Just got a new K-70

gramar · 12-30-2018, 01:34 AM

A few months ago I let my K-30 +18-135WR go they had served me well. Just before Christmas I bought a new K-70 body (only £395 in the UK) and have been trying it out with my old DA50-200.

I've had the DA 50-200 since I bought my first DSLR, a Pentax K100D followed by a K-30 and now the K-70. It has always given good results despite it's budget tag and it's still working great on the K-70 too.

I'm tempted to get a 18-55WR as I'm not a fan of the 18-135 which had on the K-30 and I'm not willing to buy the expensive 16-85. Anyone using the 18-55 still? and what reasonable price alternatives are there. I'm looking for a sharp lens on a budget I suppose.

Paul the Sunman · 12-30-2018, 01:59 AM - **1 Like**

The 18-55 can be had for almost nothing. Honestly, if you didn't like the 18-135, you'll hate the 18-55. It really is a couple of rungs down the ladder. The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 might be a better choice in the FL range, although not WR.

HYS · 12-30-2018, 02:18 AM - **1 Like**

Congratulations! If I may speak to the topic try Pentax HD 20-40. Not so broad in the focal range but giving excellent quality. Just my personal opinion. Happy New Year!

the scout · 12-30-2018, 03:01 AM

Hello,
I have the 18-55 WR, I feel it's a good lens, not too far from the 17-50 tamron especially when used around f5.6 , it s lighter, stronger mechanics for me, and much more versatile as a WR point of view.
I bought it on the bay for 60 €, to prepare a travel in a cold country, much later after the purchase of a 17-50 tamron on my K5. I never regret that choice. Tamron mechanics are broken now and I ll keep the standard Pentax lens just for having one WR. I added plastics wonders to the quiver.
Thanks.
(I am looking at a cheap 24 takumar for the future)

Envoyé de mon Redmi Note 3 en utilisant Tapatalk

**gump** · 12-30-2018, 05:13 AM

I have the DA L 18-55 kit with my K-70. It does OK in the middle of the range. There is, of course, the DA 18-55 which apparently is better constructed but the reviews on this site (which I find very useful) only give it a slightly higher score. (I think some sellers are a bit careless in noting whether a lens is DA L or DA.) If I was in the market for a replacement for my 18-55, and I probably will be someday, I think I would invest a couple of hundred extra dollars, pounds, euros, in a proven higher quality lens.

**ChristianRock** · 12-30-2018, 05:46 AM - **1 Like**

There's always the DA 16-45, I love mine...

**Docrwm** · 12-30-2018, 06:25 AM - **1 Like**

As has been said, if you did not like the 18-135 there's little hope for the 18-55 (any version). The 18-135 is just better in many ways, and more expensive. Once I got my 18-135 all my 18-55s were sold off. Perhaps you're a Prime shooter.

Caribe · 12-30-2018, 07:06 AM

I had the 18-135 with the K-30. It was ok. Took some great shots with it. Wasn't 100% satisfied. When I had the money bought the K3. They made a good hiking and walk around pair. Better than with the K-30. Now I have the KP, seems better to me. The difference isn't only image quality (my niece has the K-30 now with the DA 50 1.8 and has great results), but more consistent autofocus too. The 18-135 is very convenient especially for some type of photography. It has its compromises. Same goes to the 18-55. Although the 18-135 is better. My point is that the 18-135 should be better with your K-70 than on your K-30, I think. At least in autofocus. Sigma and Tamron have good lens in the 18-55 range. I got the 20-40 during this years Pentax Black Friday/cybermonday extravaganza and it's looking good!

Last edited by Caribe; 12-30-2018 at 07:12 AM.

Adam · 12-30-2018, 07:47 AM

Congrats! If you weren't a fan of the 18-135mm, you could go for the 18-50mm along with the 55-300mm PLM. In my opinion, once you get the latter lens, you'll never look back! The DA 50 and 35mm lenses are also worth checking out.

**reh321** · 12-30-2018, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by gramar

A few months ago I let my K-30 +18-135WR go they had served me well. Just before Christmas I bought a new K-70 body (only £395 in the UK) and have been trying it out with my old DA50-200.

I've had the DA 50-200 since I bought my first DSLR, a Pentax K100D followed by a K-30 and now the K-70. It has always given good results despite it's budget tag and it's still working great on the K-70 too.

I'm tempted to get a 18-55WR as I'm not a fan of the 18-135 which had on the K-30 and I'm not willing to buy the expensive 16-85. Anyone using the 18-55 still? and what reasonable price alternatives are there. I'm looking for a sharp lens on a budget I suppose.

Apparently we differ. My K-30 was kitted with a 18-55 lens, which I hated, so my first additional purchase was a 18-135 which I loved and is now in use on my KP.

