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09-13-2009, 12:57 AM   #46
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Iīm with Alfisti, you donīt want to annoy your wife or loose shots changing lenses, the 18-250 is great for sightseeing and as it gets late you can change to the faster 50mm and come home with great pictures and a happy wife.

09-14-2009, 06:56 AM   #47
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QuoteOriginally posted by T_MB Quote
Yes...I know it is 3:00am--I am stuck stuffing wedding invites. On my union breaks, I am "window shopping" lenses. Getting a wider prime is temping, but I do not know if it is worth it given that I already have the 50 1.4 Hypothetically speaking, if I were to purchase another lens--the goal being fast, wide, good low-light performance, which of these would you recommend?

Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 AL Lens with Case and Hood - Pentax
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Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras - Tamron
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Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras - Tamron
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Sigma 28mm f/1.8 EX DG Aspherical Macro Large Aperture Wide Angle Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras - SIGMA
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I'm not a lens expert like some of the people here, (and I SURE don't have some of their budgets), so I'll have to give you my gut level feelings.

I rented a 18-250 from CameraLensrentals and it drove me nuts. That experience alone would put the 18-200mm out of my mind, personally. The hanging lens creep drove me batty. People say you get used to it, but I didn't in the two weeks I played with it.

Going from f/4 to f/2.8 is a noticeable jump, but STILL may not be enough of a jump to get the perspective you want in no-flash zones. IS and a monopod may be enough to overcome some of that, but you'll need to practice. I'd also seriously recommend practicing the "self hug - T" tripod technique -- personally I find that more effective than a monopod with a heavy lens.

So that brings me, personally, to the two primes. I own the FA 35 f/2 and would personally consider it the best walk around lens I've ever had. It's not a perfectly normal view, but it's dang close. Small, comfortable, feels nice, even though it's not an limited. I'd tentatively say it's smaller a bit more comfortable than the Sigma 28mm option, and is going to give you a very similar field of view.

What I'd recommend is getting out your tripod in a relatively dark place. Maybe a candle lit dining room, or something like that. Set up your 16-45 and take a couple shots at 28mm and at 35mm and then put on your 50mm and compare.

I'd also like to point out you rent the Sigma 28mm for $70 for a month with the damage waiver. If that two lens rule is hard and fast, maybe renting the 18mm-250mm and renting the 14mm f/2.8 or 31 f/1.8 is the way to go. I've used CameraLensRentals.com once, and heard only good things about them here on the boards. The worst part of the experience was having to send them back at the end, although I understand they'll work out competitive prices if you request to buy it instead of returning it....
09-14-2009, 07:02 AM   #48
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Primes on a honeymoon? They need a lot of effort especially at W/A as a few mm make sa HUGE difference.

It's a honeymoon.
09-14-2009, 08:15 PM   #49
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you need a good wide for landscape + close quarters but I'm not keen on autofocus,might try getting a nice compact MF 70-150 like my Tamron.

Not sure I'd marry any woman who'd restrict me to 2 lenses on a trip to England....but maybe she's a damn good cook.

09-14-2009, 08:22 PM   #50
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A MF I have had a long while,and love is the Tamron adaptall 28 2.5. It's TINY and rather fast. On a Digi would act as a 35 mm, IMHO,the best landscape lens. 2.5 is decent fast indoors. You can get one at a real nice price and it's gonna out sharp any zoom.
09-14-2009, 09:03 PM   #51
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Out of the 4 lenses you currently have, I'd personally take the 16-45 and 50/1.4. The 16-45 is slightly slower than the 18-55 at the short end, but it's already pretty sharp from F4 onwards. Plus I think you'd be grateful for that extra 2mm at the wide end.

A lot of people are saying bring the 50-200, but for "castles, churches, ruined abbeys, and touring the yorkshire area countryside", I don't think you'd get much use out of it. The OP is already saying the 16-45 is "big and heavy", so from that viewpoint, the less he has to carry, the better.

Out of your shopping list:
Pentax FA 35/2: awesome lens, nice and fast and I love mine, but probably not wide enough for your needs on this trip if you have a choice of the 16-45 or 18-55. Nice upgrade down the path

Tamron 28-75mm F2.8: almost everyone has a good experience with this lens, but same comments as with the 35/2: not wide enough, but nice upgrade down the path

18-200mm F/3.5-6: good focal range, but a compromise in image quality and fast aperture. I personally stay away from these superzooms.

