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01-26-2016, 10:35 AM   #1
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Help me choose a new zoom

The 18-55 just seems kind of short on the long end and maybe a little too long on the wide end for a walk around / quick indoor shot lens.

Looking at 16mm vs 18mm, I don't think that the wide end is going to make much of a difference at all though.
I also already have a 10-17 so I have the really wide range covered.

So I've been looking at these lenses:
Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 Is it really much better than the older 2.8-4.5?
Pentax 17-70 f4
Pentax 18-135

I also saw a Sigma 18-125, but it looks like it is not that sharp until stopped down.

I also like that the wide end on the Sigma 17-70 is faster than the Pentax lenses but not really sure if that is going to make a huge difference.

Most I am looking to spend is about $250.

Used is fine.

I also thought about maybe getting something like an 18-200/250 at some point as a general outdoor walk around lens - not expecting stellar performance here and probably wouldn't get used that much but I can see it coming in handy for hikes and such.

01-26-2016, 11:04 AM   #2
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I'm seeing "18-135" all over your post. That said, the 16-85's 16mm wide end really should make a difference vs. the 18mm of the 18-135, so if you can swing it, I'd look there, but I don't think you'll find one as cheap as your $250 limit.

This next part is a personal thing based on lenses I'm looking to use to flesh out my own kit, but as far as your longer reach hiking lens, I've been thinking about picking up a Pentax DA L 50-200 WR, as they're cheaper than dirt in excellent used condition, and the pictures in the lens database review makes me think it's an excellent compromise between cost, size, image quality, and other factors. They're on the bay of e's for $100 or less, shipped, so it's almost a no-brainer. The other option is a 55-300 but these cost more and are larger physically so there's issues with going that route. Grain of salt, etc.
01-26-2016, 11:07 AM   #3
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18-135 hands down for your needs and budget.
01-26-2016, 11:17 AM - 1 Like   #4
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I, too, have the 10-17 PENTAX Fish-eye for the wide end, and picked up their 18-250 Zoom for the rest of the way up. Nice thing about this combo is that for most of the time, you don't have to change lenses (a bane for DSLR sensor when in windy/dusty climes). The 18-250 has served me well on my now-dated, so-called entry level, K-r. But hey! 95% of my shots are with the 18-250, and the affordable Corel's PaintShop Pro 7 processor whacks the barrel distortion produced by the Fish-Eye back into an acceptable linear mode at its "longer" end anyway. Trouble is, with these two lens, for the shots I take, justifying more lenses is difficult. However, to slack my thirst for a prime, I picked up a gently used PENTAX DA-L 35 mm f:2.4 AL prime - yes, mostly plastic - but the performance is surprisingly good - set me back about C$130. At least now I can focus (no pun intended) on training my eye to recognize a good shot when I happen upon one.
Links to the lenses discussed above follow: Hope this helps.
SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.4 AL Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

01-26-2016, 11:20 AM   #5
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a good, used copy of the DA 18-135mm sounds like just the thing...
01-26-2016, 11:51 AM   #6
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I would also look at the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 that lens is a great lens and can be had for around 150-200
01-26-2016, 11:55 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by lguckert79 Quote
I would also look at the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 that lens is a great lens and can be had for around 150-200
If the OP's 18-55 doesn't go long enough, the 17-50 isn't going to work. That price you've quoted seems maybe a little optimistic, but I rarely shop for these, although maybe a cosmetically challenged but otherwise good lens could be found in that range. The other thing, though, is the outdoors / hiking things mentioned in the first post of this thread. I think the 17-50 is a great lens based on what I've read but it doesn't seem to be the most sturdy and is far and away from being a weather resistant lens.

Going to put a "disagree" on your suggestion of the Tamron 17-50.

01-26-2016, 12:14 PM   #8
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I just got one in like new condition for 200 so but if they want longer than that look at the 16-85
01-26-2016, 12:25 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by lguckert79 Quote
I just got one in like new condition for 200 so but if they want longer than that look at the 16-85
$200USD for the Tamron 17-50 in like-new condition seems like an awesome price. Still doesn't fit the laid out requirements. The 16-85 in good used condition is probably impossible to find for $250USD. So it doesn't work either. If the OP wants to break out of his stated requirements then this would be a whole different ballgame and one of those might work for him. All three, the 18-135, 16-85, or t17-50 are great lenses.
01-26-2016, 01:03 PM   #10
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+1 for DA18-135mm. It sounds like the lens you need.
01-26-2016, 01:05 PM   #11
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A couple of questions about what you like to photograph (and the conditions in which you photograph):

1. Do you photograph indoors much without flash (or other lower light environments)? If so, then one of the faster zooms (e.g., Sigma 17-70) might be a good choice.
2. Is weather resistance important? If so, you might want the Pentax 17-85 (for your wider angle zoom) and later on, the 55-300 (as an all-purpose longer zoom).
3. Do you need the quasi-macro/close-focusing capabilities of a lens? If so, then the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4 edges out the other lenses - in some cases by only 4 cm or so and in other cases by more like 10 cm (e.g. the minimum focusing distance on the Sigma 17-70 Macro is 22 cm, whereas the Pentax 17-70 is 26 cm and the Pentax 16-85 is 35 cm).

FWIW, I've found the Sigma 17-70 quite useful as a relatively small, indoor lens. I often pull it out when I'm photographing in animal shelters, where I can stand back and zoom in a bit (if kitty is skittish) or get close for an interesting perspective on the sleeping puppy and the bouncing baby bird.

Also, when you get around to buying a tele-zoom, the 55-300 lives almost full-time on one of my camera bodies for outdoor photography. It's worth spending the extra $ - it's very good IQ for a long zoom, it's weather-resistant and the extra range (to 300) is really handy sometimes. And it's a pretty small package.

Last edited by frogoutofwater; 01-26-2016 at 01:56 PM.
01-26-2016, 01:21 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by lguckert79 Quote
Tamron 17-50 f2.8 that lens is a great lens
yes agree, a great lens, this or the 18-135.
01-26-2016, 01:57 PM   #13
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18-135 (for your budget and for ratio quality/price). WR, compact - "all day long zoom"; find a good copy and be happy !
01-26-2016, 02:04 PM   #14
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Thanks for the tips... I am leaning towards the 18-135. Just wish it was a bit faster at the wider end.

I already have a DAL 55-300 for the longer outdoor reach.

Maybe I should have listed the lenses I normally carry:
DA 10-17
DA WR 18-55
DAL 55-300
FA 50 1.4
converted Olympus 55 1.2
Vivitar 2x macro focusing tele extender (turns the 55 1.2 into a 110 2.4 ~1:1 macro)

Basically, the 18-55 is not long enough all the time indoors and walking around and the 55-300 is too long in those same situations because a lot of the shots are going to be 55mm or below.

I've got a good flash already, so maybe I should just go for the 18-135, especially since under low-ish light the 18-55 seems to focus pretty quick anyway.

What I would really like is something more like a 12-105 or 12-135 but that doesn't exist.
01-26-2016, 02:16 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by frogoutofwater Quote
Also, when you get around to buying a tele-zoom, the 55-300 lives almost full-time on one of my camera bodies for outdoor photography. It's worth spending the extra $ - it's very good IQ for a long zoom, it's weather-resistant and the extra range (to 300) is really handy sometimes. And it's a pretty small package.
I definitely agree with the 55-300. However, not all models are weather-resistant.
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