[stevebrot]

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Maybe used, or maybe once in a blue moon someone will offer some kind of special offer at that kind of price. But the lens has been out for years, and is very rarely found new that little. It's actually been over $200 for most of its life, although once the WR version came out, it has more often been found under $200. If you do find it for $100, grab it!

That is what I was going to say!

Steve

[GerryL]

Maybe used, or maybe once in a blue moon someone will offer some kind of special offer at that kind of price. But the lens has been out for years, and is very rarely found new that little. It's actually been over $200 for most of its life, although once the WR version came out, it has more often been found under $200. If you do find it for $100, grab it!

Is this actually true 'coz i haven't actually checked out prices recently!??
If this were true then I guess I must be lucky!
I bought mine packaged with the DA 18-55mm AL II for less than $200!
I see some used in Amazon for $134 plus shipping which would total to $140.
I see one being sold at ebay for $115 plus $10 shipping with a total of $125.
I hope nobody else is reading this who needs one as they might beat you to this.
Here it is: Pentax DA 50-200mm Lens- Excellent Condition with Box. - eBay (item 250475923583 end time Aug-08-09 11:51:44 PDT)
I advise you look at the used ones as it is the cheaper way to go and some are in "like new" condition.

[gherrm]

Hello, I just recently bought a Pentax K200D for my first DSLR camera, so far I am very pleased with it. It came with the standard 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens.

I am looking to buy a second lens, something with more range, and was originally looking on getting the Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 lens, Which i found for about $350... there are other third party lenses from Tamron and Sigma which can be had for a little more than half of the Pentax's price. They are both 70-300mm.

I know they say that you get what you pay for, but is it worth it for me to spend the extra cash on the Pentax over the cheaper alternatives? Specifically this tamron Tamron | 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Lens | AF017P700 | B&H

and this sigma
Sigma | 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Autofocus Lens | 509109 | B&H

thanks.

There are three different versions of the Tamron Lens You want. You need a Tamron AF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD MACRO 1:2 I have a K200D and it works great.Paid 135.00 for it.

[Marc Sabatella]

Is this actually true 'coz i haven't actually checked out prices recently!??
If this were true then I guess I must be lucky!

It is, and you are :-)

I advise you look at the used ones as it is the cheaper way to go and some are in "like new" condition.

I agree buying used can make sense, although full length warranties are nice, too. if you get a good enough deal, by all means. Unfortunately (for the buyer), while it *is* possible to get lucky and get a used lens for *much* cheaper than new, most of the in-demand lenses end up selling for very close to the new price. But luckily in this case, there are enough 50-200's out there, and probably enough people looking to replace theirs with either 55-300's or the new 50-200 WR, that one would probably have little difficulty getting a good deal on one of the older 50-200's. Do try to avoid the "L" version, though - it lacks quick-shift and built quality is not as good.

[AndrewG NY]

Reasons to get the DA 55-300/4-5.8 over the alternatives:

- Smaller & lighter than other designed-for-film 300mm alternatives (though bigger than especially compact 50-200)
- quick-shift focusing not offered by Sigma/Tamron
- non-rotating front-element that is more polarizer-friendly
- pretty good build quality
- the telezooms' IQ tends to drop off towards long end of focal length range. The DA 55-300 suffers less from this than most
- Short end at 55 is useful on digital.
- Relatively low CA/purple fringing

Advantage of Tamron/Sigma:
- price
- 1:2 macro mode at longer end of focal range
- possibly compatible with film bodies (though check for aperture ring on your particular example if this is important to you)

Advantages of Pentax DA50-200:
- Much smaller & lighter than lenses going to 300mm, only a little larger than kit lens, shares same 52mm filter size as kit lens.
- Above-average build quality for a relatively low-cost lens.
- Also features quick-shift focusing and non-rotating front element.
- Focuses closer, 1.1m instead of 1.4 or 1.5 like 300mm-capable lenses. Tamron & Sigma both offer a macro mode that allows even closer-focus than that, it's not available at shorter lengths so is less practical for portraits, and higher shutter speeds would be required.

[flockofbirds]

Thanks for all the info, just would like to say I have ended up purchasing the Tamron 70-300mm lens.

