Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-04-2008, 05:33 AM   #1
Veteran Member
Jasvox's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 3,107
Pentax 18-250, who has one?

Hi, hopefully this is not a repeat thread or a burned out subject topic...

I am thinking of getting an 18-250 lens for my "everyday" travel lens on my K10D. I don't have a preference between the new Pentax 18-250 over the Tamron or the Sigma. I was wondering if anyone here has experience (ownership maybe) with the Pentax lens and how it compares to the other two options. (Quality foremost, not price).

Thank you for your insight.

jason

01-04-2008, 05:42 AM   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: North Wales, UK
Posts: 645
It is maybe getting a bit too frequent a question - I'm guilty of posting a couple of similar questions recently myself

Quality/build etc is almost identical between the versions - go with the one you prefer, either for brand name or price

Personally I'll be soon be buying the Tamron which is much cheaper than the Pentax here in the UK

Simon
01-04-2008, 02:30 PM   #3
Veteran Member
krypticide's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2007
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,079
Does the smc coating not matter?
01-04-2008, 02:40 PM   #4
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Canada_Rockies's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,385
QuoteOriginally posted by krypticide Quote
Does the smc coating not matter?
It matters if you are trying to match colour between lenses. I use only SMC glass (see my sig) for that reason, and switched because slide film showed me the differences.

01-04-2008, 04:23 PM   #5
Veteran Member




Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: North Wales, UK
Posts: 645
QuoteOriginally posted by krypticide Quote
Does the smc coating not matter?
I don't think it makes a significant difference - read the reviews of the Tamron & you'll see it's highly respected, obviously so as Pentax wanted to copy it !! .
Certainly wouldn't make a buy decision based solely on this

simon
01-04-2008, 10:12 PM   #6
Veteran Member
stewart_photo's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 1,864
QuoteOriginally posted by krypticide Quote
Does the smc coating not matter?

According to the specs, the Tamron AF18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro lens is multi-coated as well. In fact, most lenses made today are. Just how similar or different that is from Pentax's SMC (Super Multi-Coating) is anyone's guess.

stewart
01-04-2008, 10:52 PM   #7
Veteran Member
jgredline's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LosAngeles, Ca.
Photos: Albums
Posts: 10,628
I am convinced they are the exact same lens. I have the tammy version and if I actually considered buying the pentax one as well, but after looking at it very close and my sales guy talking me out of it for the same reason that it is the same lens...I know the die hard pentaxians will say they are not the same and thats fine we can agree to disagree.

01-04-2008, 11:34 PM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Portland, Oregon
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 475
I have the Tamron 18-250 and am generally happy with it, though I tend to prefer primes for "everyday" shooting, though I did just get the 16-50. The 18-250 was great for travel, and great when a friend took me up in his airplane - very convenient to have the range (and decent quality) without having to swap out lenses. I keep thinking I should sell the Tamron, cause I have too many lenses, but then think, "but it's useful when I need it".
01-05-2008, 06:41 AM   #9
Inactive Account




Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ont, Canada.
Posts: 563
I have the Pentax version. I must say, when I bought it, it was the same price as the Tamron version. I had the chance to examine both together and this is what I observed.

1. They both are the same length, feel, and weight.
2. They both have the same barrel lock right down to location and shape.
3. Both have the same colouring to their glass. I could not tell the difference looking at each side by side.
4. The only difference is the exterior design.

Ergo, I strongly feel these are both the same lenses. They feel, look, and behave exactly like each other.
01-05-2008, 08:11 AM   #10
Veteran Member
Jodokast96's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Erial, NJ USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,134
QuoteOriginally posted by Chako Quote
4. The only difference is the exterior design.

Ergo, I strongly feel these are both the same lenses. They feel, look, and behave exactly like each other.
Doesn't the Tamron have a rotating front element where the Pentax does not?
01-05-2008, 08:38 AM   #11
Veteran Member
stewart_photo's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Posts: 1,864
No, the front of the Tamron does not rotate either during focusing or zooming. Same with the Pentax version. Ultimately, the only differences between the two lenses (Tamron & Pentax) are the cosmetics and perhaps the multi-coating. And, as stated earlier, I'm not really all that certain about the multi-coating as a difference since the Tamron has at least some form of that as well.

stewart
01-05-2008, 08:54 AM   #12
Veteran Member
Jodokast96's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Erial, NJ USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,134
Thanks for clearing that up.
01-05-2008, 09:39 AM   #13
Veteran Member
Jasvox's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 3,107
Original Poster
Based on consensus here, I am thinking that I should just get whichever one is more affordable at the time I plan to purchase. I don't think I could go wrong with either one.

Thank you for the discussion.
01-05-2008, 10:18 AM   #14
krs
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: St. Louis, MO
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 395
An interesting discussion for me. Just looked on one particular site, and the cost is within 95 cents....
01-05-2008, 11:19 AM   #15
Veteran Member
jgredline's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: LosAngeles, Ca.
Photos: Albums
Posts: 10,628
QuoteOriginally posted by Chako Quote
I have the Pentax version. I must say, when I bought it, it was the same price as the Tamron version. I had the chance to examine both together and this is what I observed.

1. They both are the same length, feel, and weight.
2. They both have the same barrel lock right down to location and shape.
3. Both have the same colouring to their glass. I could not tell the difference looking at each side by side.
4. The only difference is the exterior design.

Ergo, I strongly feel these are both the same lenses. They feel, look, and behave exactly like each other.
Exactly.
Had Samys camera had both lenses in stock at the same time, I would have likely choses the pentax ONLY because of the ''pentax'' logo..Thats it.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
k-mount, lens, pentax, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sigma 18-250 or Pentax/Tamron 18-250? mjbens01 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 07-08-2010 09:10 PM
Pentax 18-250 always same as Tamron 18-250? kitkat Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12 07-08-2010 08:30 AM
Why DA18-250 is double the price of Tamron 18-250? raider Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 12-13-2008 05:40 AM
Pentax 18-250 is here thibs Pentax News and Rumors 120 01-03-2008 04:00 PM
New Pentax 18-250 Or 18-55? Captain Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 11-21-2007 06:30 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:52 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top