Hi Nick.
I can relate to that. I have quite a collection of zooms but of late one
of my more used lenses had been a Super Takumar 105/2.8 on a Spotmatic.
Very nice on a tripod for my style of landscapes. Wouldn't use the combo
for portraits because the Spotmatic finder is too dim for convenient
focusing with my aging eyes.
I'm a retired pro myself and in some ways have become much more of a
gearhead than when working. I used to be very disciplined about acquiring
gear that was seriously useful. After deciding to retire I went on a binge
acquiring old gear that was capable of producing excellent results and have
been happily playing with Pentax and other kits of various vintages from
early 60s to early 90s. I often go out with one body and two lenses,
usually primes. As part of the nostalgia trip I've gone to bulk loading HP5
and FP4 for much of my black and white work.
Cheers
From: "Nick Wright" <[email protected]>
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 5:01 AM
Subject: Re: short tele primes
Thanks for the suggestion. But I'm just not interested in zooms at this
time. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there's anything wrong with zooms.
I used zooms almost exclusively during my professional career. But I
definitely prefer primes.
Actually, since I quit the newspaper nearly all of my photography has been
done with only one lens ... a 50mm. I just have a thing for the 50s I
guess.
I suppose it's my old gear-headedness that's telling me I have to get
these other lenses to "round out my kit" when mostly I just use one lens.
;D
~Nick David Wright
http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/
--- On Sat, 2/7/09, John Poirier <[email protected]> wrote:
From: John Poirier <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: short tele primes
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <[email protected]>
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 11:40 PM
Hi, Nick. I can see why you're interested in the three
lenses you list. They're all fine. However, given that
you also state you're looking for inexpensive lenses,
I'll be a bit subversive in suggesting that as a
starting point you consider zooms instead of primes.
I'm assuming that when you talk about portraiture with
these lenses you mean head-and-shoulders type work rather
than environmental portraiture.
Fast primes have the advantage of being easier to focus in
dim light than, say, f/4 or slower zooms. Personally, I
prefer the feel of primes to zooms in general.
However, if you're doing head-and shoulders
portraiture, your working aperture is highly unlikely to be
wide open. My guess is that you'll be somewhere in the
f/5.6-f/11 range. To achieve those apertures, chances are
lighting levels will be relatively adequate for focusing
purposes. Also, the Program Plus viewfinder is fairly
decent. Under those circumstances a fast prime would be nice
but not absolutely essential.
Decent zooms can be had for less than the primes you list.
You would have the added advantage of trying different
focal lengths as an aid to making a final selection of a
prime lens.
I have an M 70-150/4 that is a really sweet lens and very
compact. The A 70-210/4 is also very good. I'd be
comfortable using either for portraiture if on a budget. Or
you could get a K 85-210 (sharp but the size of a bazooka)
and scare the hell out of your subjects...
I guess the choice depends in part on how you define
inexpensive.
Cheers
John Poirier
Original Message ----- From: "Nick Wright"
<[email protected]>
To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: short tele primes
>
> Exactly the reason I won't be buying one. ;D
>
> I'm specifically looking for inexpensive lenses.
>
> ~Nick David Wright
> http://pedalingprose.wordpress.com/
>
>
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