tjdean01
Mu-43 Top Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2013
- Messages
- 873
I have a PM2 and some decent lenses but I'm looking to get a couple cheap, fastish lenses as a gift for a beginner. She doesn't mind manual focus because she played with my PM2 and a 35/1.2 (50 with a focal reducer). She had a DSLR in the past but sold it for financial reasons. She experimented with bokeh but couldn't do well with the kit lens. I know you CAN do well with an APS DSLR, so she probably didn't know about stopping down (I'll teach her).
Anyway budget is pretty low (she can always upgrade in the near future) because I'm not sure how much she'll enjoy using it. $50 a lens and maybe only get 1-2 to start. I got her a used PM1 for $60. Lens ideas I'm thinking:
Konica 40/1.8 - I have 3 of these and I could actually GIVE her one. It's pretty crappy below f2.8 though. AR-m4/3 adapter - $10
Vivitar FD 28/2.8 - Free. I have one of these I could GIVE as well. IFL might be easier to handle, but less of the blur she wants. FD-m4/3 adapter again $10.
m4/3s kit lens - Which one is ultimately the cheapest used? (IMO they are all good lenses, even the 14-42s.) I could give her my O14-42 but I prefer the colors over the 12-32 so I'm not sure I want to part with it just yet. Plus I could still sell it for $80.
17/2.8 - I really think she'd love this lens for its size. But it still commands $150 used. I wish I could find one with fungus or something.
30/2.8 - I have this and don't use it much, but again, I could make $130 selling it.
Any other suggestions of something really cheap and somewhat decent that's of a suitable focal length? I was thinking the Pentax 110 lenses but they kind of look weird on the camera for a beginner!
Anyway budget is pretty low (she can always upgrade in the near future) because I'm not sure how much she'll enjoy using it. $50 a lens and maybe only get 1-2 to start. I got her a used PM1 for $60. Lens ideas I'm thinking:
Konica 40/1.8 - I have 3 of these and I could actually GIVE her one. It's pretty crappy below f2.8 though. AR-m4/3 adapter - $10
Vivitar FD 28/2.8 - Free. I have one of these I could GIVE as well. IFL might be easier to handle, but less of the blur she wants. FD-m4/3 adapter again $10.
m4/3s kit lens - Which one is ultimately the cheapest used? (IMO they are all good lenses, even the 14-42s.) I could give her my O14-42 but I prefer the colors over the 12-32 so I'm not sure I want to part with it just yet. Plus I could still sell it for $80.
17/2.8 - I really think she'd love this lens for its size. But it still commands $150 used. I wish I could find one with fungus or something.
30/2.8 - I have this and don't use it much, but again, I could make $130 selling it.
Any other suggestions of something really cheap and somewhat decent that's of a suitable focal length? I was thinking the Pentax 110 lenses but they kind of look weird on the camera for a beginner!