am intending to buy a couple of these tiny lenses very shortly, so I was interested in what they said. Then I went back to the likes of Flickr and admired what these lenses can actually do. CA? no problem, if it appears, throw it through PS. Sharpness? Well as John says, some softness on the DA 70 is quite flattering for portraits (not that there is much, it seems a damn sharp lens to me). Wide open issues on the DA21? well for landscapes I will be stopping down anyway, and street, well vignetting adds to the creative image.

In the end, I am still going to get the 21 and 70, they are fine lenses, and beautifully made and tiny, with exceptional overall IQ.

Thanks Puma, but already read it. Still does not make my mind up though.
Great link though as a good review.