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04-27-2017, 10:47 PM   #1
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Search for a flare resistant midrange zoom

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and have no experience with Pentax gear. I'm searching for a midrange zoom to use on the KP which will fill the gap between the Pentax 12-24 and the 60-250.

As I am a landscape shooter and often love to shoot with the sun in the frame I want to find a sharp lens with good flare resistance.

What are your experiences and which lens would you advise? Many thanks!

Danny


Last edited by Dannyv; 04-28-2017 at 01:16 AM.
04-27-2017, 11:00 PM   #2
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HD DA 20-40 limited. Mines been great.
04-28-2017, 12:59 AM - 1 Like   #3
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Da 16-85?
04-28-2017, 05:46 AM - 1 Like   #4
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If you want to shoot with the sun in the frame, forget zooms, and get the DA15mm Limited and the DA21mm Limited. There are no lenses, anywhere, from anyone, more flare resistant than those two.

DA21:



DA15 a few minutes earlier



DA15 has a whole thread with 700 pages of photos:
The 15mm Limited controls my mind - club - Page 700 - PentaxForums.com


If I were setting up a Pentax kit from scratch with the 60-250 on the long end, I'd get the 15, 21, and maybe the 16-85 for middle-range walk around, or the Sigma 17-70 or 17-50/2.8 if you don't need WR. I would add the FA43 as a fast normal-ish prime. It's my favorite lens by a long way, but it's not a great landscaper.

In my personal opinion, Pentax's 2 great strengths as a brand are WR zoom lenses for reasonable cost, and the small Limited primes.


Last edited by Kozlok; 04-28-2017 at 05:55 AM.
04-28-2017, 07:17 AM - 1 Like   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kozlok Quote
If you want to shoot with the sun in the frame, forget zooms
DA16-45






Last edited by kh1234567890; 04-28-2017 at 07:25 AM.
04-28-2017, 11:38 AM   #6
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Many thanks to you all for the great information and the pictures. I'll have a look at all the lenses you mention. Love doing this but it's time consuming...I'm spending hours cruising on the internet
04-28-2017, 01:05 PM - 1 Like   #7
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I can confirm the recommendation for the DA 15mm (I have the HD version) - haven't seen anything more robust against the sun.

But back to you original request:
Even the incredibly flexible DA 18-135mm isn't bad at all (first picture). In full mid-day sun, maybe 1/4 of the frame loses a little, but everything else retains nice contrast. With the DA 28-105mm, most times I don't even bother reaching for a prime (2nd picture), close to perfect for a zoom.

Both samples processed in darktable with default settings + lifting shadows to show the the detail in there.

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04-28-2017, 01:11 PM - 2 Likes   #8
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The 15-30/2.8 does better than most zooms with flare and will even make a decent starburst.
It does flare some but it's usually small and easy to deal with if it does.




It's good but the DA 15 is the best as others have mentioned.

Last edited by mattb123; 04-28-2017 at 01:25 PM.
04-29-2017, 02:57 AM   #9
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Is there anyone who has experience with the Tamron 17-50/2.8 non-VC? Seems to be very flare resistant, lightweight and sharp.
04-29-2017, 06:51 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Dannyv Quote
Is there anyone who has experience with the Tamron 17-50/2.8 non-VC? Seems to be very flare resistant, lightweight and sharp.
The Forum did a detailed review of the Tamron vs the Sigma and Pentax's own 16-50.

DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews
04-29-2017, 08:36 AM   #11
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Many thanks...valuable information!

QuoteOriginally posted by Kozlok Quote
The Forum did a detailed review of the Tamron vs the Sigma and Pentax's own 16-50.

DA* 16-50mm vs. Sigma and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 Comparison Review - Introduction | PentaxForums.com Reviews
04-29-2017, 10:35 AM   #12
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No one has mentioned the 20-40mm Limited?
04-29-2017, 11:54 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
No one has mentioned the 20-40mm Limited?
Right at the start I think.
04-30-2017, 03:08 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by audiobomber Quote
No one has mentioned the 20-40mm Limited?

Yes, the 20-40 was indeed mentioned at the start of the topic. Looks like a great lens which is also very light. Only disadvantage is that it is only a 30-60 on a crop camera. I don't mind the limited reach but I do mind the fact that it is only 30mm at the wide side. Not very practical as I have the tendency to shoot a lot in the 24-28mm area. So I'm looking for a lens starting from 16 or 17mm.

I'm hesitating now between the old Pentax 16-45/4,which has about the same reach as the Nikon 24-70/2.8 I have been using for years, and the Tamron 17-50/2.8. Probably the Tamron is the sharpest of the two but the noisy autofocus and many cases of front and backfocusing make me lean more towards the Pentax. The Sigma 17-50/2.8 is very prone to flare and is therefor no option for me. A pity because it's a good lens.
04-30-2017, 10:41 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Dannyv Quote
The Sigma 17-50/2.8 is very prone to flare and is therefor no option for me. A pity because it's a good lens.
I used the 16-45mm for a few years and upgraded to the Sigma 17-50. Your statement about flare is overstated, that has not been my experience at all. It's no DA 15mm, but it's a zoom, not a prime. I think the 17-50's tendency to expose to the right, vs. the 16-45's tendency to underexpose by half a stop may be misleading some. All around IQ on that lens is spectacular (for a zoom).

Flare: Like a lot of Sigma lenses, flare is well controlled up to the point where you put something like the sun in the frame, at which point you get small colored flare spots. I'm not overly bothered by the performance of this lens on flare: it's just about what I'd expect from a high-end optic.
17-50mm f/2.8 Sigma Lens Review by Thom Hogan

The Sigma 17-50 OS shows varying amounts of flare over the focal length and aperture ranges, but overall, it is a decent performer in this regard.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Sigma-17-50mm-f-2.8-EX-DC-OS-HSM-Lens-Review.aspx
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