Portrait lens recommendation and where to buy

[scorpioh]

haha no problem bro, yeah started late... but then again 2 years ago, doubt I will have the money nor the foresight to indulge in this hobby.

:bsmilie:

must map out the lens buying route, if not will get out of control!

No worries. It's not that late lah. At least you now can enjoy better camera bodies with the advance in technology. Think of it, I had also missed all the good old FA*'s and A*'s era... >: There's always the second hand market too. Pentax and photography are things that'll stay with me for life. ^^

Actually, I had never map out the lens buying route. I just buy what I want. It's a uncomfortable for example to stop yourself from buying a DA40 just because you have a FA50 that is close in FL. My opinion is that no two lenses are the same. So just go with your heart.

 

[ayuready]

No worries. It's not that late lah. At least you now can enjoy better camera bodies with the advance in technology. Think of it, I had also missed all the good old FA*'s and A*'s era... >: There's always the second hand market too. Pentax and photography are things that'll stay with me for life. ^^

Actually, I had never map out the lens buying route. I just buy what I want. It's a uncomfortable for example to stop yourself from buying a DA40 just because you have a FA50 that is close in FL. My opinion is that no two lenses are the same. So just go with your heart.

haha its the moolah!

 

[manveer]

f 1.4 should be good enough la.. your budget of $1k is quite high though... so perhaps you could get a more versatile lens, which is not only for portraits.

17-50mm 2.8 tamron is a starters. costs about 900, the version with VC.

 

[felixcat8888]

f 1.4 should be good enough la.. your budget of $1k is quite high though... so perhaps you could get a more versatile lens, which is not only for portraits.

17-50mm 2.8 tamron is a starters. costs about 900, the version with VC.

wow the last price i remembered for the Pentax mount was $620 and that was just last year. Increase by so much? ?:dunno:

 

[darrrrrrrrrr]

wow the last price i remembered for the Pentax mount was $620 and that was just last year. Increase by so much? ?:dunno:

he was referring to the VC. i think the non-VC is ard that price still

 

[greg Kx]

Hi just my 2 cent advice try the DA 40mm Limited not a bad choice. IQ is great and the bokeh is sweet 2... price below 600 bucks. Here r the 2 photo taken wit 40mm Limited

 

[tsammyc]

Generally, I prefer my FA77 as a portrait lens over the DA 40 because it allows me to be further away from the subject and captures them in more natural poses. The DA 40 focuses faster though, which can be important for catching a fleeting moment. I'm constantly astounded by how sharp and even my DA40 is, especially for its diminuitive size. In fact, when I compare it to my FA31, I find that I get more tack sharp shots with the DA40 than the FA31. The FA31 is a great lens, but its heavy and has a very shallow depth of field when wide open, which makes it sometimes necessary to focus more precisely than the autofocus on my Kx can do. For taking portraits of active subjects, I find that its not that suitable due to its heft, slower focus and shallow DOF. DOF can be stepped down, but until I master manual focussing better, I'll leave the FA31 just for low light indoor shooting and landscapes at F5.6 (its maximum border sharpness), where I have lots of time to get a precise focus (usually infinity haha).

 

[ayuready]

just got quotes on FA 43 silver (AIV)

about 900 bucks! ouch!

 

[pinholecam]

just got quotes on FA 43 silver (AIV)

about 900 bucks! ouch!

Just get the 100/2.8 WR macro. More value for money.
If you want to spend serious money like $900, might as well push it and get the 77ltd which is a 'proven' portrait lens.
The 50/1.4 is also good value at $500+ wrt $900.
In fact I thought the 55/1.4 was $900+? :think:

 

[scorpioh]

just got quotes on FA 43 silver (AIV)

about 900 bucks! ouch!

That is very expensive! Maybe look out for them in B&S both in CS and PentaxForums would be a wiser move.

 

[ayuready]

Dear All,

Thanks for all the sensible advice, really appreciate all of them.

Have asked SLR R to inform me when they have stock for the FA43mm

1k is about the max of my budget now for lens.

When the stock comes, will go down and physically test the lens versus the other close contender such as

FA 50mm 1.4, DA 35mm Macro and DA 40mm.

Not really looking at very long lens for now due to my tendancy to shoot in the lower FL region. Think it is due to me shooting alot in kit lens 18-55 haha.

