[ivanvernon]

I got my wife a zoom lens--SMC Pentax-DA 18-250mm f 3.5-6.3. She wanted it because the 77mm ltd she as using was too "long" on the K-01 yellow brick camera she loves to use. Now she is complaining that the 18-250 is not giving photos that are as sharp and "nice" as the 77mm. I am using the 77mm now, so told her the 18-250 is a much better lens and she just needs more practice using it. Please advise.

[sergysergy]

Personally I don't think those zooms (or any similar ones) will be as good as the 77mm.

[SSGGeezer]

Of course the 18-250 is not as good as "The Princess," but on APSC , if calibrated and a decent copy, the super zoom is actually quite good. It could be the perceived brightness due to the difference in aperture causing her to dislike the results. Ar we referring to results on the camera immediately after shooting or when editing?

---------- Post added 11-04-19 at 09:15 ----------

Get her a 50-135 that has been converted to screw drive, and she should be happier.

[pschlute]

I am using the 77mm now, so told her the 18-250 is a much better lens and she just needs more practice using it. Please advise.

I understand your situation perfectly

You need to insist that the 18-250 is actually a finer lens than the grubby 77mm that now resides on your camera. Any ideas she had that it was the other way around would be due to dust on the sensor; dust on her computer monitor; atmospheric interference and the like. She just needs to concentrate more.

There, sorted.

[pepperberry farm]

use the 77 for week, but only show her the worst shots with it... then the zoom for a week and really, really work it... and show her those shots...

[normhead]

As soon as I can, I plan to pick up the 16-85. It's the perfect wife lens, although right now because she's very picky about IQ, she likes stealing my 28-105, taking it off my K-1. Looking at results from yesterday where we were comparing the same scene taken with my K-3 and 18-135 to her K-5 and 28-105 images, her arguments have some merit.

[aslyfox]

Be smart

get another 77mm

you may be dealing with her perception of the qualities of the lens

and when you deal with that

you aren't going to win a battle

quit while you are ahead

either trade her lenses, the 77mm for the zoom or get another 77mm for yourself and give her the one she liked

[c.a.m]

Please advise.

Based on my extensive experience, I would suggest these possible approaches:

1. Stand your ground. Firmly. Don't enter into any further discussion on the matter. When she brings the subject up again, feign deafness. Take your FA Limited and disappear to your workshop.

2. Tell her to take more pictures at the long end. See... the FA Limited seems like a boring wide angle compared to the zoom. She definitely needs the longer reach.

3. Suggest that it will take a couple of years for the zoom to feel right on the K-01. That's just a quirk of the Pentax super zoom. Didn't you mention this when you bought it?

4. As a very last resort, admit that you were wrong, and buy her a complete Sony FF kit. An A9 II and four or five lenses should do the trick. Make sure she uses the Eye AF.

Please let us know how things work out.

(just kidding)

More serious now:

If she finds that 77mm is 'too long' then a good quality wider zoom might be the answer. For example, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 is a good wide-to-normal zoom. Or, the Pentax HD DA 20-40mm. Or, as others have suggested, the DA 16-85mm, which gives good results across its focal length range.

Or, how about a nice prime lens, such as a DA 40mm Limited?

The FA 77 Limited is such an excellent lens that many other options may pale in image quality comparisons.

- Craig

[angerdan]

Like normhead said, the DA 16-85mm would be the first choice. It's fast, light, smaller and sharper than the 18-250.

[taktoon]

Buy da 15 limited for her. There is a possibility it will be to wide for her. So next you will buy da 70 limited as wider then 77 but narrower then 15. Then 21 and finally 40. You will get great collection of limiteds and all of this will be to make your wife happy!

[Cerebum]

I read the heading and thought "ooh, that's a good swap"

Please don't forward this to my lovely wife

[aslyfox]

Based on my extensive experience, I would suggest these possible approaches:

1. Stand your ground. Firmly. Don't enter into any further discussion on the matter. When she brings the subject up again, feign deafness. Take your FA Limited and disappear to your workshop.

2. Tell her to take more pictures at the long end. See... the FA Limited seems like a boring wide angle compared to the zoom. She definitely needs the longer reach.

3. Suggest that it will take a couple of years for the zoom to feel right on the K-01. That's just a quirk of the Pentax super zoom. Didn't you mention this when you bought it?

4. As a very last resort, admit that you were wrong, andand buy her a complete Sony FF kit . An A9 II and four or five lenses should do the trick. Make sure she uses the Eye AF.


Please let us know how things work out.


- Craig

(just kidding)

you better be about # 4

[tvdtvdtvd]

Wow. Those two lenses are about as different as you could possibly pick, with the only similarity being the 'coincidence' that
they each cover the 77mm focal length. The zoom offers convenience and that's about the only thing it can hold over the 77mm.
If your wife legitimately feels the FA77 was too long on the the K-01, then clearly a shorter FL would be appropriate. Whether or not
that should be a zoom depends on what she likes to shoot with. Does she like the convenience of the zoom? Is she OK
with the bulk of the zoom? It could be the DA50 plastic fantastic is just the lens for her, but it's going to require a few more
questions to suss out for sure.

[gifthorse]

I read the heading and thought "ooh, that's a good swap"

Please don't forward this to my lovely wife

I read the title and thought "Do I get to pick the new lens and who pays for shipping?"

[aslyfox]

I see some posters are confused over the title

you could read it as an offer for a trade

new lens [ in exchange ] for wife

( I think Cerebum was hinting at that )

well you could