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10-28-2010, 06:33 PM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by jimr-pdx Quote
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 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.
Thanks!

I have a few issues with the DAL line vs the DA line. For one I almost always use the lens hood on my current camera. The DAL line does not come with a hood and they run another $50 each. I would also like metal mounting plates, the DAL line has plastic. Lastly, the DAL line does not come with a soft case for the lenses where the DA line does ( at least for the 55-300) so when you factor in the extra amount for the case, hoods and the simple peace of mind for metal vs plastic mounts.. it's a no brainer for me.

I'm not getting any younger and peace of mind is not always cheap but it's almost always GOOD.

10-28-2010, 06:38 PM   #17
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Also, what's the deal with the Phoenix 650-2600MM? I found it on Amazon for under $300... I'm guessing you get what you pay for and I don't have any use for such a thing but.. I am curious.
10-28-2010, 06:49 PM   #18
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I'll throw in my argument *against* a two-zoom kit of wide-to-fiftyish plus fiftyish-to-wherever: the ~50mm break. I have (too) many lenses. I use my DA18-250 most. I find that I do most shooting between 35-70, which is why I'm happy I just got an old F35-70 for US$11 -- it covers that most-used range. But on the road, the 18-250 rules. I have a break-50 kit, the 18-55 plus a 60-300. I don't use that kit BECAUSE of the the ~50mm break. Changing lenses at 50mm means missing too many shots.

But go ahead, buy a 50-200 or 55-300 or whatever. See if I care. Buy Pentax glass, so the Penhoya management and stockholders will love you. Keep the economy moving. Ya don't wantna cripple the economy, do ya?
10-28-2010, 06:56 PM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by chadci Quote
Also, what's the deal with the Phoenix 650-2600MM? I found it on Amazon for under $300... I'm guessing you get what you pay for and I don't have any use for such a thing but.. I am curious.
I got an old Spiratone 400/5.6 for US$15 not too long ago. That's about what long-tube teles are worth. And I got a Sakar 500/8 a couple years ago for US$13. It probably has better optics than that Phoenix, which I wouldn't pay more than US$50 for (if I had an extra fifty bucks laying around, which I don't).

10-28-2010, 07:22 PM   #20
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Your plan of 16-45 and 55-300 is solid. I've stopped using the 18-250 because it doesn't compare to the two-lens kit. The 16-45 & 55-300 are sharper, faster aperture, beter colour & contrast, less purple fringing, less vignetting, quicker auto-focus and cover a wider range. The only advantage of the superzoom is convenience. I don't sweat lens changes any more, they're just a fact of life with a DSLR.

The DA 16-45 and 55-300 are more expensive but easily worth the premium over the DA L 18-55 and 55-300. Metal mounts and lens hoods are nice features, but the really big differences are the extra wide angle and the Quick Shift manual override. The 55-300 tends to get lost sometimes. When it misses focus and starts to hunt, it takes a painfully long time to rack through the gears, then maybe it misses focus again. With quick shift, as soon as I see it's hunting, I grab the focus ring and bring it back on track.
10-28-2010, 07:35 PM   #21
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What do you shoot? Break that down roughly into percentages and we can help with some better suggestions and it seems you want primes? (the 35 mention)

but me it's the 16-50 DA* +50-135 DA*
10-28-2010, 07:40 PM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
Quick Shift manual override. The 55-300 tends to get lost sometimes. When it misses focus and starts to hunt, it takes a painfully long time to rack through the gears, then maybe it misses focus again. With quick shift, as soon as I see it's hunting, I grab the focus ring and bring it back on track.
That sounds like a very good benefit that I wasn't aware of. Thanks!

10-28-2010, 07:56 PM   #23
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QuoteOriginally posted by Clicker Quote
What do you shoot? Break that down roughly into percentages and we can help with some better suggestions and it seems you want primes? (the 35 mention)

but me it's the 16-50 DA* +50-135 DA*
I do want 1 prime to start, that's where the K-r with "kit" 35mm 2.4 prime comes in for me to try out.

I shoot a lot of different things. I do not really shoot sports or fast moving things. A lot of landscapes, people, bridges etc. Plus I travel a fair amount so there's no telling what I might come across. Mainly, I shoot things that are interesting to me and then PP them until I get the effect I want. I use PSP X3

Here are a couple of my shots. Far from special compared to some of the shots I've seen here but I use the tools I have.











The above were all taken in or around home. The following is... not in or around my home

Last edited by chadci; 10-30-2010 at 10:56 AM.
10-28-2010, 08:00 PM   #24
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And thanks to everyone so far for your tips and advice, much appreicated!
10-28-2010, 08:07 PM   #25
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35 +100macro
10-29-2010, 12:21 AM   #26
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The SX20 has a hell of a range (28-560 equivalent field of view). In terms of the sensor of the current Pentax dSLRs, you can divide that by 1.5 and end up with 18-360mm.

If you use the far tele a lot on the SX20, you need to realise that you will miss that with both the 250mm and the 300mm; you can crop afterwards to get it right but I'm personally not a big fan of that).

Also personally, I don't agree that 18mm is not wide enough; I only have had a few occasions (in the film days) that I missed a shot with 28mm because it was not wide enough. If you often had thoughts that you needed a wider lens, 16mm is the better option now.
10-29-2010, 03:50 AM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by sterretje Quote
The SX20 has a hell of a range (28-560 equivalent field of view). In terms of the sensor of the current Pentax dSLRs, you can divide that by 1.5 and end up with 18-360mm.

If you use the far tele a lot on the SX20, you need to realise that you will miss that with both the 250mm and the 300mm; you can crop afterwards to get it right but I'm personally not a big fan of that).

Also personally, I don't agree that 18mm is not wide enough; I only have had a few occasions (in the film days) that I missed a shot with 28mm because it was not wide enough. If you often had thoughts that you needed a wider lens, 16mm is the better option now.
I understand about the higher range of the SX20, however, just because it can shoot that far does not mean the shot us usable. I would say my shooting is done around the 28 - 300 marks, that said, I would like to be able to get down to 16 but even if it were 18 that would be a HUGE improvement.

Because of the sensor, I don't have the ability to get good "blurred" backgrounds and have to zoom to 200mm on the barrell, and stand roughly 6-10' from the subject and the subject has to be at least 6' from the background in order to get a decent blur... it's rather frustrating that I have to "work" so hard at getting a shot. In this life you simply don't always have time to go through all of that to get what you want.

I've attached a couple to show what I mean.
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11-03-2010, 03:46 AM   #28
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Another thought, how would the Sigma 17-70mm compare to the Pentax 16-45? I got to thinking about what Rio Rico said about the 35-70 range and he's spot on, at least for me. I realize that it would overlap some with the 55-300 and the Sigma 70-300 didn't look all that impressive, at least to me.

The Tamron 70-300 looks decent. Thoughts?

Last edited by chadci; 11-03-2010 at 03:52 AM.
11-03-2010, 04:10 AM   #29
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Get the 35mm da kit lens like you were planning.That will give you a nice 'normal' lens to learn with on aps-c.Also get the A50mm f1.7. It makes a nice 80mm portrait and wildlife lens.It also teaches you to slow down with manual settings for a more 1 on 1.
11-03-2010, 05:21 AM   #30
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Oh no, I'm still planning on the 35MM and looking at the 50 as well but I still need a shorter range zoom and a longer range zoom. We travel a fair amount and do a lot of different things.
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