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10-14-2008, 09:27 PM   #1
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Who's the best?

I was looking at getting the Pentax 16-50 da lens, but I keep hearing it's like 50/50 if you get a good or bad one. I don't know that I want to mess with that. I hear people talk about the Tamron 17-70 (I think) 2.8. Is that supposed to be a great lens? How do they rank:

Pentax
Tamron
Sigma

Thanks.

10-14-2008, 10:55 PM   #2
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The Tamron is the SP AF 17-50mm F2.8 XR LD IF Di II. I own it and love it - and there'd be bloodshed if you tried to take it from me.
When I was shopping for this range I really only considered the DA*16-50 and the Tam17-50. What won me over to Tamron was the price difference. Nobody in town sells either lens so I had to do my comparisons online and I just could not see $300 difference in image quality between photos taken by the two.

The DA* does have the silent SDM AF motor and weather sealing but that wasn't a major point for me. The DA* likely may also have better coatings but I've seen more examples of CA and PF from 16-50 shots than I have with 17-50 which may or may not hold any credence; I haven't seen any in my shots though.
Now that I have the DA*50-135 I can appreciate the smooth quiet operation of SDM (very nice), but if there was another 50-135 lens on the market with comparable image quality for $300 less I'd own it. If either of those two are really important due to the environment you shoot in then by all means get the DA*16-50.

The Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 wasn't on my radar because I was looking for constant aperture and it's a variable aperture lens.

Check this thread for example shots from the Tamron... https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/39195-wanna-se...wide-open.html
10-14-2008, 11:22 PM   #3
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The Da 16-50 is my most used lens. Just love it. I took the chance and brought from the USA and got a good copy. If I damaged or lost mine I would take the same chance again and do so ASAP... great lens.

For some examples from happy users in case you did not catch this thread


https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/25085-photos-happy-16-50-buyers.html
10-15-2008, 06:59 AM   #4
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So between the Tamron and Pentax, is it mainly just the weather sealing and silent motor? Is the glass comparable?

10-15-2008, 07:06 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by mchud Quote
So between the Tamron and Pentax, is it mainly just the weather sealing and silent motor? Is the glass comparable?
both will take very sharp pictures.
10-15-2008, 01:53 PM   #6
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Tamron is significantly cheaper with excellent image rendering in both 17-50/2.8 and 70-200/2.8

At least I tried it on canon SLR body. It shames all the L lenses by a mile.
10-16-2008, 11:21 AM   #7
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Why not the Sigma DC 18-50 F2.8 EX Macro, it's a very good and sharp lens, from F4.5 it's super IMO. It was the first lens I got with the K10D, have never regretted it!!

Mike

10-16-2008, 11:49 AM   #8
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how is the color rendition and contrast of the tamron, compared to the da* ?
and how is the bokeh ?

for me, these two factors are as important as sharpness.

i have the tamron 70-300 and i find some of the shots i take with it are rather *dull* looking compared to my kitlens (less contrast and the colors are not as nice)
10-16-2008, 04:09 PM   #9
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You can't really compare the 70-300mm to the 17-50mm they are totally different beasts. The 70-300mm is such a slow lens compared to the 2.8 of the 17-50mm...

I use mine mainly wide open for gig photography & boy is it good.

Gary

Gary Stafford Music Photgraphy
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