K5 or 60-250mm DA*

Adam Lucas · 10-10-2010, 03:41 PM

Hi Pentax Users,

I have a dilemma as follows and would appreciate your valid views.

I own a K7 and 16-50 DA*

Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ?

I am wondering if the K5 will give better IQ in situations such as landscape and low light photography ?

Thanks for your kind consideration.

Adam

JeffJS · 10-10-2010, 03:59 PM

Which do you think you'll get the most use out of? I went through the same decision a year ago except I was considering the K7. Guess which I chose. I know for a fact that while nice to have, the lens would have just sat. In that case, no matter how nice the lens is, if it isn't passing light, it's a waste of money. That's me though.

Raylon · 10-10-2010, 04:05 PM

Depends on what you are wanting to do. If you are wanting the long reach to do sports and such, the 60-250 would prove more useful. But if you do a lot of low light stuff, the K5 will have vastly better ISO capabilities.

What are your goals, what do you want to shoot?

stormcloud · 10-10-2010, 04:12 PM

but by the same token that lens will still be good when the new body is long past its sell by date - i was faced with your exact dilema just 2 weeks or so ago and chose the da* 60-250mm (was thinking of the sigma 70-200 f2.8 - but the way iso is going these days f4 is enough and with telephoto lens you get nice thin dof anyway and its got greater range on both ends and is weather sealed to boot) of course i'm now saving up for the k5 too =) with any luck will get it abit cheaper by the time i got the money together again

Hypocorism · 10-10-2010, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by Adam Lucas

I own a K7 and 16-50 DA*

Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ?

I am wondering if the K5 will give better IQ in situations such as landscape and low light photography ?

Adam

Oh dear, we have a bad case of G.A. syndrome here.

Face in man, you WANT both, so stop trying to pretend by seeking peer approval to justify your lustful desires.
Seeking agreements along the predictable line of straw man debate points isn't really needed and serves no real purpose. Trust me.

You really only want to hear the exact words your mind is open to anyway. And that handful of accumulated disposable money burning hole in pocket and just looking to be spent, is a very powerful lever of persuasion.

So just proceed in your quest and acquire both new toys asap dammit!
And when you do finally get them, soon after the short lived euphoria wanes, as it surely will... don't worry too much in advance because there's sure to be be more attractions pop up to tempt another fresh cycle of desire, if by then you still haven't mastered the boredom and self-control bits.

.R.

stormcloud · 10-10-2010, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Hypocorism

Oh dear, we have a bad case of G.A. syndrome here.

Face in man, you WANT both, so stop trying to pretend by seeking peer approval to justify your lustful desires.
Seeking agreements along the predictable line of straw man debate points isn't really needed and serves no real purpose. Trust me.

You really only want to hear the exact words your mind is open to anyway. And that handful of accumulated disposable money burning hole in pocket and just looking to be spent, is a very powerful lever of persuasion.

So just proceed in your quest and acquire both new toys asap dammit!
And when you do finally get them, soon after the short lived euphoria wanes, as it surely will... don't worry too much in advance because there's sure to be be more attractions pop up to tempt another fresh cycle of desire, if by then you still haven't mastered the boredom and self-control bits.

.R.

ohhhh its soooo true

paperbag846 · 10-10-2010, 06:11 PM

Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin.

**interested_observer** · 10-10-2010, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by paperbag846

Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin.

The only change I would suggest is to wait a year and purchase the K5 when its replacement is announced, with the K5 at half its current price.

dperreno · 10-10-2010, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by Adam Lucas

Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ?

Adam

... Yes

RonHendriks1966 · 10-11-2010, 01:03 AM

I have the same dilemma. I'm going to buy K-5 (but I already have the 50-135) and wait with the 60-250.

bymy141 · 10-12-2010, 12:21 AM

Originally posted by paperbag846

Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin.

I agree.
I have the K-7 plus the 16-50 and the 60-250mm.
The 60-250mm has a slower focusing mechanism, but it works very well with the K-7.
You do have an excellent camera, you do not have an excellent mid-to-long zoom.
Why improve on the camera first?

More analytic:
You have $1500 to spend.

Your current capabilities:
Camera: 80%
Lenses: 50%

Your capability after purchasing the K-5:
Camera: 95%
Lenses: 50%

Your capability after purchasing the 60-250mm:
Camera: 80%
Lenses: 95%

See also my posts in this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/114743-da*-60-...at-can-do.html
And have a look at the low light samples and the focus speed clips.
I wonder how much better that would have been with a K-5. I guess, not that much.
AF with the K-7 / 60-250mm hardly ever fails on me.

