One lens to go with K20D

Well, I've voted with my $$ and am back to Pentax with a new K20D. Alas, due to the poor economy I am not only limited to ONE lens but roughly a maximum of $500 for it. Mostly, I am doing architectural and nature/landscape in available light. I prefer primes over zooms but will consider them. So, ladies and gents, what do you suggest I buy? (And, no, I am NOT trolling!

Tom
--
K100D for snap shot shooting

I suggest the 21mm Ltd and then try and get another prime secondhand - lots of good fast SMC-M and SMC-A lenses that are pretty cheap used. 28mm f2.8 is pretty useful standard lens equivalent (42mm is almost perfect), and I got one in good condition for £40 with a guarantee from a dealer. A good 35mm FA would be worth buying if you can find one. Or the 50mm f1.7 would be useful as a short telephoto.

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http://jonschick.smugmug.com/

Don't worry about this trolling stuff, I think a little controversy is healthy, gets the old heart pumpin and the grey cells a jumping!!!! Congratulations on your new acquisition!! In my opinion if you've only got the bucks for one lens a zoom would be the only way to go, now the 16-45 is to limited for the long end, so why not one of the 17-70 (pentax, sigma, tamron) zooms it's still goes plenty wide, and gets you into a very nice range for portrait, detail shots in architecture or landscape. If its going to be your only lens for a long time there's a DA 18-250mm thats been getting alot of attention, with that your a walking lens army all bases covered!! Prime wise I'd go with a DA35 2.8 macro or FA 35 f2, they both give you that classic 50'ish perspective, that I simply love, walking around you see something interesting with your normal eye sight bring the camera up to your eye and the perspective doesn't change... I find it somehow so refreshing...

Regards

Brent
--
Changing light gives me the possibility of seeing the world from a new
perspective.
For me photography is a tool for capturing these insights, for reflection and
sharing.

Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5

a bit of wide, a bit of short tele and a bit of macro in one great lens..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyAceJ8t19E

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http://cgi.ebay.com/PENTAX-DA-12-24mm-f4-ED-LENS-w-UV-FILTER-8YR-WARRANTY_W0QQitemZ130294491180QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses?hash=item130294491180&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2 |65%3A15|39%3A1|240%3A1318

Thank you
Russell

--

'It is impossible to reason a person out of positions they have not been reasoned into'

--Walter Cunningham

Look:
http://photo.net/columns/mjohnston/pentax-35mm-lens/optical-discussion/

I just purchased a Sigma 17-70 from Cameraspot on Ebay for $319.95 which included a decent UV filter. Excellent service and super sharp versatle lens. It works great on my K20d. You could add a Pentax 55-300 for about $300 or a 50 1.4 prime for $200. Enjoy your new camera!

K20d
Sigma 17-70
Pentax 50-135
Pentax 55-300
Pentax 50 1.4

Nikon D300
Nikon 16-85VR
Nikon 70-300VR
Nikon 50 1.4
Nikon 85 1.8

I'm not the first to recommend the DA35/2.8 macro ltd. Here is a link that explains why it would be my choice if I really had just one lens.
http://photo.net/columns/mjohnston/pentax-35mm-lens/optical-discussion/

--
Gerry


First camera 1953, first Pentax 1983, first DSLR 2006
http://www.pbase.com/gerrywinterbourne

Thanks to all for your suggestions! Carl Weese is actually a personal friend and, based on his suggestions and a lucky break on pricing, I bought a NEW 16-45/f4 and the 35/f2.8 Macro so I actually have a TWO lens kit! Look for some shots from an historic buildings shoot in Atlanta, GA early in April! Also, I'll be using this combo for SOFOBOMO in May.