[heatherslightbox]

I got to thinking and the lens info around here geared at newbies is scattered all over the place, so perhaps a list of currently available lenses catagorized by new price might be helpful to those who are newbies, or just looking to upgrade lens. There would be several catagories--standard zoom, tele zoom, wide zoom, macro, etc. My idea is that this info could either be put in a sticky on the lens forum or as a posting in the Knowledge base. Since I know that there are some good lenses out there that are no longer in production, we could also have a separate list for those. It's not meant to duplicate the info in the review databases, but to serve as a concise guide to lenses and prices.

I'll start with the standard zooms:
Price below $300:
DA 18-55/4-5.6
DA II 18-55/4-5.6
Sigma 18-50/4-5.6
Sigma 28-70/2.8-4

Price--$300-499
Sigma 17-70/2.8-4.5
Sigma 18-50/2.8 Macro
Sigma 24-70/2.8
Sigma 24-60/2.8
Tamron 28-75/2.8
DA16-45/4

Price--$500 & up
DA*16-50/2.8

Ultra-zooms
$299 & less
Tamron 28-200/3.5-5.6
Sigma 28-300/3.5-6.3

$300-500
Pentax/Tamron 18-250/3.5-6.3
Tamron 28-300/3.5-6.3
Tamron 18-200/3.5-6.3
Sigma 18-200/3.5-6.3

I don't think this is an exhaustive list, but hopefully this will give you a good idea of where I'm going with this.

Heather

[Derridale]

Hi Heather

One lens that is on my very short list of "must haves" is the Sigma 10-20mm. An alternative is the Pentax 12-24, but landscape photographers the world over use the Sigma and get outstanding results. One of the classic landscape lenses IMHO.

I have one, and I also have the Cokin P-series slimline filter holder for it. This takes only a single filter - you can't stack 2 or 3 as you can with the standard Cokin holder. And it is wide enough that it causes virtually no vignetting, even at the 10mm end. I have the Cokin Grad filters and a slot-in circular polarizer. However, the polarizer I use mostly with that lens is the Hoya Pro 1 series filter - it is very slim, and works beautifully with the Sigma.

I don't know what the average street price is in the US and Canada for the Sigma 10-20mm, but here in Australia it can be had online for $Aus 679 new.

[Ash]

There is a great resource on this forum's website that newbies (and all others looking to get info on lenses) should access when looking for a suitable lens: The Pentax Lens Review Database.

It can be accessed from the Quicklinks bar and contains info on just about all K-mount, M42 and the medium format lenses available including their buying prices and user ratings. Very handy.

[k100d]

certain things might be worth stickying, i think this should be one of them!
and also how to meter with old K lenses, i've answered that question many many times

might also want to create a ultra wide zoom for lenses like the 12-24 and 10-20 like Pete has mentioned

[Mikhail]

Tele:

Under $200:

DA 50-200mm F4-5.6
Sigma 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC
FA-J 75-300mm F4.5-5.8
Phoenix 100-300mm F5.6-6.7
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6
Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO
Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6 LD-Di
Quantary 70-300mm F4-5.6 LD

$200-500:

DA 70mm F2.4
DA 55-300mm F4-5.8

$500-998

FA 77mm F1.8
DA* 50-135mm F2.8
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8
Tamron 70 - 200mm f/2.8

$999+

Sigma 500mm F4.5
Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3
DA* 200mm F2.8
Sigma 100-300mm f/4
DA* 300mm f/4.0

All I could come up with for the tele side of things.
Thanks

[Mikhail]

Wide Angle

Under $300

FA 35mm F2
Sigma 28m F1.8

$300-500

DA 10-17mm F3.5-4.5
Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6
DA 21mm F3.2
Sigma 20mm F1.8

$500-999
Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6
DA 12-24mm F4
DA 14mm F2.8
FA 31mm F1.8
DA 35 F2.8 Macro
Sigma 15mm F2.8

$999+
Tamron 14mm F2.8

and some wide and ultra wide angles. Should go nicely with Heathers standard and super zooms.

Thanks