Greetings to all Seniors from new Pentax convert


detritus

Senior Member
Sep 12, 2009
2,922
3
38
shootingbugs.blogspot.com
Hi all. I've been silently reading up on the past discussions and doing research for the past few months and will be getting a KX soon :bsmilie:

Would like to seek the views of more experienced users here before i take the leap (i haven't pre-ordered or checked the stock level but i'm in no hurry too... ;))

This will be my first DSLR, so i'm still very new to the techniques and concepts involved and i would like to keep it practical for a start (or OC will make noise that i waste money buying unnecessary stuff ;) )

I will be using it to take mostly portraits for family outings / holidays and aquatic photography (fishes-in-tanks and stuff)

My current plan is either:

- dual lens kit (18-55, 55-300) or
- single lens kit + d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro

My thinking is similar to what a lot of people have mentioned here: the value for money preposition of the dual lens kit and the flexibility it allows is tempting... but i really do not see myself using the 55-300 at this point...

Will probably be getting a polarizing filter as well, as fish tank is a terribly irritating obstacle between my camera and the fish i wanna take.

Appreciate if fellow seniors can share their experience and advise on the most logical way to
prioritize my investments :)
 

Hi all. I've been silently reading up on the past discussions and doing research for the past few months and will be getting a KX soon :bsmilie:

Would like to seek the views of more experienced users here before i take the leap (i haven't pre-ordered or checked the stock level but i'm in no hurry too... ;))

This will be my first DSLR, so i'm still very new to the techniques and concepts involved and i would like to keep it practical for a start (or OC will make noise that i waste money buying unnecessary stuff ;) )

I will be using it to take mostly portraits for family outings / holidays and aquatic photography (fishes-in-tanks and stuff)

My current plan is either:

- dual lens kit (18-55, 55-300) or
- single lens kit + d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro

My thinking is similar to what a lot of people have mentioned here: the value for money preposition of the dual lens kit and the flexibility it allows is tempting... but i really do not see myself using the 55-300 at this point...

Will probably be getting a polarizing filter as well, as fish tank is a terribly irritating obstacle between my camera and the fish i wanna take.

Appreciate if fellow seniors can share their experience and advise on the most logical way to
prioritize my investments :)

Welcome to the family .... you may kiss the ring ( do you all hear the mafia music in background )

There nothing wrong with these 3 lens , or you can buy all 3.
- dual lens kit (18-55, 55-300) or
- single lens kit + d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro

but if i in yr position now , I would buy

18-250mm and 50mm f1.4 ....

again Welcome to the family
 

Welcome to the family .... you may kiss the ring ( do you all hear the mafia music in background )

There nothing wrong with these 3 lens , or you can buy all 3.
- dual lens kit (18-55, 55-300) or
- single lens kit + d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro

but if i in yr position now , I would buy

18-250mm and 50mm f1.4 ....

again Welcome to the family

thanks... but why the 50mm f1.4 and not the 50mm f2.8?
 

Hi Welcome to the pentax forum!

I was in the same situation as you when I contemplated in getting the 55-300mm dual kit.

Thanks god I got this lens as I think it's a very good lens for holiday especially at visits to the Zoo when there are fences which will limit you to how far you can shoot.

And also, there are links to people using this lens with the raynox macro converter to do pseudo macro shooting which is good for shooting insects, have not tried this myself but will definitely do it someday.
 

For a start I'd suggest you go with the dual kit as it adequately covers the most used focal lengths and is simply unbeatable value.
The 50mm Macro is a great lens for indoor macro and versatile enough for a wide range of subjects, even non-macro ones. It's my goto lens for product shots and will work fine for shooting aquarium fish.
 

Hi Welcome to the pentax forum!

I was in the same situation as you when I contemplated in getting the 55-300mm dual kit.

Thanks god I got this lens as I think it's a very good lens for holiday especially at visits to the Zoo when there are fences which will limit you to how far you can shoot.

And also, there are links to people using this lens with the raynox macro converter to do pseudo macro shooting which is good for shooting insects, have not tried this myself but will definitely do it someday.

Thanks! the zoo thing is a good point... ;p i didn't think of that. I'll explore the raynox too.

For a start I'd suggest you go with the dual kit as it adequately covers the most used focal lengths and is simply unbeatable value.
The 50mm Macro is a great lens for indoor macro and versatile enough for a wide range of subjects, even non-macro ones. It's my goto lens for product shots and will work fine for shooting aquarium fish.

good point... but dual lens kit with macro lens burn hole in pocket and get scolding from OC if buy at one time :sweat:

The subject will be more sharper ....

thanks! i will read up further on this.
 

Hi,
Welcome to the Pentax family.:)
You can join us for the next Pentax outing in April.
We are also toying the idea to hold an outing for long lens, like 200mm above.
 

I second the motion of dual lens kit. Get macro and other lens when u r familiar with the camera and composition.
 

For my point of view, i will get the dual lens kit first...
because you will not able to get the 50-200mm or 55-300mm at $120-$320 if you miss it and d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro can buy anytime when you have spare $....
if you think seldom need it... the atleast get the 50-200mm just for extra $120... where to find!
but of cos if you really don't need it, then of cos don't buy...
 

