Upgrading my lenses, which direction?

formercanuck · 09-04-2014, 11:07 AM

From your post - I can primarily assume that you're not getting much into the 70-300 - which I can relate to.

Personally, you're in a similar boat to myself.

The 18-135mm WR is a great walking lens, with a couple of caveats.
1. Its not the fastest lens
2. Its not sharp in the corners/edges

I'd pick one up for a 'daily use' lens as its light, decently sharp, WR and covers typical use ranges from wide to tele.

For something sharper, I'm considering either
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or a little narrower 28-75 f/2.8. Both have great reviews.

I've tried out an inexpensive Vivitar (manual) 28mm f/2.8, and it was very sharp, and only $20.
Its a decent landscape lens, but might not be wide enough.

Stavri · 09-04-2014, 11:20 AM

Looks to me like you need and UWA, Pentax 10-17mm is a great lens with amazing IQ. Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 is also a nice second choice. The 15mm limited is a great lens, but expensive. If you want a wide prime, I'd recommend a Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8.

**Another dyemention** · 09-04-2014, 11:40 AM

Former, that's exactly what I want the 18-135 for. Just every day shooting. The speed isn't that important as it'd primarily be used during the day or in situations where I didn't need anything faster. The 17-50, while couldn't complete replace the need for primes, is fast enough that I could use it in place of wider primes.
And stave I, I will look into those mentioned.

formercanuck · 09-04-2014, 12:22 PM

Yeah - primes are pretty much impossible to replace (stack of primes?). Wide / Tele primes get pricey unless you go manual.
Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 14 and 16mm are 'affordable' on the wide end. AF Pentax will pretty much be double. Similar on long end - I actually have a Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 - I just don't get much use of it.

Many older lenses are probably a decent deal here.

**ramseybuckeye** · 09-04-2014, 07:19 PM

The 18-135 can do starbursts too, most lenses can

Tan68 · 09-05-2014, 05:43 AM

Those stars from the 18-135 are not bad
The arms are pretty crisp
A different character from DA35.
Different Tamron 17-50 as well, if I remember correctly.

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09-04-2014, 11:07 AM	#31
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	From your post - I can primarily assume that you're not getting much into the 70-300 - which I can relate to. Personally, you're in a similar boat to myself. The 18-135mm WR is a great walking lens, with a couple of caveats. 1. Its not the fastest lens 2. Its not sharp in the corners/edges I'd pick one up for a 'daily use' lens as its light, decently sharp, WR and covers typical use ranges from wide to tele. For something sharper, I'm considering either Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 or a little narrower 28-75 f/2.8. Both have great reviews. I've tried out an inexpensive Vivitar (manual) 28mm f/2.8, and it was very sharp, and only $20. Its a decent landscape lens, but might not be wide enough.

09-04-2014, 11:20 AM	#32
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	Looks to me like you need and UWA, Pentax 10-17mm is a great lens with amazing IQ. Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 is also a nice second choice. The 15mm limited is a great lens, but expensive. If you want a wide prime, I'd recommend a Samyang/Rokinon 14mm f2.8.

09-04-2014, 11:40 AM	#33
Another dyemention Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 432 Original Poster	Former, that's exactly what I want the 18-135 for. Just every day shooting. The speed isn't that important as it'd primarily be used during the day or in situations where I didn't need anything faster. The 17-50, while couldn't complete replace the need for primes, is fast enough that I could use it in place of wider primes. And stave I, I will look into those mentioned.

09-04-2014, 12:22 PM	#34
formercanuck Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SoCal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 518	Yeah - primes are pretty much impossible to replace (stack of primes?). Wide / Tele primes get pricey unless you go manual. Rokinon/Bower/Samyang 14 and 16mm are 'affordable' on the wide end. AF Pentax will pretty much be double. Similar on long end - I actually have a Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 - I just don't get much use of it. Many older lenses are probably a decent deal here.

09-04-2014, 07:19 PM	#35
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,288	The 18-135 can do starbursts too, most lenses can

09-05-2014, 05:43 AM	#36
Tan68 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 501	Those stars from the 18-135 are not bad The arms are pretty crisp A different character from DA35. Different Tamron 17-50 as well, if I remember correctly.

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