18-55wr?

sebberry · 11-26-2011, 12:57 PM

Is it worth picking up an 18-55 WR lens for a wide zoom primarily for the weather sealing?

they're about $230 CAD here.

ZizZ^ · 11-26-2011, 01:24 PM

I'm not an expert yet since the K5 is only my second DSRL and actually the first one i bought by myself. If money is a concern aka low budget i think the 18-55 wr is a great lens to get started.
If you are able to spend more coin i believe the 16-50 is a better option because its more wide and also has weather sealing.

Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Correct me if i'm wrong though!

Adam · 11-26-2011, 01:28 PM

The 16-50mm is on a $100 special rebate at BH till tomorrow if you want to go down that route, but if you want a cheap wr solution, the 18-55 (or 18-135) wouldn't be a bad idea. The kit lens is $149 as far as I recall.

**Just1MoreDave** · 11-26-2011, 01:36 PM

It should be cheaper than $230. It's a good lens to pick up used, because people might upgrade to an 18-135 or 16-50, or get a second body with another copy, and have no use for it.

sebberry · 11-26-2011, 01:39 PM

BH wants $1400 for it. I can get it locally for $1099. I'm not spending $1099 on a lens with the failure rate that the 16-50 has.

I have a 12-24 and a 50-135. I agree that the 16-50 would be perfect for my collection but not at that price. 18-55WR would work OK for me I think.

**RKKS08** · 11-26-2011, 01:45 PM

I won the 18-55 WR (used in excellent condition) in an eBay auction from a spanish seller for €59 (about CAD 82.-) + postage. Presently, it sells on german eBay between €60 and €80 (about CAD100) + postage, many of them new or less than 2 months old delivered as a kit with the K5. Of course sending it insured to CA could be expensive, and I don't know about import taxes in your country. But it could be worth to have a look.

EDIT: I monitored the eBay results for the last 4 months, just to ensure I made a good bargain, and it is offered on german eBay about 6-8 times a month.

legacyb4 · 11-26-2011, 01:48 PM

Unfortunately, the lens IS in the C$200-220 range if you buy locally whereas you can get it through Adorama and other online shops in the U.S. closer to US$150...

drougge · 11-26-2011, 02:44 PM

Other than being slow my only complaint about the 18-55WR is a certain sadness felt whenever I handle it. (Note how IQ is not in that list of complaints.)

sebberry · 11-27-2011, 12:58 PM

I picked one up yesterday to shoot the Christmas parade with. I'll keep it but it will likely be my "aw crap, it's raining" lens.

I would have liked the 16-50 but the amount of detail one can get from the K-5 at ISO3200 is amazing.

I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens?

RioRico · 11-27-2011, 01:16 PM

Originally posted by sebberry

I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens?

I've an older, supposedly inferior version (very cheap on eBay) and I have no issue with wide-open center sharpness @18mm, nor with edge sharpness @24-50mm. So maybe you *do* have a QC loser. Can you exchange it?

civiletti · 11-27-2011, 01:48 PM

I was able to buy a new 18-55 WR for under $100. Look around. It's not a bad lens if stopped down a bit.

sebberry · 11-27-2011, 02:48 PM

First 5 shots at 55mm f/5.6

AF fine tune at -10, -5, 0, +5 and
+10

This shot at 55mm f/9, AF fine tune at -10

sebberry · 11-27-2011, 03:21 PM

18mm f3.5 AF @-10

AF @ -5

AF@0

AF@+5

All focused just to the left of the snowman's nose.

Jimfear · 11-27-2011, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by sebberry

I picked one up yesterday to shoot the Christmas parade with. I'll keep it but it will likely be my "aw crap, it's raining" lens.

I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens?

Mine is also in the rainy day category. It's not very sharp on any aperture in my opinion, however there are far worse lenses out there. I think it depends on what you compare it to.

The best thing about it is that you don't have to worry about heavy rain when using it.

sebberry · 11-27-2011, 03:35 PM

Ok, one more:

18mm F/8 at AF Fine tune of -8:

11-26-2011, 12:57 PM	#1
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	18-55wr? Is it worth picking up an 18-55 WR lens for a wide zoom primarily for the weather sealing? they're about $230 CAD here.

