K-30 vs K-x with DA55-300mm lens, and 18-55WR versus DA L version??

altopiet · 10-31-2012, 02:02 AM

Just ordered a K-30 with an 18-55WR lens, should have it by Saturday.
Have anyone used a DA55-300mm lens on both the K-x and K-30, and how do they compare, especially regarding auto focus speed?

I would also like to know what your take is on the 18-55mm WR lens versus the DA L 18-55mm, as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else

elliott · 10-31-2012, 02:40 AM

Originally posted by altopiet

I would also like to know what your take is on the 18-55mm WR lens versus the DA L 18-55mm, as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else

Optically they are identical, the only difference is in the construction of the body.

altopiet · 10-31-2012, 03:08 AM

Originally posted by elliott

Optically they are identical, the only difference is in the construction of the body.

Thanks elliot, perhaps my luck will change and the copy I get will be a good one

Na Horuk · 10-31-2012, 03:35 AM

There are two versions of the 18-55 kit lens (optically different, one is older one newer) and then one also comes in DA and DA-L and WR. The differences include different filter thread size, quick shift, metal vs. plastic mount,.. So there are basically 4 'versions' of this lens:

SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Reviews - DA L Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

You can see the differences between the DA-L and the WR in there. So yes, optically the same, but better in other ways.
You can check all the lenses in the lens review section

The 55-300 will be a lot of fun to use on your new camera, enjoy

Edit: Also, it is important that the lens is also WR, because the system is only WR if both the camera and the lens are.

rawr · 10-31-2012, 03:55 AM

Originally posted by altopiet

as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else

Your copy must have been dropped or thrown against a concrete wall or something, or maybe you've been using a bad UV filter on it

My DAL 18-55 has been really excellent and still remains one of my favorite lenses. It works so well with the K-x. I won't hear a word against it !!! To me it even works better than my WR or AL II versions of the 18-55.

altopiet · 10-31-2012, 04:36 AM

Thanks Na Horuk, I'll make a plan to have a home made seal around the mount area if I use some of my old lenses in bad weather.

@rwar, When I got my K-x, the DA L 18-55 and 50-200mm was included, and at that stage everybody said that the 18-55 was good for a kit lens, and the 50-200 not so good. In my case it was the opposite, I received a brilliant copy of the 50-200, but most probably the worst copy of the 18-55, and believe me I tried everything, debug AF adjustments etc, I even take it out every once in a while, as the only other wide angle lens option I have is the FA28-80. It will really be interesting to see what the WR version of the 18-55 can do, and I will be delighted if it is as good as you say. If it is, I'll probably have it on my K-x as backup, and the DA 55-300 on the K-30, even if it is not WR. I actually wanted a K-30 body only, but the place where I bought it had a deal, with the 18-55WR included for the same price as the body only, so no complaints. I just hope the 55-300 (which I like a lot) would focus a bit faster on the K-30, as I use it quite a lot for my son's sport, and some birding, and on the K-x it sometimes struggle to achieve focus especially in low light

rawr · 10-31-2012, 06:28 AM

Originally posted by altopiet

In my case it was the opposite, I received a brilliant copy of the 50-200, but most probably the worst copy of the 18-55,

This is interesting isn't it. I've heard lots of people like the 50-200, but lots of people think it's totally mediocre. Same story with the DAL 18-55.

There seems so much variation in people's experiences of lenses, especially kit lenses (almost from any brand, in fact). The kit lenses always get a bad rep.

I'd used both the AL II and the WR on the K200D before I got the K-x with the DAL 18-55, and straight away I found it was visibly a better lens. It also meters more accurately than, for example, my Tamron 17-50, which underexposes all the damn time. So while the Tamron may be optically a better lens, often I will leave the Tamron at home and just take the DAL out with the K-x.

Last edited by rawr; 10-31-2012 at 06:35 AM.

