Who knows a lot about Pentax lens?? I need help!?

Anyone used / own the Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens? How do you like it? Do you recommend it for likeness photography? Does this camera need a more powerful external flash?

Anyone used / own the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras? How do you like it? Do you recommend this for likeness photography? Does this camera benefit from an external flash?

Answer by Henry B
Usually likeness lenses are 85MM and up. You’ll get distortion with a 50mm.Unless your doing group shots.The link below will give you a better thought on why it’s better to use that longer focal length.

Answer by George Y
I don’t own a current Pentax (I don’t reckon a Spotmatic SP counts), but I know this. A 50mm f/1.4 should be a very satisfactory all-purpose lens, and can be used successfully for portraits.

In the days of 35mm cameras, the “standard” likeness lens was between 85 to 105mm. On a crop sensor camera like your Pentax or Samsung, a 50mm lens would give you the effective lens view of a 75mm optic. That’s pretty close, and it’s a much better lens for available light photos. I used my 50mm f/1.8 at the last wedding I shot and found it gave brilliant results.

Answer by Edwin
Even if I don’t own any Pentax gear, I vote for the 50mm f1.4 lens. As someone already said, it closely approximates the ancient 35mm “ideal” likeness length of between 85mm to 105mm. The f1.4 aperture also gives you better performance in low-light, non-flash situations.

I will admit to having a bias against variable aperture zoom lenses. So, I suggest looking at the Tamron AF70-200mm f2.8 Di LD (IF) zoom. If you need a wider view, I suggest the Pentax SMC DA Star 16-50mm f2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM. In my opinion, these 2 zooms and the 50mm f1.4 would be a fantastic kit. (NOTE: Someone will probably complain that you’re duplicating a focal length with the 16-50mm and a 50mm fill in. Ignore them. You need the quick 50mm f1.4 for reasons already confirmed).

Any camera that can use an external flash will beyond doubt benefit. The built-in “pop up” flash is harsh and unappealing since its direct flash. It is also not very powerful. Yes, you can buy diffusers and they do help but nothing replaces an off-camera flash. A excellent flash mounted on a flash bracket will allow you to use bounce flash which is more natural and flattering. The Pentax AF540FGZ would be an brilliant choice. You can find a wide choice of off-camera flash brackets at http://www.bhphotovideo.com

Another personal bias: I reckon it looks really amateurish to have a flash mounted on the camera.

Answer by David M
The previous answerer is assess when it comes to likeness focal lengths but that focal length is for 35mm film. Due to the crop business of the digital SLR’s of 1.5x the 50mm is a pretty excellent choice for portraits. 50×1.5=75. So it is pretty close.

The 18-55mm lens is excellent for portraits as well but not as excellent as the 50mm. The reason life that the 50mm has a much larger aperture. Large apertures help to make a shallow depth of field.

If doing likeness photography an external flash that will allow you to tilt and swivel the head will give much better results than a pop up flash. You should use a diffuser on the flash when doing portraits.

What do you reckon? Answer below!

EOS 400D: Get your Kit out! (15/365)
samsung digital slr cameras

Image by orangeacid
This is the camera that has taken every one of my pictures for the last fortnight and a bit – and bearing in mind that I’ve been doing gig pics, clones, and new-years stuff, on top of 365, it has already taken in excess of 1500 pictures.

This is a List 400D DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) with the 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 mk II kit lens (see the nasty pun in the name?). This was taken with my ickle Samsung v800 point-and-shoot – hence the nasty grain, unsharpness etc.

I am plotting to hold the Pentax k20D body only, which earnings I’ll be in need of a lens. My focus will be likeness photography so I’m looking into what would be the best lens for that. So far I’ve read that the Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens is fantastic for likeness photography because it gives fantastic blur and minimizes distortion pretty well. I also looked into the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras for its low price. I like the variety in the zoom of this lengths, but its aperture is obviously not in comparison to the SMCP-FA.

I’m looking for a lens that is fantastic for head shots, can also take fantastic pictures at body length, and fantastic pictures when trying to incorporate social class with model.. Any suggestions?

Answer by Mark
The traditional answer is something along the lines of this:

105mm 2.8 fill in lens.

And that’s the answer for a reason. You’ll get fantastic results with a lens like that. Small lenses introduce distortion. See this record, you’ll get some thoughts for what you need.

Answer by Ansell A
The consesus among photographers is that the best likeness lenses are between 85-105mm on a 35mm camera (full frame dslr)

The 50mm on a 35mm camera is the one which is closest to the creature eye in terms of field of view.

Anything under 50mm is liable to “distort” portraits especially when you are close to the subject.

An 85mm would give you excellent head shots and you would be able to get full length shots in simple enough by moving a small.
Get the fastest lens you can (lowest f number) so that you are able to throw the social class out of focus.
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Answer by Edwin
I suggest buying the 50mm f1.4 and reduction for a better zoom. The f1.4 aperture will give you more capability if you want to shoot in low-light without a flash.

Since I have a bias against variable aperture zooms, I reckon you should look at the Tamron AF70-200mm f2.8 Di LD (IF) and the SMC Pentax DA Star 16-50mm f2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM. This would be, in my opinion, an brilliant 3 lens kit.

Also, keep in mind that every Pentax K-mount lens made since 1975 can be used on your K20D. Yes, there are some limitations with the older manual focus lenses but they can be used.

Answer by proshooter
The Pentax kit lens – the 18-55mm is not terrible for portraits.

I have the earlier version of the lens and it is reasonably excellent in the center, but soft around the edges- poor for landscape but excellent for portraits.

But I recently bought the Pentax DA* 50-135mm f2.8 SDM lens and one of the intended uses is for portraits.

With the Pentax crop business of 1.5 this makes the lens equivalent to a 70-200 mm zoom on film or full frame digital SLRs.

The * indicates it is one of Pentax’s premium quality lenses.

Answer by david f
50mm on a K20D is the equivalent of a 75mm lens of 35mm. A tiny bit small for portraiture, but pretty excellent.
The all-time best Pentax lens for portraits was the 85mm f/2. Perfect on 35mm, equivalent to 125mm on a K20D and has a K-mount so can be used despite life about 25 years ancient. May be hard to find, even in the digital age, because they are prized by their owners.

What do you reckon? Answer below!