11-26-2011, 01:45 PM	#6
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	I won the 18-55 WR (used in excellent condition) in an eBay auction from a spanish seller for €59 (about CAD 82.-) + postage. Presently, it sells on german eBay between €60 and €80 (about CAD100) + postage, many of them new or less than 2 months old delivered as a kit with the K5. Of course sending it insured to CA could be expensive, and I don't know about import taxes in your country. But it could be worth to have a look. EDIT: I monitored the eBay results for the last 4 months, just to ensure I made a good bargain, and it is offered on german eBay about 6-8 times a month. Last edited by RKKS08; 11-26-2011 at 01:51 PM.

11-27-2011, 03:21 PM	#13
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	18mm f3.5 AF @-10 AF @ -5 AF@0 AF@+5 All focused just to the left of the snowman's nose. Last edited by sebberry; 11-27-2011 at 03:29 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: DA 18-55WR lens (Worldwide)	jimr-pdx	Sold Items	2	06-09-2011 05:38 PM
Wanted - Acquired: 18-55WR and 55-200WR	jgbryan021900	Sold Items	3	05-07-2011 06:44 AM
18-55WR vs 18-135WR ?	hoanpham	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	02-14-2011 05:48 AM
For Sale - Sold: Trade my 16-45, 55-300, 18-55wr for 18-135 (US/CAN)	jimr-pdx	Sold Items	6	02-05-2011 06:13 PM
For Sale - Sold: Like New Pentax K-7, DA 18-55WR kit (CONUS)	porterHause	Sold Items	3	12-07-2010 03:10 PM

11-26-2011, 01:24 PM	#2
ZizZ^ Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 152	I'm not an expert yet since the K5 is only my second DSRL and actually the first one i bought by myself. If money is a concern aka low budget i think the 18-55 wr is a great lens to get started. If you are able to spend more coin i believe the 16-50 is a better option because its more wide and also has weather sealing. Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL [IF] SDM Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Correct me if i'm wrong though!

11-26-2011, 01:28 PM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	The 16-50mm is on a $100 special rebate at BH till tomorrow if you want to go down that route, but if you want a cheap wr solution, the 18-55 (or 18-135) wouldn't be a bad idea. The kit lens is $149 as far as I recall.

11-26-2011, 01:36 PM	#4
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	It should be cheaper than $230. It's a good lens to pick up used, because people might upgrade to an 18-135 or 16-50, or get a second body with another copy, and have no use for it.

11-26-2011, 01:39 PM	#5
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	BH wants $1400 for it. I can get it locally for $1099. I'm not spending $1099 on a lens with the failure rate that the 16-50 has. I have a 12-24 and a 50-135. I agree that the 16-50 would be perfect for my collection but not at that price. 18-55WR would work OK for me I think.

11-26-2011, 01:48 PM	#7
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Unfortunately, the lens IS in the C$200-220 range if you buy locally whereas you can get it through Adorama and other online shops in the U.S. closer to US$150...

11-26-2011, 02:44 PM	#8
drougge Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Malmö Photos: Gallery Posts: 787	Other than being slow my only complaint about the 18-55WR is a certain sadness felt whenever I handle it. (Note how IQ is not in that list of complaints.)

11-27-2011, 12:58 PM	#9
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	I picked one up yesterday to shoot the Christmas parade with. I'll keep it but it will likely be my "aw crap, it's raining" lens. I would have liked the 16-50 but the amount of detail one can get from the K-5 at ISO3200 is amazing. I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens?

11-27-2011, 01:16 PM	#10
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by sebberry I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens? I've an older, supposedly inferior version (very cheap on eBay) and I have no issue with wide-open center sharpness @18mm, nor with edge sharpness @24-50mm. So maybe you do have a QC loser. Can you exchange it?

11-27-2011, 01:48 PM	#11
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	I was able to buy a new 18-55 WR for under $100. Look around. It's not a bad lens if stopped down a bit.

11-27-2011, 02:48 PM	#12
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	First 5 shots at 55mm f/5.6 AF fine tune at -10, -5, 0, +5 and +10 This shot at 55mm f/9, AF fine tune at -10

11-27-2011, 03:28 PM	#14
Jimfear Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 576	Originally posted by sebberry I picked one up yesterday to shoot the Christmas parade with. I'll keep it but it will likely be my "aw crap, it's raining" lens. I find the 18-55 not very sharp wide open, unless I got a bit of a wonky lens? Mine is also in the rainy day category. It's not very sharp on any aperture in my opinion, however there are far worse lenses out there. I think it depends on what you compare it to. The best thing about it is that you don't have to worry about heavy rain when using it.

11-27-2011, 03:35 PM	#15
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135 Original Poster	Ok, one more: 18mm F/8 at AF Fine tune of -8: