Pentax DA18-55mm kit lens

madisonphotogrl · 07-23-2008, 08:00 PM

Anyone think this lens focuses soft?

sewebster · 07-23-2008, 08:19 PM

I have the "II" version and it seems pretty good when stopped down a bit.

madisonphotogrl · 07-23-2008, 08:47 PM

Stratman · 07-23-2008, 08:52 PM

I like my Kit lens, I wish it was faster, but then it would drive the price up quite a bit, for what it costs, I don't think you can beat it !!

A few samples...

Last edited by Stratman; 07-23-2008 at 08:57 PM.

johnsherwood · 07-23-2008, 09:07 PM

Always really liked it on my K100, thought there was a problem on my K20 though....till I ran through the AF adjustment tweaking process......now its really pretty good for a kit lens.

All my older manual glass is sharper ( a couple much sharper ) but the price is manual everything plus frequent lens changes between primes etc..

I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs.

johnsherwood · 07-23-2008, 09:09 PM

Sorry.........as Stratman's great shots clearly show.........the 18-55 can be pretty darn good.

Nice shots Stratman..........that's also a pretty nice looking bass too!

Stratman · 07-23-2008, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by johnsherwood

I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs.

And version II is supposed to be even better !!

dosdan · 07-23-2008, 10:35 PM

I really like the Mk. II version. It's sharp. Never tried the old version.

sewebster · 07-24-2008, 12:00 AM

Originally posted by madisonphotogrl

my gallery
.Mac Web Gallery

I looked at your photos. I do agree that they don't look amazingly sharp. However, most of them are at wide apertures. The lens is soft at these settings, as with many lenses. Some of your photos at f/8 are close ups of flowers... these are situations where a slight movement after you focus and the subject goes out of focus a bit. I'd also say that close up shots at the limit of the lens (around 1:3) aren't its strength. The last two shots of the temple or shrine look ok, but its hard to know exactly what you focused on.

Anyway, I would to some degree agree with you that it looks like there is room for improvement, but from the photos it is difficult to draw a conclusion as to where the problem lies.

Maybe try shooting some more photos in good light (so the shutter speed is high) at f/8 to f/11. Make a note of where you focused. Study the photos to see if you think that area is out of focus, and in particular, if a different area IS in focus.

axl · 07-24-2008, 12:13 AM

I agree with many above,
considering it's a bundled lens with body, it's fantastic value for many. Around f8 f11 it's very sharp. Could be bit faster and could have bit less vignetting, but generaly, it's a great little lens...

Mechan1k · 07-24-2008, 12:34 AM

I have the Mk1 ... and I must admit it has it's time and place ... and can produce nice images.

What I have found though ... it is quite good at fireworks shots ... especially when stopped down to f/8.

Mechan1k · 07-24-2008, 12:39 AM

And the odd close-up:

gkopeliadis · 07-24-2008, 03:08 AM

Originally posted by madisonphotogrl

Anyone think this lens focuses soft?

Mine did. Especialy when focusing near (<1m). I sent the lens and the camera in (Germany that is for Greece) and they fixed the problem.
Now, I don't know if that's what you mean by Soft-focusing or you mean a lack of contrast...

madisonphotogrl · 07-24-2008, 05:52 AM

Originally posted by johnsherwood

Always really liked it on my K100, thought there was a problem on my K20 though....till I ran through the AF adjustment tweaking process......now its really pretty good for a kit lens.

All my older manual glass is sharper ( a couple much sharper ) but the price is manual everything plus frequent lens changes between primes etc..

I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs.

what type of tweaking can I do to the auto focus?

madisonphotogrl · 07-24-2008, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by Stratman

I like my Kit lens, I wish it was faster, but then it would drive the price up quite a bit, for what it costs, I don't think you can beat it !!

A few samples...

Can you take a look at my gallery and see what you think?

07-23-2008, 08:00 PM	#1
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270	Pentax DA18-55mm kit lens Anyone think this lens focuses soft?

