Lon Williamson asked:
> What we need is a good ole fashioned thread where
> everyone gets to justify a magic piece of Pentax
> equipment. So: If you had to go photograph, and
> you didn't know where or what or why, what lens would
> you take with you? You get only one.
>
> I, personally, would take an M50mm f1.4. Fast if you
> need it, can be pressed into service as a "near portrait"
> lens, capable of good scenics, and fast for any available
> light opportunities. The closest zoom I have to this is
> an A 35-70, but it ain't nearly as easy to focus, so I'd leave
> it behind.
I too would take a 50/1.4, even though it's not my favourite
length. "Don't know where or why" would leave a pretty big
chance of shooting in the dark. (If I knew I was going to
have light, I'd probably take the 85/2, knock on wood, cross
my fingers, and hope I didn't wind up needing a wide angle;
or I'd take the 35-105/3.5 ... but without any clues as to
where/what I'll be shooting, the 50 makes more sense on speed.
I think of it as being sort of two stops faster than the 85,
because of the 1/length rule-of-thumb for handheld shutter
speeds -- I'll shoot the 85 at 1/125 or 1/60, and I'll shoot
the 50 at 1/60 but go to 1/30 if I don't have enough light.
So 1/30 and f/1.4 gives me two stops more exposure handheld,
even though the lens is only one stop faster on a tripod.)
-- Glenn