Technically I have the money to get the Pentax 55-300mm lens, that would take a real chunk out of my wallet right now. And i want the reach that the lens will offer over the 50-200mm

I will probably step up to a higher grade lens in the future but for now, this should do me fine. I am not planning to do any large prints so I think i made a good choice.

[GerryL]

Thanks for all the info, just would like to say I have ended up purchasing the Tamron 70-300mm lens.

Technically I have the money to get the Pentax 55-300mm lens, that would take a real chunk out of my wallet right now. And i want the reach that the lens will offer over the 50-200mm

I will probably step up to a higher grade lens in the future but for now, this should do me fine. I am not planning to do any large prints so I think i made a good choice.

Congrats on your purchase!
The Tamron should do fine for now not unless you become really dissatisfied with its performance.
Anyway, most "bad" lens characteristics can be remedied in digital post processing.
Just get a good software and you will be more than likely always satisfied with the outcome.

[tojax]

I'd be happy with that picture. I have a 135 manual prime right now which is my longest lens. I love the prime, but am not sure I'd be able to get the same shot from it unless I was really close.

[Blue]

Maybe used, or maybe once in a blue moon someone will offer some kind of special offer at that kind of price. But the lens has been out for years, and is very rarely found new that little. It's actually been over $200 for most of its life, although once the WR version came out, it has more often been found under $200. If you do find it for $100, grab it!

The WR version can be had a few places. BH or Ador one had the WR version on sale for $185 a couple of weeks ago. Amazon has it through Willoughby's for
$2368.66 shipped at the moment.
Amazon.com: PENTAX DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Weather Resistant Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

However, I wishe they had done up the 55-300mm in WR. That said the 50-200mm regular version can be picked up used in the aforementioned ball park.

[tojax]

$238.66 isn't bad for a WR version. Of course, lower is always better if you can find it.

[TER-OR]

I have the Tamron 70-300 and it functions quite well. It's light and focuses nicely. I've been pretty impressed with its performance in close zoom and far zoom situations. However, above 180-200ish you will notice purple fringing in high-contrast situations. I don't know whether a polarizer would help with that, but the front element rotates, making a polarizer difficult to use.

As long as I fire a couple shots at 200mm then zoom out to 300 I'm usually guaranteed a good capture or two.

[tojax]

I have the Tamron 70-300 and it functions quite well. It's light and focuses nicely. I've been pretty impressed with its performance in close zoom and far zoom situations. However, above 180-200ish you will notice purple fringing in high-contrast situations. I don't know whether a polarizer would help with that, but the front element rotates, making a polarizer difficult to use.

As long as I fire a couple shots at 200mm then zoom out to 300 I'm usually guaranteed a good capture or two.

Glad to hear the Tamron 70-300 isn't all bad.

[GerryL]

The WR version can be had a few places. BH or Ador one had the WR version on sale for $185 a couple of weeks ago. Amazon has it through Willoughby's for
$2368.66 shipped at the moment.
Amazon.com: PENTAX DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED Weather Resistant Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo

However, I wishe they had done up the 55-300mm in WR. That said the 50-200mm regular version can be picked up used in the aforementioned ball park.

Pentax usually comes out with the "kit" first like the 50-200mm.
As with the WR they also came out first with the regular kit 18-55 and 50-200.
They will do the 55-300mm WR a little while longer as they would want the 50-200mm WR to sell first, then for the owners to upgrade to the 55-300mm WR once they come out with it.
If they come out and sell the 55-300mm now, then some percentage of the 50-200mm WR buyers would be swayed to buy the 55-300mm lens rather than get the 50-200mm first.
It's all about marketing!

[bladerunner0427]

Hello Flockofbirds,

Welcome to the forums.

I have the Sigma 70-300. I thought about getting the Pentax DA 55-300, but it was out of my budget. I picked the Sigma over the Tamron based on what I've read regarding PF with the Tamron. Each lens has its share of good/bad. I paid about $190 for my Sigma. It also doubles as a macro lens. The Pentax lens does not. For the price, the Sigma is a decent lens in good lighting.

[Kerrowdown]

Bloody 'ell, I was just scrolling down the thread an nearly fell off my seat when I got to the aircraft image.

What a great shot, I can almost hear the damn thing.