07-24-2008, 12:00 AM	#9
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	Originally posted by madisonphotogrl my gallery .Mac Web Gallery I looked at your photos. I do agree that they don't look amazingly sharp. However, most of them are at wide apertures. The lens is soft at these settings, as with many lenses. Some of your photos at f/8 are close ups of flowers... these are situations where a slight movement after you focus and the subject goes out of focus a bit. I'd also say that close up shots at the limit of the lens (around 1:3) aren't its strength. The last two shots of the temple or shrine look ok, but its hard to know exactly what you focused on. Anyway, I would to some degree agree with you that it looks like there is room for improvement, but from the photos it is difficult to draw a conclusion as to where the problem lies. Maybe try shooting some more photos in good light (so the shutter speed is high) at f/8 to f/11. Make a note of where you focused. Study the photos to see if you think that area is out of focus, and in particular, if a different area IS in focus. Last edited by sewebster; 07-24-2008 at 09:35 AM.

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07-23-2008, 08:19 PM	#2
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	I have the "II" version and it seems pretty good when stopped down a bit.

07-23-2008, 08:47 PM	#3
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	my gallery .Mac Web Gallery

07-23-2008, 08:52 PM	#4
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	I like my Kit lens, I wish it was faster, but then it would drive the price up quite a bit, for what it costs, I don't think you can beat it !! A few samples... Last edited by Stratman; 07-23-2008 at 08:57 PM.

07-23-2008, 09:07 PM	#5
johnsherwood Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 77	Always really liked it on my K100, thought there was a problem on my K20 though....till I ran through the AF adjustment tweaking process......now its really pretty good for a kit lens. All my older manual glass is sharper ( a couple much sharper ) but the price is manual everything plus frequent lens changes between primes etc.. I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs.

07-23-2008, 09:09 PM	#6
johnsherwood Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 77	Sorry.........as Stratman's great shots clearly show.........the 18-55 can be pretty darn good. Nice shots Stratman..........that's also a pretty nice looking bass too!

07-23-2008, 09:10 PM	#7
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	Originally posted by johnsherwood I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs. And version II is supposed to be even better !!

07-23-2008, 10:35 PM	#8
dosdan Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,741	I really like the Mk. II version. It's sharp. Never tried the old version.

07-24-2008, 12:13 AM	#10
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I agree with many above, considering it's a bundled lens with body, it's fantastic value for many. Around f8 f11 it's very sharp. Could be bit faster and could have bit less vignetting, but generaly, it's a great little lens...

07-24-2008, 12:34 AM	#11
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	I have the Mk1 ... and I must admit it has it's time and place ... and can produce nice images. What I have found though ... it is quite good at fireworks shots ... especially when stopped down to f/8.

07-24-2008, 12:39 AM	#12
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	And the odd close-up:

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07-24-2008, 03:08 AM	#13
gkopeliadis Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: ATHENS, GREECE Posts: 308	Originally posted by madisonphotogrl Anyone think this lens focuses soft? Mine did. Especialy when focusing near (<1m). I sent the lens and the camera in (Germany that is for Greece) and they fixed the problem. Now, I don't know if that's what you mean by Soft-focusing or you mean a lack of contrast...

07-24-2008, 05:52 AM	#14
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by johnsherwood Always really liked it on my K100, thought there was a problem on my K20 though....till I ran through the AF adjustment tweaking process......now its really pretty good for a kit lens. All my older manual glass is sharper ( a couple much sharper ) but the price is manual everything plus frequent lens changes between primes etc.. I think the first version of the 18-55 was pretty highly reviewed vs. other manufacturer's kit jobs. what type of tweaking can I do to the auto focus?

07-24-2008, 05:53 AM	#15
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by Stratman I like my Kit lens, I wish it was faster, but then it would drive the price up quite a bit, for what it costs, I don't think you can beat it !! A few samples... Can you take a look at my gallery and see what you think?