In defense of the lowly 18-55mm... Cinderella in disguise?

seventysixersfan · 08-22-2013, 09:03 AM

This thread has made me dig up my DA-L 18-55mm that came with my K-x. I shot with it for the first year before moving on to better lenses. However, now that I started using it the past few days, I've been really happy with how lightweight and compact it is for a modern zoom. I can easily hand-hold the camera, with just one hand, and snap away. The actual optical results have also been surprisingly good; perhaps my expectations were set a bit low. Anyway, the light weight of the lens reminds me of when I use my primes and that makes me very happy. When I slapped my DA 18-135 or Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 zoom lenses back onto the camera, I definitely felt the weight of the camera every time I picked it up or put it down on a table. And those aren't even very heavy lenses, but are both over 400 grams.

Anyway, thanks for reminding me to give my lowly 18-55 a spin again. It's been a few years and it's just sat in my cabinet at home, feeling no love.

Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm, which has been neglected ever since I acquired a DA 55-300... again, for the same reason as above, I bet I'll enjoy using the DA-L telephoto zoom because of its compactness and lightness, whereas the DA 55-300-- which excellent optically-- is definitely a bit bulky and large in comparison to the 50-200 zoom and doesn't always make it into my travel bag...

jon404 · 08-22-2013, 09:53 PM

@seventysixersfan -- "Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm..." Good! You know, it's parfocal... so if you focus at 200mm and then zoom in to 50mm, it will stay in focus. Parfocal, as you can imagine, was a big deal to movie and TV guys, before fast autofocus. But you'll find a use for it!

kh1234567890 · 08-23-2013, 01:04 AM

Originally posted by seventysixersfan

Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm, which has been neglected ever since I acquired a DA 55-300... again, for the same reason as above, I bet I'll enjoy using the DA-L telephoto zoom because of its compactness and lightness, whereas the DA 55-300-- which excellent optically-- is definitely a bit bulky and large in comparison to the 50-200 zoom and doesn't always make it into my travel bag...

Exactly why the DA55-300 gets left behind - my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take

altopiet · 08-23-2013, 02:12 AM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

Exactly why the DA55-300 gets left behind - my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take

+1, time to pull the DA L 50-200 out again, which I know is a very good copy. Used the 55-300 on my K-30 about two weeks ago, taking about 5000 hand held shots of various school sports, and had tennis elbow ever since. I only used the extra 100mm in about 20% of the shots. next time I'll put the 55-300 on my K-x on a tripod nearby for those few shots I might need it for...

seventysixersfan · 08-23-2013, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take

That's a very versatile combination!

normhead · 08-23-2013, 08:16 AM

Tess just went out on a trip with nothing but the Sigma 18-250, that certainly uncomplicates things....

**Eric Auer** · 09-07-2013, 01:37 PM

My 18-55 WR.....I bought it separately (Grey Market) and it has been a great lens for me. I doubt I'll ever get rid of mine.

**ivanvernon** · 09-07-2013, 01:55 PM

Wonder if someone can answer my question: Was the 18-55 WR version ever sold as the standard kit lens for any Pentax camera? If so, which?

**geomez** · 09-07-2013, 11:56 PM

Originally posted by ivanvernon

Wonder if someone can answer my question: Was the 18-55 WR version ever sold as the standard kit lens for any Pentax camera? If so, which?

K7, K5, K5 II, and K30

Reliant K1000 · 09-14-2013, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by geomez

K7, K5, K5 II, and K30

I can verify that my K30's box had the WR and the camera as a kit.

Most of my film years were with various K bodies (see list in my signature) and the main lens used was a 28-80 Takumar A that is much maligned in the reviews. I can tell you this lens is light years better than that one.

With the Takumar, I always had to avoid the extremely large and small apertures and keep to the middle. With the 18-55, I don't.

yorik · 09-15-2013, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by jon404

... Good! You know, it's parfocal... so if you focus at 200mm and then zoom in to 50mm, it will stay in focus. Parfocal, as you can imagine, was a big deal to movie and TV guys, before fast autofocus. But you'll find a use for it!

Is the 55-300 also parfocal?

**arnold** · 01-24-2014, 04:09 PM

K5 with 18/55 kit lens.

[/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeomaster32/12124666993/]Sailing out of Vancouver Harbour toward Gulf Islands[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/aeomaster32/]arnold_broese[/url], on Flickr" target="_blank">

**Eric Auer** · 01-24-2014, 04:45 PM

Pepe Le Pew · 01-24-2014, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by lytrytyr

The kit lens can give you good photos in favorable light.
But a great lens gives you good photos when the light isn't so favorable.

Agreed

**arnold** · 01-24-2014, 10:48 PM

K5 and 18/55
[IMG]

K5 and 18/55[/IMG]

09-07-2013, 01:55 PM	#53
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	18-55 wr Wonder if someone can answer my question: Was the 18-55 WR version ever sold as the standard kit lens for any Pentax camera? If so, which?

