Originally posted by phuey I'm sorry if this question sounds REALLY stupid, ignorant or just straight "retarded" but I was comparing photos between my Pentax K-x 18-55 kit lens to my Nikon D80 18-185 and I find that the photos on the Nikon D80 were much more clear. All settings were on Auto btw.
So my question is am I comparing apples to oranges? Or is the 18-185 lense far superior then that of the 18-55. Both photos were shot at 18mm.
Yes, the lens does make a lot of differences. Most Pentaxians and photographic enthusiasts will tell you that a good lens is worth its price and often more expensive than the camera body itself.
The best IQ is typically with prime lenses: ie, lenses with a single focal length (eg 43mm, 50mm, 90mmm). The zoom lenses tend to be a compromise across the focal length. Some zoom lenses are better than others. While the Pentax kit lens is not bad, it cannot be compared with a good zoom or a prime lens.
Pentax has some very prime lenses: e.g., the "pancakes". The lens database and other lens review sites like
www.photozone.de will give you some good insight.
Last edited by hcc; 07-12-2010 at 11:34 PM.
Reason: Typos