[Noggin]

(Oops my bad, updated title... blaming lack of sleep!)

I am looking at these 2 lenses at the moment and wondered what your favorite is, I am also open to suggestions of similar lenses up to $600-700 price range.

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Last edited by Noggin; 10-27-2011 at 11:19 AM.

[Pepe Guitarra]

I do not own any of it, but looks to me like they are the same lens. Don't you think?

[imtheguy]

One is wide and one is long as well as sharper and faster at 200mm+. Different uses I expect based on your requirements.

[Pepe Guitarra]

(Oops my bad, updated title... blaming lack of sleep!)

I am looking at these 2 lenses at the moment and wondered what your favorite is, I am also open to suggestions of similar lenses up to $600-700 price range.

I have the Pentax DA 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 and love it. It is fantastic from 18 through 200, towards the end, it could be fine with enought bright light outdoors and or tripod. I carry it everywhere. In fact, at 250mm I have taken wonderful shots to hummingbirds. You do not have this one in the list, but it can go for about $480 to $520

[RioRico]

I have the Pentax DA 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 and love it. It is fantastic from 18 through 200, towards the end, it could be fine with enought bright light outdoors and or tripod. I carry it everywhere. In fact, at 250mm I have taken wonderful shots to hummingbirds. You do not have this one in the list, but it can go for about $480 to $520

I just checked eBay's COMPLETED LISTINGS and found DA18-250's selling for US$360-$390-$450 and the Tamron version selling BIN for $350 (multiple copies). KEH or the marketplace here might feel a little safer; I haven't checked those prices. And as I've mentioned before, the DA18-250 is my most-used lens, especially while traveling. My absolute most minimal kit contains Tamron 10-24, DA18-250, FA50/1.4, Raynox DCR-250, and maybe the DA10-17. The DA18-250 is my basic lens; all 225 others are specialty tools.

[Bramela]

I have the DA18-250 as well and bought as a "leave on the camera" lens.
I have found it great for its price. I am very pleasantly surprised by its versatility (macro to tele).
See this album of shots taken with this lens on a K5
Only neg is it suffers a bit with lens creep-, but no big deal to me.

Bramela's Album: Single on October 2011 - PentaxForums.com

[Noggin]

Thanks guys I will look into the DA18-250. Cant find it for sale on B&H or Amazon.

Anyone know how it compares to the Sigma?

[hcc]

The DA18-250mm/Tamron 18-250mm can be purchased second-hand only. The best place to look fot it at PF Marketplace, KEH, and Adorama (Used equipment). I have seen about a dozen on the market over the last 3 months. Manufactured by Tamron the lens was sold by both Tamron (PK Pentax bayonet Mount) and Pentax.

You may be interested to read:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/pages/favorite-lens-pentax-18-250mm.html

The 18-250mm is cheaper than the newer Sigma 18-250mm OS HSM, and there is no indication that the Sigma is any better.

Hope that the comment may help.

[Noggin]

That does help

I dont mind spending the extra $ on a new lens if the performance is comparable, it seems the DA 18-250mm is a great choice.

[jaytee]

The 18-250mm being able to cover most anything that comes up not only allows you to travel light, but also depending on the photoshoot to bring along a small specialty lens of some sort and still be light, Just depends on what you're up too, you might want that 15mm that controls your mind, maybe a lensbaby, I often bring the Pentax "A" 50mm 1.4 because it fits in a pocket and it's so wonderful. Nice to have choices.

[hcc]

The 18-250mm being able to cover most anything that comes up not only allows you to travel light, but also depending on the photoshoot to bring along a small specialty lens of some sort and still be light, Just depends on what you're up too, you might want that 15mm that controls your mind, maybe a lensbaby, I often bring the Pentax "A" 50mm 1.4 because it fits in a pocket and it's so wonderful. Nice to have choices.

+1 with jaytee.

The two weaknesses of the DA18-250mm/Tamron 18-250mm are zoom creep and low-light conditions. Zoom creep is very easy to solve: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/161684-da18-250mm-...ion-works.html. For the low light conditions, a fast prime lens is the best and simplest solution. I use myself the Voigtlander Notkon 58mm f1.4. Like the 50mm f1.4, the VL 58mm is a small lens which fits nicely in the jacket pocket.

[jaytee]

@hcc...I finally got a wrist ban for the zoom creep....it's perfect!!!

[Pepe Guitarra]

Are those the LIVE STRONG wrist bands?

[hcc]

Are those the LIVE STRONG wrist bands?

Any wrist band will work as long as it isn ot too thick/wide. I tried 3 different kinds obtained from different charities and they all work well. New (unused) ones aretighter and better IMO.