- Bert

10-10-2010, 03:41 PM	#1
Adam Lucas Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sutton coldfield Posts: 12	K5 or 60-250mm DA* Hi Pentax Users, I have a dilemma as follows and would appreciate your valid views. I own a K7 and 16-50 DA* Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ? I am wondering if the K5 will give better IQ in situations such as landscape and low light photography ? Thanks for your kind consideration. Adam

10-10-2010, 04:41 PM	#5
Hypocorism Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Melbourne .au Posts: 623	Originally posted by Adam Lucas I own a K7 and 16-50 DA* Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ? I am wondering if the K5 will give better IQ in situations such as landscape and low light photography ? Adam Oh dear, we have a bad case of G.A. syndrome here. Face in man, you WANT both, so stop trying to pretend by seeking peer approval to justify your lustful desires. Seeking agreements along the predictable line of straw man debate points isn't really needed and serves no real purpose. Trust me. You really only want to hear the exact words your mind is open to anyway. And that handful of accumulated disposable money burning hole in pocket and just looking to be spent, is a very powerful lever of persuasion. So just proceed in your quest and acquire both new toys asap dammit! And when you do finally get them, soon after the short lived euphoria wanes, as it surely will... don't worry too much in advance because there's sure to be be more attractions pop up to tempt another fresh cycle of desire, if by then you still haven't mastered the boredom and self-control bits. .R. Last edited by Hypocorism; 10-10-2010 at 04:46 PM.

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10-10-2010, 03:59 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Which do you think you'll get the most use out of? I went through the same decision a year ago except I was considering the K7. Guess which I chose. I know for a fact that while nice to have, the lens would have just sat. In that case, no matter how nice the lens is, if it isn't passing light, it's a waste of money. That's me though.

10-10-2010, 04:05 PM	#3
Raylon Guest	Depends on what you are wanting to do. If you are wanting the long reach to do sports and such, the 60-250 would prove more useful. But if you do a lot of low light stuff, the K5 will have vastly better ISO capabilities. What are your goals, what do you want to shoot?

10-10-2010, 04:12 PM	#4
stormcloud Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 232	but by the same token that lens will still be good when the new body is long past its sell by date - i was faced with your exact dilema just 2 weeks or so ago and chose the da* 60-250mm (was thinking of the sigma 70-200 f2.8 - but the way iso is going these days f4 is enough and with telephoto lens you get nice thin dof anyway and its got greater range on both ends and is weather sealed to boot) of course i'm now saving up for the k5 too =) with any luck will get it abit cheaper by the time i got the money together again

10-10-2010, 05:36 PM	#6
stormcloud Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 232	Originally posted by Hypocorism Oh dear, we have a bad case of G.A. syndrome here. Face in man, you WANT both, so stop trying to pretend by seeking peer approval to justify your lustful desires. Seeking agreements along the predictable line of straw man debate points isn't really needed and serves no real purpose. Trust me. You really only want to hear the exact words your mind is open to anyway. And that handful of accumulated disposable money burning hole in pocket and just looking to be spent, is a very powerful lever of persuasion. So just proceed in your quest and acquire both new toys asap dammit! And when you do finally get them, soon after the short lived euphoria wanes, as it surely will... don't worry too much in advance because there's sure to be be more attractions pop up to tempt another fresh cycle of desire, if by then you still haven't mastered the boredom and self-control bits. .R. ohhhh its soooo true

10-10-2010, 06:11 PM	#7
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin.

10-10-2010, 07:16 PM	#8
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Originally posted by paperbag846 Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin. The only change I would suggest is to wait a year and purchase the K5 when its replacement is announced, with the K5 at half its current price.

10-10-2010, 08:05 PM	#9
dperreno Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 28	Originally posted by Adam Lucas Should I keep the K7 body and put money towards a 60-250 DA* lens or purchase a K5 ? Adam ... Yes

10-11-2010, 01:03 AM	#10
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	I have the same dilemma. I'm going to buy K-5 (but I already have the 50-135) and wait with the 60-250.

10-12-2010, 12:21 AM	#11
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by paperbag846 Buy the 60-250, and then buy the K-5's replacement in a year, since lenses progress slowly, but camera bodies evolve so quickly it makes one's head spin. I agree. I have the K-7 plus the 16-50 and the 60-250mm. The 60-250mm has a slower focusing mechanism, but it works very well with the K-7. You do have an excellent camera, you do not have an excellent mid-to-long zoom. Why improve on the camera first? More analytic: You have $1500 to spend. Your current capabilities: Camera: 80% Lenses: 50% Your capability after purchasing the K-5: Camera: 95% Lenses: 50% Your capability after purchasing the 60-250mm: Camera: 80% Lenses: 95% See also my posts in this thread: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/114743-da-60-...at-can-do.html And have a look at the low light samples and the focus speed clips. I wonder how much better that would have been with a K-5. I guess, not that* much. AF with the K-7 / 60-250mm hardly ever fails on me. - Bert