Pentax Lens Choices for Beginners

[Kusum Kangguru]

Hi,

I will be getting my pentax soon, and I am thinking of getting one of following lens to go along.

1) pentax 18-55 II (kit)
2) pentax 16-45
3) sigma 18-50 macro
4) sigma 17-70
5) tamron 17-50
6) tamron 28-75

Which one is a better choice? I will be using it as a learning as well as a walkabout lens. The prices between them do not differ by a lot (except for the kit).

Thanks.
My apologies if this has been discussed to death

[alanswan]

Which body are you getting?
If you're getting K20D, from the reviews I've heard, I would say get the kit lens (v. 2).
Otherwise, my personal preference is Sigma 17-70.
Not the best IQ, but passable with good range and macro too.

Caveat: The Sigma 17-70 apparently don't handle IR very well though.

[longko]

I'll suggest the kit lens for lightweight and Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for value for money and u wun need to upgrade to f2.8 later. Da 16-45mm is a gd choice too.

[fengwei]

Sigma 1770 gets my vote too, great for begineers or even experienced users

Oh btw, welcome to the Pentax family, I'm sure you'd love staying here

[hjbyeo]

Guys, how about the FA 24 - 90mm? I was a 'beginner', and still very much a beginner, and had the chance to get one from Feng Wei (Lok's). Good bokehs, and had quite fantastic range (not wide though).

But only if you get it on the cheap... which could be a rare occurence...

[istDeS]

Based on your choice, I vote for the sigma 17-70 follow by tamron 17-50.

[istDeS]

Originally Posted by hjbyeo Guys, how about the FA 24 - 90mm? I was a 'beginner', and still very much a beginner, and had the chance to get one from Feng Wei (Lok's). Good bokehs, and had quite fantastic range (not wide though). But only if you get it on the cheap... which could be a rare occurence...

Provided can get one easily. It is easier to get the lenses above.

Between it is Loke not Lok's.

[Gengh]

Buy my Sigma 18-200mm here: http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388983

Seriously, it's a good walkabout lens for a start, gives you lots more range to play with (so you get to shoot tele as well as wide), sacrificing aperture size.

If you don't want ... then choose between Sigma 18-50 macro and Tamron 17-50 for the constant f2.8. Tamron 28-70 is not wide enough on cropped sensors.

[felixcat8888]

Received my Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 and Pentax FA50mm F1.4 yesterday. Still playing with it to get used to the lenses.

For a start, you can use the 18-55mm Kit Lens to familiarise yourself with the cam before you decide to buy other lenses.

[dnaxe]

Originally Posted by felixcat8888 Received my Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 and Pentax FA50mm F1.4 yesterday. Still playing with it to get used to the lenses. For a start, you can use the 18-55mm Kit Lens to familiarise yourself with the cam before you decide to buy other lenses.

++

If you're getting the kit lens bundled, it's usually very cheap, and it's worth it to just get that first as a general lens.

If you know there are certain types of photos you want to take, though, you could consider getting another lens as well - but generally I probably wouldn't recommend even a 17-50/2.8 (*which is the lens amongst those you listed I would recommend) unless the person was quite serious about it, or cash is irrelevant.

(If cash is irrelevant, just buy the DA* 16-50 2.8).

[longko]

Originally Posted by dnaxe ++ If you're getting the kit lens bundled, it's usually very cheap, and it's worth it to just get that first as a general lens. If you know there are certain types of photos you want to take, though, you could consider getting another lens as well - but generally I probably wouldn't recommend even a 17-50/2.8 (*which is the lens amongst those you listed I would recommend) unless the person was quite serious about it, or cash is irrelevant. (If cash is irrelevant, just buy the DA* 16-50 2.8).

Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is abt $575-620 and Sigma 17-70mm is like around $590. But ya I agree kit lens is really worth getting.

Edit: You are right better to know what photography he's into.^^

[Kusum Kangguru]

Oh gosh ... thanks for the many many answers and suggestions.