Sigma 28mm F/1.8: same comments as Pentax FA 34/2 and Tamron 28-75.

That's my 2c.

One last thing, don't forget that it's your honeymoon, so congrats and enjoy the time with your new wife!!
09-14-2009, 11:41 PM   #52
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Sigma 10-20 if you want wide for landscapes or Sigma 17-70 or 24-60 plus Pentax 50-135 would cover everything except long telephoto (though for me 135 would be plenty).

09-15-2009, 06:40 AM   #53
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I'd sell the 18-55 and 50-200 and get a Pentax DA 18-250mm. Each have their advantages and disadvantages, but you won't be losing out overall. A zoom lock is a small price to pay for a whole whack of convenience. Forget the 18-200 you linked, it's not up to the IQ of the 18-250.

I have an 18-55, 16-45 and 18-250. IME the 18-250 fits in between the other two in IQ. Photos from the superzoom are a bit sharper and punchier than from the kit lens. The 18-55 has lower distortion at 18mm, both vignette at the wide end unless you stop down. I don't have a 50-200mm, but from anything I've read, the 18-250 holds its own in the telephoto range. I like to shoot an overall scene and then zoom in on details. The 18-250 allows me to do that without changing lenses.

Bring your 50mm 1.4 for low light. From my kit, I'd choose the FA 35 rather than the 50mm. The 50mm is a bit long for general use but it will work and it's a better portrait length.

When you return home, you'll find the 18-250 is an ideal companion for your 16-45, since the 18-250's weak wide end is the 16-45's strong suit. And you'll always have an ideal solution for when your wife says "No futzing with lens changes".

Some 18-250mm samples: http://picasaweb.google.com/bonhommed/Pentax18250mm#

Last edited by audiobomber; 09-15-2009 at 07:26 AM.
09-15-2009, 07:23 AM   #54
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DA 35mm ltd and Sigma 105mm or D FA 100 but that is because of my personal requirements.
09-15-2009, 10:07 AM   #55
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QuoteOriginally posted by T_MB Quote
As I may have mentioned before, I am getting married next month and honeymooning in England. We will be visiting a lot of castles, churches, ruined abbeys, and touring the yorkshire area countryside. I am only allowed to bring 2 lenses. I have 4, so the question is, which 2? All 4 have positive and negative aspects, so I need help choosing. Alternatively, I am open to purchasing a new moderately priced lens that would work for the conditions I need.

My choices are:

Pentax 18-55 mk1. = good all around, but doesn't do anything particularly "well." I don't get nice "pop" from this lens; but it isn't bad. Probably most versitile.

Pentax 16-45 = Great wide angle; nice color rendition; but big, heavy, and not so good in low light.

Pentac 1.4 50mm = Excellent colors; fast; wonderful in low light; avoids high iso; however, do to fixed focal length, it is not always suited to shooting indoors where a wider angle is needed. By far my favorite lens when I do not need to go wide.

Pentax 50-200 mm = good color and speed, but not always my first choice for architecture or landscape shooting. I probably under-utilize this lens.

--Right now I am leaning towards taking the 16-45 and the 1.4 50 mm.

What I would really like is something that is wide and good in low light.

I appreciate your thoughts/comments/suggestions.


If those are your only options, take the 16-45 & the 50mm 1.4.

If you have time and are daring enough, sell the kit ($50) & 16-45 ($220-250) and take the money you would have spent on a new bag ($60?) and the new wider lens ($300?) and buy a new DA*16-50 2.8 ($670 BIN) off the auction site. It would be a wash & you can then take two lenses.
09-15-2009, 12:36 PM   #56
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Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I may very well end up taking 3.

My more immediate dilema is that I have been salivating over the 35mm prime for the last few days, and trying to figure out if I can justify its purchase.
09-15-2009, 12:44 PM   #57
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Hey, congrats on your wedding plans!!

Did not read the whole thread - too long - but I'd take 3 lenses too: 16-45, 50-200 and a cheap manual one, from the M or A series for indoor shots, so a 28 or 20 mm. Or, if you want even cheaper, a M42. But of course, you'd have to focus manually....
09-15-2009, 12:56 PM   #58
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If you take the 50-200 you won't use it unless you force yourself because you feel you should after carryign it all day. I absolutely guarantee it.
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