What is your worst lens?

RonHendriks1966 · 07-03-2011, 02:08 PM

DA 14mm/f2.8 but it is a great lens, only the competition in my camerabag is very hard. For me to wide, but that doesn't count. Only poorest image quality compared to DA 21mm, DA 40mm, DA*50-135mm, DA*60-250mm, DA*55mm and FA*85mm. Can you blame the little buggar? Tryed to sell it several times, but didn't get a good price. Everytime I put it on marketplace I have it in my hands, make some (sometimes stunning pictures) and put it bag in my trunk.

**rparmar** · 07-03-2011, 02:15 PM

I am not sure why two people have chosen the A 50/1.7. It's just as good as any other Pentax 50mm, whether 1.4 or 1.7 -- which is to say, pretty darned good. Of course there are so many of them around and some have been abused by now, which might account for bad samples. In fact I recommend this lens frequently, as the cheapest and best prime people are likely to find.

I don't own one currently, and my M 50 is full on fungus. So, believe it or not, I have only one usable 50mm lens, plus one 55mm and one 43mm.

**rparmar** · 07-03-2011, 02:17 PM

My worst lens is a screw-on wide angle adapter (so maybe that doesn't count). I got it for funky video effects when I thought I was going to be helping with a youth video project. But that didn't happen. I keep it because I never sell anything. Silly me.

Ikarus · 07-03-2011, 02:31 PM

I'd also have to nominate the DA L 18-55. It's decent in the mid focal range, but way too slow for indoors low-light use. The reason I keep it for now is that selling it would leave a 20-55mm gap in my AF kit.

Nick Siebers · 07-03-2011, 07:00 PM

I've gotten rid of all of my "worst" lenses. At the right price it seems people are happy to have them, even with their flaws well-advertised. In keeping only lenses I use or really like, it is hard to find a candidate for submission. I suppose the DA 18-55 WR isn't all that great... but nice to use in "weather".

pinholecam · 07-03-2011, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by Ikarus

Did you use a hood? I found that the J9 flares like no other wide open, which can be perceived as a lack of sharpness. Also, you didn't say why you still keep it despite not liking it.

Tried a deep hood as well. At least on my copy, f2 is too 'fairy tale' soft to my liking.
I seldom sell lenses and I personally find it wrong to sell it off to a unsuspecting newbie.
Keeping it just for the unique build and for fooling around for results that are not dependable.

**Digitalis** · 07-03-2011, 07:42 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

I'm sure it get confusing when you have 178 50's

There is an Angeneaux 50 that has 22 aperture blades, and I think I have a lens in the collection that has only three aperture blades.

Blue · 07-03-2011, 08:39 PM

Probably the one on the W90 . . .

acrollet · 07-03-2011, 10:27 PM

My worst lens is a Hoya MF 28-80 (or so) zoom lens. Not very sharp, not very fast, nothing to recommend it really. I keep it because it was my Grandad's, came along with the MX that got me interested in photography when I was a teenager...

henryjing · 07-03-2011, 10:33 PM

I love every lens of mine.

Pentaxor · 07-03-2011, 10:56 PM

Da18-55 wr.

**gofour3** · 07-04-2011, 04:57 PM

The K55/2.0

It’s not really a bad lens, just a dumb idea by Pentax. To supposedly save the consumer a few dollars, Pentax reduced the speed of the great K55/1.8 by a 1/3 of a stop and made the resulting K55/2 a kit lens only available on the K1000.

I doubt many folks that were thinking of buying a K1000 in 1976-1977 would have balked at spending a few dollars more if the kit contained the K55/1.8 instead.

Phil.

HGMonaro · 07-04-2011, 07:27 PM

I bought a 18-35mm Sigma to bolt on a K10D for a holiday. After a couple of test pics I had to ditch that ideal and bought a Pentax DA18-55 which was much closer in quality to my 16-45/4 (which I didn't want to risk on the holiday). Ended up selling the K10D to my neice cheap and included the DA18-55 as I couldn't bring myself to inflict the Sigma on her. It still sits in the drawer awaiting a trip across the room to the bin.

ChopperCharles · 07-04-2011, 09:42 PM

My worst is a Sigma 28-105mm f4-5.6 UC-II. It can't produce a sharp photo. Ever. It's super, super soft. I still own it only because it was a gift, and I don't have the heart to sell it.

Second runner up would be my Sears/Ricoh 135mm f2.8. I just can't seem to take good photos with it when walking around. It's too hard to nail the focus, and when in macro mode the split prism screen is completely inaccurate. Plus it's horribly soft in macro mode.

