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04-01-2009, 06:35 PM   #1
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Is It Worth to pay extra $125?

I have tight budget this time. I'm planning to buy another lens. What I have now is the one and only FA 50mm F1.4. I love this lens. However, i need a wide budget lens. I have two lenses in my mind. First is the 16-45mm and the 18-55mm AL 11. I've read good reviews about the 16-45 in the pentax lens database. I also read some good reviews of the new kit lens 18-55mm AL11. The price difference of the 16-45 is about 100-125 dollars. Is it worth to pay an extra $125 for the 16-45mm? Second, is the IQ of the 18-55mm AL 11 far behind the 16-45?

04-01-2009, 07:00 PM   #2
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If you can spend the extra $125, I would say it is worth it because even if IQ is identical, the 16-45 is faster (4 vs. 4.5) and wider (16 vs. 18).
04-01-2009, 07:19 PM   #3
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Is the FOV difference between 16 and 18 really that big?

Last edited by jadem; 04-01-2009 at 07:20 PM. Reason: word repitition
04-01-2009, 07:22 PM   #4
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i'd say it's noticeable.

04-01-2009, 07:59 PM   #5
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It's worth it!!! The IQ if 16-45 is better and the kit lens has vignetting issues at it's wide end.
04-01-2009, 08:00 PM   #6
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Yeah at the low end every 1 mm makes a fair difference ... vs at the high end there is very little between 250 - 300mm

If you have the FA 50 1.4 your not going to be happy with any of these zoom's quality imo.

Maybe the Sigma 20mm f1.8 prime
or the DA 14mm 2.8

Probably both out of your budget.
04-01-2009, 08:05 PM   #7
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I have a DAII 18-55 still under warranty i'm willing to let go of for $85. I have been happy with this lens but bought a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. If you need the speed I highly recommend this lens. If you need a nice cheap walkaround, the kit is a good option. I have no experience with 16-45 so no comment.

Depends on your application.

~T


Last edited by shiestmiester; 04-01-2009 at 08:06 PM. Reason: added info
04-01-2009, 09:23 PM   #8
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I'd stick to a kit lens or go high end. You'd be surprised at how good photos can be with using "just" a kit lens.
04-01-2009, 09:42 PM   #9
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For just over 200 used I'd go for a 16-45, compared to the 18-55I the center resolution is a bit better but it is vastly more consistent than the kit lens throughout the rest of the frame. It is also very usable wide open.
04-02-2009, 12:42 AM   #10
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One of the reasons why I never bought 16-45 is that 18-55 is great lens for the category it is! Sure, everybody who compared those two prefers 16-45 but I'm not too sure if it's worth spending money from "tight budget" Personaly I've never found enough difference to justify purchase of 16-45.... pick 18-55 and enjoy it, later when you'll save more get something far better.

on the other side, I did like the prime suggestion mentioned above, how about DA21ltd?

BR
04-02-2009, 07:46 AM   #11
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"Personally I've never found enough difference to justify purchase of 16-45.... pick 18-55 and enjoy it, later when you'll save more get something far better."

I find this informative, I was thinking about upgrading to the 16-45 and even though the 16-45 is somewhat nicer than the 18-55 II, I'll wait until I can justify something better.
04-02-2009, 08:00 AM   #12
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I'm kind of in the same spot. I know the 16-45mm is a better lens, but I'm not sure that it's better enough to make it worth upgrading. Better to wait for a good copy of the 16-50 to come along, I think.

And I find myself not using the kit much, anyway (not due to any optical defect).
04-02-2009, 08:18 AM   #13
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I was in the same position and went for the DA 21 ltd. Take a look, at least.
04-03-2009, 07:42 AM   #14
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For the extra money the da 16-45 costs I'd rather buy a used 360 flash as well as a used kith lens.
04-03-2009, 10:36 AM   #15
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One of the found benefits that I have come across between the two, is how much sharper the 16-45 is at closer distances than that of the original kit lens. Btw, the 16-45 focuses really close to your subject - like 4-5 inches away. There was a post somewhere on here that stated the 16-45 as a macro. Don't know when I read this but there were pretty good points to consider in that post.
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