Originally posted by zzeitg Impressive suite!
Just some questions that came to my mind...
- why did you sell the (IMHO perfect) DA* 50-135 ?
- the DA 20-40 is covered by DA* 16-50 - is there any other reason (except weight and size) why to use 20-40 instead 16-50 ?
- according to your experience, what are differences between DA* 60-250 and 55-300 performance ?
- in which situations are you putting on DA* 300 vs. DA* 60-250 ? I mean in which cases do you prefer one or the other?
(Seems like our lens taste is pretty similar, but I'm behind in the number...
)
I sold the 50-135 to fund the FA 77. I felt that the 60-250 had IQ that is just as good as the 50-135 and that I might be more satisfied with the FA 77 results for a portrait lens.
I bought the 16-50 and 20-40 last year at
BF. Decided to return the 20-40 because it was soft on the left side. I have had a couple of 16-50's . It is a great lens to use in lower light when a zoom is needed or to travel with a high quality pair like it and the 60-250.
I decided to try the DA 20-40 again when the price dropped. I use it as a walk around lens here in Philly. It and my K5iis or K3 will fit in my Domke F5xb bag and the short zoom range is great for city architecture. It is also much lighter than the 16-50 and not as massive.
The 60-250 and the DA 300 are in a different league than the 55-300. Not that the 55-300 is bad. You just get some great IQ from those two DA* lenses. I use the DA 300 for wildlife along with the HD 1.4x now. Unfortunately It does not see as much use now since we live in the city.
The 60-250 along with a TC is my choice for travel when I plan to be getting wildlife shots. I took that combo along with the 16-50 to Alaska in 2010 and used the AFA 1.7x adapter with the 60-250 and got some very nice whale pics. I would rate the IQ of the 60-250 neck and neck with the DA 300 which is remarkable for a zoom.
The 55-300 and 60-250 cover similar ranges but the 60-250 is faster and better IQ. However, I don't always want to haul the DA* lens since it is pretty heavy.
The 55-300 is a great lens to take almost everywhere when I think I may need a longer lens without the bulk and weight.
I don't necessarily NEED all of these lenses but it is nice to have the flexibility. Just gets frustrating sometimes trying to decide what to take when getting ready for a trip.....