[pepperberry farm]

@pepperberry farm you’ve used some super zoom lenses in the past. Care to add your thoughts?

thank you...

I have used some, most have been sold off....

Sigma 70-300 - poor/awful/nasty, hated the build quality
Sigma DC 18-250 - better build quality, but the IQ was just never there..
Pentax 18-135 - still have my copy; don't read the reviews on this lens - look at the photos - it's really a delicious walkaround lens....
Pentax 55-300 (screwdrive, not PLM) - possibly the best cheap, bang-for-the-buck consumer zoom out there for the k-mount, just solid all around...

and the one that's my favorite - Pentax 18-250 - yes, it's a shared design with Tamron (so what?); yes, it's been superseded by the 18-270 and the 55-300 PLM, but I love the images from this superzoom...

shots like this:

[4Vn_Shotter]

thank you all
I am just wondering if any member did the comparison between those zoom lenses mentioned.

or for longer reach, should I just get a 70-300. I have a 150-500 sigma but am very slow to focus and too heavy to carry around.

[normhead]

Question is, is it allowed to call a lens delivered as part of a camera lens kit in an original Pentax box that names both items, a kit lens - or not. In the end it isn’t important to me.

The problem would be that the kits are usually the weakest lenses the manufacturer makes. Many of the less that come in the box es are not kit lenses in that regard. By that definition the 18-55 and 50-200 are the kit lenses.

[normhead]

thank you all
I am just wondering if any member did the comparison between those zoom lenses mentioned.

or for longer reach, should I just get a 70-300. I have a 150-500 sigma but am very slow to focus and too heavy to carry around.

The issue is, in my testing the Sigma 70-300 was equivalent to my DA*60-250, up to about 180mm. After 180 mm, you better have Topaz or Capture 1.

The lens you are looking for if you find the 150-500 too heavy is the DA 55-300 PLM.

DA 55-300 PLM



DA*200 with 1.4 TC


Tamaron AF LD 300 2.8 with F-1.7 AF adapter


K-5 and Sigma 70-300 @300mm. (noticeably soft but good if you have sharpening software)


K-3 and DA*60-250 with HD DA 1.4 TC.


You can see for yourself how the 70-300 stacks up.

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Last edited by normhead; 12-05-2022 at 03:08 PM.

[cobbu2]

I just finished using the DA 18-270mm ED SDM on a trip to Big Cypress National Reserve as my only lens and I was very impressed. You can read my December 30th review here with examples, it's the most recent (top) on the list.

Despite what earlier reviews might have said, I wanted to minimize if not eliminate lens changes, it performed admirably and I'm glad I have it. In direct comparisons, I've seen that the Sigma 18-300 DC HSM Contemporary is supposed to be even slightly better (but heavier) and I have one of those on the way as well.