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rockmaster1964 · 03-07-2010, 02:31 PM

Since I have LBA, I have been considering changing my kit and need feedback on what you would do.

I love my m series lens, but the exposure issues with my K10 and my family not really having patience for me to manually focus have me thinking about selling them.

Low light it not a high priority, I usually use my flash.

Look at my signature for what lens I currently have.

I am thinking about the following changes to my kit:

1. Sell all m series lens and Quantaray lens (tamron version) and buy 55-300mm lens. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, DA 55-300mm

2. Sell all m series lens + extra money (need wife approval) and buy Tamron 28-75mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Tamron 28-75mm, Quantaray 70-300mm (tamron version).

3. Sell all m series lens + extra money (need wife approval) and buy DA 70mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 70mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Quantaray 70-300mm (tamron version).

4. Sell all m series lens, Quantaray lens (tamron version) + extra money (need wife approval) and buy Tamron 18-250mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Tamron 18-250mm.

5. Don't sell or change anything.

henryjing · 03-07-2010, 04:43 PM

I dont know why you are so keen on the zoom lens. if you sell all your M lens, I think you should get a wide-angle lens. I recommend DA21 and DA15.

Now you have the DA21 or DA 15 for wide open, and FA43 for the standard lens.

And for long distance shot, I recommend you got DA 50-200 ED first, because its incredible sharpness on f8, light-weight with a low price. You can replace it years later, but now I think it is enough to replace your previous lens.

So, as you see, I recommend you put money on the wide-angle lens, Pentax-F series is also a good option. Moreover, FA43 is enough for portrait on a ASP-C. But if you have more money, you can consider the DA70.

rockmaster1964 · 03-07-2010, 05:27 PM

Ultimately I would like to own the DA15 and DA21. My 16-45mm is very sharp and covers the wide range for me.

So with the wide covered for now, I am looking at the longer range stuff. I am looking at zooms a little more only because during my kids school events and family events changing lens often has been a hassle. My wife is not real fond of it.

I was looking at the DA 55-300mm instead of the DA 50-200mm because of the IQ differences I have read about.

My long range plan is to have a prime lens kit and a zoom kit.

henryjing · 03-07-2010, 05:56 PM

Sorry, I didn't notice the 16-45mm you have. Then I think you could consider Sigma 70-300mm Macro. With money left, you can take the DA70 for portrait.

rockmaster1964 · 03-07-2010, 06:25 PM

Thanks for the advice. I don't think I would be gaining anything by replacing my Quantaray 70-300mm with the Sigma 70-300mm. So it looks to me like your recommendation would be option 3.

henryjing · 03-07-2010, 06:30 PM

Originally posted by rockmaster1964

Thanks for the advice. I don't think I would be gaining anything by replacing my Quantaray 70-300mm with the Sigma 70-300mm. So it looks to me like your recommendation would be option 3.

Actually, I dont prefer too many zoom lens, you can consider selling all zoom lens and replace them by the 18-250mm one.

rockmaster1964 · 03-07-2010, 06:36 PM

The 16-45 is brand new, so it is staying.

**Just1MoreDave** · 03-07-2010, 06:53 PM

Option 1 is good because you can do it without spending extra, you gain a better long end and end up with a pretty good quality kit from 16 to 300mm. You can try to earn some credit with the wife for upgrading without spending. Its value to you depends a lot on how often you either used the Quantaray or would have used it but didn't think it was good enough. Later, you can add the Tamron 28-75/2.8 to this kit - although it overlaps other lenses in coverage somewhat, it's f2.8 so it has more uses.

The other options require keeping the Quantaray so your question should be, is it OK for now? If you spend money upgrading the other parts of the kit, you may be stuck with it for a while, so make sure that's what you want.

rockmaster1964 · 03-07-2010, 07:09 PM

The Quantaray is probably okay to keep for now. It takes good photos, but I have read about the 55-300mm being better.

The quantaray factor is one of the reasons I am asking for the advice.

epqwerty · 03-07-2010, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by henryjing

Sorry, I didn't notice the 16-45mm you have. Then I think you could consider Sigma 70-300mm Macro. With money left, you can take the DA70 for portrait.

