----- Original Message -----
From: "David Oswald"
Subject: Wide Angle advice for *ist-DS
SMC Pentax-FA 20mm f/2.8 AL
Pros: Compact. Wide-ish angle. Not prohibitively expensive.
Cons: Used on a DSLR, it's not really all *that* wide.
I get no use at all from my 20 on the digital. It's one of mt favourite film
wide angles though.
SMC Pentax-DA 14mm f/2.8 AL
Pros: Ultra-wide angle.
Cons: Priced a little beyond my comfort level for a wide angle lens.
A little wider than I feel my "only" wide angle lens should be.
It's a bit wide for a general purpose wide angle, but is eminently useful,
and quite a nice lens as well.
Frankly, I feel that the right choice for me just isn't made. If it were,
it would be called: SMC Pentax-DA 16mm f/2.8. Could such a contraption be
on the horizon?
Use yer 16-45, it's only a stop slower, and from what I've seen is a decent
enough lens as well.
SMC Pentax-FA 77mm f/1.9 Limited
Pros: Image quality, build quality, convenient focal length.
Cons: What amateur can honestly justify its price tag?
I like the 77 a lot on digital, not so much as a film lens. So it goes.
As far as justifying the price, it's a lot easier for an amateur to justify
it. You don't have a business plan to stick to, just a decision about
whether it can be afforded or not.
I was using the A*85/1.4 on the istD today. It seems like a nice focal
length, which surprises me, since it's field of view is so close to that of
the 135 on film, and that is a focal length I never had much use for.
Perhaps my tastes have changed.
William Robb