10-31-2012, 02:02 AM	#1
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307	K-30 vs K-x with DA55-300mm lens, and 18-55WR versus DA L version?? Just ordered a K-30 with an 18-55WR lens, should have it by Saturday. Have anyone used a DA55-300mm lens on both the K-x and K-30, and how do they compare, especially regarding auto focus speed? I would also like to know what your take is on the 18-55mm WR lens versus the DA L 18-55mm, as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else

10-31-2012, 04:36 AM	#6
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307 Original Poster	Thanks Na Horuk, I'll make a plan to have a home made seal around the mount area if I use some of my old lenses in bad weather. @rwar, When I got my K-x, the DA L 18-55 and 50-200mm was included, and at that stage everybody said that the 18-55 was good for a kit lens, and the 50-200 not so good. In my case it was the opposite, I received a brilliant copy of the 50-200, but most probably the worst copy of the 18-55, and believe me I tried everything, debug AF adjustments etc, I even take it out every once in a while, as the only other wide angle lens option I have is the FA28-80. It will really be interesting to see what the WR version of the 18-55 can do, and I will be delighted if it is as good as you say. If it is, I'll probably have it on my K-x as backup, and the DA 55-300 on the K-30, even if it is not WR. I actually wanted a K-30 body only, but the place where I bought it had a deal, with the 18-55WR included for the same price as the body only, so no complaints. I just hope the 55-300 (which I like a lot) would focus a bit faster on the K-30, as I use it quite a lot for my son's sport, and some birding, and on the K-x it sometimes struggle to achieve focus especially in low light Last edited by altopiet; 10-31-2012 at 04:56 AM.

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10-31-2012, 02:40 AM	#2
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	Originally posted by altopiet I would also like to know what your take is on the 18-55mm WR lens versus the DA L 18-55mm, as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else Optically they are identical, the only difference is in the construction of the body.

10-31-2012, 03:08 AM	#3
altopiet Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: The Gem of the Karoo, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,307 Original Poster	Originally posted by elliott Optically they are identical, the only difference is in the construction of the body. Thanks elliot, perhaps my luck will change and the copy I get will be a good one

10-31-2012, 03:35 AM	#4
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	There are two versions of the 18-55 kit lens (optically different, one is older one newer) and then one also comes in DA and DA-L and WR. The differences include different filter thread size, quick shift, metal vs. plastic mount,.. So there are basically 4 'versions' of this lens: SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL Reviews - DA L Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR Reviews - DA Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database You can see the differences between the DA-L and the WR in there. So yes, optically the same, but better in other ways. You can check all the lenses in the lens review section The 55-300 will be a lot of fun to use on your new camera, enjoy Edit: Also, it is important that the lens is also WR, because the system is only WR if both the camera and the lens are.

10-31-2012, 03:55 AM	#5
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by altopiet as the DA L I got with my K-x is so bad I would not even try to sell it to someone else Your copy must have been dropped or thrown against a concrete wall or something, or maybe you've been using a bad UV filter on it My DAL 18-55 has been really excellent and still remains one of my favorite lenses. It works so well with the K-x. I won't hear a word against it !!! To me it even works better than my WR or AL II versions of the 18-55.

10-31-2012, 06:28 AM	#7
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by altopiet In my case it was the opposite, I received a brilliant copy of the 50-200, but most probably the worst copy of the 18-55, This is interesting isn't it. I've heard lots of people like the 50-200, but lots of people think it's totally mediocre. Same story with the DAL 18-55. There seems so much variation in people's experiences of lenses, especially kit lenses (almost from any brand, in fact). The kit lenses always get a bad rep. I'd used both the AL II and the WR on the K200D before I got the K-x with the DAL 18-55, and straight away I found it was visibly a better lens. It also meters more accurately than, for example, my Tamron 17-50, which underexposes all the damn time. So while the Tamron may be optically a better lens, often I will leave the Tamron at home and just take the DAL out with the K-x. Last edited by rawr; 10-31-2012 at 06:35 AM.