All rounder lens

hhrc · 11-25-2008, 02:11 AM

Hi

I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for.

Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function.

So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this?

benjikan · 11-25-2008, 02:21 AM

Originally posted by hhrc

Hi

I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for.

Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function.

So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this?

Yes there are several. You might consider the Pentax 18-250 lens or the Sigma 18-200 lens.

Ben

lithos · 11-25-2008, 02:54 AM

Originally posted by benjikan

Yes there are several. You might consider the Pentax 18-250 lens or the Sigma 18-200 lens.

Ben

While Benjikan might mean well, you'd have to be missing most of your brain to actually want the Sigma 18-200.

For starters, it's made by Sigma.

Secondly, it's got more distortion than a heavy metal album. Purple fringing, green fringing, and it goes from barrel to pincushion without actually managing to stop at a place without any significant vertical distortion at all.

Thirdly, it's a consumer zoom. If you know anything about photography at all, you'll get the Pentax 18-250. It's made by a company who seem to know about zooms - Tamron - and is SMC coated.

Oh, and fourthly, it's about as a block of mozzarella cheese.

flyer · 11-25-2008, 03:07 AM

You seem to dislike Sigma lenses. I actually have some Sigma lenses that are performing a lot better than some Tamron lenses I used to have.

Aditya Panda · 11-25-2008, 04:19 AM

Originally posted by hhrc

Hi

I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for.

Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function.

So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this?

When people move up from digi-cams/'bridge' cameras, superzoom is something they usually tend to leave behind. Zooms are always a compromise, and superzooms even more so. If you want to take full advantage of your new K 10D, get it a nice, affordable set of good zooms, at least two of them, that cover the 18mm to 300mm range. The 18-55 'kit' will do for the lower end. The DA 50-200 or DA 55-300 can cover the longer end. Other lesser quality options in the longer end include the various Sigma/Tamron (sharper) 70/75-300mm f/4-5.6 lenses. Welcome to the world of SLR photography- lens changes are a part of life from now

But if you'd still want the convenience of a superzoom, the Pentax 18-250 is supposed to be really good. Of course no superzoom will give you macro the way your Z3 did, but the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s offer a nice 1:2 'macro' mode.

Cheers,
Aditya

hhrc · 11-25-2008, 06:31 AM

Thanks for the advice. I have been looking at the Pentax 18-250 so this answers my question nicely.

Many thanks

audiobomber · 11-25-2008, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by hhrc

Thanks for the advice. I have been looking at the Pentax 18-250 so this answers my question nicely.

Many thanks

I agree, that's the all-rounder you're looking for.

ChrisJ · 11-25-2008, 08:13 AM

All lenses have compromises in their design, none more so than wide range zoomes. For me they are a compromise too far.

If there wasn't a quality price to pay the only lens Pentax would have to make is 10mm - 200mm, but life ain't that easy.

Chris

RBellavance · 11-25-2008, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by ChrisJ

All lenses have compromises in their design, none more so than wide range zoomes. For me they are a compromise too far.

I feel the same way.

Like the OP, I upgraded to my Pentax DSLR from a "superzoom" bridge (a Fuji S5100 in my case). I initially feared I would miss the versatility of the 10x zoom, but I still chose the Sigma 17-70mm as my first (and only) lens at the time (the "105mm equivalent" focal length covered 75% of my shots with the Fuji).

Not long afterwards, I purchased a DA50-200mm to cover most of the gap I felt I was "missing". Well, after nearly two years it turns out I don't use the 50-200mm all that much... I'm happy to have it when I do need the longer reach, but considering how seldom that happens, I am very glad I chose to not compromise the IQ by going with a superzoom.

One of the main advantages of a DSLR is the possibility to change the lens, and therefore use one that is most suited to the pictures to be taken. One should not shy away from that, IMHO.

BTW, my current "travel" kit consists of the aforementioned Sigma 17-70mm, the DA50-200, and the DA12-24. And the 12-24 sees a lot more light than the 50-200...

pingflood · 11-25-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally posted by lithos

While Benjikan might mean well, you'd have to be missing most of your brain to actually want the Sigma 18-200.

For starters, it's made by Sigma.

Secondly, it's got more distortion than a heavy metal album. Purple fringing, green fringing, and it goes from barrel to pincushion without actually managing to stop at a place without any significant vertical distortion at all.

Thirdly, it's a consumer zoom. If you know anything about photography at all, you'll get the Pentax 18-250. It's made by a company who seem to know about zooms - Tamron - and is SMC coated.

Oh, and fourthly, it's about as a block of mozzarella cheese.

Have you actually used one?

lithos · 11-25-2008, 12:15 PM

Sadly, I f*cking own one.

Got it thrust upon me by the sales rep when I bought my K100D. Asked him if I could take a Pentax 18-55. Nope. Asked him if I could get it body only nope.

Was either the 18-125, which I got with my *istDS, or 18-200.

pingflood · 11-25-2008, 12:53 PM

While I haven't used the Pentax version I can't imagine it being a completely different lens from the Canon one, which while suffering from barrel distortion on the wide end has very little pincushion distortion and is a half decent lens for the money. That said, I'd take the 18-250 if I was offered one of the two.

11-25-2008, 02:11 AM	#1
hhrc New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nottingham, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 24	All rounder lens Hi I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for. Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function. So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this?