Actually I still can't decide between the k200d and the k20d. But after some thought reading this thread, I am tempted to go with the k200d kit, since I am not sure whether I will pick up photography as a hobby eventually.

I am going to HK this weekend for holiday, so I will get my stuff there. I might just get one more lens, maybe a cheap prime like the FA 35 or 50. For sigma/tamron I am worried about QC, as I am a newbie and certainly does not know how to quick check a lens.

Thanks all.

[dnaxe]

Go for it! K200D kit and FA 35/2.

After you've played with it for awhile (I frankly use it as a P&S replacement. hahahaha. Not in the sense that I shoot on full auto, but in that I don't -specially- go to shoot stuff) you can see if you want to carry on! By then I'm sure there'll be new bodies.

Do yourself a favour, though, and buy sanyo eneloops/maha imedions and a charger. I found the K100D very frustrating before those (because I had to recharge before bringing the camera out, almost everytime. yeargh)

[Kusum Kangguru]

Originally Posted by dnaxe Go for it! K200D kit and FA 35/2. After you've played with it for awhile (I frankly use it as a P&S replacement. hahahaha. Not in the sense that I shoot on full auto, but in that I don't -specially- go to shoot stuff) you can see if you want to carry on! By then I'm sure there'll be new bodies. Do yourself a favour, though, and buy sanyo eneloops/maha imedions and a charger. I found the K100D very frustrating before those (because I had to recharge before bringing the camera out, almost everytime. yeargh)

Yah, exactly what I am thinking! If I really like photography, the k200d will be a cheaper body to replace than the k20d. Hopefully pentax will have a FF body by then, hence the FA primes!

I should be getting a small camera bag (lowepro?), rechargeables/charger, and maybe a UV filter for my lens as well, maybe all in HK.

One last question. Is a 35 or a 50 more suitable for taking pictures of dogs and humans, half body/closeup.

Thanks.

[night86mare]

get the kit lens, it is not the sharpest in the box, but it is very able, it is good for ir if you decide to take it up (and many pentax lenses which are wide cannot lay claim to that), and it is light, and it has a good comfortable range.

whatever you say, it definitely has a place in any beginner's box.

[longko]

Originally Posted by Kusum Kangguru Yah, exactly what I am thinking! If I really like photography, the k200d will be a cheaper body to replace than the k20d. Hopefully pentax will have a FF body by then, hence the FA primes! I should be getting a small camera bag (lowepro?), rechargeables/charger, and maybe a UV filter for my lens as well, maybe all in HK. One last question. Is a 35 or a 50 more suitable for taking pictures of dogs and humans, half body/closeup. Thanks.

50mm is my doggie and human half body portrait lens. Full body the 35mm might be better. Some FA 50mm f1.4 doggie shots;

[Kusum Kangguru]

Originally Posted by longko 50mm is my doggie and human half body portrait lens. Full body the 35mm might be better. Some FA 50mm f1.4 doggie shots;

OMG, nice!
Nice doggies!

The FA 50mm seems like a very good lens, sharp and bright with nice bokeh. I am so tempted. It costs around HK$1650 in HK.

Here's a pic taken with the FA 50 from dpreview:



:drool:

[longko]

Originally Posted by Kusum Kangguru OMG, nice! Nice doggies! The FA 50mm seems like a very good lens, sharp and bright with nice bokeh. I am so tempted. It costs around HK$1650 in HK.

Thx. If you are really into dogs, I can assure you that the FA 50mm f1.4 step down to f2 and K200D at ISO800/1600 will give u 1/125s to 1/180s in the next SKC show in expo. Kindly do not use flash when the dogs are in the ring as it may distract them.

These are taken with k10d + FA 50mm f1.4 (ISO 800 to 1600) without flash

[hjbyeo]

Originally Posted by istDeS Provided can get one easily. It is easier to get the lenses above. Between it is Loke not Lok's.

hahaha... thanks for correcting me! and Yes, lens is as difficult to get as the 20-35mm!

[ishou80]

I started with sigma 17-70mm and 50mm f1.4