BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

I need your help. In less than 2 months, I'm going to purchase a new DSLR and I'm 99% sure it will be a Pentax. One decision to make is whether or not to purchase the new K-30....OR....try to find a good price on a K-5. In either case, I'm going to need lenses and this is where I'll rely on you to help me decide.
Ideally, I would like to get the 18-55mm kit lens IF and ONLY IF you think it's good enough for general use (see below for the kind of shooting I'll be doing). If not, what would be another good lens to substitute for general purposes? Is something like a prime lens, say between 35mm and 135mm, a good choice for general use and, if so, which one?
As for a zoom lens, what would be a good one to consider?
Does Pentax make a good macro lens and, if so, which one?

I'm looking to spend up to $3000.00 for the complete outfit so let me know your choices. Also, my lifestyle is such that there usually WON'T be any sporting events with fast action for me to think about. The kind of photos I enjoy taking are of little critters in the yard or birds that happen to stop in the trees; sunsets; stationary things like hills & valleys, mountains, streams, unusual buildings or old ones from time past; portraits but not in a professional, paid sense; everyday action on the street. So, let this be your guide as to which lens(es) you favor. There's no prize being given away for best recommendation....but your reward will be that you've helped out a fellow Pentaxian who is out to show the goliaths of this world (Nikon and Canon) that Pentax is definitely here to stay and is a force to not ignore or make light of.

PS---if you have examples of photos taken with your lens recommendation, please post them so I can see "real world" examples that show quality, clarity, and sharpness.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

I happily advise going with the K5, and start out with the Pentax 16-45mm lens. Then, add the 55-300mm telephoto and, at least, one good Pentax prime (DA 50mm 1.2, or Limited 70mm 2.8). Eventually, you will want a macro, so look at the WR 100mm, or 35mm Limited macro.
Before I got my Pentax K5, I seriously considered the Nikon 7000 and the Canon 60D, both very fine bulky cameras with equivalent features, but, when I held the K5, it felt so comfortable that I thought it was made just for my hand. It takes really great images. The lenses are a bit more costly than the other brands, but you get what you pay for! For example, there's probably no other 50mm lens in the market that is better at an affordable price than the Pentax 50mm 1.2mm. Finally, you will find the online Pentax Forum web site a very useful place for information on all sorts of Pentax topics including some really helpful lens reviews and comparisons.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

I will tell you what I use and I am happy so far
K-5
18-55mm WR Kit lens considered one of the best kit lens out
Tamron 70-200mm F2.8
FA 50mm F1.4
Lester A Dine 105mm Macro would love to have the Pentax D FA 100mm WR but was not in the budget.
I also have 3 manual focus 50mm and a Pentax 100mm F4 macro that only does 1:2

You can get the K-5 with the 18-55mm for $1035.00
Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 WR Macro $649.95
Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 $769.00
total $2453.95

That leaves you enough to get a fast 50mm
FA 50mm F1.4 $369.95
total $2823.90

Lester A Dine Macro
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8008/7544943628_41d1750e81.jpg
IMGP9381 by crumlyt, on Flickr

Tamron 70-200mm F2.8
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8021/7529568524_8bf1c21da6.jpg
IMGP9122 by crumlyt, on Flickr

FA 50mm F1.4
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8142/7529555136_c8d9148aa0.jpg
IMGP7989 by crumlyt, on Flickr

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Thank you, JayDog, for your thorough and insightful recommendations. I wish a few others here on UHH would look at how you responded and use it as a template for their replies. Great job!

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

WOW! Thanks, hangman, for your recommendations and for also including those spectacular photos. WOW! I can hardly wait for when I get my camera outfit so I can have the kind of equipment that takes photos like these. Excellent response!

Jim 80149 Loc: NW Illinois

The lens I use the most is the 12 -24mm f4 - second most used is a 50mm f 1.4.
good luck
Jim

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Thank you, Jim.....much appreciated.

Seattle Otter Loc: Shoreline,Wa

Hi! I bought the Pentax Kx because I was brand new to dslr and it got great ratings for a beginner camera--I am still learning! It just had the beginner lens & I found I liked to get closer to animals & birds so bought a Tamron 75-300 macro tele lens--still working with that! Just recently I got the Tamron 18-250 and like it--you don't have to keep changing lenses--a lot of people are raving about the 18-275 so check that out on Amazon--I spent a lot of time reading the various reviews. Good luck and look forward to seeing your shots--I am heading up to Alaska tomorrow on a cruise (live in Seattle) so I'm hoping to have some great things to share--happy buying! Go Pentax!

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

Thanks, Otter, and I'd really like to see some photos taken with your K-X.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

Here are a few with my K-x still own it daughter has custody of it though.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6218/6397422589_c111882feb.jpg
IMGP6213_edited by crumlyt, on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6096/6237418619_f82c72dd9c.jpg
IMGP4377 by crumlyt, on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6239/6238526519_2f7673551c.jpg
IMGP4693 by crumlyt, on Flickr

BuckeyeBilly Loc: St. Petersburg, FL

hangman,
GREAT photos! The one of the trees and water looks like a Thomas Kinkade painting.....and that's meant to be a compliment!

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

Tomorrow I will get the kit 18-55 out and take some pics with it to show you what it is like I think it does a good job and when purchased with the kit you are getting it cheap.

marquis1955 Loc: Lometa, TX

I am shooting a KX and a K30 I tell you I Love them both by the K30 is my baby. I use 18-55 WR lens a Tamron 28-200 and a Sigma 150-500 that is awesome. I have many lenses older vintage pentax primes etc. when I'm in the mood to use the older lenses they are manual lenses but tack sharp ! If your still out there I'll send some photos on my next post but there are some on my topics.