LBA When the DA* zooms are delayed...

I had money saved up for the DA*16-50 and ended up buying the FA14. The quality built of the lens is great. It is also large and heavy. Just holding it gaves me the feel of quality. It looks really good on the K10D In use it is VERY wide. In the old film days one of my favorite lens was a 24mm. So I can see using it alot. The image quality seems very good.

This lens completed my prime lens kit which consist of:

DA14, DA21Ltd, FA31Ltd, FA43Ltd, FA77Ltd, DFA100, DA50-200. I also have a FA35 and DA18-55 that nows sits in a cabinet.

I might not even buy the DA* zooms and just wait for the DA*200 and DA*300. Also the DA*55 might do nicely to fill the gap between the FA43Ltd and the FA77Ltd.

I found using primes makes me think more about my composition since I have to walk around and look at the potential photo more.

Dave

An unused FA 35? I'd be happy to put it to use for you.
--
http://picasaweb.google.com/chrswggl

Pentax k10d, Sigma 17-70, Pentax 50-200,

I'm really disappointed with the delay. Pentax finally comes out with a winning camera but they just don't have a set of pro level zooms any more. They really need to have some good & fast zooms out there to compete!

I am also dissapointed about the delay of DA* 50-135 f2.8. I was planning to use it in my friend's wedding in July. Worst fact is that Sigma & Tokina does have somewhat similar lens but not in pka mount; and I wish Tamron had one...
--
best~of~luck
Ramesh

http://www.asnowfall.com

DLBlack said:

...
I found using primes makes me think more about my composition since
I have to walk around and look at the potential photo more.

Click to expand...

Nice kit ... similar to mine. The DA14 is an excellent performer, I am a little amazed at how many of my favorite photos of the last couple of years were made with it.

I have always preferred prime lenses overall and work better with them too. The only zoom I use with any frequency is the FA20-35/4, and that one only because I find that it is so darn good it's like having four primes in one lens. I use it as if it were a prime lens too: its short zoom range helps enforce that.

The only one of the DA* zooms that I'm interested in is the 50-135/2.8. I have the range covered with the DA50-200 but the additional speed of the DA* is appealing. I rarely ever use even the 135 mm focal length. I can wait.

Godfrey

Thanks for the offer, but right now I am in the collecting mode. The main reason I stopped using the FA35 is that it was too close to the FA43Ltd and too far from the DA21Ltd. The FA 31Ltd fits the gap better but I would have rather had a FA28, but didn't find any used ones.

chrswggl said:

An unused FA 35? I'd be happy to put it to use for you.
--
http://picasaweb.google.com/chrswggl

Pentax k10d, Sigma 17-70, Pentax 50-200,

Click to expand...

I know the feeling. I was going to use it for a May wedding. Instead I will use my primes. I have the feeling that primes in my kit will out perform the new zooms when they become available.

Thanks,

I really enjoy your photos and postings on this forum.

I am really waiting for the long primes since I would enjoy trying to take wildlife photos and even at my bird feeder the DA50-200 zoom is a littel too short.

Dave

Godfrey said:

DLBlack said:

...
I found using primes makes me think more about my composition since
I have to walk around and look at the potential photo more.

Click to expand...

Nice kit ... similar to mine. The DA14 is an excellent performer, I
am a little amazed at how many of my favorite photos of the last
couple of years were made with it.

I have always preferred prime lenses overall and work better with
them too. The only zoom I use with any frequency is the FA20-35/4,
and that one only because I find that it is so darn good it's like
having four primes in one lens. I use it as if it were a prime lens
too: its short zoom range helps enforce that.

The only one of the DA* zooms that I'm interested in is the
50-135/2.8. I have the range covered with the DA50-200 but the
additional speed of the DA* is appealing. I rarely ever use even
the 135 mm focal length. I can wait.

Godfrey

Click to expand...

DLBlack said:

I really enjoy your photos and postings on this forum.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the compliments!

DLBlack said:

I am really waiting for the long primes since I would enjoy trying
to take wildlife photos and even at my bird feeder the DA50-200
zoom is a littel too short.

Click to expand...

If you're shooting wildlife, yes, you need lenses at the longer end of the spectrum. I know a couple of guys who do a lot of bird photography. For them, the "short" lens is a 400mm, and one of them has one of those 1200mm bazooka launchers.

