Next lens Purchase for NX300

Hi everyone,

Im wanting to add a lens to my collection.... I currently have the 20-50mm kit lens, and a couple of Pentax PK mount lens that i just play about with as they were cheap.

Now, i would really like to purchase a new lens while Samsung have there offer on. With the lens im wanting to do some general photography with a small lens, photographing my miniatures in the light box i have, and some filming.

3 lens jump out at me for the practicality

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

How would they preform with taking close up shots in a small lightbox set up?

Thanks for your time!

deadmeat30 wrote:

Hi everyone,

Im wanting to add a lens to my collection.... I currently have the 20-50mm kit lens, and a couple of Pentax PK mount lens that i just play about with as they were cheap.

Now, i would really like to purchase a new lens while Samsung have there offer on. With the lens im wanting to do some general photography with a small lens, photographing my miniatures in the light box i have, and some filming.

3 lens jump out at me for the practicality

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

How would they preform with taking close up shots in a small lightbox set up?

Thanks for your time!

20 is ok, but the main difference from what youn have is faster AF.

30 vs 45 should be answered by which focal lange you prefer. IQ is very similar, f-stop advantage negligible. 45 has faster and quieter AF.

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

Not as good as the 20mm end of the 20-50 from both what I`ve seen and the report on Photozone . it`s not a bad lens at all, in fact it`s damn good but the 20-50 is stellar at 20mm even wideopen F3.5 (better than the 20mm prime at F4) and that it beats a prime is amazing ......

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

This is the usual next buy - can be fun to get the best from due to curvature but it`s criminally sharp and very compact

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

I`d make sure you`ll use it before splashing the cash - do you use the 50mm end of the 20-50 a lot (even though it`s lame compared to the wide end) but wish for more speed ?

the 16mm is another lens which would be worth considering, it`ll give you that 24mm wideness , it`s supposedly hard to get the best from too but I`ve never used one so don`t know , if I see one cheap I`ll grab it but I`d not pay the earth for one

AdamT wrote:

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

Not as good as the 20mm end of the 20-50 from both what I`ve seen and the report on Photozone . it`s not a bad lens at all, in fact it`s damn good but the 20-50 is stellar at 20mm even wideopen F3.5 (better than the 20mm prime at F4) and that it beats a prime is amazing ......

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

This is the usual next buy - can be fun to get the best from due to curvature but it`s criminally sharp and very compact

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

I`d make sure you`ll use it before splashing the cash - do you use the 50mm end of the 20-50 a lot (even though it`s lame compared to the wide end) but wish for more speed ?

the 16mm is another lens which would be worth considering, it`ll give you that 24mm wideness , it`s supposedly hard to get the best from too but I`ve never used one so don`t know , if I see one cheap I`ll grab it but I`d not pay the earth for on

Interesting to hear about the 20mm lens, ill have to have a play around with mine, havent used the 20mm much to be honest.

Well the 45mm just seems the best option for taking photos my miniatures. (well there would be better options, but they start to cost alot more!). not easy picking lenses :(.

I would be shooting some video with the camera, so the near silent AF on the 45mm would be helpful.

Interesting to hear about the 20mm lens, ill have to have a play around with mine, havent used the 20mm much to be honest.

Well the 45mm just seems the best option for taking photos my miniatures. (well there would be better options, but they start to cost alot more!). not easy picking lenses :(.

I would be shooting some video with the camera, so the near silent AF on the 45mm would be helpful.

I don't know how big your miniatures are and how closely you want to shoot them, but keep in my mind that the 45mm focuses at something like 50cm, so you won't be able to get very close to them.

Giannis Ch wrote:

Interesting to hear about the 20mm lens, ill have to have a play around with mine, havent used the 20mm much to be honest.

Well the 45mm just seems the best option for taking photos my miniatures. (well there would be better options, but they start to cost alot more!). not easy picking lenses :(.

I would be shooting some video with the camera, so the near silent AF on the 45mm would be helpful.

I don't know how big your miniatures are and how closely you want to shoot them, but keep in my mind that the 45mm focuses at something like 50cm, so you won't be able to get very close to them.

interesting point, would it be best to just splash out on the 60mm macro lens?

I dont need the miniature in the entire frame, only 1920x1080 of the pixels on the sensor.

Maybe or you can just crop a bit. Perhaps you can get closer with the Fotga extension tubes too.

deadmeat30 wrote:

Hi everyone,

Im wanting to add a lens to my collection.... I currently have the 20-50mm kit lens, and a couple of Pentax PK mount lens that i just play about with as they were cheap.

Now, i would really like to purchase a new lens while Samsung have there offer on. With the lens im wanting to do some general photography with a small lens, photographing my miniatures in the light box i have, and some filming.

3 lens jump out at me for the practicality

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

How would they preform with taking close up shots in a small lightbox set up?

Thanks for your time!

Depends on what you want.

According to what I see on ephotozine, the 45mm has higher optical quality. Yet the 20 and 30 are much more compact. It is quite common for pancake lenses to have lower image quality

If it suits your shooting style, I'd say go for the 45mm. It is great for portraits too. You can get it in 3D too.

Sure it's a bit tele, but then there's the kit lens for regular use. You have the kit lens, don't you?

deadmeat30 wrote:

Giannis Ch wrote:

Interesting to hear about the 20mm lens, ill have to have a play around with mine, havent used the 20mm much to be honest.

Well the 45mm just seems the best option for taking photos my miniatures. (well there would be better options, but they start to cost alot more!). not easy picking lenses :(.

I would be shooting some video with the camera, so the near silent AF on the 45mm would be helpful.

I don't know how big your miniatures are and how closely you want to shoot them, but keep in my mind that the 45mm focuses at something like 50cm, so you won't be able to get very close to them.

interesting point, would it be best to just splash out on the 60mm macro lens?

I dont need the miniature in the entire frame, only 1920x1080 of the pixels on the sensor.

Search ebay, there are some cheap extension tubes with electrical contacts for focus/aperture control.  These work very well with the 45mm.

Otherwise shoot and crop, 2 MP should be no problem.  Even kit lens might be fine at low resolution (like 18-55mm).

The 60mm is of course great for macro, but it isn't cheap.  Just depends on what you have and how much you want to spend.

Eric

deadmeat30 wrote:

Hi everyone,

Im wanting to add a lens to my collection.... I currently have the 20-50mm kit lens, and a couple of Pentax PK mount lens that i just play about with as they were cheap.

Now, i would really like to purchase a new lens while Samsung have there offer on. With the lens im wanting to do some general photography with a small lens, photographing my miniatures in the light box i have, and some filming.

3 lens jump out at me for the practicality

20mm 2.8 lens - nice small size and light, good f value for low light, and good feedback from users.

30mm 2.0 lens - again, same as above, but better f value

45mm 1.8 lens - little more weight and size, but the best f value of the 3 lenses, and also seems the best for video?

How would they preform with taking close up shots in a small lightbox set up?

Thanks for your time!

If you shot close-up with miniatures, you'll probably use manual focusing anyways for more accurate results. And since you already have the PK mount, I recommend you get a Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 (close focus 45cm) or a m42 mount Pentacon 50/f1.8 (min focus 33cm).