Is the 50-200mm WR lens worth another 110EUR?

kristaps · 01-29-2013, 01:54 AM

Hi all,

A week ago I got my first dSLR, a Pentax K30 with 18-55WR kit lens. Now the internet shop I bought it from has a special promo for the double WR kit (18-55mm + 50-200mm) for just 110EUR more. I called them and they agreed that if I want, I can pay the additional money and they'll exchange my current kit for the double kit.
What do you think, is it worth it? I know it's a budget lens, and probably I'll use the 18-55 most of the time, but then again - it cannot be bought stand-alone for this kind of price ... maybe as for starters it's ok?

Thanks!

repaap · 01-29-2013, 02:12 AM

Hi,
I don't have this lens, but I know many who has. It should be more than worth that price. Bot of these kit lenses are great ones( I have 18-55) for their price, they need some work to get best out of them.

BTW. If I could have it with such a price, I'd take it.

**Bodiebadman** · 01-29-2013, 11:29 AM

I just bought the Sigma 50-200mm f4-5.6 DC OS HSM from the Sigma Outlet Store (ie., on-line direct from Sigma) for $119 with free delivery. OK, it's factory refurbished and has a 90 day warranty but I can always add a 3 yr warranty from SquareTrade for $18 (before discount, and they send out 30% discounts weekly).

repaap · 01-29-2013, 12:57 PM

Those are nice, but frankly WR is quite a bonus with these pentax zooms.

bcorson · 01-30-2013, 10:06 AM

I just got the 50-200mm WR a couple weeks back. Definitely worth that price especially if you ever see yourself wanting a tele in that range . . .if so grab that deal.

redimp · 01-30-2013, 11:53 AM

I bought the twin WR kit and have no regrets whatsoever

tahoejeepmom · 02-05-2013, 09:35 AM

I just got mine yesterday. It's a very nice lens for the price. It feels well made too. Images are good I have not taken enought to compare. The rang of 200mm is very nice. This is my outdoor lens its wr has a good reach its perfect size for travel too. This lens is going on my hikes.

That's like $150 US dollars . That's an awesome price yes do it.

IchabodCrane · 02-05-2013, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by kristaps

Hi all,

A week ago I got my first dSLR, a Pentax K30 with 18-55WR kit lens. Now the internet shop I bought it from has a special promo for the double WR kit (18-55mm + 50-200mm) for just 110EUR more. I called them and they agreed that if I want, I can pay the additional money and they'll exchange my current kit for the double kit.
What do you think, is it worth it? I know it's a budget lens, and probably I'll use the 18-55 most of the time, but then again - it cannot be bought stand-alone for this kind of price ... maybe as for starters it's ok?

Thanks!

I don't think you can answer the question until you know whether you plan to buy more lenses going forward. The 50-200 WR lens is known as a bit "soft" but the price can't be argued with. If you're buying it just to have more "reach" than the 18-55 then ask yourself if you'd rather have something like the 18-135 at some point which may make the 50-200 somewhat redundant.

Ask yourself if you don't mind changing lenses frequently. If you're OK with that, go ahead and get the two-lens zoom combo. If not, then maybe you don't want either in which case you might be wasting your money on the 50-200. Only you can figure this out but as others have said, it's a very good price to add the second zoom.

tahoejeepmom · 02-05-2013, 05:09 PM

I took this photo really fast. lighting was not great funky shadows but I took it in the RAW so I was able to make it look ok. I used my 50-200mm WR lens these guys were way across the street 80 yards away about. I cropped the photo a bit.

For the price you can't beat it. With a little practice you can get a good photo. I need more practice.

redimp · 02-06-2013, 03:05 AM

For the record, as of the weekend I started shooting in RAX+. May post a severely cropped and a bit pp'd pic of Kestrel later.

CWuestefeld · 02-07-2013, 12:33 PM

Maybe I just got a bum copy of the lens (and mine wasn't WR, but I think the optics are the same). But I absolutely hated that lens. It was very, very soft, and had poor contrast. I eventually gave the thing away.

I replaced the two kit lenses I originally had (the 18-55 and this 50-200) with the 18-135 WR, and the 80-320. Both of these lenses are far superior to the original kit lenses, especially the 50-200. The 80-320, despite being much longer, is still much sharper, and with much better contrast.

kristaps · 02-07-2013, 12:51 PM

thanks for the replies everyone! so I bought the double kit!

Jean Poitiers · 02-07-2013, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by kristaps

thanks for the replies everyone! so I bought the double kit!

Let us know how you like it ... J

tahoejeepmom · 02-07-2013, 06:59 PM

There are better lenes out there for sure. But for the price you got a good deal and you can still get some great photos with this "soft lens".

I took this lens out on a walk about town. I got some more photos. I think they are better this time. I used my K-30 with the 50-200mm wr lens.

Now this photo was FAST. I throw the frisbee then lift the camera Quick, point and shoot, hope for the best. It was fairly quick to focus but not that great. This photo was hard to take because I had to throw and them try and get the shot in time. This photo might be a little soft but more out of fucus then anything I think.

I feel seeing others photos is the most helpful when looking for a lens or camera.

