>Precisely. Most of us don't actually take photos ~ at least regularly >~ at the largest aperture. The prime benefit of a wider aperture is >the brightness of the view thru the viewfinder! >With later Pentaxes, the lens stays wide open for everything except >the moment of the exposure. >So, you'll find that almost every prime in the neighborhood of 50mm >will give superior performance, especially if it's stopped down a >couple of stops from wide open.
I'd agree with you Keith, but shooting portraits, there are many occasions where I want to use absolute maximum aperture, for the minimal depth of field. This pic illustrates the effect I adore: http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/portraits/images/pic19.html Since I have sold my A*85 f/1.4, my widest lens is now a 50 1.7 on film - worse f/2.8 shooting a digital. An f1.2 portrait lens would be coooool - I realise I am in a good position (cost aside) with non-Pentax offerings for digi, and when the Pentax DSLR is released, the latest and greatest portrait lens will become the A50 f/1.2 - get one before the price jumps. However, only for a while - when the full frame chips become the norm, the 85mm f/1.4s will rule again... .02, Cotty ____________________________________ Free UK Macintosh Classified Ads at http://www.macads.co.uk/ ____________________________________ Oh, swipe me! He paints with light! http://www.macads.co.uk/snaps/ ____________________________________