11-25-2008, 02:21 AM	#2
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	Originally posted by hhrc Hi I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for. Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function. So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this? Yes there are several. You might consider the Pentax 18-250 lens or the Sigma 18-200 lens. Ben

11-25-2008, 02:54 AM	#3
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Originally posted by benjikan Yes there are several. You might consider the Pentax 18-250 lens or the Sigma 18-200 lens. Ben While Benjikan might mean well, you'd have to be missing most of your brain to actually want the Sigma 18-200. For starters, it's made by Sigma. Secondly, it's got more distortion than a heavy metal album. Purple fringing, green fringing, and it goes from barrel to pincushion without actually managing to stop at a place without any significant vertical distortion at all. Thirdly, it's a consumer zoom. If you know anything about photography at all, you'll get the Pentax 18-250. It's made by a company who seem to know about zooms - Tamron - and is SMC coated. Oh, and fourthly, it's about as a block of mozzarella cheese.

11-25-2008, 03:07 AM	#4
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	You seem to dislike Sigma lenses. I actually have some Sigma lenses that are performing a lot better than some Tamron lenses I used to have.

11-25-2008, 04:19 AM	#5
Aditya Panda Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bhubaneswar, India Photos: Gallery Posts: 104	Originally posted by hhrc Hi I know there are lots of lens discussions here but i havent found the answer i am looking for. Basically, before i got the pentax k10d i used to have a konica minolta dimage Z3 which was a bridge camera. The lens was capable of 12x optical zoom and also had macro function. So the question is, is there a lens i can buy for the k10d which is an all rounder like this? When people move up from digi-cams/'bridge' cameras, superzoom is something they usually tend to leave behind. Zooms are always a compromise, and superzooms even more so. If you want to take full advantage of your new K 10D, get it a nice, affordable set of good zooms, at least two of them, that cover the 18mm to 300mm range. The 18-55 'kit' will do for the lower end. The DA 50-200 or DA 55-300 can cover the longer end. Other lesser quality options in the longer end include the various Sigma/Tamron (sharper) 70/75-300mm f/4-5.6 lenses. Welcome to the world of SLR photography- lens changes are a part of life from now But if you'd still want the convenience of a superzoom, the Pentax 18-250 is supposed to be really good. Of course no superzoom will give you macro the way your Z3 did, but the Tamron and Sigma 70-300s offer a nice 1:2 'macro' mode. Cheers, Aditya

11-25-2008, 06:31 AM	#6
hhrc New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nottingham, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 24 Original Poster	Thanks for the advice. I have been looking at the Pentax 18-250 so this answers my question nicely. Many thanks

11-25-2008, 07:55 AM	#7
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by hhrc Thanks for the advice. I have been looking at the Pentax 18-250 so this answers my question nicely. Many thanks I agree, that's the all-rounder you're looking for.

11-25-2008, 08:13 AM	#8
ChrisJ Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Eckington, Derbyshire UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 316	All lenses have compromises in their design, none more so than wide range zoomes. For me they are a compromise too far. If there wasn't a quality price to pay the only lens Pentax would have to make is 10mm - 200mm, but life ain't that easy. Chris

11-25-2008, 09:08 AM	#9
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	Originally posted by ChrisJ All lenses have compromises in their design, none more so than wide range zoomes. For me they are a compromise too far. I feel the same way. Like the OP, I upgraded to my Pentax DSLR from a "superzoom" bridge (a Fuji S5100 in my case). I initially feared I would miss the versatility of the 10x zoom, but I still chose the Sigma 17-70mm as my first (and only) lens at the time (the "105mm equivalent" focal length covered 75% of my shots with the Fuji). Not long afterwards, I purchased a DA50-200mm to cover most of the gap I felt I was "missing". Well, after nearly two years it turns out I don't use the 50-200mm all that much... I'm happy to have it when I do need the longer reach, but considering how seldom that happens, I am very glad I chose to not compromise the IQ by going with a superzoom. One of the main advantages of a DSLR is the possibility to change the lens, and therefore use one that is most suited to the pictures to be taken. One should not shy away from that, IMHO. BTW, my current "travel" kit consists of the aforementioned Sigma 17-70mm, the DA50-200, and the DA12-24. And the 12-24 sees a lot more light than the 50-200...

11-25-2008, 10:56 AM	#10
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	Originally posted by lithos While Benjikan might mean well, you'd have to be missing most of your brain to actually want the Sigma 18-200. For starters, it's made by Sigma. Secondly, it's got more distortion than a heavy metal album. Purple fringing, green fringing, and it goes from barrel to pincushion without actually managing to stop at a place without any significant vertical distortion at all. Thirdly, it's a consumer zoom. If you know anything about photography at all, you'll get the Pentax 18-250. It's made by a company who seem to know about zooms - Tamron - and is SMC coated. Oh, and fourthly, it's about as a block of mozzarella cheese. Have you actually used one?

11-25-2008, 12:15 PM	#11
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	Sadly, I fcking own one. Got it thrust upon me by the sales rep when I bought my K100D. Asked him if I could take a Pentax 18-55. Nope. Asked him if I could get it body only nope. Was either the 18-125, which I got with my istDS, or 18-200.

11-25-2008, 12:53 PM	#12
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,169	While I haven't used the Pentax version I can't imagine it being a completely different lens from the Canon one, which while suffering from barrel distortion on the wide end has very little pincushion distortion and is a half decent lens for the money. That said, I'd take the 18-250 if I was offered one of the two.