[Docrwm]

Given your latest post, the 55 + 60-250 makes perfect sense to me now. If WR is that important than those are going to be the ones in the current lineup that will fit your needs.

[LFLee]

50-135 is large already.
60-250 is huge (and it extend).

and 60-250 + 55 cost more than 50-135.
I would say your current set up is sufficient, if you have the cash, maybe just add the 55.

I have all those lenses, but like you, I use my 16-50 most (I wish the new DA* lens on the map is 16-85.....). But I find my 16-50 at 50 is not as good as 50-135 at 50.
Best of luck!

Lee

[DSims]

I've the same problem [Bokeh] with the DA*55 that i also tested all day.

I agree, with some backgrounds the DA*55 has noticeably (perhaps disturbingly) harsh Bokeh. But with other backgrounds it's quite beautiful.

The fact is, however, that it's the only ~50mm K-mount AF lens I know of that has nice IQ at f/1.6. The FA50/1.4 and its cousins don't even come close - I've owned most of them. Neither does the otherwise excellent FA43. As a bonus it's also WR.


Owning the K50/1.2 is the only thing that's prevented me from getting one. It seems hard to justify getting the DA*55 when I already have it and the FA43 (which gives me AF). Quite frankly, I'm afraid if I get one I might begin to neglect those other two excellent lenses (which would be a shame), because it would be more convenient overall.


Going from the DA*50-135 to the 60-250, you'll sacrifice IQ and speed. Going from the 60-250 to the 55-300 you'll sacrifice more IQ and speed again. This sounds obvious, but it's noticeable in practice.

[Anvh]

@DSims i'm now actually thinking of getting the Sigma 50mm, it's a big lens compared to the DA*55 but the bokeh is more pleasant overall...
Like you say the DA*55 can give you sometimes very nice Bokeh but with portraits where the lens will be mostly used for i just want soft non distracting background so all the focus will be on the person. I really don't understand why Pentax made this bokeh with the DA*55...

[Rocksy]

can i ask what kind of bag you use on deployment?

I'm after a camera go bag for fishing and hunting, i have some pals pouches i use on my current bag but its crap for the camera.

[zapp]

Get rid of the 55-300 and get a 2.8/200 (or 4/300). The longer it gets, the more likely it is that a fixed focal length will do. In addition get the 55.
Did you notice the 1.4 TC that was announced along with the 560 mm lens. Hopefully it will work fine with a 50-135 (covers up to 200 mm then) as well as with the 2.8/200 making a 4/280. Practice with your long lenses if you consider the 560 - this is a different league.

[Cannikin]

Going from the DA*50-135 to the 60-250, you'll sacrifice IQ and speed.

Photozone's tests of the two lenses show that the 60-250 is very much a match for the 50-135 in terms of resolution at common focal lengths and apertures, while at the same time being superior in terms of CA, distortion and vignetting. As a bonus, the 60-250's SDM is much less prone to failure (and has greater focal range obviously).

There is no objective IQ advantage to the 50-135 over the 60-250, only speed and weight/size (and cost of course). Subjective preferences, such as "rendering" and bokeh, are a separate matter.

I don't have experience with the 50-135, but I am very happy with my 60-250 and find the IQ impeccable, while being very versatile with the focal range too. I don't find the size/weight to be a problem, and I'm a pretty small guy who's not particularly strong.

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Last edited by Cannikin; 03-16-2012 at 08:38 AM.

[Lowell Goudge]

Given your response at the bottom of page 1 I would stand pat. Use what you have. I am sure that there is some great weather protection gear available to you so use it with the 55-300. In fact I consider WR as insurance if the primary protection fails so even with your other lenses use protective gear such as a bag or cover. if that fails the WR just gives added protection. Also what would require 300mm focal length in weather that made the need for a WR lens an absolute necessity. Given what visibility would be reduced to, is a long WR lens a necessity?

