Pentax FA28-200 or Tamron 18-200mm XR Di-II LD

rave75 · 07-28-2010, 09:33 AM

Hi, I am currently using a 28-200 Pentax FA. I am fine with the lens but find the lens not wide enough. Thinking of getting the tamron 18-200mm. Will the IQ worst off as compare to my Pentax AF as the focal range is much wider?

Marc Sabatella · 07-28-2010, 09:50 AM

Since this is about lenses, not cameras, I'm moving it the lens forum.

I haven't used either lens, but both are generally considered medicore at best. I doubt you'd notice anything much obviously worse about the IQ, but would greatly appreciate the wide angle on the 18-200. The various 18-250's are universally considered better, but are more expensive.

KxBlaze · 07-28-2010, 10:58 AM

Agreed with Marc that the 18-250s are considered better than any of the similars but are also more $.

I was considering pretty much the same lenses, FA 28-200, Tamron 28-200, Sigma 18-200 and Tamron 18-200.

I am going to buy the Tamron 18-200 for 2 reasons. The 18mm end is a huge plus over the 28mm end, and you can buy one brand new right now at BH Photo for $229.99 (that's with a $60 mail in rebate) and I believe there is no tax right? Unless you live in the state BH is in.

If you do decide to buy the Tamron 18-200 new from BH please click on the BH link on this forum so that you can help support it.

jjdgti · 07-28-2010, 12:47 PM

I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for.
The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus.

Eruditass · 07-28-2010, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by jjdgti

I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for.
The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus.

How did the 28-300mm fare?

**nater** · 07-28-2010, 05:47 PM

What's the advantage of a superzoom lens on a DSLR as a vacation camera vs. a good point & shoot with a superzoom (especially one that compensates for lens distortion and CA in-body)?

hcc · 07-28-2010, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by jjdgti

I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for.
The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus.

+1
The 18-250mm is a marked improvement from the older 18-200m lenses. However note that there are two generations of 18-250mm for Pentax K-mount:
(a) the Tamron/Pentax 18-250mm, and
(b) the Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM.

The Tamron/Pentax 18-250mm is highly recommended by many Pentaxians. As jjdgti pointed nicely, it is an excellent all-around lens allowing you to wokr with one body + 1 ens, avoiding len swappings. It is also one of the best all-rounders among all brands incl. Canikons.

The Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM is a newer, more expensive lens. The OS is not needed with Pentax cameras that have IS, and the initial users' reports are favorable.

07-28-2010, 09:33 AM	#1
rave75 New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Singapore Photos: Albums Posts: 18	Pentax FA28-200 or Tamron 18-200mm XR Di-II LD Hi, I am currently using a 28-200 Pentax FA. I am fine with the lens but find the lens not wide enough. Thinking of getting the tamron 18-200mm. Will the IQ worst off as compare to my Pentax AF as the focal range is much wider?

07-28-2010, 09:50 AM	#2
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Since this is about lenses, not cameras, I'm moving it the lens forum. I haven't used either lens, but both are generally considered medicore at best. I doubt you'd notice anything much obviously worse about the IQ, but would greatly appreciate the wide angle on the 18-200. The various 18-250's are universally considered better, but are more expensive. Last edited by Marc Sabatella; 07-28-2010 at 11:26 AM.

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07-28-2010, 10:58 AM	#3
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Agreed with Marc that the 18-250s are considered better than any of the similars but are also more $. I was considering pretty much the same lenses, FA 28-200, Tamron 28-200, Sigma 18-200 and Tamron 18-200. I am going to buy the Tamron 18-200 for 2 reasons. The 18mm end is a huge plus over the 28mm end, and you can buy one brand new right now at BH Photo for $229.99 (that's with a $60 mail in rebate) and I believe there is no tax right? Unless you live in the state BH is in. If you do decide to buy the Tamron 18-200 new from BH please click on the BH link on this forum so that you can help support it.

07-28-2010, 12:47 PM	#4
jjdgti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,824	I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for. The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus.

07-28-2010, 03:28 PM	#5
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by jjdgti I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for. The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus. How did the 28-300mm fare?

07-28-2010, 05:47 PM	#6
nater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New England Photos: Albums Posts: 706	What's the advantage of a superzoom lens on a DSLR as a vacation camera vs. a good point & shoot with a superzoom (especially one that compensates for lens distortion and CA in-body)?

07-28-2010, 05:50 PM	#7
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,005	Originally posted by jjdgti I had several versions of the 28-200mm (Tamron) and also the 28-300mm. I also owned Tamron 18-250mm and Pentax DA 18-250mm lens. In my opinion, the 18-250mm is a far beter lens than the 18-200mm and the 28-200mm. If you can afford to buy the 18-250mm will be better. There are some used here in the marketplace for sale. Sometimes you buy a mediocre lens trying to save some $$ and get what you paid for. The 18-250mm is a very good lens for trips. You do not need to change lenses during the whole trip and this is a Plus. +1 The 18-250mm is a marked improvement from the older 18-200m lenses. However note that there are two generations of 18-250mm for Pentax K-mount: (a) the Tamron/Pentax 18-250mm, and (b) the Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM. The Tamron/Pentax 18-250mm is highly recommended by many Pentaxians. As jjdgti pointed nicely, it is an excellent all-around lens allowing you to wokr with one body + 1 ens, avoiding len swappings. It is also one of the best all-rounders among all brands incl. Canikons. The Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM is a newer, more expensive lens. The OS is not needed with Pentax cameras that have IS, and the initial users' reports are favorable.