In the end, the heart will decide, the brain will relax 1 corner and the wallet will feel the pain

 

[felixcat8888]

Dear All,

Thanks for all the sensible advice, really appreciate all of them.

Have asked SLR R to inform me when they have stock for the FA43mm

1k is about the max of my budget now for lens.

When the stock comes, will go down and physically test the lens versus the other close contender such as

FA 50mm 1.4, DA 35mm Macro and DA 40mm.

Not really looking at very long lens for now due to my tendancy to shoot in the lower FL region. Think it is due to me shooting alot in kit lens 18-55 haha.

In the end, the heart will decide, the brain will relax 1 corner and the wallet will feel the pain

The 77mm will set you back about $1.3k. I got it at slightly less than this.

 

[ayuready]

The 77mm will set you back about $1.3k. I got it at slightly less than this.

haha thanks for the price.

expensive hobby and i thought last time when i collect oakley was already an expensive hobby.... now this...

 

[pinholecam]

Dear All,

Thanks for all the sensible advice, really appreciate all of them.

Have asked SLR R to inform me when they have stock for the FA43mm

1k is about the max of my budget now for lens.

When the stock comes, will go down and physically test the lens versus the other close contender such as

FA 50mm 1.4, DA 35mm Macro and DA 40mm.

Not really looking at very long lens for now due to my tendancy to shoot in the lower FL region. Think it is due to me shooting alot in kit lens 18-55 haha.

In the end, the heart will decide, the brain will relax 1 corner and the wallet will feel the pain

BTW, since you are not doing children (who move all the time) but for GF portraits, why don't you consider MF lenses. The prime candidate being the M85/2. To me on APS-C this IS the poor mans 77.

 

[ardnirun]

That is very expensive! Maybe look out for them in B&S both in CS and PentaxForums would be a wiser move.

actually the prices went up beginning of the year..its been 900 since feb/march 2010...

so in essence...ppl with the 43mm now who choose to sell it..can put it up at 800-850 bucks to follow the actual street 1st hand price...

 

[scorpioh]

actually the prices went up beginning of the year..its been 900 since feb/march 2010...

so in essence...ppl with the 43mm now who choose to sell it..can put it up at 800-850 bucks to follow the actual street 1st hand price...

Ah... No way will I part with my MIJ copies. :bheart:

 

[detritus]

BTW, since you are not doing children (who move all the time) but for GF portraits, why don't you consider MF lenses. The prime candidate being the M85/2. To me on APS-C this IS the poor mans 77.

GF also will lose patience one leh :bsmilie:

 

[creampuff]

BTW, since you are not doing children (who move all the time) but for GF portraits, why don't you consider MF lenses. The prime candidate being the M85/2. To me on APS-C this IS the poor mans 77.

I have no doubt people have been using manual focusing for a long time to shoot portraits.
But practically and realistically speaking, shooting with a manual focus lens is nowhere near as quick as an autofocus lens (perhaps in a controlled studio environment). What's more the M 85mm f/2 lens that you recommend has to be used with Manual mode with judicious use of the Green Button to set correct exposure, a further step that doesn't add to capturing quick spontaneous shots. At least with an A series lens (PKA mount), one can use every exposure mode and can change exposure compensation on the fly if needed. There's a good reason why having AF is worth the extra premium over MF... quicker shooting, can shoot more to get more keepers, can shoot one handed, etc.

 

[Moonlightsg]

Thanks alot bro! If i know Pentaxians so friendly, can save on my AD photography liao

haha but all paid liao!

AD photography cannot be save one... they are the one who "guide" and help you in someway(if they are the good one)...

think about it, very very high chance that he is the only person in your wedding day who is super exp in wedding run and he is following you the whole day!
the bridal sales will not do that...
the makeup artist will not follow you whole day...
the bridal car driver will not leave his car...
and most likely you don't have a family member or friends that exp a full day wedding every week?

at first my wife and I think that it is just a pro-photographer... after the whole event, even my parents also see the important of photographer...:bsmilie:

 

[Moonlightsg]

Sure or not?
A bowl (serves 10) of shark fins cost more than my 35mm.;p

he treat you to wedding one... 1 table of 8 couse is also about $900 ... he only give you one which is the shark fins only! haha:bsmilie: