The Short of It - Rec for AF Lens for Inside / Close Up
All,
Earlier this year, I purchased the Tamron A001 with 1.4x TC - I've been very happy with it. I may at some point expand into a 300 - 500mm lens for birding and (bigger) moon photography. At the moment, I want to get a shorter zoom lens - perhaps in the 28 - 100mm range. I have a SMC-A 50mm 1.7 and a SMC-M 28mm 3.5. However, I would love something wider, autofocus, and zoom for indoor sports, family gatherings, etc. I have a K-1, so I've been considering the following, in the < $500 price range (less expensive is better for spouse-convincing purpose, but if one so far outweighs, then I might make a case for it):
Pentax
HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR - This seems to be $350 - $400 and is an excellent lens.
SMC Pentax-F 24-50mm F4 - A good lens, but perhaps now a bit overpriced at $100 - $150 used.
SMC Pentax-F 35-105mm F4-5.6 - Seems a good price, between $60 and $80 used. In Pentax, this could be the inexpensive 1st.
Third-Party
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro - $300 or so
Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - $550+
Sigma 24-60mm F2.8 EX DG - $400 or so
Sigma 28-105 2.8-4 DG - $50
Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 AF XR Di LD Macro SP - Good speed and can be purchased for roughly $200 - $300
It seems to me that if I'm going in the more expensive range, the Pentax-D HD 28-105mm is hard to beat.
In the middle range, the Tamron 28-75mm is excellent.
In the lower range, the SMC-F 35-105 and the Sigma 28-105 seem like the best options.
Thoughts? Lenses I'm missing / should consider? Thank you!
|