Would appreciate advice on which lens to get!

MaineNative · 06-10-2018, 05:47 PM

Congrats. You will be happy with the 18-135, especially for that price! For me the UWA doesn’t get used too often, but there are certain shots you can only get with a UWA. I use a UWA for night shots of the Milky Way and for tight indoor shots. Otherwise the 18 mm is good enough most of the time.

tibbitts · 06-10-2018, 06:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

For those of us who own a UWA zoom, this you have to have 16 thing is kind of crazy. Having a Sigma 8-16 I'd say, you have to have 8, 16 is only halfway there.

---------- Post added 06-10-18 at 08:37 PM ----------

For sure if you have time to wait, wait for the 11-18.

If you don't have an UWA, as in the case of the OP, my suggestion was that a 16-x will be dramatically more useful than an 18-x. I didn't mean to pick on 16mm but there aren't any 15-x or 14-x lenses that I know of for Pentax. There is the 17-70 Sigma and I might go for that rather than a 18-x, although sometimes 1mm is almost a rounding error so I'd have to look into the actual focal length differences in those cases.

**mikesbike** · 06-10-2018, 08:53 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Grab a 12-24 and the 18-135. The 18-135 is really versatile and I think out shoots the 18-50 - but I haven't done a lot of direct comparison my opinion is based mainly on results which could be biased since I've had my 18-135 longer than the 18-50.

I think so too. Your DA-L 18-50mm is a great combo with the exceptionally compact K-S2. This combo is so compact and light I can either put it into a compact DSLR belt holster, or even into a large jacket pocket- imagine, a quality DSLR with a zoom lens in a jacket pocket! When I need compactness with versatility, but not much reach, it is just the thing. I leave my K-5 IIs and my KP behind. But I have the DA 18-135mm and the DA 12-24mm as well. The DA 18-135mm is even more versatile when I need more reach. It is also very compact considering its large zoom range, and a very well-built fine performer. The DA 12-24mm is an exceptionally fine WA zoom lens.

LensBeginner · 06-11-2018, 12:42 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

For those of us who own a UWA zoom, this you have to have 16 thing is kind of crazy. Having a Sigma 8-16 I'd say, you have to have 8, 16 is only halfway there.

You're kinda confirming what I was thinking... I'm using my 10-20mm mostly at or near 10mm. When I need 20mm I only need more, so I just change lens.

**mikesbike** · 06-11-2018, 01:15 PM

Of course the new DA* 11-18mm will also be f/2.8 WR and DC- if those aspects are of primary importance. It will have to be pretty large, heavy, and expensive. I would recommend after it is available to wait for test results, which will take some months. If you don't really need the f/2.8 WR and DC, the Pentax DA 12-24mm has proven to provide exceptional edge-to-edge performance. Its constant f/4 aperture is one stop off the f/2.8 but its performance wide open is darn good.

**FozzFoster** · 06-11-2018, 01:41 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by mikesbike

Its constant f/4 aperture is one stop off the f/2.8 but its performance wide open is darn good.

Yep, that extra stop is wanted for some astro shots. Right now my plan is still to save for the 11-18, however once it's released and reviewed I may end up considering some third party fast, prime UWA.
I really like the WR and silent focusing (it's an SDM I think for the 11-18, not DC).
Hopefully, the 11-18 won't be TOO heavy and expensive haha!

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06-10-2018, 05:47 PM	#31
MaineNative Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Photos: Gallery Posts: 280	Congrats. You will be happy with the 18-135, especially for that price! For me the UWA doesn’t get used too often, but there are certain shots you can only get with a UWA. I use a UWA for night shots of the Milky Way and for tight indoor shots. Otherwise the 18 mm is good enough most of the time.

06-10-2018, 06:28 PM - 1 Like	#32
tibbitts Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Oklahoma USA Posts: 2,193	Originally posted by normhead For those of us who own a UWA zoom, this you have to have 16 thing is kind of crazy. Having a Sigma 8-16 I'd say, you have to have 8, 16 is only halfway there. ---------- Post added 06-10-18 at 08:37 PM ---------- For sure if you have time to wait, wait for the 11-18. If you don't have an UWA, as in the case of the OP, my suggestion was that a 16-x will be dramatically more useful than an 18-x. I didn't mean to pick on 16mm but there aren't any 15-x or 14-x lenses that I know of for Pentax. There is the 17-70 Sigma and I might go for that rather than a 18-x, although sometimes 1mm is almost a rounding error so I'd have to look into the actual focal length differences in those cases.

06-10-2018, 08:53 PM - 1 Like	#33
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Originally posted by UncleVanya Grab a 12-24 and the 18-135. The 18-135 is really versatile and I think out shoots the 18-50 - but I haven't done a lot of direct comparison my opinion is based mainly on results which could be biased since I've had my 18-135 longer than the 18-50. I think so too. Your DA-L 18-50mm is a great combo with the exceptionally compact K-S2. This combo is so compact and light I can either put it into a compact DSLR belt holster, or even into a large jacket pocket- imagine, a quality DSLR with a zoom lens in a jacket pocket! When I need compactness with versatility, but not much reach, it is just the thing. I leave my K-5 IIs and my KP behind. But I have the DA 18-135mm and the DA 12-24mm as well. The DA 18-135mm is even more versatile when I need more reach. It is also very compact considering its large zoom range, and a very well-built fine performer. The DA 12-24mm is an exceptionally fine WA zoom lens.

06-11-2018, 12:42 AM - 1 Like	#34
LensBeginner Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,696	Originally posted by normhead For those of us who own a UWA zoom, this you have to have 16 thing is kind of crazy. Having a Sigma 8-16 I'd say, you have to have 8, 16 is only halfway there. You're kinda confirming what I was thinking... I'm using my 10-20mm mostly at or near 10mm. When I need 20mm I only need more, so I just change lens.

06-11-2018, 01:15 PM	#35
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	Of course the new DA* 11-18mm will also be f/2.8 WR and DC- if those aspects are of primary importance. It will have to be pretty large, heavy, and expensive. I would recommend after it is available to wait for test results, which will take some months. If you don't really need the f/2.8 WR and DC, the Pentax DA 12-24mm has proven to provide exceptional edge-to-edge performance. Its constant f/4 aperture is one stop off the f/2.8 but its performance wide open is darn good.

06-11-2018, 01:41 PM - 1 Like	#36
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806 Original Poster	Originally posted by mikesbike Its constant f/4 aperture is one stop off the f/2.8 but its performance wide open is darn good. Yep, that extra stop is wanted for some astro shots. Right now my plan is still to save for the 11-18, however once it's released and reviewed I may end up considering some third party fast, prime UWA. I really like the WR and silent focusing (it's an SDM I think for the 11-18, not DC). Hopefully, the 11-18 won't be TOO heavy and expensive haha!