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/




--
PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List
[email protected]
http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow 
the directions.

Reply via email to