Out of the three, I think I would take the 35mm. It's probably gives the most versatile FOV though its the one I do not own. The 31mm is better than it and worth the price you pay for. But I think it cost some $1.5k now. The thing about FA35mm is that it is discontinued. A good condition one, if you could find, would probably set you back at some $600++. With the super price hike of the 50mm, I would pick the DA40mm...
Which would make a good and light walk-about lens?
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For flexibility, the Sigma or Pentax 17-70 would have a more usable range.
If I had to choose from your 3 lens choices, it would be the DA40mm. Wonderful "true" pancake lens that's fast enough, render good colours and more usable than the 50 f/1.4 which is a little too high for close in photography.
If I had to choose from your 3 lens choices, it would be the DA40mm. Wonderful "true" pancake lens that's fast enough, render good colours and more usable than the 50 f/1.4 which is a little too high for close in photography.
I had to answer a similar question for myself soon after I bought my K-x. After doing some research and keeping in mind that my needs were primarily portraits and shots of kids in action at home, I discovered that the 31mm Limited would have been the wisest choice from Pentax's lens lineup for a 1.5 crop APS-C sensor. It offers both superb IQ, compact form factor, low light shooting capability & adequate focal length as an everyday walk about lens. Only it costs a bomb at the moment with the recent price hike!
arron80, if you want a 40mm film perspective.. I think that FA28/2.8 is the nearest focal length. I never have the FA28, but I do have the M28/2.8 which is very sharp on my film. And it may be difficult to source for FA28/2.8 on the resale market.
If you want to get a new lenses off the shelve. I think the DA21/3.2 is a good lens to go for. You may think that F/3.2 is a little slow. But depending on which bodies you couple this lens. It is not actually that slow. I have been using DA21 extensively as its always on my body like a lens cap. DA21 is a good walk-around lens as it allow you to take the full street picture with the wide perspective. And if you are to walk closer/close up with your subject, you can do a close up short. The minimum focusing distance of DA21 is actually shorter than 0.2m. Very useful to do close-up. Plus its cheaper when compared to FA31.
cheerss..
If you want to get a new lenses off the shelve. I think the DA21/3.2 is a good lens to go for. You may think that F/3.2 is a little slow. But depending on which bodies you couple this lens. It is not actually that slow. I have been using DA21 extensively as its always on my body like a lens cap. DA21 is a good walk-around lens as it allow you to take the full street picture with the wide perspective. And if you are to walk closer/close up with your subject, you can do a close up short. The minimum focusing distance of DA21 is actually shorter than 0.2m. Very useful to do close-up. Plus its cheaper when compared to FA31.
cheerss..
I agree with all the above - and I have both the FA28 2.8 and the DA21 3.2. When comparing the DA21 with 'faster' lenses like the 35s or 50s people always seem to forget that you can hand-hold a shorter lens with slower shutter speeds, which partly compensates for a (very) slightly slower aperture. Both these lenses work very well for me and I could live with either of them on a trip as the only walkaround lens in the bag. I love my DA40 (newly acquired) and I have just sold my FA50 1.4 - those are both great lenses but slightly too long to be the only one with you at any one time. For me that is.
Sigma 30/1.4 is good if you know you shoot very often at f1.4 to f2.8. The edges just don't get sharper stopped down, which may be a negative if used as a walk around lens.
I've never had the 40/2.8, but I have the 24, 28, 35.
24mm is rather wide. Still usable as walk around, but you need to get nearer for portraits. A bit scary for me esp. when the subject of the portrait is a stranger on the street (no, not talking about sly hip shots here ). The plus side is that it does include more for environmental portraits.
28mm stands in a rather similar spot as the 35mm. Its wider, so it boils down to personal preference on what you consider 'normal' or better (ie. narrower or wider). Again, a bit of the same negative for portraits as the 24mm. I don't often go for the 28mm as its slower (f2.8) and mine has no AF.
I don't advocate a slower lens. Yes, its less focus sensitive because of short focal length, often you need the speed to stop motion as well (eg. 1/60; 1/90 for a moving/walking subject).
I've never had the 40/2.8, but I have the 24, 28, 35.
24mm is rather wide. Still usable as walk around, but you need to get nearer for portraits. A bit scary for me esp. when the subject of the portrait is a stranger on the street (no, not talking about sly hip shots here
). The plus side is that it does include more for environmental portraits.28mm stands in a rather similar spot as the 35mm. Its wider, so it boils down to personal preference on what you consider 'normal' or better (ie. narrower or wider). Again, a bit of the same negative for portraits as the 24mm. I don't often go for the 28mm as its slower (f2.8) and mine has no AF.
I don't advocate a slower lens. Yes, its less focus sensitive because of short focal length, often you need the speed to stop motion as well (eg. 1/60; 1/90 for a moving/walking subject).
Hi bro, I like taking street/candid, cats, portraits and the occasional buildings. Ya I know the lenses that I shortlisted are all more than the 40mm focal length I am used to. The 31mm F1.8 will be good for my purpose but its too ex. So I have to make some compromises, I guess using my legs to zoom out zoom in is the only way now.
