All-around mountain lens dilemma

FantasticMrFox · 10-15-2015, 11:12 AM

I think the choice is between the Pentax 16-85 and the Sigma 17-50. While I realise that a lot of Pentaxians love their 18-135, and it is versatile and weather resistant, there is just too much agreement across virtually all reviews I've read on the lens being pretty mediocre optically. When PF calls the corners "terribly soft" and Photozone adds a note saying "Just to mention again - we couldn't believe the rather poor performance so we asked the local Pentax service in Hamburg/Germany for an assessment of the situation. Result: the lens is within factory specifications.", I am just not comfortable with shelling out a couple of hundred € on it

Until recently my brain said "Sigma!" while my heart whispered "Pentax ...", but the more I read about the Sigma, the more it appears to be a great alternative. Sure, I'd lose a bit of range and weather sealing, but the vast majority of PF members having reviewed this lens seem to consider its optical performance nothing short of spectacular. Very sharp in the image centre and decently sharp into the corners wide open at 17 mm, and razor sharp across the frame upon stopping down by just one to two stops ...

Argh, the choice is not getting easier. But I will stop bothering you folks with my undecidedness. I think I now have all the information I need, so thanks everyone for a lot of great and really helpful advise!

mohb · 10-15-2015, 11:41 AM

If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine.

FantasticMrFox · 10-15-2015, 11:53 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by mohb

If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine.

Like this?

mohb · 10-15-2015, 12:12 PM

I used a child's one, a bit bigger than that one, it was also useful for keeping the rain off my sandwiches

Last edited by mohb; 10-15-2015 at 12:53 PM. Reason: spelling thanks Vanya

**UncleVanya** · 10-15-2015, 12:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mohb

I used a child's one, a bit bigger than that one, it was also useful for keeping the raid off my sandwiches

Why was someone spraying roach killer on your sandwich?

bdery · 10-16-2015, 04:47 AM

Originally posted by mohb

If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine.

To me WR is one of the main perks of Pentax.

mohb · 10-16-2015, 07:10 AM

Originally posted by bdery

To me WR is one of the main perks of Pentax.

If financial constraints stop it being affordable there are plenty of alternatives - plastic bags are always useful

bdery · 10-16-2015, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by mohb

If financial constraints stop it being affordable there are plenty of alternatives

Of course, but nowadays WR can be had with many inexpensive lenses. 18-55, 18-50 RE, 18-135, 50-200, 55-300 are all below 400$, sometimes a low below.

Originally posted by mohb

plastic bags are always useful

Try shooting under a waterfall spray.

In any situation the convenience clearly isn't the same...

y0chang · 10-16-2015, 08:21 AM

i own a 18-55mm WR specifically if i need a WR mount cap.

10-15-2015, 11:53 AM - 2 Likes	#48
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339 Original Poster	Originally posted by mohb If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine. Like this? Attached Images

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10-15-2015, 11:12 AM	#46
FantasticMrFox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Munich Posts: 2,339 Original Poster	I think the choice is between the Pentax 16-85 and the Sigma 17-50. While I realise that a lot of Pentaxians love their 18-135, and it is versatile and weather resistant, there is just too much agreement across virtually all reviews I've read on the lens being pretty mediocre optically. When PF calls the corners "terribly soft" and Photozone adds a note saying "Just to mention again - we couldn't believe the rather poor performance so we asked the local Pentax service in Hamburg/Germany for an assessment of the situation. Result: the lens is within factory specifications.", I am just not comfortable with shelling out a couple of hundred € on it Until recently my brain said "Sigma!" while my heart whispered "Pentax ...", but the more I read about the Sigma, the more it appears to be a great alternative. Sure, I'd lose a bit of range and weather sealing, but the vast majority of PF members having reviewed this lens seem to consider its optical performance nothing short of spectacular. Very sharp in the image centre and decently sharp into the corners wide open at 17 mm, and razor sharp across the frame upon stopping down by just one to two stops ... Argh, the choice is not getting easier. But I will stop bothering you folks with my undecidedness. I think I now have all the information I need, so thanks everyone for a lot of great and really helpful advise!

10-15-2015, 11:41 AM	#47
mohb Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,912	If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine.

10-15-2015, 12:12 PM	#49
mohb Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,912	I used a child's one, a bit bigger than that one, it was also useful for keeping the rain off my sandwiches Last edited by mohb; 10-15-2015 at 12:53 PM. Reason: spelling thanks Vanya

10-15-2015, 12:15 PM - 1 Like	#50
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,409	Originally posted by mohb I used a child's one, a bit bigger than that one, it was also useful for keeping the raid off my sandwiches Why was someone spraying roach killer on your sandwich?

10-16-2015, 04:47 AM	#51
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by mohb If you get a non WR lens and want to take photos in the rain if it's not too windy a small umbrella works just fine. To me WR is one of the main perks of Pentax.

10-16-2015, 07:10 AM	#52
mohb Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,912	Originally posted by bdery To me WR is one of the main perks of Pentax. If financial constraints stop it being affordable there are plenty of alternatives - plastic bags are always useful

10-16-2015, 08:09 AM	#53
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by mohb If financial constraints stop it being affordable there are plenty of alternatives Of course, but nowadays WR can be had with many inexpensive lenses. 18-55, 18-50 RE, 18-135, 50-200, 55-300 are all below 400$, sometimes a low below. Originally posted by mohb plastic bags are always useful Try shooting under a waterfall spray. In any situation the convenience clearly isn't the same...

10-16-2015, 08:21 AM	#54
y0chang Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: United States Posts: 793	i own a 18-55mm WR specifically if i need a WR mount cap.