Favorite or Most Used Zoom?

Pentaxor · 02-11-2011, 09:47 PM

Da12-24. most used focal length range + the resolution is good even for crops.

magkelly · 02-11-2011, 10:14 PM

I actually have the same old Vivitar 70-300 in both C/Y mount and now in Pentax K mount. I went out of my way to try to grab that one again when I saw it listed in an auction of stuff in the right mount to use with my *ist. It's not the smallest lens but I'm loving so far and that's despite having a fancy digital 28-200MM Tamron lens. I really haven't used that Tamron since I got my adapter. It just sits in my lens storage bag now, unloved, poor thing. My Vivitars may be older than dirt, but I love all of the ones I have so far. I have another one in M42 mount too a 75-250 I think it is. That one's huge, even bigger than the other two, but I wouldn't trade it.

**Digitalis** · 02-12-2011, 12:59 AM

Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG - but then again, that is the only zoom I really have for the pentax system.

pop4 · 02-12-2011, 01:03 AM

Zoom that I pretty much can't live without: Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM II

Mike.P® · 02-12-2011, 01:16 AM

Sigma MKI APO EX 70-200mm f2.8 and 100-300mm f4.

Actually prefer that combo over my DA* 60-250mm and 300mm.

TOUGEFC · 02-12-2011, 01:20 AM

I only have 3 zooms, one of which is broken, which one gets used the most?
None im a prime man, but the last one that was used was my sigma 100-300.

ShoSho · 02-12-2011, 09:27 AM

How very interesting. It's almost like checking out someone's book shelf. What do you value and how do you chose to see the world around you? Trade offs are just a fact of life. I've been lost for several hours reading up on some of the lens mentioned.

Beyond my peeping tom instincts, I'm trying to develop a road map. A well planned strategy usually saves me money in the long run. Thanks for helping my plot out possible contenders. 'Direction is initially more important than speed"... just trying to make sure I don't rush off down a regrettable road.

GeneV · 02-12-2011, 10:08 AM

DSLR

Most used zoom: DA 17-70
Most fun zoom: DA12-24

FILM

Most used zoom: M75-150
Most fun zoom: Sigma 17-35 DG EX

Most used lenses would be primes, though.

paperbag846 · 02-12-2011, 10:59 AM

I've not had the privledge of playing with the nicer zooms, but I'm really impressed with my F 70-210. It's not terribly expensive and I find it very sharp, good contrast. OOF is nothing like the DA* 50-135, but it's still pretty good. Not the best portrait lens, but excellent for most other things.

**NaClH2O** · 02-12-2011, 01:06 PM

I would say that the zoom lenses I would most NOT want to part with are 3.

Widest to longest
Pentax DA 12-24 F4.0
Pentax FA 20-35 F4.0
Tamron Di 28-75 F2.8

I would be sad to lose my some of my other zooms, noteably the Tamron 17-50, the Pentax A 70-210 F4.0 and the Pentax A 35-105 F3.5 but I could live w/o them.

NaCl(my other zooms not so much)H2O

sambo · 02-12-2011, 04:08 PM

Just got myself a (redundant) 18-135wr and think this will become my favorite zoom (at least until I save enough pennies for the DA* 60-250. It is a great jack of all trades.... compact, well built, WR, useful range, fairly close min. focus distance, decent bokeh and very good image quality for what it is. It does have some drawbacks: slow, some CA/purple fringing, bit of zoom creep when bouncing of your chest on a brisk walk - but overall, a very compelling package.

I say redundant since I already have the 18-55 v.1, DA 18-250 and Sigma 17-70. I got it since I didn't have any other WR (or motorized) lenses. Now I need to decide which, if any, to sell.

Lloydy · 02-12-2011, 04:52 PM

More or less glued to my K10 is a Vivitar Series 1 24-48 f3.8, a superb manual focus lens.
If that comes off, and it isn't a prime going on, then the DA* 50-135 goes on, or another cheap and cheerful zoom, my F 35-70, which is small, cheap, and very very good.

RioRico · 02-12-2011, 08:16 PM

Originally posted by Lloydy

...then the DA* 50-135 goes on, or another cheap and cheerful zoom, my F 35-70, which is small, cheap, and very very good.

I'll second the F35-70, which I find extremely agile. My zoom kit is DA18-250, Tamron 10-24, F35-70, and, DA10-17. In that order. My F 35-70 cost me all of TEN BUCKS!! I am not displeased.

**GregK8** · 02-12-2011, 09:49 PM

DA* 16-50mm for me. I have the DA 55-300mm too but I find it far less useful.

selar · 02-12-2011, 10:24 PM

DA*16-50 here as well. Surprised more people don't list it as their favorite zoom. IMHO its the best normal zoom available for Pentax

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02-11-2011, 09:47 PM	#16
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Da12-24. most used focal length range + the resolution is good even for crops.