TS, want to ask what kind of photos do you usually take?
If you like the Panny 20mm, light and fast is only half of the equation. All the lenses you have shortlisted are 52.5mm, 60mm, and 75mm (35mm equivalent) - the shortest focal length is still 12.5mm more than your 40mm favorite focal length.
The fov will be smaller and tighter - 52.5mm is good for portraits but you'll get a shock when you want to take a tree and end up seeing branches inside the vf. I think you already know that... but you know like just in case.
Thanks for the recommendations bro! But I prefer prime lenses coz they force me to think more about my composition and move around. Funny thing is few years ago, I hated prime lenses coz I find them so troublesome and inflexible, cannot zoom must ownself move. Guess the older u get, the more your mentality changes. Now I prefer a fast and good prime over any zooms!
I never knew there's a SMC Pentax-FA* 24mm F2 AL [IF]. Is it a discontinued model? I guess I will skip SMC Pentax-M 35mm F1.4 coz I dun shoot manual focus at all..
But I prefer prime lenses coz they force me to think more about my composition and move around. Funny thing is few years ago, I hated prime lenses coz I find them so troublesome and inflexible, cannot zoom must ownself move. Guess the older u get, the more your mentality changes. Now I prefer a fast and good prime over any zooms!I never knew there's a SMC Pentax-FA* 24mm F2 AL [IF]. Is it a discontinued model? I guess I will skip SMC Pentax-M 35mm F1.4 coz I dun shoot manual focus at all..
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The 31mm F1.8 LTD is the ultimate but too ex for me. Seems like the 35mm F2.0 is a good alternative but problem is I dun see a used one selling at the B&S section. Guess not many people are willing to give up this lens. If can't find the 35mm F2.0, I might get the DA40mm F2.8 new or try to find a FA28mm F2.8.
Thanks bro! You opened up my eyes to another lens! Now I must consider the FA28mm F2.8 liao as it is nearer to my familiar focal length of 40mm. But I suspect that this lens is a discontinued one also? If so, then must be very difficult to find.
Hi bro, I like taking street/candid, cats, portraits and the occasional buildings. Ya I know the lenses that I shortlisted are all more than the 40mm focal length I am used to. The 31mm F1.8 will be good for my purpose but its too ex. So I have to make some compromises, I guess using my legs to zoom out zoom in is the only way now.
Well... if you're serious on getting a prime lens for a walkabout lens. Stick to it, save up and get it. Or hope that someone sells it in B&S.
If you want to make compromises, the kit lens is actually quite decent. Especially, if you get the AL II version which is metal mount and very very light. Costs about a $100 - covers the range from 18-55. I mean just because it's kit lens doesn't mean it's junk.
And if you don't mind, manual focusing - manual lenses are good and reasonably priced. Not for everybody, so far i only know baracus and myself like to do manual focusing. :sweatsm:
Well... if you're serious on getting a prime lens for a walkabout lens. Stick to it, save up and get it. Or hope that someone sells it in B&S.
If you want to make compromises, the kit lens is actually quite decent. Especially, if you get the AL II version which is metal mount and very very light. Costs about a $100 - covers the range from 18-55. I mean just because it's kit lens doesn't mean it's junk.
And if you don't mind, manual focusing - manual lenses are good and reasonably priced. Not for everybody, so far i only know baracus and myself like to do manual focusing. :sweatsm:
Agreed. It depends on situations too, if you are doing 'own time own target' shooting, manual focusing is pretty rewarding.
Probably why i chose pentax when it comes to manual focusing, its a joy to use.tootboink, you're gonna confuse yourself into knots. :bsmilie: Ortega keeps a price lists for 3rd party lenses but it's kind of hard to find the lenses that's suitable for k-mount. Some are not available for k-mount.
Can always use www.bhphotovideo.com to do research - filter by sigma, tamron for pentax k mount. The USD price is listed so you can have a rough estimate how much it costs. After that, give the local distributor of the 3rd party lenses a call for enquiry. :devil: ~ I think i've added fuel to your desire for lens.
Agreed. It depends on situations too, if you are doing 'own time own target' shooting, manual focusing is pretty rewarding.
YAY!!! High-five, Charlie.
Manual focusing is easy with some practice... my target is to shoot a flying housefly with buttery creamy bokeh using manual focusing. If Kungfu Panda can chopstick a flying shuai-gao, so can I shoot a flying housefly. Just joking... :bsmilie:
Thanks for the advice bro! Ya I find the kit lens pretty decent, mine is the DAL version, different from AL II? I will definitely keep it to use as a normal zoom lens. The prime lens is more for low light and just walkabout. I just like the feeling of having to move to get the shots I want nowadays.:bsmilie: I might try manual focusing one day, but I find auto focusing easier and more convenient.
Hopefully I can get one of the lenses I want in B&S, will definitely keep a lookout everyday.
Ya I find the kit lens pretty decent, mine is the DAL version, different from AL II? I will definitely keep it to use as a normal zoom lens. The prime lens is more for low light and just walkabout. I just like the feeling of having to move to get the shots I want nowadays.:bsmilie: I might try manual focusing one day, but I find auto focusing easier and more convenient.Hopefully I can get one of the lenses I want in B&S, will definitely keep a lookout everyday.
