1st Round Pick: What's your favorite third party?

Na Horuk · 07-14-2014, 12:27 PM

Yeah, Sigma has the most extensive lineup, but Zeiss and Voigtlander sound great. And Samyang isn't a bad choice, either. From these, I would choose whichever I could afford

I mostly use primes, though, so many Sigma zoom lenses don't really interest me (except maybe the zoom lenses that go up to 500mm and the f1.8 wide angle)

Trudger1272 · 07-14-2014, 03:23 PM

Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses?

ElJamoquio · 07-14-2014, 04:04 PM

Yup. Have one myself.

jimr-pdx · 07-14-2014, 04:33 PM

I've had good lenses with both Sigma and Tamron, and even the indifferent 18-200 Tamron suited my K200d fine at the time. For that matter I've really liked several Rikenons (28, 50, 70-150) and Vivitars (24/2 Komine, 28-105 Kobori).

I've had more consistent good times with Sigma though; 15/2.8 fisheye, 17-70 and 18-200 (both versions 1), and now the 18-250 macro. Even their gear labeled as Quantaray has been quite good, including the 28-90 1:2 macro and the relatively slow 100-300mm f/4.5-6.7. (I don't recall if my 28-70 f/2.8-4 is labeled S or Q.) I really want a 55-300wr but in fact the 100-300 is hard to displace especially when I paid about $30 for it; the Q-ray focuses faster than all my previous 55-300s and only suffers above 250mm in indifferent light.

**boriscleto** · 07-14-2014, 04:46 PM

Originally posted by formercanuck

Personally, I'd like to say Sigma - only because they're still creating new lenses for Pentax. Tamron makes / sells some good product, and backs it up. They've pretty much replaced 'Pentax' with Sony in their lineup for new lenses though.

Ricoh could probably fix that by buying into the company like Sony did.

Na Horuk · 07-14-2014, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by Trudger1272

Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses?

Yep, labelled as ZK. Plenty of them, but they discontinued some time ago (a year or two?). However, I think they still make m42 lenses (ZS?), which can be adapted easily. Since Zeiss lenses have no AF anyway, you only lose the A mode (which is generally an advantage that Pentax has over other brands)

Trudger1272 · 07-14-2014, 05:31 PM

I know Zeiss would be cool, because I'm familiar with them on my Hasselblad. I didn't know Quantaray is Sigma and when I'd see something about Quantaray I'd generally overlook it. The sad thing is I could never tell you why. Last night I decided to read Voigtlander reviews and discovered they have an option at 20mm, so that is something for me to consider, being I haven't fill that spot in my line-up.

---------- Post added 07-14-14 at 05:32 PM ----------

Originally posted by Na Horuk

Yep, labelled as ZK. Plenty of them, but they discontinued some time ago (a year or two?). However, I think they still make m42 lenses (ZS?), which can be adapted easily. Since Zeiss lenses have no AF anyway, you only lose the A mode (which is generally an advantage that Pentax has over other brands)

Thanks! This is really good to know.

stevebrot · 07-14-2014, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by Trudger1272

Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses?

Sort of...Cosina and Zeiss collaborated on a series of excellent primes a several years. Unfortunately, the K-mount line (ZK) was discontinued a few (2?) years ago.

Steve

GeneV · 07-14-2014, 06:05 PM

Originally posted by formercanuck

I have a hard time with this one... as I have only used 2 non-Pentax vendors. Sigma (18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC) and Rokinon (85mm f/1.4)
Out of the 2, I'd say the Rokinon is better. I do typically use zooms as most of my pics are family/travel based, and my Sigma gets a LOT more use.

I'd like to try the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or 28-75mm f/2.8 but - trying to find lenses (by any vendor for Pentax) to 'try' around here is pretty near impossible. Tamron's road tour doesn't even carry Pentax. In Las Vegas at CES, Sigma let me try out some lenses on my Red K-x.

Personally, I'd like to say Sigma - only because they're still creating new lenses for Pentax. Tamron makes / sells some good product, and backs it up. They've pretty much replaced 'Pentax' with Sony in their lineup for new lenses though.

Abandoning Pentax for newer lenses like the 150-600 pretty much disqualifies Tamron IMHO.

**mgvh** · 07-14-2014, 06:08 PM

I don't own any of the new Sigma's, but they look good.
I do have the older Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 that is a solid performer.
I have the Tamron 90 f2.8 macro and a Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF], both of which are excellent.
One company that has not been mentioned here is Tokina. The old (and now discontinued) AT-X and SZ-X series have great reputations. I have a couple SZ-X lenses, and the thing I like about them in addition to 'good enough' quality/IQ is that they followed the Pentax strategy of making compact lenses. The Tokina SZ-X 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 is really a marvel for its size.

ElJamoquio · 07-14-2014, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by mgvh

I don't own any of the new Sigma's, but they look good.
I do have the older Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 that is a solid performer.
I have the Tamron 90 f2.8 macro and a Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF], both of which are excellent.
One company that has not been mentioned here is Tokina. The old (and now discontinued) AT-X and SZ-X series have great reputations. I have a couple SZ-X lenses, and the thing I like about them in addition to 'good enough' quality/IQ is that they followed the Pentax strategy of making compact lenses. The Tokina SZ-X 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 is really a marvel for its size.

A lot of the recent Pentaxes have been also made under the Tokina brand. 'They followed' the Pentax strategy, all right!

