I use a Pentax K200D and currently have the kit lens plus a Sigma 70-300mm telephoto. I want a reasonably fast lens for portraits, candids, and everyday shooting where the telephoto is too long. My budget is under C$500, so I’m considering used and third-party options. The lenses I’m looking at are: - Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 used - Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 - Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 used - Pentax DA 35mm f/2.4 prime I’m also open to other good-value Pentax-mount suggestions, including manual-focus lenses, if they make sense on a K200D. Which of these is the best value and most useful choice?

Best budget fast lens for a Pentax K200D: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or a prime?

Asked 12/29/2011

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I use a Pentax K200D and currently have the kit lens plus a Sigma 70-300mm telephoto. I want a reasonably fast lens for portraits, candids, and everyday shooting where the telephoto is too long. My budget is under C$500, so I’m considering used and third-party options.

The lenses I’m looking at are:

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 used
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 used
Pentax DA 35mm f/2.4 prime

I’m also open to other good-value Pentax-mount suggestions, including manual-focus lenses, if they make sense on a K200D. Which of these is the best value and most useful choice?

lenses prime-lenses zoom-lenses pentax portraits

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

14y ago

2 Answers

What are your feelings on manual focus? For about $100, you could get a good used Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8. The "A" mount gives you the same exposure automation as modern lenses, just not autofocus. It's almost exactly a normal lens for your camera (the sensor diagonal is 28.26 mm).

Originally by user2138. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2138

14y ago

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For overall usefulness on a Pentax APS-C body, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is the strongest option from your list. It gives you a genuinely useful range, from somewhat wide to short portrait length, and the constant f/2.8 aperture is a clear upgrade over the kit lens for everyday shooting.

The Sigma 28-70mm and 24-70mm f/2.8 options are less versatile on a K200D because 24mm or 28mm is not very wide on APS-C, so they’re not as convenient as general walkaround lenses.

If your priority is portraits and shallow background blur, a fast prime is better. The Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 was specifically recommended as a very good portrait focal length on the K200D, and f/1.4 gives much more subject separation than an f/2.8 zoom. The DA 35mm f/2.4 is also a good inexpensive “normal” lens.

A budget manual-focus alternative is a used Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, which keeps exposure automation.

Best single-lens choice: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. Best portrait-specialist choice: Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4.

Best budget fast lens for a Pentax K200D: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or a prime?

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