**jimr-pdx** · 12-30-2018, 11:30 AM

I tried three 18-135 copies and it was always a decent 18-80mm with issues beyond my liking above that. I wanted to like it, but I dislike carrying bonus zoom range when I won't use it. I've had no issues with any copy of the 18-55 other than a bit of distortion at the widest setting, which really bothers me not at all. To suggest the 18-50 over the 18-55 .. wow. Guess it's quieter. I've yet to see a friendly review of the 18-50, always a caveat or two.

Just to 'prove' I'm nuts: I agree with you on the 50-200, perhaps not deadly sharp but I've always liked the character of images it captured.

Kozlok · 12-30-2018, 12:26 PM - **1 Like**

The 16-50/2.8 is available used quite cheaply. So are the Tamron/Sigma 17-50/2.8’s.

The 16-85 is better in the corners than the 18-135, but in the center not really any better.

Can you post examples from the 18-135 you didn’t care for or think a better lens would fix? If we understand what you don’t like more specifically , we can better advise what to use to replace it.

**jumbleview** · 12-30-2018, 04:06 PM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

There's always the DA 16-45, I love mine...

One more vote for Pentax 16-45. It is not WR but otherwise better than 18-55. You cannot buy it new but used is really affordable.

**reh321** · 12-30-2018, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by jimr-pdx

I tried three 18-135 copies and it was always a decent 18-80mm with issues beyond my liking above that. I wanted to like it, but I dislike carrying bonus zoom range when I won't use it. I've had no issues with any copy of the 18-55 other than a bit of distortion at the widest setting, which really bothers me not at all. To suggest the 18-50 over the 18-55 .. wow. Guess it's quieter. I've yet to see a friendly review of the 18-50, always a caveat or two.

Just to 'prove' I'm nuts: I agree with you on the 50-200, perhaps not deadly sharp but I've always liked the character of images it captured.

I also have the 55-300mm PLM, so I seldom use the 18-135mm beyond 70mm. It doesn't seem much larger than the 18-55mm, and it is so quiet {as is the PLM}

**Thagomizer** · 12-30-2018, 09:17 PM

I've had good results from the 18-50 on my K-S2, but maybe I just have lower standards!

12-30-2018, 01:34 AM	#1
gramar Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ingham,UK Posts: 220	Just got a new K-70 A few months ago I let my K-30 +18-135WR go they had served me well. Just before Christmas I bought a new K-70 body (only £395 in the UK) and have been trying it out with my old DA50-200. I've had the DA 50-200 since I bought my first DSLR, a Pentax K100D followed by a K-30 and now the K-70. It has always given good results despite it's budget tag and it's still working great on the K-70 too. I'm tempted to get a 18-55WR as I'm not a fan of the 18-135 which had on the K-30 and I'm not willing to buy the expensive 16-85. Anyone using the 18-55 still? and what reasonable price alternatives are there. I'm looking for a sharp lens on a budget I suppose.

12-30-2018, 07:47 AM	#9
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 47,903	Congrats! If you weren't a fan of the 18-135mm, you could go for the 18-50mm along with the 55-300mm PLM. In my opinion, once you get the latter lens, you'll never look back! The DA 50 and 35mm lenses are also worth checking out. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

12-30-2018, 11:30 AM	#11
jimr-pdx Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: 1hr north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,682	I tried three 18-135 copies and it was always a decent 18-80mm with issues beyond my liking above that. I wanted to like it, but I dislike carrying bonus zoom range when I won't use it. I've had no issues with any copy of the 18-55 other than a bit of distortion at the widest setting, which really bothers me not at all. To suggest the 18-50 over the 18-55 .. wow. Guess it's quieter. I've yet to see a friendly review of the 18-50, always a caveat or two. Just to 'prove' I'm nuts: I agree with you on the 50-200, perhaps not deadly sharp but I've always liked the character of images it captured. Last edited by jimr-pdx; 12-30-2018 at 11:36 AM.

12-30-2018, 04:06 PM	#13
jumbleview Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Concord, CA Posts: 295	Originally posted by ChristianRock There's always the DA 16-45, I love mine... One more vote for Pentax 16-45. It is not WR but otherwise better than 18-55. You cannot buy it new but used is really affordable. Last edited by jumbleview; 12-30-2018 at 09:02 PM.

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12-30-2018, 01:59 AM - 1 Like	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,802	The 18-55 can be had for almost nothing. Honestly, if you didn't like the 18-135, you'll hate the 18-55. It really is a couple of rungs down the ladder. The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 might be a better choice in the FL range, although not WR.

12-30-2018, 02:18 AM - 1 Like	#3
HYS Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 343	Congratulations! If I may speak to the topic try Pentax HD 20-40. Not so broad in the focal range but giving excellent quality. Just my personal opinion. Happy New Year!