[Impartial]

I'm a prime guy and therefore perhaps not qualified to judge, but 60-250 + 55 makes much more sense than 50-135 + 55-300. It gives you f1.4 (vs. f2.8) at 50-55, and f4 (vs. f5-5.5 or so) from 135-250, along with the all-important WR from 135-250 -- and only costs you zoom between 50 and 60, f2.8 (vs. f4) in the 50-135 range, and the 250-300 range altogether. Of the things you are giving up, the f2.8 in the 50-135 range seems the most significant, but I know I would go in a heartbeat for f1.4 at 55 and f4 for 60 and up rather than f2.8 for 50-135. Of course YMMV.

I will also point out that, in circumsances where you want precautionary WR all the time, you probably don't want to change lenses either, so a 4x zoom makes a whole lot of sense in my books . . .

[bossa]

Photozone's tests of the two lenses show that the 60-250 is very much a match for the 50-135 in terms of resolution at common focal lengths and apertures, while at the same time being superior in terms of CA, distortion and vignetting. As a bonus, the 60-250's SDM is much less prone to failure (and has greater focal range obviously).

There is no objective IQ advantage to the 50-135 over the 60-250, only speed and weight/size (and cost of course). Subjective preferences, such as "rendering" and bokeh, are a separate matter.

I don't have experience with the 50-135, but I am very happy with my 60-250 and find the IQ impeccable, while being very versatile with the focal range too. I don't find the size/weight to be a problem, and I'm a pretty small guy who's not particularly strong.

The only complaints I have with the 60-250s that I tested is softness toward the edge and corners of the image at the 60mm end @ F4 - F5. From F5.6 the edges were generally fine and perfect by F7.1-F8 though. I have also 'tested' a couple of Sigma 70-200 F/2.8 OS lenses which were sharper than those 60-250s. My 50-135 is way sharper than those 60-250s and probably on par with the Sigma although the Sigma has almost no CA.

[RonHendriks1966]

Well just in case you haven't seen it: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/143968-da-60-250mm-f4-test.html

I owned 16-50mm (2009) but traded it for DA14mm (2009) wich I sold to get DA15mm (2011) and bought DA21mm (2009).
I owned 50-135mm (2009) but sold it after buying 60-250 (2011) and traded it for DA*200mm (2011).
I owned 60-250mm (2011) and sold it after purchasing Sigma 70-200mm (2011) that replaced my DA*200mm (2011).
I own DA*300mm (2011) that I bought since I missed the long focal lenght after selling DA*60-250mm (2011).
I own DA*55mm and that is next to DA40mm since 2009 in my bag.

If you miss 2010 in my story: well that was the FA*85mm year.

So if you feel comfortable with a lens, keep it and if you don't sell it and buy something else. To my idea the DA*60-250mm outperformce DA*50-135mm (that is by the way also excellent). The DA*55mm is the least used lens in my bag at the time, but is an excellent lens that performce always stellar (that's why I didn't sell it).

[Ex Finn.]

I hear you about the WR requirement. Ditch the 55-300 and the 50-135, forget the DA*55 and just get the 60-250 and a second K5 body to go with the 16-50 so you don1t have to change lenses.
My 2c worth.

[Heie]

Thank you all very, very much for the personal anecdotes and offerings of assistance. I think because of my current situation (being in Afghanistan and the mail being an issue of 1) taking over a month and 2) the possibility of it being stolen/blown up), I will just stay with what I have and then go from there upon my return to Germany. Especially because of how fragile the 60-250 is because of it's size - I can see the dumbass soldiers picked for mail duty throwing packages around to and from trucks with blatant disregard for their fragility. Oh wait....I have seen them do that... I'm not putting a $1300 lens to that kind of chance.

Because of everything, I think the smartest choice is to wait until I return from Afghanistan. By then (it's also my goal to not order ANYTHING for all 9 months....hello post-deployment checking account 8) ), it will also give me the chance to assess the 560mm f/5.6 (that Insha'Allah is released by November) and decide from there which avenue is best.

But if I were still in Germany, I'd probably keep the 50-135 and get the 55 (the cheaper of the two between that and the 60-250) to help determine if it's what I want.

Thanks again for all the help, and if you haven't stopped by yet, stop on by Update Number One and Update Number Two of my Afghan Deployment. You can expect Update Number Three shortly

-Heie