Advice on my next lens

sany · 08-10-2011, 09:14 AM

Please advice me and help me decide between these two. I don't want to buy many more lenses. I currently have DA35 mm and M85 f2 prime lenses. What I want is a little bit on the wider end for some landscape and architectural shots (although this is not my favorite - but just to make sure I am covered here) and mainly a longer reach 200-300.
Although these two FLs are not too critical as this range will only be used by me when I travel. Given my limited budget for lenses, I decided I will just go for one more lens (and put a check on my LBA). So I have now shortlisted 2 lenses as my next favorite but I got to choose only one from the below:

DA 55-300 and DA 18-250 based after some discussions from my other threads. Please advice. My preference in order would be sharpness, bokeh and pro quality. Please dont refer me to read the review section as I have done - this posting is to get the last vote between those as I can't make up my mind.

My personal preference for having what I have now was to have tiny lenses (I know the wannabe ones listed above or not that) both of what I have is 49mm filter size and one reason is that they both snuggly fit my small Tamroc camera bag.

Last edited by sany; 08-10-2011 at 09:19 AM.

RioRico · 08-10-2011, 09:22 AM

The DA55-300 is an excellent tele lens. The DA18-250 is an excellent general-purpose lens. The 55-300 has a little more reach; the 18-250 has a LOT more grab at the wide end. My minimal basic kit is: Tamron 10-24 for tight spaces; the FA50/1.4 for dim light or fast action; the DA18-250 for everything else. And a Raynox DCR-250 for getting very close. The 18-250 is what I use in the most diverse situations.

sany · 08-10-2011, 09:37 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

The DA55-300 is an excellent tele lens. The DA18-250 is an excellent general-purpose lens. The 55-300 has a little more reach; the 18-250 has a LOT more grab at the wide end. My minimal basic kit is: Tamron 10-24 for tight spaces; the FA50/1.4 for dim light or fast action; the DA18-250 for everything else. And a Raynox DCR-250 for getting very close. The 18-250 is what I use in the most diverse situations.

Thanks RioRico, the 18-250 is included here resulting out of your various other posts and comments you had made before.

kenafein · 08-10-2011, 09:44 AM

If you only want one more lens, +1 to the 18-250. It will handle the wide and the tele. I've seen some great shots from it as well.

**i_trax** · 08-10-2011, 09:51 AM

I will be going to Europe within next few months to take care of some Family matters and I have the very similar dilemma.
should I take my Canon SX20 IS ( no problem with possible dust but I do not really like it) or my beloved Pentax KX or K7 and with what lenses?
DA 55-300 ( I have ) light, great but problems with AF in low light
DA 18-250 ( I do not have ) should I get one, big&bulky , only old/second-hand available,
with Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5??
or just take one slow Sigma 18-125 ??
I will definitely need camera indoors and want to carry as less as possible , so what should be my choice?

K57XR · 08-10-2011, 12:16 PM

I have both the 55-300 and 18-250. For sharpness and bokeh I find the former produces better results than the latter.

For landscape and architectural shots, however, you can pretty much eliminate the 55-300 as this may be too narrow. For general walk around all-in-one travel lens with quite decent IQ; IMO nothing beats the versatility of the 18-250. The only thing that will take some getting used to is its zoom-creep.

@i-trax - If you only want to take one lens then the 18-125 would be my suggestion. For two lens option I'd take the 17-70 and 55-300.

Eagle_Friends · 08-10-2011, 01:03 PM

DA 55-300mm

hcc · 08-10-2011, 05:21 PM

+1 with Da18-250mm

The lens is not bulky. It fits well in any toploader bag.

There are a number of second hand Tamron 18-250mm/DA18-250mm around (check PF marketplace, Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras ? Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com, adorama.com (Used equipment)). I saw over 6 in the last 3 weeks. The Tamron 18-2500/DA18-250mm are sibbling: both are manufactured by Tamron.

sany · 08-11-2011, 08:28 AM

Originally posted by hcc

+1 with Da18-250mm

The lens is not bulky. It fits well in any toploader bag.

There are a number of second hand Tamron 18-250mm/DA18-250mm around (check PF marketplace, Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras ? Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com, adorama.com (Used equipment)). I saw over 6 in the last 3 weeks. The Tamron 18-2500/DA18-250mm are sibbling: both are manufactured by Tamron.

Really? DA 18-250 is manuafactured by Tamron?

kenafein · 08-11-2011, 08:36 AM

Yeah it's a Tamron lens with Pentax coatings. Re-branding happens a lot.

sany · 08-11-2011, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by kenafein

Yeah it's a Tamron lens with Pentax coatings. Re-branding happens a lot.

So, can i just buy a tamron then? I am just worried given the fact that i already had 28-200 (older lens with 72mm thread size) and was not happy.

kenafein · 08-11-2011, 08:57 AM

Yeah the 28-200 is not great. All the manufacturers have their lemons though. Tamron makes some very excellent lenses as well. I would buy whichever one you can get a good deal on. I might pay a little more for the Pentax for their coatings.

**luftfluss** · 08-11-2011, 09:00 AM

Sany, as much as we all obsess over the optical characteristics of lenses, the paramount consideration must be, "does the lens have a sufficient focal length to accomplish what I need it to do?" Based on your statement that you need a lens to cover both landscape and architecture, your only logical choice between the 2 lenses you mention is the 18-250. Anyone who says otherwise is simply not paying attention.

As far as "sharpness, bokeh and pro quality", neither the 18-250 nor 55-300 fall into those categories. That said, there are very few lenses that are incapable of taking excellent photographs.

