Should I go for 16-85 or 20-40?

apete · 03-03-2017, 03:26 PM

I was pretty sure that replacement for my 18-135 would be 16-85. But now that I am about to sell K-5ii with 18-135 and upgrade to KP I am lost again. KP with 20-40 is soooo sexyyyyyy combination... but not that universal. Pentax messed up my plans! What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

**caliscouser** · 03-03-2017, 03:49 PM

They are 2 different answers to 2 different problems

Get both, that's what I plan to eventually do.

Unregistered User 8 · 03-03-2017, 03:49 PM - **1 Like**

I would get the 16-85 1st, then start saving for the 20-40, because I think that you are going to get both anyway !!

EDIT - caliscouser types faster than me.

apete · 03-03-2017, 03:54 PM

Are you guys saying sooner or later we are all gonna have both?

Unregistered User 8 · 03-03-2017, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by apete

Are you guys saying sooner or later we are all gonna have both?

LBA....LBA.....LBA !!!

**caliscouser** · 03-03-2017, 04:01 PM

...or go 18-135 + KP for a while and see how it goes. The 18-135 is smaller and lighter than the 16-85.

SpecialK · 03-03-2017, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by apete

I was pretty sure that replacement for my 18-135 would be 16-85. But now that I am about to sell K-5ii with 18-135 and upgrade to KP I am lost again. KP with 20-40 is soooo sexyyyyyy combination... but not that universal. Pentax messed up my plans! What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Besides looking "sexy", which of course is the truly important factor, what else about the 20-40 makes its restricted zoom range more attractive that the 16-85, which is quite handy? Do you have other lenses?

Unregistered User 8 · 03-03-2017, 04:04 PM

Which lens will you sell with your K-5II?

apete · 03-03-2017, 04:06 PM

I have had some nice results with 18-135 but I thought that upgrading to a better lens would give me even better results. Before KP debut 16-85 was a clear way to go. But all those forum photos of KP with 20-40 attached...
pjv is right, this might be LBA. Is it curable?

---------- Post added 4th Mar 2017 at 00:11 ----------

The plan is to sell DA 18-135 together with K-5ii to get some extra money for upgrading standard zoom together with the body.
I have also DA 12-24, FA 50, DA 100 and DA* 60-250. The one definitely most used is DA* 60-250, it is followed by 12-24 and then 18-135.

Unregistered User 8 · 03-03-2017, 04:11 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by apete

pjv is right, this might be LBA. Is it curable?

I don't know whether it is true, but I heard that the only " cure " LBA is to acquire ALL the lenses.

bertwert · 03-03-2017, 04:12 PM

Originally posted by apete

Is it curable?

Only if you have perfect versions of every single lens out there...

apete · 03-03-2017, 04:16 PM

Originally posted by bertwert

Only if you have perfect versions of every single lens out there...

So once I have all I will then upgrade each lense to a better copy of the same lens type... great perspective for the rest of my life

gm4life · 03-03-2017, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by caliscouser

They are 2 different answers to 2 different problems

Get both, that's what I plan to eventually do.

Yup just get both... I got suckered in and did anyways!

**mikesbike** · 03-06-2017, 12:19 AM

The DA 18-135mm is equivalent to a 28-200mm super-zoom on a FF body. When you need the flexibility of a super-zoom, nothing else can do that job. You also have the silent AF motor and WR construction. You can zoom in for a closeup and immediately zoom to wider angle for a group shot or to take in more of the environment. I bought the 20-40mm Limited last summer, and I love it. But I'm not getting rid of my DA 18-135mm!!

What is the attraction of this Limited lens with such a limited zoom range? A small, lightweight, very well-built metal-body WR lens for a compact camera body like the KP. And it is fast for being so compact. Having f/2.8 in a high quality, good performing lens at a wide angle setting is desirable. Combined with a 15mm f/4 Limited and a DA 70mm f/2.4 or FA 77mm f/1.8 and you have a very light, compact kit for carrying. It would also be a very nice zoom lens combo to have with your DA* 60-250mm in a belt holster.

frogfoot · 03-06-2017, 12:45 AM - **2 Likes**

If your goal is taking pictures rather than showing off

(just joking - no intention to offend owners), then buy 16-85. It's versatile and very high quality lens. I went this way - sold my 18-135 and bought 16-85. IMO 20-40 is strange lens: not so fast and very limited FL range.

