upgrade for kit lens

shaik · 04-07-2009, 04:35 AM

hello all
after a long time i am looking for upgrade for the kit lens.
there are so many diffrent opinions and diffrenet lenses that i dont know on what to focus on..
is there a diffrent between pentax lenses vs sigma/tamron?
how come the pentax 16-50 cost so much more then the sigma/tamron 18-50 and still i mostly ear bad opinions about it?
is the 17-70 length is the same in image qualty as the 16-45?

i have the k100d and will upgrade pobably some time soon.
thanks.

asdf · 04-07-2009, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by shaik

is the 17-70 length is the same in image qualty as the 16-45?

photozone likes it:
Pentax SMC DA 17-70mm f/4 AL [IF] SDM - Review / Test Report

"The Pentax DA SMC 17-70mm f/4 AL [IF] SDM is undoubtedly the most desirable standard zoom lens in the current Pentax lens lineup."

I've been using it since January and I like it.

*maxwell1295* · 04-07-2009, 07:52 AM

The K100D won't be able to take advantage of the SDM feature of the Pentax 17-70. THe one lens I recommend as a replacement is Sigma's 17-70. It's a great lens that is reasonably sharp and focuses very closely. It's a great all around lens that will do everything from landscape and architecure (for travel), flowers, and people.

If you plan on upgrading the body in the near future the DA17-70 or DA*16-50 would be excellent upgrades, with both being weathersealed and having SDM.

shaik · 04-07-2009, 02:31 PM

is the 16-50 IQ is alot better then the 17-70? how come i heard so bad things on this lens?

quickiekuchen · 04-07-2009, 03:06 PM

The 17-70 SDM is not weather-sealed.

Parallax · 04-07-2009, 03:46 PM

Another vote for the 17-70. I've had mine since last July.

*ryno* · 04-07-2009, 04:42 PM

If you can't use SDM, don't get the pentax 17-70. It can only autofocus with a SDM body, and it's not made for manual focus. It has a very short focus throw, and, on mine, the infinity stop is past infinity. With an SDM body, it's great, and I can recommend it fully.
Ryan

asdf · 04-07-2009, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by quickiekuchen

The 17-70 SDM is not weather-sealed.

Except for the mount which has a rubber seal.

K100D Super supports SDM, but K100D without the Super does not.

*mstolt* · 04-07-2009, 05:11 PM

Add another vote for the Sigma 17-70.

mstolt

*jamesm007* · 04-07-2009, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by shaik

hello all
after a long time i am looking for upgrade for the kit lens.
there are so many diffrent opinions and diffrenet lenses that i dont know on what to focus on..
is there a diffrent between pentax lenses vs sigma/tamron?
how come the pentax 16-50 cost so much more then the sigma/tamron 18-50 and still i mostly ear bad opinions about it?
is the 17-70 length is the same in image qualty as the 16-45?

i have the k100d and will upgrade pobably some time soon.
thanks.

From f5.6 up the Sigma 17-70mm offer IQ as good as any IMO. It sounds like you use one lens, or at least one general walk around lens. The Sigma offer extended focal range and pseudo macro, great build at a great price. I see no reason for you and your camera to go for any other. Accept perhaps the Pentax 16-45mm if you can get a really good deal on it. Why? Pentax seems to work best on Pentax, and its got the Pentax color/contrast. Its also a very good lens for the money. Still IMO the scale tips to the Sigma side a good bit however.

shaik · 04-08-2009, 12:24 AM

i will upgrade my k100d some time soon.
will the pentax 17-70 AF wont work at all?
i am looking for a major upgrade and want to get the best IQ.

thanks for all the help.

*hwblanks* · 04-08-2009, 08:27 AM

If you really have your heart set on the DA17-70 over the Sigma 17-70, then it might be a good idea to upgrade the body before upgrading the lens since the newer bodies have SDM capability. If it'll be a while before you'll be able to upgrade the body, then go for the Sigma 17-70. While it isn't as quiet as the Pentax version, it's definitely comparable in terms of IQ, IMHO. Since it's a good bit cheaper than the Pentax version, that's more money to put towards the new body.

Heather

Cambo · 04-08-2009, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by shaik

hello all
after a long time i am looking for upgrade for the kit lens.
there are so many diffrent opinions and diffrenet lenses that i dont know on what to focus on..
is there a diffrent between pentax lenses vs sigma/tamron?
how come the pentax 16-50 cost so much more then the sigma/tamron 18-50 and still i mostly ear bad opinions about it?
is the 17-70 length is the same in image qualty as the 16-45?

i have the k100d and will upgrade pobably some time soon.
thanks.

If it's the 18-55 II, it's hard to beat that little guy at any price (I have the DA II and the FA* 28-70), and the differences will not floor you. If you have the series I 18-55, maybe just upgrade to the II - really inexpensive for a great little lens like that, and apparently there's quite a difference between the two. If you're new to photography, and have the 2nd series 18-55, I would go with the DA 50-200 or the DA 55-300 for a second lens, and then possibly a macro 35 or 50 so you explore the joys of macro and of fixed focal length lenses - the 35 would be good, as the depth of field scale (hyperfocal distance) would come into play more, and you would really learn a lot. You could also go wide angle (12-24), but that's range can be quite difficult for beginners.

IMHO.

Cheers,
Cameron

shaik · 04-08-2009, 01:21 PM

thanks,i actully have some experience.
i have the 18-55 I
the sigms 70-300
rikoh 105 2.8 macro
pentax m 28 2.8
sounds like the sigma can be a good option. what are the problams of bad copys? can i really get a terrible copy?
thanks for the help!