07-14-2014, 05:54 PM	#38
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Trudger1272 Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses? Sort of...Cosina and Zeiss collaborated on a series of excellent primes a several years. Unfortunately, the K-mount line (ZK) was discontinued a few (2?) years ago. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 07-14-2014 at 06:00 PM.

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07-14-2014, 12:27 PM	#31
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Yeah, Sigma has the most extensive lineup, but Zeiss and Voigtlander sound great. And Samyang isn't a bad choice, either. From these, I would choose whichever I could afford I mostly use primes, though, so many Sigma zoom lenses don't really interest me (except maybe the zoom lenses that go up to 500mm and the f1.8 wide angle)

07-14-2014, 03:23 PM	#32
Trudger1272 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 288 Original Poster	Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses?

07-14-2014, 04:04 PM	#33
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	Yup. Have one myself.

07-14-2014, 04:33 PM	#34
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	I've had good lenses with both Sigma and Tamron, and even the indifferent 18-200 Tamron suited my K200d fine at the time. For that matter I've really liked several Rikenons (28, 50, 70-150) and Vivitars (24/2 Komine, 28-105 Kobori). I've had more consistent good times with Sigma though; 15/2.8 fisheye, 17-70 and 18-200 (both versions 1), and now the 18-250 macro. Even their gear labeled as Quantaray has been quite good, including the 28-90 1:2 macro and the relatively slow 100-300mm f/4.5-6.7. (I don't recall if my 28-70 f/2.8-4 is labeled S or Q.) I really want a 55-300wr but in fact the 100-300 is hard to displace especially when I paid about $30 for it; the Q-ray focuses faster than all my previous 55-300s and only suffers above 250mm in indifferent light.

07-14-2014, 04:46 PM	#35
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by formercanuck Personally, I'd like to say Sigma - only because they're still creating new lenses for Pentax. Tamron makes / sells some good product, and backs it up. They've pretty much replaced 'Pentax' with Sony in their lineup for new lenses though. Ricoh could probably fix that by buying into the company like Sony did.

07-14-2014, 05:07 PM	#36
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Originally posted by Trudger1272 Did Zeiss make K-mount lenses? Yep, labelled as ZK. Plenty of them, but they discontinued some time ago (a year or two?). However, I think they still make m42 lenses (ZS?), which can be adapted easily. Since Zeiss lenses have no AF anyway, you only lose the A mode (which is generally an advantage that Pentax has over other brands)

07-14-2014, 05:31 PM	#37
Trudger1272 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Albums Posts: 288 Original Poster	I know Zeiss would be cool, because I'm familiar with them on my Hasselblad. I didn't know Quantaray is Sigma and when I'd see something about Quantaray I'd generally overlook it. The sad thing is I could never tell you why. Last night I decided to read Voigtlander reviews and discovered they have an option at 20mm, so that is something for me to consider, being I haven't fill that spot in my line-up. ---------- Post added 07-14-14 at 05:32 PM ---------- Originally posted by Na Horuk Yep, labelled as ZK. Plenty of them, but they discontinued some time ago (a year or two?). However, I think they still make m42 lenses (ZS?), which can be adapted easily. Since Zeiss lenses have no AF anyway, you only lose the A mode (which is generally an advantage that Pentax has over other brands) Thanks! This is really good to know.

07-14-2014, 06:05 PM	#39
GeneV Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Albuquerque NM Photos: Albums Posts: 9,830	Originally posted by formercanuck I have a hard time with this one... as I have only used 2 non-Pentax vendors. Sigma (18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC) and Rokinon (85mm f/1.4) Out of the 2, I'd say the Rokinon is better. I do typically use zooms as most of my pics are family/travel based, and my Sigma gets a LOT more use. I'd like to try the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or 28-75mm f/2.8 but - trying to find lenses (by any vendor for Pentax) to 'try' around here is pretty near impossible. Tamron's road tour doesn't even carry Pentax. In Las Vegas at CES, Sigma let me try out some lenses on my Red K-x. Personally, I'd like to say Sigma - only because they're still creating new lenses for Pentax. Tamron makes / sells some good product, and backs it up. They've pretty much replaced 'Pentax' with Sony in their lineup for new lenses though. Abandoning Pentax for newer lenses like the 150-600 pretty much disqualifies Tamron IMHO.

07-14-2014, 06:08 PM	#40
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,029	I don't own any of the new Sigma's, but they look good. I do have the older Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 that is a solid performer. I have the Tamron 90 f2.8 macro and a Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF], both of which are excellent. One company that has not been mentioned here is Tokina. The old (and now discontinued) AT-X and SZ-X series have great reputations. I have a couple SZ-X lenses, and the thing I like about them in addition to 'good enough' quality/IQ is that they followed the Pentax strategy of making compact lenses. The Tokina SZ-X 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 is really a marvel for its size.

07-14-2014, 06:59 PM	#41
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	Originally posted by mgvh I don't own any of the new Sigma's, but they look good. I do have the older Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6 that is a solid performer. I have the Tamron 90 f2.8 macro and a Tamron SP AF 24-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical [IF], both of which are excellent. One company that has not been mentioned here is Tokina. The old (and now discontinued) AT-X and SZ-X series have great reputations. I have a couple SZ-X lenses, and the thing I like about them in addition to 'good enough' quality/IQ is that they followed the Pentax strategy of making compact lenses. The Tokina SZ-X 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 is really a marvel for its size. A lot of the recent Pentaxes have been also made under the Tokina brand. 'They followed' the Pentax strategy, all right!