I know there are other comparison threads and I've read through them, but my needs are more unique and I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a comprehensive list of all the standard zooms and their pros and cons with each other.
As of right now I have a K110D and my walkaround lens is the kit lens (first version, non-WR). I'm buying a K20D any day now and I will need a walkaround lens for it as well, and while I have been impressed with the kit lens (and I think I have a particularly good copy) I really want a better lens. Now, the only thing is, I haven't decided what "better" might be yet. That's why I'm talking out loud and hoping for some pointers as well. So, here we go...
(I'll continue to add to this as time goes on, but feel free to post any thoughts!)
Pentax SMCP-DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and AL II
"The kit lens"
Price new: ~$120
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Bang for the buck
-Not "slow" speeds
-Fair sharpness
Cons:
-Not fast speeds, either
Sigma 18-50mm f/3.5-5.6 DC J
Sigma's counterpart to the kit lens
Price new: ~$130
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Like the kit lens, not "slow" speeds
-Price
Cons:
-Once again, not fast speeds either
-You lose 5mm on the long end
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR
The weather resistant kit lens
Price new: ~$170
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Weather resistant
-Good price
-If you buy a K7 and this lens you get it for a very low price
Cons:
-Not fast
Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8-5.6 XR Di Aspherical IF Macro
Price new: ~$270 (before $50 MIR, expires very soon)
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Lots of zoom
-Internal Focus
-Macro
-Decently fast on the long end
-Zoom lock
Cons:
-Macro is only 1:4 (If we can even call that macro)
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro
Price new: ~$290 (before $60 MIR, expires very soon)
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Lots of range
-Internal Focus
-Macro
-Decently fast on the long end
-Zoom lock
-Low Dispersion version
Cons:
-Macro is only 1:3.7 (Slightly better, though)
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM
Price new: ~$300
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Internal Focus
-Faster than kit lens
-Macro is almost as good as Tamron lenses above (1:4.1)
-Optical stabilization
-HSM (SDM)
-Compact
Cons:
-Still not as fast as some would like
-Not very close focusing
-Some range is lost
Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Aspherical (IF)
Price new: ~$320
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Internal Focus
-Decently fast on the long end
-Lots of range
Cons:
-Still not as fast as some would like
-Not very close focusing
-Slightly higher cost than Tamron counterpart
Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di
Price new: ~$390 (Before $50 MIR that ends very soon)
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Lots of range
-Reaches all the way to 300mm
-1:2.9 magnification
Cons:
-Moderate to slow speeds
-Not very fast considering its cost
-Some closer ranges are lost
Sigma 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM
Price new: ~$340
Average price used: ~...
Pros:
-Good range
-Fairly compact for its range
-Internal focus
-HSM (SDM)
Cons:
-A bit on the slow end
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG
Price new: ~$350
Average price used: ~...
Pros:
-More reach than the kit lens
-Fast: Constant at f/2.8
-EX Markings
Cons:
-No HSM (SDM)
-Doesn't cover the closest end of focal lengths like some of the others do
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro
Price new: ~$370
Average price used: ~...
Pros:
-A pretty great range compared to the kit lenses
-Fairly fast
-Macro (1:2.3)
-Largely thought of as a great replacement for the kit lens
-Sharp
-Internal Focus
Cons:
-No HSM (SDM)
-Not f/2.8 constant, although f/4.5 isn't terribly slow for 70mm.
Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di
Price new: ~$390 (Before $50 MIR that ends very soon)
Average price used: ~....
Pros:
-Lots of range
-Reaches all the way to 300mm
-1:2.9 magnification
Cons:
-Moderate to slow speeds
-Not very fast considering its cost
-Some closer ranges are lost
Pentax 16-45mm f/4 DA
Price new: ~$400
Average price used: ~$225
Pros:
-Starts very wide
-Focuses very closely (.28m)
-Fast AF
-Constant aperture
-Very sharp
Cons:
-Constant aperture is somewhat slow
-Some CA
-Some distortion at 16mm
-16-45mm isn't a very long range
-A bit bulky
-Loud AF
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro
Price new: ~$420
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Starts wide
-Macro (1:3)
-Fast (f/2.8 constant)
-EX markings
Cons:
-Doesn't have quite the same range as some of the others
-No HSM (SDM)
-Macro a bit on the weak side (1:3)
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF]
Price new: ~$450
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Starts wide
-Fast (f/2.8 constant)
-XR Markings
-Internal focus
-Zoom lock
Cons:
-No SDM
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
Price new: ~$460
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Decent reach with 75mm
-Fast (f/2.8 constant)
-XR Markings
-Internal focus
Cons:
-Doesn't catch all the lowest focal lengths
-No SDM
Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical IF Macro
Price new: ~$470
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Holy range, Batman
-Internal focus
-Zoom lock
Cons:
-No SDM
-Seemingly low speeds compared to other lenses of these prices
-Value could be an issue
Pentax SMCP-DA 17-70mm f/4 AL (IF) SDM
Price new: ~$480
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Decent range
-Internal focus
-SDM
-Quick shift focus
-Solid build
Cons:
-Slower than some other lenses at f/4.0 constant
Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM
Price new: ~$530
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Great range
-HSM (SDM)
-Optical stabilization
Cons:
-Not incredibly fast apertures for the price class
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro DF
Price new: ~$570
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Decent focal length on the far end compared to the kit lens
-EX Markings
-Macro
-Fast (Constant f/2.8)
-Dual focus
Cons:
-Misses some of the close focal lengths
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 IF EX DG HSM
Price new: ~$900
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Fast (f/2.8 constant
-HSM (SDM)
-Internal Focus
-EX Markings
Cons:
-Misses some of the closest focal lengths
Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM
Price new: ~$1000
Average price used: ~$...
Pros:
-Starts very wide
-Fast (f/2.8 constant
-SDM
-Internal Focus
-* Markings
Cons:
-Finishes slightly wide as well compared to some others
-Cost
Last edited by Buschmaster; 12-29-2009 at 11:17 AM.