In my opinion, option 1 or option 4 is a good choice if you do need the zoom lens. The pentax 55-300mm and the tarmron 18-250mm are well regarded lenses. But to be honest in not 100% sure why you are getting rid of the m lenses. I know it's manual focus and aperture but some of them are really good lenses. I guess you can consider them as replacements. As for the sigma lens being a better lens then the quantaray that is subjective. I know the quality control aspect of the quantaray is slightly worse then a true sigma lens but some versions of them are sigma versions so it's really not an upgrade.

Pentaxor · 03-07-2010, 07:29 PM

since you often use a flash, option 1 would be the best option. the DA70 is great, but you'll be missing some great focal lengths at the telephoto end. plus you don't need to spend more than you could bargain for. and save you from making some excuse for the missus. besides, 70mm focal length on the DA55-300 is great, especially when assisted with good lighting.

sterretje · 03-07-2010, 10:10 PM

Don't change anything. Just shoot your family with AF lenses (or a Colt45

). If it's a case of LBA, just go to the auction that is currently advertised on top of all pages and buy everything. That it will cure your LBA permanently because your wife will kill you

rockmaster1964 · 03-08-2010, 05:40 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

Don't change anything. Just shoot your family with AF lenses (or a Colt45

). If it's a case of LBA, just go to the auction that is currently advertised on top of all pages and buy everything. That it will cure your LBA permanently because your wife will kill you

My wife would kill me for sure.

**Canada_Rockies** · 03-08-2010, 09:17 AM

FWIW, my vote is for option 1. As you can see from my signature, I am in no way opposed to zoom lenses, I just get those that have decent optical characteristics. From everything I have read, the 55-300 is a very good lens indeed. Go for it. No lost cash, no cranky wife, nice IQ, what's to lose?

rockmaster1964 · 03-08-2010, 10:33 AM

Thanks everyone for all of the feedback. I think I am going to go with option 1.

03-07-2010, 02:31 PM	#1
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382	Possible changes to my kit advice Since I have LBA, I have been considering changing my kit and need feedback on what you would do. I love my m series lens, but the exposure issues with my K10 and my family not really having patience for me to manually focus have me thinking about selling them. Low light it not a high priority, I usually use my flash. Look at my signature for what lens I currently have. I am thinking about the following changes to my kit: 1. Sell all m series lens and Quantaray lens (tamron version) and buy 55-300mm lens. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, DA 55-300mm 2. Sell all m series lens + extra money (need wife approval) and buy Tamron 28-75mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Tamron 28-75mm, Quantaray 70-300mm (tamron version). 3. Sell all m series lens + extra money (need wife approval) and buy DA 70mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 70mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Quantaray 70-300mm (tamron version). 4. Sell all m series lens, Quantaray lens (tamron version) + extra money (need wife approval) and buy Tamron 18-250mm. So my kit would be FA 43mm ltd, DA 16-45mm, Tamron 18-250mm. 5. Don't sell or change anything.

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03-07-2010, 04:43 PM	#2
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	I dont know why you are so keen on the zoom lens. if you sell all your M lens, I think you should get a wide-angle lens. I recommend DA21 and DA15. Now you have the DA21 or DA 15 for wide open, and FA43 for the standard lens. And for long distance shot, I recommend you got DA 50-200 ED first, because its incredible sharpness on f8, light-weight with a low price. You can replace it years later, but now I think it is enough to replace your previous lens. So, as you see, I recommend you put money on the wide-angle lens, Pentax-F series is also a good option. Moreover, FA43 is enough for portrait on a ASP-C. But if you have more money, you can consider the DA70.

03-07-2010, 05:27 PM	#3
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	Ultimately I would like to own the DA15 and DA21. My 16-45mm is very sharp and covers the wide range for me. So with the wide covered for now, I am looking at the longer range stuff. I am looking at zooms a little more only because during my kids school events and family events changing lens often has been a hassle. My wife is not real fond of it. I was looking at the DA 55-300mm instead of the DA 50-200mm because of the IQ differences I have read about. My long range plan is to have a prime lens kit and a zoom kit.

