Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
11-26-2008, 03:55 PM   #1
Inactive Account




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Orange County California
Posts: 37
Need advice on my second lens

HI all! I am the proud owner of a K10D and its 18-55 kit lens. I recently bought a pentax 50mm f1.4 and couldn't be anymore pleased with it!
However, I would like to replace the 18-55 with a better lens and I don't have the money for the DA*. Can anyone point me in the right direction of a nice walking around lens? I would like a wide angle and I have been strongly considering the pentax 16-45 lens. It has some pretty amazing reviews and looks like you can get it for a good deal. Of course I am open to tamron and sigma... I just don't know enough about glass yet to make a good choice.
So I leave it up to you all!! Tell me what to buy!!!!

11-26-2008, 04:51 PM   #2
Veteran Member
rfortson's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston TX
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,129
Sounds like you want the 16-45. I have the 16-50 (and love it), but the 16-45 seems to get just as much love.

A little different option might be the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8. Not that wide on our cameras, but wide aperture and good image quality.

Lots of people like the Sigma 17-70.

The good news is there are a variety of options out there that are nice. Be sure to check the lens reviews here to help form your own opinion.
11-26-2008, 05:33 PM   #3
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
sabarrett's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Michigan
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 270
I have the Sigma 17-70 and really like it. The pictures come out nice - color, sharpness. The range is great for indoors shots, which is what I use it for mostly. I use this from October until about April time, then swap the 24-135 on during the summer, as we spend more time outside and that range is better there.

I have mentioned this before, do you spend more time on the wide side or on the long side? You can use a program called exposure plot to look at the exif data and see statistically where your shots are. Also, think about some of the shots yo were unhappy with. Do you wish you had a longer range, could shoot wider, could you not get enough light and were left with a blurry shot... I have tried to let my shooting determine the lenses I get.

Don't forget the primes also. I am currently looking for a budget set of 20mm, 35mm, 50mm. sometimes being constrained to a constant focal length is liberating too.
11-26-2008, 05:36 PM   #4
Damn Brit
Guest




It depends how wide you want to go, the Sigma 24-60 2.8 is very good value for $200 bucks and it's a pretty good lens as well.

11-26-2008, 05:45 PM   #5
Inactive Account




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Long Island, N.Y.
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,124
QuoteOriginally posted by pentaxpaul Quote
HI all! I am the proud owner of a K10D and its 18-55 kit lens. I recently bought a pentax 50mm f1.4 and couldn't be anymore pleased with it!
However, I would like to replace the 18-55 with a better lens and I don't have the money for the DA*. Can anyone point me in the right direction of a nice walking around lens? I would like a wide angle and I have been strongly considering the pentax 16-45 lens. It has some pretty amazing reviews and looks like you can get it for a good deal. Of course I am open to tamron and sigma... I just don't know enough about glass yet to make a good choice.
So I leave it up to you all!! Tell me what to buy!!!!
My recommendation is for the Sigma 17-70. It's the first lens I bought for my K10D body (although I used an older Vivitar Series 1 28-105 MF first). I didn't want the kit lens because it seemed too limiting. Shortly after acquiring the Sigma, I took a three week road trip of Italy and Greece. The Sigma and a Tamron 1.4X was all I took and the resultant pictures are fine. briantimmins's photos and albums on webshots will take you to my Webshots page. Look for the albums marked Italy-Greece 07 (there are several). I also shot my God-daughter's wedding using the Sigma, a DA21mm Ltd, and the 360 flash. Those albums are on Webshots as well.
I have no personal experience with the Pentax 16-45. From what I've heard, it a good performer as well, but I like the extended range of 17-70.
Have fun making your choice. Remember that this will be your everyday lens choice.
Regards,
Brian
11-26-2008, 05:45 PM   #6
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 452
I have the Pentax 16-45mm /4 and for a primary walk around lens it is excellent for the price. There is a bit of CA under certain conditions, but it is pretty well controlled in most cases. Sharp and flexible. Of my lens it gets the most use and is the one I choose when I can only carry one lens. Although now that I have the DA12-24/4 well see if I make a switch. I've the 16-45 go for around $250 used here in the Marketplace, so you really can't beat the price for the quality. It's not as fast as the DA*16-50/2.8, but I've not heard of anybody getting a bad copy either. One potential negative compared to the kit lens you have, at around 18-16 mm you will get a shadow if you use the on-camera flash. The lens goes longer as you go wide, reversed from most lens.
11-26-2008, 06:03 PM   #7
nah
Senior Member




Join Date: May 2008
Location: New Westminster, Canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 282
I had the 16-45mm but it wasn't fast enough in low light and I found the corner sharpness wasn't really there. I've since gotten the Tamron 17-50mm and it's light and sharp.

11-26-2008, 06:08 PM   #8
Veteran Member
Venturi's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tulsa, OK
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,636
+1 on the Tamron 17-50/2.8
11-26-2008, 10:04 PM   #9
Inactive Account




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Orange County California
Posts: 37
Original Poster
Thank you

Thank you for all of your opinions!! They are all helping the effort! Keep it coming.
Just to add more confusion to the mix; I really only want to spend about $200 to $300 (preferably $200). And like I mentioned, I already have a fifty for low light and indoor, so I really only need something for a walk around lens, for landscape, city scapes and general purpose.
Keep those opinions coming please!
11-26-2008, 10:22 PM   #10
Damn Brit
Guest




Heliphoto has a 24-60 for $185.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/photographers-marketplace/42691-sigma-24-...-like-new.html
11-26-2008, 10:25 PM   #11
Veteran Member
roentarre's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 11,783
As many has mentioned, sigma 17-70 is really a good zoom for the buck. The zoom could do most jobs with consistent performance.

Tamron 17-50mm is great one too but it is a little more expensive comparing to sigma 17-70
11-26-2008, 11:44 PM   #12
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
I think 17-70 is a good focal length if you only have one lens with you. 24mm is just not wide enough, and 50mm is just not long enough for the "chance random capture" i.e., "walk around " lens.
11-27-2008, 12:41 AM   #13
Inactive Account




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Orange County California
Posts: 37
Original Poster
sigma 17-70

My only concern is that the Sigma is touted as a Macro? I am confused, I thought that was for up close shooting...
11-27-2008, 01:12 AM   #14
Veteran Member




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Umeå, Sweden
Posts: 755
QuoteOriginally posted by pentaxpaul Quote
My only concern is that the Sigma is touted as a Macro? I am confused, I thought that was for up close shooting...
It's not a true macro as it has a maximum magnification of 1:2.3 (real macro lenses are 1:1, i.e. they can capture the subject in its natural size on film) but the "fake macro" can be useful for the odd close-up shot here and there. In other words, it's not a dedicated close-up lens, but it can double as one if you need it, so that can only be a good thing for a walkaround lens.
11-27-2008, 07:08 AM   #15
Junior Member




Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 30
QuoteOriginally posted by Damn Brit Quote
worth mentioning that it can be had new via amazon for $199.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
k-mount, lens, pentax, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lens advice SebastianP Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 10-20-2010 10:44 AM
Advice for lens please fekish Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 9 09-12-2010 08:44 AM
lens advice bsod Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 19 06-05-2009 09:08 AM
Lens advice benjaminmichael Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 15 05-20-2009 08:56 PM
Need advice on a lens robcap13 Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 11 03-04-2009 06:33 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:51 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top