08-10-2011, 09:14 AM	#1
sany Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dubai, UAE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 448	Advice on my next lens Please advice me and help me decide between these two. I don't want to buy many more lenses. I currently have DA35 mm and M85 f2 prime lenses. What I want is a little bit on the wider end for some landscape and architectural shots (although this is not my favorite - but just to make sure I am covered here) and mainly a longer reach 200-300. Although these two FLs are not too critical as this range will only be used by me when I travel. Given my limited budget for lenses, I decided I will just go for one more lens (and put a check on my LBA). So I have now shortlisted 2 lenses as my next favorite but I got to choose only one from the below: DA 55-300 and DA 18-250 based after some discussions from my other threads. Please advice. My preference in order would be sharpness, bokeh and pro quality. Please dont refer me to read the review section as I have done - this posting is to get the last vote between those as I can't make up my mind. My personal preference for having what I have now was to have tiny lenses (I know the wannabe ones listed above or not that) both of what I have is 49mm filter size and one reason is that they both snuggly fit my small Tamroc camera bag. Last edited by sany; 08-10-2011 at 09:19 AM.

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08-10-2011, 09:22 AM	#2
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	The DA55-300 is an excellent tele lens. The DA18-250 is an excellent general-purpose lens. The 55-300 has a little more reach; the 18-250 has a LOT more grab at the wide end. My minimal basic kit is: Tamron 10-24 for tight spaces; the FA50/1.4 for dim light or fast action; the DA18-250 for everything else. And a Raynox DCR-250 for getting very close. The 18-250 is what I use in the most diverse situations.

08-10-2011, 09:37 AM	#3
sany Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dubai, UAE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 448 Original Poster	Originally posted by RioRico The DA55-300 is an excellent tele lens. The DA18-250 is an excellent general-purpose lens. The 55-300 has a little more reach; the 18-250 has a LOT more grab at the wide end. My minimal basic kit is: Tamron 10-24 for tight spaces; the FA50/1.4 for dim light or fast action; the DA18-250 for everything else. And a Raynox DCR-250 for getting very close. The 18-250 is what I use in the most diverse situations. Thanks RioRico, the 18-250 is included here resulting out of your various other posts and comments you had made before.

08-10-2011, 09:44 AM	#4
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	If you only want one more lens, +1 to the 18-250. It will handle the wide and the tele. I've seen some great shots from it as well.

08-10-2011, 09:51 AM	#5
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	I will be going to Europe within next few months to take care of some Family matters and I have the very similar dilemma. should I take my Canon SX20 IS ( no problem with possible dust but I do not really like it) or my beloved Pentax KX or K7 and with what lenses? DA 55-300 ( I have ) light, great but problems with AF in low light DA 18-250 ( I do not have ) should I get one, big&bulky , only old/second-hand available, with Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5?? or just take one slow Sigma 18-125 ?? I will definitely need camera indoors and want to carry as less as possible , so what should be my choice?

08-10-2011, 12:16 PM	#6
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	I have both the 55-300 and 18-250. For sharpness and bokeh I find the former produces better results than the latter. For landscape and architectural shots, however, you can pretty much eliminate the 55-300 as this may be too narrow. For general walk around all-in-one travel lens with quite decent IQ; IMO nothing beats the versatility of the 18-250. The only thing that will take some getting used to is its zoom-creep. @i-trax - If you only want to take one lens then the 18-125 would be my suggestion. For two lens option I'd take the 17-70 and 55-300.

08-10-2011, 01:03 PM	#7
Eagle_Friends Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 971	DA 55-300mm

08-10-2011, 05:21 PM	#8
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	+1 with Da18-250mm The lens is not bulky. It fits well in any toploader bag. There are a number of second hand Tamron 18-250mm/DA18-250mm around (check PF marketplace, Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras ? Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com, adorama.com (Used equipment)). I saw over 6 in the last 3 weeks. The Tamron 18-2500/DA18-250mm are sibbling: both are manufactured by Tamron.

08-11-2011, 08:28 AM	#9
sany Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dubai, UAE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 448 Original Poster	Originally posted by hcc +1 with Da18-250mm The lens is not bulky. It fits well in any toploader bag. There are a number of second hand Tamron 18-250mm/DA18-250mm around (check PF marketplace, Buy & Sell New & Used Cameras ? Canon, Nikon, Hasselblad, Leica & More - KEH.com, adorama.com (Used equipment)). I saw over 6 in the last 3 weeks. The Tamron 18-2500/DA18-250mm are sibbling: both are manufactured by Tamron. Really? DA 18-250 is manuafactured by Tamron?

08-11-2011, 08:36 AM	#10
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Yeah it's a Tamron lens with Pentax coatings. Re-branding happens a lot.

08-11-2011, 08:49 AM	#11
sany Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Dubai, UAE Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 448 Original Poster	Originally posted by kenafein Yeah it's a Tamron lens with Pentax coatings. Re-branding happens a lot. So, can i just buy a tamron then? I am just worried given the fact that i already had 28-200 (older lens with 72mm thread size) and was not happy.

08-11-2011, 08:57 AM	#12
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	Yeah the 28-200 is not great. All the manufacturers have their lemons though. Tamron makes some very excellent lenses as well. I would buy whichever one you can get a good deal on. I might pay a little more for the Pentax for their coatings.

08-11-2011, 09:00 AM	#13
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Sany, as much as we all obsess over the optical characteristics of lenses, the paramount consideration must be, "does the lens have a sufficient focal length to accomplish what I need it to do?" Based on your statement that you need a lens to cover both landscape and architecture, your only logical choice between the 2 lenses you mention is the 18-250. Anyone who says otherwise is simply not paying attention. As far as "sharpness, bokeh and pro quality", neither the 18-250 nor 55-300 fall into those categories. That said, there are very few lenses that are incapable of taking excellent photographs.