12-30-2018, 03:01 AM	#4
the scout New Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2	Hello, I have the 18-55 WR, I feel it's a good lens, not too far from the 17-50 tamron especially when used around f5.6 , it s lighter, stronger mechanics for me, and much more versatile as a WR point of view. I bought it on the bay for 60 €, to prepare a travel in a cold country, much later after the purchase of a 17-50 tamron on my K5. I never regret that choice. Tamron mechanics are broken now and I ll keep the standard Pentax lens just for having one WR. I added plastics wonders to the quiver. Thanks. (I am looking at a cheap 24 takumar for the future) Envoyé de mon Redmi Note 3 en utilisant Tapatalk

12-30-2018, 05:13 AM	#5
gump Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Canton, Ohio Photos: Albums Posts: 144	I have the DA L 18-55 kit with my K-70. It does OK in the middle of the range. There is, of course, the DA 18-55 which apparently is better constructed but the reviews on this site (which I find very useful) only give it a slightly higher score. (I think some sellers are a bit careless in noting whether a lens is DA L or DA.) If I was in the market for a replacement for my 18-55, and I probably will be someday, I think I would invest a couple of hundred extra dollars, pounds, euros, in a proven higher quality lens.

12-30-2018, 05:46 AM - 1 Like	#6
ChristianRock Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Woodstock, GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,644	There's always the DA 16-45, I love mine...

12-30-2018, 06:25 AM - 1 Like	#7
Docrwm Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,941	As has been said, if you did not like the 18-135 there's little hope for the 18-55 (any version). The 18-135 is just better in many ways, and more expensive. Once I got my 18-135 all my 18-55s were sold off. Perhaps you're a Prime shooter.

12-30-2018, 07:06 AM	#8
Caribe Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 69	I had the 18-135 with the K-30. It was ok. Took some great shots with it. Wasn't 100% satisfied. When I had the money bought the K3. They made a good hiking and walk around pair. Better than with the K-30. Now I have the KP, seems better to me. The difference isn't only image quality (my niece has the K-30 now with the DA 50 1.8 and has great results), but more consistent autofocus too. The 18-135 is very convenient especially for some type of photography. It has its compromises. Same goes to the 18-55. Although the 18-135 is better. My point is that the 18-135 should be better with your K-70 than on your K-30, I think. At least in autofocus. Sigma and Tamron have good lens in the 18-55 range. I got the 20-40 during this years Pentax Black Friday/cybermonday extravaganza and it's looking good! Last edited by Caribe; 12-30-2018 at 07:12 AM.

12-30-2018, 11:04 AM	#10
reh321 retired sw engineer Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,950	Originally posted by gramar A few months ago I let my K-30 +18-135WR go they had served me well. Just before Christmas I bought a new K-70 body (only £395 in the UK) and have been trying it out with my old DA50-200. I've had the DA 50-200 since I bought my first DSLR, a Pentax K100D followed by a K-30 and now the K-70. It has always given good results despite it's budget tag and it's still working great on the K-70 too. I'm tempted to get a 18-55WR as I'm not a fan of the 18-135 which had on the K-30 and I'm not willing to buy the expensive 16-85. Anyone using the 18-55 still? and what reasonable price alternatives are there. I'm looking for a sharp lens on a budget I suppose. Apparently we differ. My K-30 was kitted with a 18-55 lens, which I hated, so my first additional purchase was a 18-135 which I loved and is now in use on my KP.

12-30-2018, 12:26 PM - 1 Like	#12
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,286	The 16-50/2.8 is available used quite cheaply. So are the Tamron/Sigma 17-50/2.8’s. The 16-85 is better in the corners than the 18-135, but in the center not really any better. Can you post examples from the 18-135 you didn’t care for or think a better lens would fix? If we understand what you don’t like more specifically , we can better advise what to use to replace it.

12-30-2018, 04:47 PM	#14
reh321 retired sw engineer Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,950	Originally posted by jimr-pdx I tried three 18-135 copies and it was always a decent 18-80mm with issues beyond my liking above that. I wanted to like it, but I dislike carrying bonus zoom range when I won't use it. I've had no issues with any copy of the 18-55 other than a bit of distortion at the widest setting, which really bothers me not at all. To suggest the 18-50 over the 18-55 .. wow. Guess it's quieter. I've yet to see a friendly review of the 18-50, always a caveat or two. Just to 'prove' I'm nuts: I agree with you on the 50-200, perhaps not deadly sharp but I've always liked the character of images it captured. I also have the 55-300mm PLM, so I seldom use the 18-135mm beyond 70mm. It doesn't seem much larger than the 18-55mm, and it is so quiet {as is the PLM}

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12-30-2018, 09:17 PM	#15
Thagomizer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: London Ontario Posts: 559	I've had good results from the 18-50 on my K-S2, but maybe I just have lower standards!