Pentax K-m what lens???

Lynton

Lynton

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Lynton (yes really!)
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Hi all,

Sorry if this appears to be a "numpty" question -------or 2 -- am a keen but novice photographer - liken it to golf and an enthusiastic about to get my first handicap but know its going to be 28 for a while.........

Have (very) recently bought first DSLR - a Pentax K-m with the twin lens kit - 18-55mm and 50-200mm however realise these probably arn't the best lenses I can get, (however don't have a budget equivalent to the GDP of a small 3rd world country so 2/h is given) and others I speak to at work suggest that money is better invested in the glass end as opposed to the body end.........

Am quite keen on very close up macro stuff and also landscape & wildlife pics - what lenses should i be considering (what fits a pentax "K series" and/or are adapters worth the hassle) for either.......... not really fussed if i have to get a "pre" digital lens -in a way I kind of like the weighty feel and am quite happy to play around trying things manually...........

Just after a bit of advice and friendly guidance..........

Also seen on ebay sets of 4 lens / filters you screw on to end of lens - x1, x2, x4 and x10 (macro) ---- worth the cash or a load of tosh?

Finally - UV / Polarisation filters - needed or not?

Thanks and sorry for the million questions.......
 
The Pentax DA 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses are actually pretty good to be honest and will do you for a while until you feel the need to start spending some serious money :).

What's your budget because wanting macro, landscape and wildlife lenses is going to cost a bit even if you go second hand.
 
Some suggestions for old-school lenses:

Tamron or Tokina 17mm. The Tamron would need an Adaptall-2 mount, and the PKA type can go for a pile nowadays. You can use the green button on the camera in manual mode to stop down and set the shutterspeed with a cheaper PK mount (without the electrical contacts, for setting the aperture from the control wheel on the camera).

Sigma Super Wide 24mm, available in both auto and manual focus versions. There's a Tamron Adaptall 24mm, too (manual focus).

Pentax-A 50mm.

Tamron Adaptall 90mm macro. Regularly available on eBay. Look for the extension tube, for 1:1.

Tamron Adaptall 60-300mm.

Of the above, only the Tamron 17mm and 90mm are likely to be over £100.

If you need something that's fairly "fast" at the wide end, there's the Tamron f/2.8~4 17-35mm, which is also suitable for a film camera (as are all the others, above).

Polariser: you could use a Cokin-P holder with a 77mm adapter and step rings to match to your other lenses, or a screw-in filter (again, 77mm with step rings). Deep polarisation can produce banding across blue skies when you've resized and JPEG compressed the image.
 
Sigma 24-70 f2.8 fantastic walkabout ,i even used it for motocross and karting:thumbs:
 
I suggest sticking with your existing lenses for a bit. I got those when I had a 200D. Nowt wrong with them. After you have gained a bit of experience you'll know within yourself and through seeing pics taken by other lenses what you'll want.
Polariser - definately Yes!
As for these screw on things. Save your dosh.
 
When i had Pentax ,the best £15 i ever spent to date, was on an old 50mm prime f1.8 ,it's better than most present day lenses by miles :thumbs:
 
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