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02-07-2009, 05:53 AM   #1
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First fast Normal-Zoom

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Hello everyone,

I'm a happy owner of a K200d and i'm looking to buy a fast normal range zoom lens. Brand name isn't a huge deal for me, though I do love the focus clutch on Pentax Anyway the only real criteria for me is price. I know a fast lens is gonna be more $$$$ but $200 is about as high as i'll go.

Any suggestions on a good starter around that price?

Also, anyone have experience with FA 28-70 f/4 ? Saw a nice price in the classifieds.

Thanks for the help,

~T


Last edited by shiestmiester; 02-07-2009 at 05:56 AM. Reason: Forgotten info
02-07-2009, 06:13 AM   #2
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If you can stretch to closer to $250, you can consider a used Tamron 28-75mm/2.8 or the Sigma 24-60mm/2.8. The Sigma is really highly regarded and can be had for $265 shipped from Cameta on ebay.

Sigma 24-60mm F/2.8 EX DG Lens for Pentax K200D K20D - eBay (item 110345671003 end time Mar-03-09 07:34:35 PST)
02-07-2009, 12:33 PM   #3
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I can recommend the Sigma 18-50/2.8 (older non-Macro version). I have been using this lens on the K10 and K20 and always found it to be sharp and generally delivering very good image quality. And it is made very nicely, being also sowmwhat smaller than the Pentax 16-50/2.8. As a used item, it might just fall a little bit above your limit. But you will find, that there is usually no fast lens withing the 200 USD limit...

Ben
02-07-2009, 12:39 PM   #4
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What happened with KIT lens? You did get one with camera, did you?
It is a fantastic lens for a start. At 28-70 lens you would miss the wide angle. YOu have a 1.5 crop camera....
There are also Sigma and Tammy 18-50 (I think), but over your budget.

02-07-2009, 12:53 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by Ben_Edict Quote
I can recommend the Sigma 18-50/2.8 (older non-Macro version). I have been using this lens on the K10 and K20 and always found it to be sharp and generally delivering very good image quality. And it is made very nicely, being also sowmwhat smaller than the Pentax 16-50/2.8. As a used item, it might just fall a little bit above your limit. But you will find, that there is usually no fast lens withing the 200 USD limit...

Ben
Same here, but I think Cameta Camera finally sold out of the older version. They seemed to be the only ones carrying it in new conditon for the last year or so.
02-07-2009, 03:09 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by pentagor Quote
What happened with KIT lens?
It fails the "fast" criteria pretty miserably.

As others have pointed out, there are a few zooms that can give f/2.8, but even used they push the $200 budget. So you either have to hope to get exceedingly lucky and snag one on Ebay that no one else notices, or bite the bullet and extend your budget. Or, lose the assumption that you need a zoom to replace the kit lens, and instead get a prime to supplement it. The FA50 is available new for under $200, and the DA40 is close to that. If you can forego AF, then all sorts of options present themselves for well under $100.
02-07-2009, 03:13 PM   #7
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Oh, I missed the "fast" word....

02-07-2009, 04:42 PM   #8
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These are the lenses I currently own.

~DAII 18-50 Kit Lens
~Pentax SMC M 50mm f/2
~CPC Phase 2 80-200 4.5 (twist pull lens)

Tthe prime and CPC I got with my ME Super about a year ago. The CPC sucks, but the it's great slapping a 25 year old Pentax M on my K200. Little clunky in terms of metering, but hey, shoot and adjust. As Marc said the kit is far from "fast"

These are my observations.

Kit Lens is nice start (AF, wide-angle,) but just isn't fast enough, IMO even at 18. I realize it's a kit lens, has to be a cheap zoom.

50mm SMC is great, but have had problems focusing properly,(tiny viewfinder on K200..... KatzEye??? ) and metering problems are a pain at events like family parties.

Not opposed to primes, but seems as though I want AF.

Checking out the Sigma 2.8. Or should I just do a wide prime, and tele prime?

Decisions, decisions,...

Thanks for the help.

Well if it's only $50 bucks more I suppose I could just save up a little longer. As for
02-07-2009, 07:00 PM   #9
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I'm not sure if 28mm-70mm is a focal length that you would like, but sigma has a 28-70mm f/2.8-4 lens for $150 at B&H. Not sure of the IQ though. But for less than $200 I'm sure you're not going to be too picky. Good luck!
02-07-2009, 07:42 PM   #10
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Had considered a lens of this type, but I was always frustrated with zoom specific aperature of kit lens. I think with 2.8 I may be able to live with it though.

Does anyone think i'll just get sick of the f/4 after a while, or would this be a good start before investing 3-400 bucks for a fast zoom?

BTW ghost, almost bought that lens on eBay for $60. Wish I had the $$$
02-08-2009, 01:00 AM   #11
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I think, that you would have either to reach deeper into the pocket or get extremly lucky at some e-bay auction, if you want a reasonable fast zoom with reasonable IQ.
I reached for Sigma 17-70 and it was about US400$ here in Europe. I think it might be around US$ 380... Check this out.
02-08-2009, 02:29 AM   #12
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How about Sigma 24-70/2.8 ? It's a beast that would dwarf your camera, but apparently a good performer, and 24 is wider than 28, I'd say wide enough for most indoors. But I'm not sure about it's price...
BR
02-08-2009, 08:40 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by axl Quote
How about Sigma 24-70/2.8 ? It's a beast that would dwarf your camera, but apparently a good performer, and 24 is wider than 28, I'd say wide enough for most indoors. But I'm not sure about it's price...
BR
Most places are selling that one for about $400, but there are occasional deals on eBay for used ones. I'm hoping to snag either that one or the 24-60, which is about $100 less.
02-09-2009, 10:48 PM   #14
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So it appers as though my options have come to the sigma 2.8-4 28-70, or sigma 2.8 24-70. No Tamron or Pentax comes with same aperature rating and price range.

My only question is, will I grow tired of the f/4 at 70mm quickly, or is this a good investment for a hobbyist??

Otherwise i'll just save for a DA* 50-135 f/2,8 .... HA

Again thanks for the input,

~T
02-10-2009, 12:20 AM   #15
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i have a sigma 24-60 f/2.8 on the way from cameta, just ordered it today
seems to be the best quality value, the 24-70 is way bigger from what ive heard and ive seen no bad reviews for the 24-60. its not quite as wide or long as id like, but since im working on building a system, its good to cover most of the "normal" range.
the m 50mm f/2 is sweet though, its my favorite lens in my kit and basically lives on my camera. real good lens for the 20 bucks you can get it for, but i found a k10 with a split prism already in it on ebay and jumped on it since i was used to having that with my me super
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