For my point of view, i will get the dual lens kit first...
because you will not able to get the 50-200mm or 55-300mm at $120-$320 if you miss it and d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro can buy anytime when you have spare $....
if you think seldom need it... the atleast get the 50-200mm just for extra $120... where to find!
but of cos if you really don't need it, then of cos don't buy...

i think thats the gist of my dilemma... being new to dslr, how can I be sure that I will NEVER EVER need it at this time? :bsmilie:
 

i think thats the gist of my dilemma... being new to dslr, how can I be sure that I will NEVER EVER need it at this time? :bsmilie:

I think can buy and keep . Even if u dun need it ... think u still can fetch a good price and BnS :)
 

Welcome to the family .... you may kiss the ring ( do you all hear the mafia music in background )

There nothing wrong with these 3 lens , or you can buy all 3.
- dual lens kit (18-55, 55-300) or
- single lens kit + d-fa 50mm f/2.8 macro

but if i in yr position now , I would buy

18-250mm and 50mm f1.4 ....

again Welcome to the family

Welcome to the Pentax family.

I would suggest to go for the 18-55 and 50-200/55-300 and a 50 f2.8.

The 50 f2.8 is good for your aquarium pictures, but even the 18-55 can do the job.
 

i think thats the gist of my dilemma... being new to dslr, how can I be sure that I will NEVER EVER need it at this time? :bsmilie:

ok, just my thinking when i get my k-x(i also a beginner)...
to get DSLR, we sure want it able to change lens mah...
now if you get the 50-200mm at $120, I can have 2 lens to compair...
then I will know what is good and bad for the zoom len... (of cos you can say join outing and try)... i belive that it will help me to decide what lens to get in futrue...

as a beginner myself, i think it is a must buy for beginner... is a good chance to get it at such at low price...

but due to no stock, in the end i get myself the 55-300mm set....
 

Welcome!

You seemed to have done your research homework thoroughly. I second those replies above, no need for anymore repeating.

Polariser is a must, and make sure you buy one with the correct filter size so that it can fit your lens. I doubt you'll use the 55-300 to take picture of your fishes because the min focusing length is too long. Your choice of 50mm 2.8 macro is awesome. There is also a 100mm 2.8 macro. You may want to read up on these lenses too
 

i think thats the gist of my dilemma... being new to dslr, how can I be sure that I will NEVER EVER need it at this time? :bsmilie:

2 strategies to this :

1. Just spend the money and buy the lens. Very unlikely you won't use it at all. Given the pricing, nothing to loose.

2. :devil: strategy. Since so many new owners of Kx and K7 bought the lens as kit, I am sure sooner or later, some will be afflicted by LBA and the marketplace will have ppl selling off the 50-200/ 55-300 for cheap.
 

Welcome to the Pentax family.

I would suggest to go for the 18-55 and 50-200/55-300 and a 50 f2.8.

The 50 f2.8 is good for your aquarium pictures, but even the 18-55 can do the job.

thanks! that might save me some money until the poison bites ;)

ok, just my thinking when i get my k-x(i also a beginner)...
to get DSLR, we sure want it able to change lens mah...
now if you get the 50-200mm at $120, I can have 2 lens to compair...
then I will know what is good and bad for the zoom len... (of cos you can say join outing and try)... i belive that it will help me to decide what lens to get in futrue...

as a beginner myself, i think it is a must buy for beginner... is a good chance to get it at such at low price...

but due to no stock, in the end i get myself the 55-300mm set....

thanks! lucky for me, i can wait for stock. i prefer to play it cool when buying expensive toys. more haste, less value... i learnt my lesson already :mad2:

Welcome!

You seemed to have done your research homework thoroughly. I second those replies above, no need for anymore repeating.

Polariser is a must, and make sure you buy one with the correct filter size so that it can fit your lens. I doubt you'll use the 55-300 to take picture of your fishes because the min focusing length is too long. Your choice of 50mm 2.8 macro is awesome. There is also a 100mm 2.8 macro. You may want to read up on these lenses too

the 100mm crossed my mind... the cost is a consideration :sweat:

2 strategies to this :

1. Just spend the money and buy the lens. Very unlikely you won't use it at all. Given the pricing, nothing to loose.

2. :devil: strategy. Since so many new owners of Kx and K7 bought the lens as kit, I am sure sooner or later, some will be afflicted by LBA and the marketplace will have ppl selling off the 50-200/ 55-300 for cheap.

i like the 2nd idea. its more environmentally (and wallet) friendly :angel:
 

What's LBA?

Hmmm I thought of getting the single lens Kx and wait till people sell off their 50-200 or 55-300 lens before i snap it up. But doing the math of opportunity costs. I think not worth it. However, situation as such is that dual lens kits are currently unavailable at the places I've checked.

Dilemma. Single lens can get coloured kx sommore...
 

What's LBA?

Hmmm I thought of getting the single lens Kx and wait till people sell off their 50-200 or 55-300 lens before i snap it up. But doing the math of opportunity costs. I think not worth it. However, situation as such is that dual lens kits are currently unavailable at the places I've checked.

Dilemma. Single lens can get coloured kx sommore...

LBA: Lens Buying Addict

anyway, i've been planning this purchase for some time so i'm not gonna rush it... will wait for stock to come in :lovegrin: