[what_canon]

Hey guys,

Gotta give it to you guys, this is probably the best organized site I've seen. So much information, so many people, and generally amazing community.. Been lurking for about 2 months now deciding to move on from an old Canon 300D to a Pentax K50.

Long story short, made the jump and here are the lenses I bought (HUGE THANK YOU to the lens reviewers!):
- SMC K 28mm f/3.5
- SMC DA 50mm f/1.8
- Sigma DL Zoom 75-300mm f/4-5.6

Love them all thus far! I consider myself an amateur and have no money to spend beyond 100 bucks since I'm a poor med student. I'd like a more versatile lens than the 28mm or 50mm, so I'm curious what your thoughts are on wide angle zooms. I was very close to buying the SMC 18-55mm DA kit lens, but didn't go for it because of the poor(ish) reviews. Any non-Pentax ones worth it? Or are non of them really worth it since I've covered basically all focal lengths?

Thanks in advance

[HudsonShooter]

the kit lens does fine in bright light. unsure if you want wide angle you would want a zoom for cheap. good luck

[kmurphy220]

The Tokina 17mm f3.5 is a decent wide angle lens. They generally float from like 80-120 price wise. Built like a tank too.

Tokina SL-17 17mm f/3.5 Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

[hcc]

Wide angle zoom lenses are not cheap. But wide angle is more often used to refer to focal lengths less than 20 mm. If you are happy with 18-55mm, go for the DA-L18-55mm. the cheapest version of the kit lens. Same optics, not WR.

[kh1234567890]

I was very close to buying the SMC 18-55mm DA kit lens, but didn't go for it because of the poor(ish) reviews.

There are some bad samples of the kit DA18-55 about. I'm happy with mine.

A good alternative is the DA16-45, if you can live with the slightly bigger size. It is sharper, constant f4 and the extra 2mm of focal length do make a difference on the wide end.

[jkomp316]

im saving all my pennys for a samyang 14mm f2.8, on sale you can get them in the low $200. they really take some stellar milky way shots.

[what_canon]

The Tokina 17mm f3.5 is a decent wide angle lens. They generally float from like 80-120 price wise. Built like a tank too.

Tokina SL-17 17mm f/3.5 Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Awesome! On the look out for this. Thanks for the heads up - scrolling around in the non-Pentax lens section is a pain

Wide angle zoom lenses are not cheap. But wide angle is more often used to refer to focal lengths less than 20 mm. If you are happy with 18-55mm, go for the DA-L18-55mm. the cheapest version of the kit lens. Same optics, not WR.

Yeah, if I don't find a good options, I'll probably go with the 18-55

There are some bad samples of the kit DA18-55 about. I'm happy with mine.

A good alternative is the DA16-45, if you can live with the slightly bigger size. It is sharper, constant f4 and the extra 2mm of focal length do make a difference on the wide end.

Thanks for the heads up on the 16-45. I'll definitely be on the lookout for this as well! It's a bit pricey new, but hopefully there are a few used ones for around/under 100

[TER-OR]

If you can find a good price for the 16-45 it's good. There are some issues with the lens, apparently it can be damaged easily but you should be OK if buying here.

[boriscleto]

Thanks for the heads up on the 16-45. I'll definitely be on the lookout for this as well! It's a bit pricey new, but hopefully there are a few used ones for around/under 100

You won't find it for less than $150 or so. There is an auction on eBay starting at $100 with more than 8 days left...

There really isn't anything wrong with the 18-55. I've had the DA L and the WR and both were good copies.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens Samples - PentaxForums.com

SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens Samples - PentaxForums.com

I might be selling the WR in the marketplace soon, as I just bought an 18-135.

[what_canon]

You won't find it for less than $150 or so. There is an auction on eBay starting at $100 with more than 8 days left...

There really isn't anything wrong with the 18-55. I've had the DA L and the WR and both were good copies.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens Samples - PentaxForums.com

SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Lens Samples - PentaxForums.com

I might be selling the WR in the marketplace soon, as I just bought an 18-135.

Yeah, I might get it if it's a good price. Let me know if you'll be selling it.

Any other recommendations? I'm not afraid of old manual focus, manual aperture lenses.

[boriscleto]

Yeah, I might get it if it's a good price. Let me know if you'll be selling it.

Any other recommendations? I'm not afraid of old manual focus, manual aperture lenses.

There's the Pentax A 15/3.5. But that costs twice as much as a DA 15/4

There's also the FA J 18-35/4-5.6. But it costs about the same as the 16-45. It's not as good as the 16-45, but it's a FF lens.

24mm was about as wide as manual focus lenses went if they were any good. Sometimes you see a Soligor branded 20mm, but it wasn't that good. It was sold as other brands like Spiratone and Cambron too. There was a Soligor 21/3.8 as well.

[ScooterMaxi Jim]

At $100, you can't go much wider or sharper than the kit lens. For that price, you might get a WR version in the used market. So, that's 18mm which is pretty wide. The Tokina 17mm manual focus (SL or RMC coatings, not a huge difference) will give you a bit wider and sharper in the corners, but it isn't a zoom. Doubt you can find a 16-45 at that price, at least not one in good shape. It is better optically. Tokina has the 19-35 which probably isn't sharper than the kit, and renders very cool in its tones, but can be put on a full frame (available used only).

[UncleVanya]

18-55 is better than most give it credit for. The 18-50dc is as well. The 17-x sigma and tamrons are great but typically more than that.

[what_canon]

Yeah, I was thinking the 18-55 may be the best.. Is there such a drastic difference between the 28mm and the 18mm? I also understand that the sharpness/quality of the 18-55mm wouldn't be the best at extremes (18 or 55).. is that correct?

[UncleVanya]

Yeah, I was thinking the 18-55 may be the best.. Is there such a drastic difference between the 28mm and the 18mm? I also understand that the sharpness/quality of the 18-55mm wouldn't be the best at extremes (18 or 55).. is that correct?

The Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 gives a Field of View of 55 / 46 (Diagonal / Horizontal) on APSC.
The Pentax DA 18-55 gives a field of view of 76 / 67 (Diagonal / Horizontal) on APSC.

If you think about that and plot it with a protractor you'll see it's a huge deal. The 28mm on APSC is nearly a "normal" lens - not really wide at all. The 18mm is a modest wide angle with nearly half again the width of the 28mm. Figure that the 28 view plus almost half of that in width is what you'll get.