03-07-2010, 05:56 PM	#4
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	Sorry, I didn't notice the 16-45mm you have. Then I think you could consider Sigma 70-300mm Macro. With money left, you can take the DA70 for portrait.

03-07-2010, 06:25 PM	#5
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	Thanks for the advice. I don't think I would be gaining anything by replacing my Quantaray 70-300mm with the Sigma 70-300mm. So it looks to me like your recommendation would be option 3.

03-07-2010, 06:30 PM	#6
henryjing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: United States Posts: 467	Originally posted by rockmaster1964 Thanks for the advice. I don't think I would be gaining anything by replacing my Quantaray 70-300mm with the Sigma 70-300mm. So it looks to me like your recommendation would be option 3. Actually, I dont prefer too many zoom lens, you can consider selling all zoom lens and replace them by the 18-250mm one.

03-07-2010, 06:36 PM	#7
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	The 16-45 is brand new, so it is staying.

03-07-2010, 06:53 PM	#8
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Option 1 is good because you can do it without spending extra, you gain a better long end and end up with a pretty good quality kit from 16 to 300mm. You can try to earn some credit with the wife for upgrading without spending. Its value to you depends a lot on how often you either used the Quantaray or would have used it but didn't think it was good enough. Later, you can add the Tamron 28-75/2.8 to this kit - although it overlaps other lenses in coverage somewhat, it's f2.8 so it has more uses. The other options require keeping the Quantaray so your question should be, is it OK for now? If you spend money upgrading the other parts of the kit, you may be stuck with it for a while, so make sure that's what you want.

03-07-2010, 07:09 PM	#9
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	The Quantaray is probably okay to keep for now. It takes good photos, but I have read about the 55-300mm being better. The quantaray factor is one of the reasons I am asking for the advice.

03-07-2010, 07:13 PM	#10
epqwerty Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 550	Originally posted by henryjing Sorry, I didn't notice the 16-45mm you have. Then I think you could consider Sigma 70-300mm Macro. With money left, you can take the DA70 for portrait. In my opinion, option 1 or option 4 is a good choice if you do need the zoom lens. The pentax 55-300mm and the tarmron 18-250mm are well regarded lenses. But to be honest in not 100% sure why you are getting rid of the m lenses. I know it's manual focus and aperture but some of them are really good lenses. I guess you can consider them as replacements. As for the sigma lens being a better lens then the quantaray that is subjective. I know the quality control aspect of the quantaray is slightly worse then a true sigma lens but some versions of them are sigma versions so it's really not an upgrade.

03-07-2010, 07:29 PM	#11
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	since you often use a flash, option 1 would be the best option. the DA70 is great, but you'll be missing some great focal lengths at the telephoto end. plus you don't need to spend more than you could bargain for. and save you from making some excuse for the missus. besides, 70mm focal length on the DA55-300 is great, especially when assisted with good lighting.

03-07-2010, 10:10 PM	#12
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Don't change anything. Just shoot your family with AF lenses (or a Colt45 ). If it's a case of LBA, just go to the auction that is currently advertised on top of all pages and buy everything. That it will cure your LBA permanently because your wife will kill you

03-08-2010, 05:40 AM	#13
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	Originally posted by sterretje Don't change anything. Just shoot your family with AF lenses (or a Colt45 ). If it's a case of LBA, just go to the auction that is currently advertised on top of all pages and buy everything. That it will cure your LBA permanently because your wife will kill you My wife would kill me for sure.

03-08-2010, 09:17 AM	#14
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	FWIW, my vote is for option 1. As you can see from my signature, I am in no way opposed to zoom lenses, I just get those that have decent optical characteristics. From everything I have read, the 55-300 is a very good lens indeed. Go for it. No lost cash, no cranky wife, nice IQ, what's to lose?

03-08-2010, 10:33 AM	#15
rockmaster1964 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco Texas Photos: Gallery Posts: 382 Original Poster	Thanks everyone for all of the feedback. I think I am going to go with option 1.

Possible changes to my kit advice

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