This is Doug Herr's photo site. He does stunning wildlife work:
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/ordering.html

Godfrey

There doesn't seem to be any fast tele zoom in Pentax mount at the moment. Sigma's 50-150 2,8 is not in K mount there is no 70-200 2,8 but the announced Tamron, wich looks promising (not too heavy) but could take months to appear.

Mean while I need to shoot a lot of theater and music concerts...

Thank God for my old MF 135 3,5

--

The Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 will be soon available at B&H.

EZ

Godfrey,

Thanks for the link. I agree that he has some stunning wildlife photos.

For my new longer lens for wildlife I will just work my up and get the DA*200 and then the DA*300. Then if I need something longer I will get something else. I might find that I don't have the patience to do wildlife photography.

For my general nature photos I find the DA21 , DA31 and DFA100 (for macros) works really well. For people I tend to use the FA43 or the FA77. I am really itching to get out this weekend to give my new DA14 a workout.

Dave

Godfrey said:

If you're shooting wildlife, yes, you need lenses at the longer end
of the spectrum. I know a couple of guys who do a lot of bird
photography. For them, the "short" lens is a 400mm, and one of them
has one of those 1200mm bazooka launchers.

This is Doug Herr's photo site. He does stunning wildlife work:
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/ordering.html

Godfrey

Click to expand...

DLBlack said:

I had money saved up for the DA*16-50 and ended up buying the FA14.
The quality built of the lens is great. It is also large and
heavy. Just holding it gaves me the feel of quality. It looks
really good on the K10D In use it is VERY wide. In the old film
days one of my favorite lens was a 24mm. So I can see using it
alot. The image quality seems very good.

Click to expand...

I picked one up last week too. I haven't had a chance to shoot with it yet, but I'm looking forward to taking some images with it.

I'm not sure if the 16-50/2.8 is in my future or not. The 16-45/4 that I have is already a great lens.

DLBlack said:

This lens completed my prime lens kit which consist of:
DA14, DA21Ltd, FA31Ltd, FA43Ltd, FA77Ltd, DFA100, DA50-200. I also
have a FA35 and DA18-55 that nows sits in a cabinet.

Click to expand...

My prime kit is somewhat similar:
DA 21/3.2, FA 35/2, DA 40/2.8, A50/1.4&FA50/1.7, M 85/2, M 135/3.5, M 200/4

I also have the following which I'll be selling soon: M 40/2.8, A 24/2.8, Tamron 90/2.5, and maybe the 85/2 (in which case I'd buy the 70/2.4).

For my bike and backpacking trips this year I plan on taking the 14, 21, and 40. I might drop the 14 or 40 depending on where I'll be and just take the 21.

DLBlack said:

I found using primes makes me think more about my composition since
I have to walk around and look at the potential photo more.

Click to expand...

I feel the same way. I also prefer the small size, it makes me more comfortable taking photos in groups. When shooting film I often just used my Ricoh GR-1 with a fixed 28/2.8 lens. I'd love a digital equivelent to that camera (the GR-D doesn't count due it's tiny sensor).

alex wetmore said:

... When shooting film I
often just used my Ricoh GR-1 with a fixed 28/2.8 lens. I'd love a
digital equivelent to that camera (the GR-D doesn't count due it's
tiny sensor).

Click to expand...

Here's hoping that the Sigma DP-1 will present a viable option, when it is released for sale.

Godfrey

I am also waiting for the Sigma DP-1. Hopefully the IQ will be equal to the DSLR camera we are using. I am afraid they will mess something up. I need for my cave photography I need total manual, this includes exposure and focusing. I also need a way to turn off the pre-flash and turn down the powerr of the built-in flash. This way the bulit-in flash can be used to set off slave control flashes. In large cave rooms I will use up to a dozen flashes at one time. In the mean time I am ok wiht the Can$n G7.

Godfrey said:

alex wetmore said:

... When shooting film I
often just used my Ricoh GR-1 with a fixed 28/2.8 lens. I'd love a
digital equivelent to that camera (the GR-D doesn't count due it's
tiny sensor).

Click to expand...

Here's hoping that the Sigma DP-1 will present a viable option,
when it is released for sale.

Godfrey

Click to expand...