03-03-2017, 03:26 PM	#1
apete Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 249	Should I go for 16-85 or 20-40? I was pretty sure that replacement for my 18-135 would be 16-85. But now that I am about to sell K-5ii with 18-135 and upgrade to KP I am lost again. KP with 20-40 is soooo sexyyyyyy combination... but not that universal. Pentax messed up my plans! What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO?

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03-03-2017, 03:49 PM	#2
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	They are 2 different answers to 2 different problems Get both, that's what I plan to eventually do.

03-03-2017, 03:49 PM - 1 Like	#3
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	I would get the 16-85 1st, then start saving for the 20-40, because I think that you are going to get both anyway !! EDIT - caliscouser types faster than me.

03-03-2017, 03:54 PM	#4
apete Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 249 Original Poster	Are you guys saying sooner or later we are all gonna have both?

03-03-2017, 03:58 PM	#5
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by apete Are you guys saying sooner or later we are all gonna have both? LBA....LBA.....LBA !!!

03-03-2017, 04:01 PM	#6
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	...or go 18-135 + KP for a while and see how it goes. The 18-135 is smaller and lighter than the 16-85.

03-03-2017, 04:03 PM	#7
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Originally posted by apete I was pretty sure that replacement for my 18-135 would be 16-85. But now that I am about to sell K-5ii with 18-135 and upgrade to KP I am lost again. KP with 20-40 is soooo sexyyyyyy combination... but not that universal. Pentax messed up my plans! What should I do? WHAT SHOULD I DO? Besides looking "sexy", which of course is the truly important factor, what else about the 20-40 makes its restricted zoom range more attractive that the 16-85, which is quite handy? Do you have other lenses?

03-03-2017, 04:04 PM	#8
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Which lens will you sell with your K-5II?

03-03-2017, 04:06 PM	#9
apete Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 249 Original Poster	I have had some nice results with 18-135 but I thought that upgrading to a better lens would give me even better results. Before KP debut 16-85 was a clear way to go. But all those forum photos of KP with 20-40 attached... pjv is right, this might be LBA. Is it curable? ---------- Post added 4th Mar 2017 at 00:11 ---------- The plan is to sell DA 18-135 together with K-5ii to get some extra money for upgrading standard zoom together with the body. I have also DA 12-24, FA 50, DA 100 and DA* 60-250. The one definitely most used is DA* 60-250, it is followed by 12-24 and then 18-135.

03-03-2017, 04:11 PM - 2 Likes	#10
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Originally posted by apete pjv is right, this might be LBA. Is it curable? I don't know whether it is true, but I heard that the only " cure " LBA is to acquire ALL the lenses.

03-03-2017, 04:12 PM	#11
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Originally posted by apete Is it curable? Only if you have perfect versions of every single lens out there...

03-03-2017, 04:16 PM	#12
apete Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 249 Original Poster	Originally posted by bertwert Only if you have perfect versions of every single lens out there... So once I have all I will then upgrade each lense to a better copy of the same lens type... great perspective for the rest of my life

03-03-2017, 04:36 PM	#13
gm4life Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 602	Originally posted by caliscouser They are 2 different answers to 2 different problems Get both, that's what I plan to eventually do. Yup just get both... I got suckered in and did anyways!

03-06-2017, 12:19 AM	#14
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,552	The DA 18-135mm is equivalent to a 28-200mm super-zoom on a FF body. When you need the flexibility of a super-zoom, nothing else can do that job. You also have the silent AF motor and WR construction. You can zoom in for a closeup and immediately zoom to wider angle for a group shot or to take in more of the environment. I bought the 20-40mm Limited last summer, and I love it. But I'm not getting rid of my DA 18-135mm!! What is the attraction of this Limited lens with such a limited zoom range? A small, lightweight, very well-built metal-body WR lens for a compact camera body like the KP. And it is fast for being so compact. Having f/2.8 in a high quality, good performing lens at a wide angle setting is desirable. Combined with a 15mm f/4 Limited and a DA 70mm f/2.4 or FA 77mm f/1.8 and you have a very light, compact kit for carrying. It would also be a very nice zoom lens combo to have with your DA* 60-250mm in a belt holster.

03-06-2017, 12:45 AM - 2 Likes	#15
frogfoot Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Moscow Posts: 70	If your goal is taking pictures rather than showing off (just joking - no intention to offend owners), then buy 16-85. It's versatile and very high quality lens. I went this way - sold my 18-135 and bought 16-85. IMO 20-40 is strange lens: not so fast and very limited FL range.