[Snajder]

I have a DA35 2.4 which I am pretty happy with today but sometime I am a lazy person and miss the zoom ability..
I have the possibility to switch from the 35 2.4 to a Tamron 17-50 2.8 with almost no money in between.

The lens is mostly for street and regular photography..

Will I lose or gain any picture quality by doing this?
I know I will gain reach but also gain size..

[calsan]

You will gain an extra aperture blade for one thing... I like having 7 or 9 blades, which was one reason I went the 35 limited rather than the regular 35.
Actually, not sure many other people care about this??? Am I crazy?

I might just add, I have always regretted selling lenses. I would save a bit longer and have both - they're different lenses for different uses and results.

[DSims]

I like having 7 or 9 blades, which was one reason I went the 35 limited rather than the regular 35.
Actually, not sure many other people care about this??? Am I crazy?

I don't make the number of blades a big criteria, but I think many people do. Certainly the shape of the bokeh can matter, and the number of blades is a part of this (as is whether they're rounded or not).


Snajder, I hate to tell you this but you probably should have both lenses. Sometimes you need a zoom. But the DA35/2.4 is one of the best affordable lenses available anywhere. The Tamron will likely need to be shot at f/3.5 or f/4 to match the image quality of the DA35 at f/2.4. Both are certainly good lenses. The Tamron is good when you need a zoom, but in many circumstances it won't match the quality of the DA35.

[Snajder]

Damn these choices, why can't they just make a cheap 18-150 WR 2.8 lens? =)

OT in my own thread... but how does the Tamron match the kit lens, 18-55 or 18-135?

[Patajac]

kit lenses are no match. i would sell the 35. so much to gain with tammy very little to loose. just be careful with quality control. i had to replace my first 17 50 due to uncorrectable back focus

[zbrueningsen]

That is a steal on your end. The Tamron takes excellent pictures. I've had both and if it is less than 200 it is s great deal with trade. The color is a hint better in the da35 (its one of pentax's best really), but the bokeh is hands down better with the Tamron. I always had excellent results even wide open.

[zbrueningsen]

The tamron is light years ahead of the kit lenses in optical quality. They are not even comparable.

[Pheo]

I love my Tamron:







Replaced my DA35 with a Sigma 30mm. Very different lenses. On the Tamron front, initially I had no love for it as a lens. Then I had to shoot some events, and it proved to be awesome in this scenario. Hence, I do tend to agree with the posters above that sometimes you need both. However personally I would go for the Tamron, rather than tha DA35, simply due to its flexibility.