02-11-2011, 10:14 PM	#17
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	I actually have the same old Vivitar 70-300 in both C/Y mount and now in Pentax K mount. I went out of my way to try to grab that one again when I saw it listed in an auction of stuff in the right mount to use with my *ist. It's not the smallest lens but I'm loving so far and that's despite having a fancy digital 28-200MM Tamron lens. I really haven't used that Tamron since I got my adapter. It just sits in my lens storage bag now, unloved, poor thing. My Vivitars may be older than dirt, but I love all of the ones I have so far. I have another one in M42 mount too a 75-250 I think it is. That one's huge, even bigger than the other two, but I wouldn't trade it.

02-12-2011, 12:59 AM	#18
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG - but then again, that is the only zoom I really have for the pentax system.

02-12-2011, 01:03 AM	#19
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Zoom that I pretty much can't live without: Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM II

02-12-2011, 01:16 AM	#20
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	Sigma MKI APO EX 70-200mm f2.8 and 100-300mm f4. Actually prefer that combo over my DA* 60-250mm and 300mm.

02-12-2011, 01:20 AM	#21
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	I only have 3 zooms, one of which is broken, which one gets used the most? None im a prime man, but the last one that was used was my sigma 100-300.

02-12-2011, 09:27 AM	#22
ShoSho Inactive Account Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 8 Original Poster	How very interesting. It's almost like checking out someone's book shelf. What do you value and how do you chose to see the world around you? Trade offs are just a fact of life. I've been lost for several hours reading up on some of the lens mentioned. Beyond my peeping tom instincts, I'm trying to develop a road map. A well planned strategy usually saves me money in the long run. Thanks for helping my plot out possible contenders. 'Direction is initially more important than speed"... just trying to make sure I don't rush off down a regrettable road.

02-12-2011, 10:08 AM	#23
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	DSLR Most used zoom: DA 17-70 Most fun zoom: DA12-24 FILM Most used zoom: M75-150 Most fun zoom: Sigma 17-35 DG EX Most used lenses would be primes, though.

02-12-2011, 10:59 AM	#24
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	I've not had the privledge of playing with the nicer zooms, but I'm really impressed with my F 70-210. It's not terribly expensive and I find it very sharp, good contrast. OOF is nothing like the DA* 50-135, but it's still pretty good. Not the best portrait lens, but excellent for most other things.

02-12-2011, 01:06 PM	#25
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	I would say that the zoom lenses I would most NOT want to part with are 3. Widest to longest Pentax DA 12-24 F4.0 Pentax FA 20-35 F4.0 Tamron Di 28-75 F2.8 I would be sad to lose my some of my other zooms, noteably the Tamron 17-50, the Pentax A 70-210 F4.0 and the Pentax A 35-105 F3.5 but I could live w/o them. NaCl(my other zooms not so much)H2O

02-12-2011, 04:08 PM	#26
sambo Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 41	Just got myself a (redundant) 18-135wr and think this will become my favorite zoom (at least until I save enough pennies for the DA* 60-250. It is a great jack of all trades.... compact, well built, WR, useful range, fairly close min. focus distance, decent bokeh and very good image quality for what it is. It does have some drawbacks: slow, some CA/purple fringing, bit of zoom creep when bouncing of your chest on a brisk walk - but overall, a very compelling package. I say redundant since I already have the 18-55 v.1, DA 18-250 and Sigma 17-70. I got it since I didn't have any other WR (or motorized) lenses. Now I need to decide which, if any, to sell.

02-12-2011, 04:52 PM	#27
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	More or less glued to my K10 is a Vivitar Series 1 24-48 f3.8, a superb manual focus lens. If that comes off, and it isn't a prime going on, then the DA* 50-135 goes on, or another cheap and cheerful zoom, my F 35-70, which is small, cheap, and very very good.

02-12-2011, 08:16 PM	#28
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Lloydy ...then the DA* 50-135 goes on, or another cheap and cheerful zoom, my F 35-70, which is small, cheap, and very very good. I'll second the F35-70, which I find extremely agile. My zoom kit is DA18-250, Tamron 10-24, F35-70, and, DA10-17. In that order. My F 35-70 cost me all of TEN BUCKS!! I am not displeased.

02-12-2011, 09:49 PM	#29
GregK8 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 614	DA* 16-50mm for me. I have the DA 55-300mm too but I find it far less useful.

02-12-2011, 10:24 PM	#30
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	DA*16-50 here as well. Surprised more people don't list it as their favorite zoom. IMHO its the best normal zoom available for Pentax