Best short prime?

[Luddite66]

Hi there

I'm new to this forum and interested in developing a small collection of top quality primes for for use now with my LX and later with a dslr.

I wish for primes capable of professional results (maybe one day), but also relatively small and light for travel, bushwalking etc. I have an A50/1.4, just yesterday received the FA77/1.8, and would like a K30/2.8 if I can find one, or eventually once the wallet recovers the 31/1.8.

Anyway I am not really convinced how well either my M24-25/3.5 or SL17/3.5 perform, but perhaps this is just my lack of skill. So I'm looking for one top quality short prime. Something around the 20mm range, rectilinear, manual focus is fine, film compatible, light weight an advantage. Grateful for any suggestions.

With advance thanks.
Regards
Lachlan
Sydney

PS: Anyone with a K30/2.8 that they would be prepared to part with please pm...
; )

 

[kjao]

FA* 24mm/2.0 (if you can find one)
FA 20mm/2.8 (still available new)

All Pentax's manual focus 20mm and 24mm lenses are all very good, some are better but no real lemons. Have a look at keh.com. Last time I checked they had a few 20mm and 24mm manual focus lenses available.

Otherwise I have heard nice things about Sigma 24/1.8

cheers
Kenny

Hi there
I'm new to this forum and interested in developing a small
collection of top quality primes for for use now with my LX and
later with a dslr.

I wish for primes capable of professional results (maybe one day),
but also relatively small and light for travel, bushwalking etc. I
have an A50/1.4, just yesterday received the FA77/1.8, and would
like a K30/2.8 if I can find one, or eventually once the wallet
recovers the 31/1.8.

Anyway I am not really convinced how well either my M24-25/3.5 or
SL17/3.5 perform, but perhaps this is just my lack of skill. So I'm
looking for one top quality short prime. Something around the 20mm
range, rectilinear, manual focus is fine, film compatible, light
weight an advantage. Grateful for any suggestions.

With advance thanks.
Regards
Lachlan
Sydney

PS: Anyone with a K30/2.8 that they would be prepared to part with
please pm...
; )

 

[frank100557]

DA 21/3.2LE
A/FA 20/2.8
A/K 24/2.8 or 3.5
FA24/2
DA14/2.8 but it might be too wide and big to your taste.

Some others from Sigma are quite good too.
--
Frank
GMT+8hours

 

[Jan Moren]

I noticed you can get a used 28/3.5 for less than 10k yen - is it such a lemon or is it actually useable?

--
Japan: http://www.lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/

 

[J_K]

There are two versions: K and M. K is bulkier, but optically excellent (one of the best 28mm lenses). On full-frame, M has visible corner aberrations, but this should be no problem with APS-C crop.
John

 

[kjao]

I have got a M28/3.5 and it is a fantastic little lens. It has been rated as better than the 2.8 lens. See here for more detail:

http://stans-photography.info/LongComments.html#General%20Discussion%20of%2028%20mm

cheers
Kenny

I noticed you can get a used 28/3.5 for less than 10k yen - is it
such a lemon or is it actually useable?

--
Japan: http://www.lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/

 

[Jan Moren]

Ok, so it sounds I should go pick one up before they disappear. Thanks!

http://stans-photography.info/LongComments.html#General%20Discussion%20of%2028%20mm

cheers
Kenny

I noticed you can get a used 28/3.5 for less than 10k yen - is it
such a lemon or is it actually useable?

--
Japan: http://www.lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/

--
Japan: http://www.lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/

 

[Dana G]

Save for the 31 1.8, it's a fantastic lens. It also functions as a fast normal on the digital cameras.
--
'We have met the enemy, and he is us!

 

[leopold]

I have the FA20mm and it is a very sharp lens for landscape,here is a shot taken at f/16,iso200 on a DS2.It is very resistant to lens flare as you will expect from a Pentax lens!

leopold
pentax forever

 

[Luddite66]

Thanks everyone for the responce - impressive! I think I have narrowed it down to an A or FA 20/2.8, the FA*24/2 is a little heavy for what I have in mind. I am intrigued by the K18/3.5, Mr Takinami rates it very highly. I gather they are almost impossible to find, does anyone have experience with this lens?
Cheers
Lachlan

PS: yes I will definitely get the 31 at some stage, just don't quite have the courage to pull the trigger just yet!

 

[carpents]

Thanks everyone for the responce - impressive! I think I have
narrowed it down to an A or FA 20/2.8, the FA*24/2 is a little
heavy for what I have in mind. I am intrigued by the K18/3.5, Mr
Takinami rates it very highly. I gather they are almost impossible
to find, does anyone have experience with this lens?
Cheers
Lachlan
PS: yes I will definitely get the 31 at some stage, just don't
quite have the courage to pull the trigger just yet!

I have a Tamron 14/2.8 which I like more than my 20/2.8 but I am shooting only digital so my FOV isn't the same as you'll be seeing. Also I think the corners are not so good with the 14 on film, and it is a BIG heavy lens.

I also have a S-M-C Fish-Eye Takumar 17/4 which is by far my favorite super-wide angle lens. Again, I don't think it is a 'fishy' on digital as it might be on film. But this is a teeny tiny lens and I love the images it produces.

In a similar vein, I like my S-M-C Takumar 28/3.5 very much - like the 14mm I like it more than my 20/2.8. It is sharp all the way to f/3.5 and is well corrected throughout the frame. I like the IQ better than the M28/2.8.

 

[Anders Skjeggestad]

heavy for what I have in mind. I am intrigued by the K18/3.5, Mr
Takinami rates it very highly. I gather they are almost impossible
to find, does anyone have experience with this lens?

I was irrational enough to jump on one of these when I found one available at a not unreasonable price. I am currently using it on my LX and it is certainly a pleasure to use. Very solid and pleasant to focus. IQ-wise it has not disappointed me yet. Very sharp stopped down, but also useable wide open. Nice contrast.

PS: yes I will definitely get the 31 at some stage, just don't
quite have the courage to pull the trigger just yet!

You know you want it

 

[PentaxNick]

One of my favourites is the A 24mm f/2.8. Works great on film or digital, obviously with a different FOV. It just feels right.

Nick