01-29-2013, 01:54 AM	#1
kristaps Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22	Is the 50-200mm WR lens worth another 110EUR? Hi all, A week ago I got my first dSLR, a Pentax K30 with 18-55WR kit lens. Now the internet shop I bought it from has a special promo for the double WR kit (18-55mm + 50-200mm) for just 110EUR more. I called them and they agreed that if I want, I can pay the additional money and they'll exchange my current kit for the double kit. What do you think, is it worth it? I know it's a budget lens, and probably I'll use the 18-55 most of the time, but then again - it cannot be bought stand-alone for this kind of price ... maybe as for starters it's ok? Thanks!

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01-29-2013, 02:12 AM	#2
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Hi, I don't have this lens, but I know many who has. It should be more than worth that price. Bot of these kit lenses are great ones( I have 18-55) for their price, they need some work to get best out of them. BTW. If I could have it with such a price, I'd take it.

01-29-2013, 11:29 AM	#3
Bodiebadman Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 7	I just bought the Sigma 50-200mm f4-5.6 DC OS HSM from the Sigma Outlet Store (ie., on-line direct from Sigma) for $119 with free delivery. OK, it's factory refurbished and has a 90 day warranty but I can always add a 3 yr warranty from SquareTrade for $18 (before discount, and they send out 30% discounts weekly).

01-29-2013, 12:57 PM	#4
repaap Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,242	Those are nice, but frankly WR is quite a bonus with these pentax zooms.

01-30-2013, 10:06 AM	#5
bcorson Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Kanata, ON Photos: Albums Posts: 131	I just got the 50-200mm WR a couple weeks back. Definitely worth that price especially if you ever see yourself wanting a tele in that range . . .if so grab that deal.

01-30-2013, 11:53 AM	#6
redimp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lincoln Photos: Albums Posts: 106	I bought the twin WR kit and have no regrets whatsoever

02-05-2013, 09:35 AM	#7
tahoejeepmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tahoe Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 100	I just got mine yesterday. It's a very nice lens for the price. It feels well made too. Images are good I have not taken enought to compare. The rang of 200mm is very nice. This is my outdoor lens its wr has a good reach its perfect size for travel too. This lens is going on my hikes. That's like $150 US dollars . That's an awesome price yes do it.

02-05-2013, 10:25 AM	#8
IchabodCrane Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,728	Originally posted by kristaps Hi all, A week ago I got my first dSLR, a Pentax K30 with 18-55WR kit lens. Now the internet shop I bought it from has a special promo for the double WR kit (18-55mm + 50-200mm) for just 110EUR more. I called them and they agreed that if I want, I can pay the additional money and they'll exchange my current kit for the double kit. What do you think, is it worth it? I know it's a budget lens, and probably I'll use the 18-55 most of the time, but then again - it cannot be bought stand-alone for this kind of price ... maybe as for starters it's ok? Thanks! I don't think you can answer the question until you know whether you plan to buy more lenses going forward. The 50-200 WR lens is known as a bit "soft" but the price can't be argued with. If you're buying it just to have more "reach" than the 18-55 then ask yourself if you'd rather have something like the 18-135 at some point which may make the 50-200 somewhat redundant. Ask yourself if you don't mind changing lenses frequently. If you're OK with that, go ahead and get the two-lens zoom combo. If not, then maybe you don't want either in which case you might be wasting your money on the 50-200. Only you can figure this out but as others have said, it's a very good price to add the second zoom.

02-05-2013, 05:09 PM	#9
tahoejeepmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tahoe Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 100	I took this photo really fast. lighting was not great funky shadows but I took it in the RAW so I was able to make it look ok. I used my 50-200mm WR lens these guys were way across the street 80 yards away about. I cropped the photo a bit. For the price you can't beat it. With a little practice you can get a good photo. I need more practice.

02-06-2013, 03:05 AM	#10
redimp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Lincoln Photos: Albums Posts: 106	For the record, as of the weekend I started shooting in RAX+. May post a severely cropped and a bit pp'd pic of Kestrel later.

02-07-2013, 12:33 PM	#11
CWuestefeld Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 25	Maybe I just got a bum copy of the lens (and mine wasn't WR, but I think the optics are the same). But I absolutely hated that lens. It was very, very soft, and had poor contrast. I eventually gave the thing away. I replaced the two kit lenses I originally had (the 18-55 and this 50-200) with the 18-135 WR, and the 80-320. Both of these lenses are far superior to the original kit lenses, especially the 50-200. The 80-320, despite being much longer, is still much sharper, and with much better contrast.

02-07-2013, 12:51 PM	#12
kristaps Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 22 Original Poster	thanks for the replies everyone! so I bought the double kit!

02-07-2013, 12:58 PM	#13
Jean Poitiers Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,076	Originally posted by kristaps thanks for the replies everyone! so I bought the double kit! Let us know how you like it ... J

02-07-2013, 06:59 PM	#14
tahoejeepmom Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tahoe Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 100	There are better lenes out there for sure. But for the price you got a good deal and you can still get some great photos with this "soft lens". I took this lens out on a walk about town. I got some more photos. I think they are better this time. I used my K-30 with the 50-200mm wr lens. Now this photo was FAST. I throw the frisbee then lift the camera Quick, point and shoot, hope for the best. It was fairly quick to focus but not that great. This photo was hard to take because I had to throw and them try and get the shot in time. This photo might be a little soft but more out of fucus then anything I think. I feel seeing others photos is the most helpful when looking for a lens or camera.