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10-28-2010, 05:25 PM   #1
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One lens or two?

Planning my first SLR purchase following the holidays, this should give me plenty of time to get my first package figured out. I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the K-r with 35mm kit. I'm torn between two lens options. Does it make more sense to go with a 16-45mm and a 55-300mm OR just go with something like 18-250mm. Budget wise it makes more sense to go with the 18-250mm but I really want to do this right.

I decided over the past few years that I'm not going to with second best anymore. This actually saves me quite a bit of money as I don't have to buy something twice.. or more.

I realize that the K-r and the DA lenses are not flagship and that's OK.. I'm just a hobbiest and they're leaps and bounds better than my current, SX20 is superzoom.

Thanks!


Last edited by chadci; 10-28-2010 at 05:37 PM.
10-28-2010, 05:27 PM   #2
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K-9 does not exist
10-28-2010, 05:30 PM   #3
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The 18-250 may be OK if you really don't want to swap lenses, but 18 is barely wide enough, and 250 is barely long enough. Obviously it depends what you like to shoot and how to shoot it.

I'd go with the 16-45 and 55-300. But you need to figure out the body first, there is no K-9 :-)
10-28-2010, 05:34 PM   #4
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Since there was mention of a kit with 35mm, I wonder if the body meant is the k-r?

10-28-2010, 05:38 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by bobmaxja Quote
K-9 does not exist
Sorry, I meant K-r. I edited my post. That said, I'm torn between that and the K-7 with prices so close to each other.
10-28-2010, 05:39 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Impartial Quote
Since there was mention of a kit with 35mm, I wonder if the body meant is the k-r?
I did. Sorry for the confusion.

I figured the 18-250 would not quite be enough in either direction. I'll stick to the old drawing board plan of the 16-45 and 55-300 unless there are other suggestions.

Thanks
10-28-2010, 05:46 PM   #7
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If I had the money to buy either the K-r or the K-7, I'd get the K-r, for one reason only: Max ISO 25,600. Otherwise, there's only a slim margin between the 2 bodies.

Check the camera database and compare the K-7 to the K-r.


Last edited by chalion; 10-28-2010 at 05:47 PM. Reason: even more spelling mistakes.
10-28-2010, 05:51 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by chalion Quote
If I had the money to buy either the K-r or the K-7, I'd get the K-r, for one reason only: Max ISO 25,600. Otherwise, there's only a slim margin between the 2 bodies.

Check the camera database and compare the K-7 to the K-r.
The biggest thing about the K-7 that appeals to me is the build and larger size for my big bear hands.

The ISO and quicker focus of the K-r are the selling points for me.
10-28-2010, 05:52 PM   #9
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Your best deal is to go with the K-R kit 18-55mm & 55-300mm. That what I bought and I am happy with that choice. I bought other lenses after for different function
10-28-2010, 05:56 PM   #10
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You could take a k-x, and save for an upgrade to k-5 next year. In that case, the 18-55 + 55-300 would probably be the best deal. I would still pick up the 35/2.4 to try prime shooting. If you do like it, maybe your wide can be a 15 Limited!
10-28-2010, 05:57 PM   #11
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I have both the 16-45 and the 55-300. You won't be disappointed in these; they are both excellent lenses. I think the 16-45 is a superb all around lens, especially for the money. It would be nicer if it were not quite so large and didn't extend so far at wide angle, but you can't have everything. The 55-300 isn't the fastest lens, but produces excellent images in anything like reasonable light. With the high ISO of the K-R it should do just fine.
10-28-2010, 06:03 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by MikeW Quote
I have both the 16-45 and the 55-300. You won't be disappointed in these; they are both excellent lenses. I think the 16-45 is a superb all around lens, especially for the money. It would be nicer if it were not quite so large and didn't extend so far at wide angle, but you can't have everything. The 55-300 isn't the fastest lens, but produces excellent images in anything like reasonable light. With the high ISO of the K-R it should do just fine.
That's what I suspected. I suspect the 16-45 will be my main walk around lens, the 35 will get some good use too. I love to hike so that's where the 55-300 will come in handy.

I'm still kicking myself for going from one superzoom to another superzoom but I made excuses and convinced myself it was the right thing to do, but, in the end it ended up costing me more.

To another poster, I considered going with the K-x but I do not want to have to turn around and upgrade again in a year, I want to get at least 2 years out of a body maybe even three.

Same way with other electronics I have for my home theater system. I used to upgrade ever year IF even that that long. I finally bit the bullet, bought the rig I want and I'm happy... my wife is too
10-28-2010, 06:06 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by chadci Quote
The biggest thing about the K-7 that appeals to me is the build and larger size for my big bear hands.

The ISO and quicker focus of the K-r are the selling points for me.
I understand about the larger size of the K-7. It's the reason why I bought (used from PF) the K20D. It's also why i'm (trying) to save up to get the K-5. I figure between LBA and presents for the family, I may have enough to buy the K-5 by Feb. 2011.
10-28-2010, 06:29 PM   #14
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Another happy user of the 16-45 + 55-300 combo. I never had the 18-55 but was really happy to find a high-quality lens that goes to 16, and the 55-300 is very nice. I came from Sony and thought I'd pick up another 17-70 Sigma, but I'm glad for that extra mm of width. I occasionally contemplate something like the 50-150 Sigma for more speed at telephoto, but as you note the 55-300 is very light for the range and quality, a great hiking lens.

Last edited by jimr-pdx; 10-28-2010 at 06:37 PM.
10-28-2010, 06:30 PM   #15
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Looking only at HxWxD of the K-r and my current camera ( Canon SX20 is) the Canon is actually a little larger BUT it might not be that bad as one hand will be on the lens, that's not something I do now, I just try to wrap both hands around it to hold steady when I don't have my tripod.

BUT, my glovebox camera, the Canon 590 is smaller than the K-r and I use it comfortably with one hand so I might be OK... and I've never had any trouble with plastic bodied cameras before.
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