Well... if you're serious on getting a prime lens for a walkabout lens. Stick to it, save up and get it. Or hope that someone sells it in B&S.
If you want to make compromises, the kit lens is actually quite decent. Especially, if you get the AL II version which is metal mount and very very light. Costs about a $100 - covers the range from 18-55. I mean just because it's kit lens doesn't mean it's junk.
And if you don't mind, manual focusing - manual lenses are good and reasonably priced. Not for everybody, so far i only know baracus and myself like to do manual focusing. :sweatsm:
i bought a very cheap second hand manual 50mm f/2 a few days back without thinking(was looking for a telephoto actually), and straightaway i clipped it before going for dinner outside.
my first impression was WOW. the sharpness of the lens was unbelievable. along the singapore river i took a lot of shots without flash, and they all turned out to be very nice indeed. however having to focus manually made me take at least 5 to 10 X the time needed to take a shot. hahaha.
back at home clipping on the kit lens back again(the only other lens i own atm as a newbie) to do some comparisons by myself, i found out how much i so so so missed my autofocus. the sound and feeling of the whirl of the focusing ring was heavenly! nevertheless image wise definitely the 50 f2 is so much nicer. such conflicting emotions! how i wish i have an autofocus prime!!
but then again.. when i go outside, no choice. i find that i rather use the 50 f2 as my kit lens cannot deliver such sharp images.. and since that day it has spent more time on my camera than my kit lens. and i have never spent more time trying to take pictures than now.
having survived this traumatic time with the manual focus, i must say there is an immense sense of satisfaction in getting a shot right. in fact, i think that if i were to get an autofocus one, i will feel like i am playing cheat! :bsmilie:
getting an autofocus prime will set me back by at least 300:sweat: and while i feel the surge of temptation everytime i see better prime than mine in the BnS, the poor student in me screams out that it isn't worth the money now getting an AF one when i can do it manually especially when i am saving for a telephoto.
now.. what i dream for is a all in one zoom, constant (large) aperture lens:bsmilie::bsmilie:
my first impression was WOW. the sharpness of the lens was unbelievable. along the singapore river i took a lot of shots without flash, and they all turned out to be very nice indeed. however having to focus manually made me take at least 5 to 10 X the time needed to take a shot. hahaha.
back at home clipping on the kit lens back again(the only other lens i own atm as a newbie) to do some comparisons by myself, i found out how much i so so so missed my autofocus. the sound and feeling of the whirl of the focusing ring was heavenly! nevertheless image wise definitely the 50 f2 is so much nicer. such conflicting emotions! how i wish i have an autofocus prime!!
but then again.. when i go outside, no choice. i find that i rather use the 50 f2 as my kit lens cannot deliver such sharp images.. and since that day it has spent more time on my camera than my kit lens. and i have never spent more time trying to take pictures than now.
having survived this traumatic time with the manual focus, i must say there is an immense sense of satisfaction in getting a shot right. in fact, i think that if i were to get an autofocus one, i will feel like i am playing cheat! :bsmilie:
getting an autofocus prime will set me back by at least 300:sweat: and while i feel the surge of temptation everytime i see better prime than mine in the BnS, the poor student in me screams out that it isn't worth the money now getting an AF one when i can do it manually especially when i am saving for a telephoto.
now.. what i dream for is a all in one zoom, constant (large) aperture lens:bsmilie::bsmilie:
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Aaron, take your time building a lens kit. We always see somebody with a huge lens collection and go "I want that!" but lenses will pop out all the time. If you miss one now, another will come up later. Some more ex, some more cheap. No big deal... have to remind yourself that they took a long time finding and buying them. Slow and steady does it. In 10 years time, you will have a formidable lens collection. Do lots of research and less buying. Next time you will go, my prime lens is better than that.
Tootboink, there's infinity focus on the prime. When i'm lazy, i will turn to infinity and use it like a point and shoot. Super sharp too. hahahaha... autofocus is always nice. Manual is a lot more satisfying, especially when focus, exposure, and composition is spot on. At times, it's the focal length at work. Turn your kit lens to 50mm so that everything is equal and you'll find that IQ difference is similar.
Elavan, i already looked like an idiot trying to focus on a bee manually. :bsmilie: I'm going to find a very BIG housefly to win that competition, if there's one. ;p
Do lots of research and less buying. Next time you will go, my prime lens is better than that. Tootboink, there's infinity focus on the prime. When i'm lazy, i will turn to infinity and use it like a point and shoot. Super sharp too. hahahaha... autofocus is always nice. Manual is a lot more satisfying, especially when focus, exposure, and composition is spot on. At times, it's the focal length at work. Turn your kit lens to 50mm so that everything is equal and you'll find that IQ difference is similar.
Elavan, i already looked like an idiot trying to focus on a bee manually. :bsmilie: I'm going to find a very BIG housefly to win that competition, if there's one. ;p
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