[richard balonglong]

Man! I'm really in the state of dilemma of buying new lens!
I'm having a dilemma between the Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 and the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8.
I really love Pentax lenses, and the 50-135mm is a good one because it's sharp, SDM, and weather sealed. But 135mm isn't enough for me.
The Tamron 70-200mm is a good lens too because it's also sharp and has good color rendition and its AF is fast enough for action (when mounted on K7). Never mind the AF noise, I don't care. But it's not weather sealed.
When I go out to photograph and document, I don't stop photographing even if it's raining hard. That's why I need a weather sealed lens. The 50-135mm would be perfect for my K7, but its focal length isn't enough. Yes, there's a Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8, but I prefer using a zoom lens for convenience. There's the Pentax DA 50-200mm WR or the Pentax DA* 60-250mm but it's not a constant f/2.8lens, and I need a fast lens.
If only the Tamron 70-200mm had a gasket on its mount that would be enough and great, and I'll just get a coat for the lens's body to protect from rain.
Aaarggghhh....***

[mattb123]

Maybe get the Tamron and one of these?

[richard balonglong]

Yeah, I was also thinking about using a camera rain coat. It seems that it would be the last resort. I've been using one of those before, but man it's a hassle for me. Anyway, thank you for the input. And yeah, I'll definitely get the Tamron 70-200mm. =)

[Lowell Goudge]

richard

just a little cautionary note here

WR = Weather Resistant, not water proof.

Although the camera sealing and lens sealing is good, it is not a substitute for protecting your gear from the elements for an infinite time.

I personally consider WR as additional insurance when my primary protection fails.

If you intend to shoot in a driving rainstorm, the camera will ultimately fail!

There has, over time been numerous postings about prolonged exposure and the flip side of this, how to dry out your gear. These range from outright stupidity, where one poster complained that his camera got thoroughly saturated after washing it off under the kitchen tap for the 50th time. (his standard practice apparently every time he came home) to people who went out for 8-10 hours, and found the camera all fogged up the next day.

Before WR camera, people used other means, bags etc, I believe we should still use them.

After all, you dont go out and get soaked , you wear a rain coat and boots, otherwise, even though you are water proof, you usually get sick the next day. Your camera is no different

[RonHendriks1966]

New Sigma 70-200mm/f2.9 EX DG OS HSM is also seald. No idea if it is different then DA*.

[MetaD]

Think of the 50-135mm as a long, journalist zoom lens (75-200mm in 35mm terms). If you really want telephoto, you probably want to jump up to 200mm or 300mm (300 or 450 im 35mm), in which case a prime tele has much better quality than any of the zooms.

Surprisingly, even the FA/FA* 300mm f/4 and f/4.5's are smaller than the 50-135mm. I haven't held the newer, DA version.

In other words, if you need tele, get a tele prime; if you need zoom go for the f/2.8 50-135mm.

But, to tell you the truth, since I got a 77mm limited and an FA 300mm, my 50-135mm mostly stays at home. Only occasionally do I feel I need something between those two. I mostly use 21mm, 31mm, 77mm and 300mm. I rarely miss 50mm or 135mm, but on crop-sensor camera, I do miss having a wide angle like a 15mm, but maybe I'd take a 10-24mm zoom.