[telfish]

Now in stock at Adorama, should be with me about Thursday. Will post some first impressions and pictures as soon as I get it.

21977 Pentax SMCP-DA 18mm - 135mm f/3.5-5.6 AL (IF) DC WR (Weather Resistant) Autofocus Zoom Lens for Digital SLRs.

[imtheguy]

Now in stock at Adorama, should be with me about Thursday. Will post some first impressions and pictures as soon as I get it.

I look forward to your impressions. If the IQ is at least decent, I will have to let go my DA18-250 for the WR lens and ability to walk a windy, misty beach.

[telfish]

I look forward to your impressions. If the IQ is at least decent, I will have to let go my DA18-250 for the WR lens and ability to walk a windy, misty beach.

I'm thinking if it is as good as my sigma 17-70 I will be happy. I can then consolidate down to a real light walk round setup when needed.

[Adam]

PF's is on its way as fall. ETA Weds.

Adam
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[jglover]

I'm interested in this lens as well as a walk-around so I'm definitely interested in your impression. I've yet to see a review online yet...though I really just started looking this evening.

[Rondec]

I am not usually a super zoom type person, but this could be about a perfect set of focal lengths from my perspective as long as IQ doesn't suffer too much. Looking forward to photos coming out from it.

[GeneV]

I am not usually a super zoom type person, but this could be about a perfect set of focal lengths from my perspective as long as IQ doesn't suffer too much. Looking forward to photos coming out from it.

I'm with you on this. This lens is not what I need for my next lens purchase with limited discretionary income right now. (I need a longer macro first). However, it is a range that I find intriguing if there is a real advantage in performance or size. So far, the other manufacturers have not really made that product, but if Pentax did, I could see a use for it down the road.

[jeffrey r]

This lens is a no-brainer for me. I love the range of my DA* 50-135, so I'll take an expanded wide end to 18mm, smaller and lighter form factor, and keep the weather resistance, and it has the makings of an amazing walkaround lens for a day out with the family, a trip to the pool or beach, or whatever.

[GeneV]

This lens is a no-brainer for me. I love the range of my DA* 50-135, so I'll take an expanded wide end to 18mm, smaller and lighter form factor, and keep the weather resistance, and it has the makings of an amazing walkaround lens for a day out with the family, a trip to the pool or beach, or whatever.

The deal killer with, say, the Canon implementation of this zoom was that there turned out to be nothing--not size, performance, weight or speed--that made it superior to the Tamron (and Pentax) 18-250 available at a lower price with a longer range. I am hopeful that the Pentax version will offer a real advantage over the longer superzoom. The WR is a good start.

[r0ckstarr]

I look forward to your impressions. If the IQ is at least decent, I will have to let go my DA18-250 for the WR lens and ability to walk a windy, misty beach.

Same here. I've been waiting for this one to become available so I can sell my 18-250mm.

[Laurentiu Cristofor]

There's an interview where Ned Bunnell said this about this lens: "And although it's not totally weather sealed like our SDM lenses". How is this lens different from the SDM WR lenses?

[samski_1]

I am also interested in this lens, as a lightweight WR lens for extended hiking. Please post some shots when you can. Anyone know of any reviews?

[pardes]

I received the lens yesterday through Amazon. I too will give my impressions and example photos.

My first impression is how VERY quiet the focus is! Focus is also very quick. As others have mentioned, this is just the perfect range for me so I'm hoping the IQ is far superior to the 18-250.

[Loren E]

thanks for the link to the interview LC. I find it extremely frustrating that there is all this hinting about differences between the weather resistance of WR verus DA* and yet Pentax can't explain anything concrete to us. People on the forums say everything from the big difference to the fact they are the same but marketing tries to make the DA* "sound better"even though it's not......how bout for once they clarify exactly what the differences are between the two?

[aeron]

this 18-135mm extends - with inner tubes - in length while the 16-50mm and 50-135mm do not. I think this is the main difference : you can not make "as much WR" a lens that extends..