Lens choices abound!

Docrwm · 08-01-2013, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by TinyTom

Wow, so much great advice that's really given me a lot to think about, consider me a lurker no more lol

Glad to hear it. I will put a plug in for the Tamron 70-200/2.8 - its an outstanding lens and has served me very well indeed for sports. The older model is screw-drive (which some report as faster to AF) and is going for $575-700 used ($769 new when you can still find it) and is a bargain compared to the new Tamron and the Sigma IMHO.

Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax - 70-200mm Sigma & Tamron - PentaxForums.com

VisualDarkness · 08-01-2013, 12:48 PM

I would say that if you want and can afford the 60-250/4 it's a safe choice, a great lens for all weathers. The 16-50 isn't as impressive optically compared to the competition and suffers from quality problems if you listen to the reports, so it would be the more replaceable on in my eyes.

Class A · 08-01-2013, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by VisualDarkness

The 16-50 isn't as impressive optically compared to the competition and suffers from quality problems if you listen to the reports, so it would be the more replaceable on in my eyes.

+1

The 50-135/2.8 is worth having some trouble with or converting to screwdrive AF, but the 16-50/2.8 has been linked to decentering issues and optically never made me ask "with which lens was that photo taken?". You may want to take a look at an old comparison of the 16-50/2.8 with the very popular Tamron 17-50/2.8 and older Sigma 18-50/2.8 lens.

I do not think that the 16-50/2.8 justifies its current price point, except for those that absolutely need the weather-sealing.

normhead · 08-02-2013, 06:10 AM

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/231642-tried-out-da-16-50-a.html

A few years ago at EXPOsure, I went to the Pentax booth... and did a similar trial to the one above... I used my the 16-50, 15 ltd and my 10-17 fisheye set to 15mmm, to compare images....the image from the 16-50 was my least favourite of the group. In the end, we bought a Sigma 8-16 and a Tamron 17-50, if I'm going to pay for a DA*16-50 it's going to have to show me a little more than it did that day. Most of us have little time for these types of comparisons so even though I'm sure the nay sayers will say I didn't give it a fair shot... I gave it what i could afford, and I wasn't impressed. Given that it is most likely the least reliable lens Pentax has ever produced or ever produced for a Pentax by any company it's even more problematic. The two lenses I did get are both keepers. We barely use the Tamron 17-50 2.8, but for the images we get when we do use it, it's worth keeping it on the shelf most of the time and hauling it out when needed. The Sigma 8-16, just continues to amaze. Weather sealing is important to me... but IQ is more important and price is always, a factor.

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08-01-2013, 11:54 AM	#16
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by TinyTom Wow, so much great advice that's really given me a lot to think about, consider me a lurker no more lol Glad to hear it. I will put a plug in for the Tamron 70-200/2.8 - its an outstanding lens and has served me very well indeed for sports. The older model is screw-drive (which some report as faster to AF) and is going for $575-700 used ($769 new when you can still find it) and is a bargain compared to the new Tamron and the Sigma IMHO. Fast Sports Zoom Lenses for Pentax - 70-200mm Sigma & Tamron - PentaxForums.com

08-01-2013, 12:48 PM	#17
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	I would say that if you want and can afford the 60-250/4 it's a safe choice, a great lens for all weathers. The 16-50 isn't as impressive optically compared to the competition and suffers from quality problems if you listen to the reports, so it would be the more replaceable on in my eyes.

08-01-2013, 08:38 PM	#18
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by VisualDarkness The 16-50 isn't as impressive optically compared to the competition and suffers from quality problems if you listen to the reports, so it would be the more replaceable on in my eyes. +1 The 50-135/2.8 is worth having some trouble with or converting to screwdrive AF, but the 16-50/2.8 has been linked to decentering issues and optically never made me ask "with which lens was that photo taken?". You may want to take a look at an old comparison of the 16-50/2.8 with the very popular Tamron 17-50/2.8 and older Sigma 18-50/2.8 lens. I do not think that the 16-50/2.8 justifies its current price point, except for those that absolutely need the weather-sealing.

08-02-2013, 06:10 AM	#19
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/231642-tried-out-da-16-50-a.html A few years ago at EXPOsure, I went to the Pentax booth... and did a similar trial to the one above... I used my the 16-50, 15 ltd and my 10-17 fisheye set to 15mmm, to compare images....the image from the 16-50 was my least favourite of the group. In the end, we bought a Sigma 8-16 and a Tamron 17-50, if I'm going to pay for a DA*16-50 it's going to have to show me a little more than it did that day. Most of us have little time for these types of comparisons so even though I'm sure the nay sayers will say I didn't give it a fair shot... I gave it what i could afford, and I wasn't impressed. Given that it is most likely the least reliable lens Pentax has ever produced or ever produced for a Pentax by any company it's even more problematic. The two lenses I did get are both keepers. We barely use the Tamron 17-50 2.8, but for the images we get when we do use it, it's worth keeping it on the shelf most of the time and hauling it out when needed. The Sigma 8-16, just continues to amaze. Weather sealing is important to me... but IQ is more important and price is always, a factor.