Charles.

opfor · 07-05-2011, 12:13 AM

My worst is a very easy choice...
Hanimex 500mm 1:8 Lens Reviews - Fixed Focal Lengths - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

It makes a nice paper weight, but it just isn't heavy enough for a door stop..:-(

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07-03-2011, 02:08 PM	#46
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	DA 14mm/f2.8 but it is a great lens, only the competition in my camerabag is very hard. For me to wide, but that doesn't count. Only poorest image quality compared to DA 21mm, DA 40mm, DA50-135mm, DA60-250mm, DA55mm and FA85mm. Can you blame the little buggar? Tryed to sell it several times, but didn't get a good price. Everytime I put it on marketplace I have it in my hands, make some (sometimes stunning pictures) and put it bag in my trunk.

07-03-2011, 02:15 PM	#47
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	I am not sure why two people have chosen the A 50/1.7. It's just as good as any other Pentax 50mm, whether 1.4 or 1.7 -- which is to say, pretty darned good. Of course there are so many of them around and some have been abused by now, which might account for bad samples. In fact I recommend this lens frequently, as the cheapest and best prime people are likely to find. I don't own one currently, and my M 50 is full on fungus. So, believe it or not, I have only one usable 50mm lens, plus one 55mm and one 43mm.

07-03-2011, 02:17 PM	#48
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	My worst lens is a screw-on wide angle adapter (so maybe that doesn't count). I got it for funky video effects when I thought I was going to be helping with a youth video project. But that didn't happen. I keep it because I never sell anything. Silly me.

07-03-2011, 02:31 PM	#49
Ikarus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: California Photos: Albums Posts: 484	I'd also have to nominate the DA L 18-55. It's decent in the mid focal range, but way too slow for indoors low-light use. The reason I keep it for now is that selling it would leave a 20-55mm gap in my AF kit.

07-03-2011, 07:00 PM	#50
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	I've gotten rid of all of my "worst" lenses. At the right price it seems people are happy to have them, even with their flaws well-advertised. In keeping only lenses I use or really like, it is hard to find a candidate for submission. I suppose the DA 18-55 WR isn't all that great... but nice to use in "weather".

07-03-2011, 07:14 PM	#51
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Originally posted by Ikarus Did you use a hood? I found that the J9 flares like no other wide open, which can be perceived as a lack of sharpness. Also, you didn't say why you still keep it despite not liking it. Tried a deep hood as well. At least on my copy, f2 is too 'fairy tale' soft to my liking. I seldom sell lenses and I personally find it wrong to sell it off to a unsuspecting newbie. Keeping it just for the unique build and for fooling around for results that are not dependable.

07-03-2011, 07:42 PM	#52
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by boriscleto I'm sure it get confusing when you have 178 50's There is an Angeneaux 50 that has 22 aperture blades, and I think I have a lens in the collection that has only three aperture blades.

07-03-2011, 08:39 PM	#53
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Probably the one on the W90 . . .

07-03-2011, 10:27 PM	#54
acrollet Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 351	My worst lens is a Hoya MF 28-80 (or so) zoom lens. Not very sharp, not very fast, nothing to recommend it really. I keep it because it was my Grandad's, came along with the MX that got me interested in photography when I was a teenager...

07-03-2011, 10:33 PM	#55
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	I love every lens of mine.

07-03-2011, 10:56 PM	#56
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Da18-55 wr.

07-04-2011, 04:57 PM	#57
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091	The K55/2.0 It’s not really a bad lens, just a dumb idea by Pentax. To supposedly save the consumer a few dollars, Pentax reduced the speed of the great K55/1.8 by a 1/3 of a stop and made the resulting K55/2 a kit lens only available on the K1000. I doubt many folks that were thinking of buying a K1000 in 1976-1977 would have balked at spending a few dollars more if the kit contained the K55/1.8 instead. Phil.

07-04-2011, 07:27 PM	#58
HGMonaro Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Melb. Aust Posts: 840	I bought a 18-35mm Sigma to bolt on a K10D for a holiday. After a couple of test pics I had to ditch that ideal and bought a Pentax DA18-55 which was much closer in quality to my 16-45/4 (which I didn't want to risk on the holiday). Ended up selling the K10D to my neice cheap and included the DA18-55 as I couldn't bring myself to inflict the Sigma on her. It still sits in the drawer awaiting a trip across the room to the bin.

07-04-2011, 09:42 PM	#59
ChopperCharles Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Durham, nc Photos: Albums Posts: 954	My worst is a Sigma 28-105mm f4-5.6 UC-II. It can't produce a sharp photo. Ever. It's super, super soft. I still own it only because it was a gift, and I don't have the heart to sell it. Second runner up would be my Sears/Ricoh 135mm f2.8. I just can't seem to take good photos with it when walking around. It's too hard to nail the focus, and when in macro mode the split prism screen is completely inaccurate. Plus it's horribly soft in macro mode. Charles.

07-05-2011, 12:13 AM	#60
opfor Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 276	My worst is a very easy choice... Hanimex 500mm 1:8 Lens Reviews - Fixed Focal Lengths - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database It makes a nice paper weight, but it just isn't heavy enough for a door stop..:-(