01-24-2014, 04:09 PM	#57
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	K5 with 18/55 kit lens. [/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/aeomaster32/12124666993/]Sailing out of Vancouver Harbour toward Gulf Islands[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/aeomaster32/]arnold_broese[/url], on Flickr" target="_blank"> Last edited by arnold; 01-24-2014 at 04:13 PM. Reason: added information

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08-22-2013, 09:03 AM	#46
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	This thread has made me dig up my DA-L 18-55mm that came with my K-x. I shot with it for the first year before moving on to better lenses. However, now that I started using it the past few days, I've been really happy with how lightweight and compact it is for a modern zoom. I can easily hand-hold the camera, with just one hand, and snap away. The actual optical results have also been surprisingly good; perhaps my expectations were set a bit low. Anyway, the light weight of the lens reminds me of when I use my primes and that makes me very happy. When I slapped my DA 18-135 or Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 zoom lenses back onto the camera, I definitely felt the weight of the camera every time I picked it up or put it down on a table. And those aren't even very heavy lenses, but are both over 400 grams. Anyway, thanks for reminding me to give my lowly 18-55 a spin again. It's been a few years and it's just sat in my cabinet at home, feeling no love. Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm, which has been neglected ever since I acquired a DA 55-300... again, for the same reason as above, I bet I'll enjoy using the DA-L telephoto zoom because of its compactness and lightness, whereas the DA 55-300-- which excellent optically-- is definitely a bit bulky and large in comparison to the 50-200 zoom and doesn't always make it into my travel bag...

08-22-2013, 09:53 PM	#47
jon404 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 696 Original Poster	@seventysixersfan -- "Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm..." Good! You know, it's parfocal... so if you focus at 200mm and then zoom in to 50mm, it will stay in focus. Parfocal, as you can imagine, was a big deal to movie and TV guys, before fast autofocus. But you'll find a use for it!

08-23-2013, 01:04 AM	#48
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by seventysixersfan Now this weekend I might give some attention to my DA-L 50-200mm, which has been neglected ever since I acquired a DA 55-300... again, for the same reason as above, I bet I'll enjoy using the DA-L telephoto zoom because of its compactness and lightness, whereas the DA 55-300-- which excellent optically-- is definitely a bit bulky and large in comparison to the 50-200 zoom and doesn't always make it into my travel bag... Exactly why the DA55-300 gets left behind - my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take

08-23-2013, 02:12 AM	#49
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307	Originally posted by kh1234567890 Exactly why the DA55-300 gets left behind - my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take +1, time to pull the DA L 50-200 out again, which I know is a very good copy. Used the 55-300 on my K-30 about two weeks ago, taking about 5000 hand held shots of various school sports, and had tennis elbow ever since. I only used the extra 100mm in about 20% of the shots. next time I'll put the 55-300 on my K-x on a tripod nearby for those few shots I might need it for...

08-23-2013, 07:21 AM	#50
seventysixersfan Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Originally posted by kh1234567890 my DA18-55 WR, DA50-200 WR and a DA21 are the ones I usually take That's a very versatile combination!

08-23-2013, 08:16 AM	#51
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Tess just went out on a trip with nothing but the Sigma 18-250, that certainly uncomplicates things....

09-07-2013, 01:37 PM	#52
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211	My 18-55 WR.....I bought it separately (Grey Market) and it has been a great lens for me. I doubt I'll ever get rid of mine.

09-07-2013, 11:56 PM	#54
geomez Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Roanoke, Virginia, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,760	Originally posted by ivanvernon Wonder if someone can answer my question: Was the 18-55 WR version ever sold as the standard kit lens for any Pentax camera? If so, which? K7, K5, K5 II, and K30

09-14-2013, 11:22 PM	#55
Reliant K1000 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: BC - On the 49th parallel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 235	Originally posted by geomez K7, K5, K5 II, and K30 I can verify that my K30's box had the WR and the camera as a kit. Most of my film years were with various K bodies (see list in my signature) and the main lens used was a 28-80 Takumar A that is much maligned in the reviews. I can tell you this lens is light years better than that one. With the Takumar, I always had to avoid the extremely large and small apertures and keep to the middle. With the 18-55, I don't.

09-15-2013, 11:38 AM	#56
yorik Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Scotts Valley, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 991	Originally posted by jon404 ... Good! You know, it's parfocal... so if you focus at 200mm and then zoom in to 50mm, it will stay in focus. Parfocal, as you can imagine, was a big deal to movie and TV guys, before fast autofocus. But you'll find a use for it! Is the 55-300 also parfocal?

01-24-2014, 04:45 PM	#58
Eric Auer Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,211

01-24-2014, 04:53 PM	#59
Pepe Le Pew Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 591	Originally posted by lytrytyr The kit lens can give you good photos in favorable light. But a great lens gives you good photos when the light isn't so favorable. Agreed

01-24-2014, 10:48 PM	#60
arnold Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,294	K5 and 18/55 [IMG] K5 and 18/55[/IMG]