Big price differences on 18-55mm lens

Frankie500 · 09-11-2009, 08:24 AM

Hi,
I bought a K20D body and wish to buy a Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL II Lens but the prices I see give me concern. From various places they are available from £50 to way over £100. I would be very grateful for some advice on how to select one, what's the realistic price ?. Tks

bdery · 09-11-2009, 08:35 AM

Why didn't you buy the kit lens with your camera? It would have been cheaper.

There are three versions of that lens. Version 1 is pretty good. Version II (labeled as such) is even better. Version 3 is weatherproof and has the same optics as version II. That might explain the differences.

But if you're going to purchase a lens like this, but not as a kit, there are better lenses that could be purchased for just a little more money, such as the Pentax 16-45 (if you can find it), the 17-70, or the Sigma 17-70.

Frankie500 · 09-11-2009, 08:41 AM

I got a good price on used one and I had some older lenses I wanted to try out first. Thanks for that I will look at the others you recommend.

flyer · 09-11-2009, 09:28 AM

Check with Chris at SRS Microsystem. They are a Pentax Pro center, so you get a two year warranty, and first class service. If you register with "Pentax User" forum and let them know you're a member, you will have free delivery on top of that.

Frankie500 · 09-11-2009, 01:55 PM

Tks Yves, that's good info it was one of the ones on my list.

code4code5 · 09-13-2009, 06:28 PM

Originally posted by bdery

Why didn't you buy the kit lens with your camera? It would have been cheaper.

There are three versions of that lens. Version 1 is pretty good. Version II (labeled as such) is even better. Version 3 is weatherproof and has the same optics as version II. That might explain the differences.

But if you're going to purchase a lens like this, but not as a kit, there are better lenses that could be purchased for just a little more money, such as the Pentax 16-45 (if you can find it), the 17-70, or the Sigma 17-70.

To muddy the waters even further, there's also the DA-L lens varient as well. It has the same optical formula as the II and WR versions but has a plastic lens mount to save weight. It also does not include the Quick Shift focus system found on other DA lenses.

These can typically be found very cheap, and the trade-offs are minimal in the grand scheme of things.

09-11-2009, 08:24 AM	#1
Frankie500 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 12	Big price differences on 18-55mm lens Hi, I bought a K20D body and wish to buy a Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL II Lens but the prices I see give me concern. From various places they are available from £50 to way over £100. I would be very grateful for some advice on how to select one, what's the realistic price ?. Tks

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09-11-2009, 08:35 AM	#2
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Why didn't you buy the kit lens with your camera? It would have been cheaper. There are three versions of that lens. Version 1 is pretty good. Version II (labeled as such) is even better. Version 3 is weatherproof and has the same optics as version II. That might explain the differences. But if you're going to purchase a lens like this, but not as a kit, there are better lenses that could be purchased for just a little more money, such as the Pentax 16-45 (if you can find it), the 17-70, or the Sigma 17-70.

09-11-2009, 08:41 AM	#3
Frankie500 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 12 Original Poster	I got a good price on used one and I had some older lenses I wanted to try out first. Thanks for that I will look at the others you recommend.

09-11-2009, 09:28 AM	#4
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Check with Chris at SRS Microsystem. They are a Pentax Pro center, so you get a two year warranty, and first class service. If you register with "Pentax User" forum and let them know you're a member, you will have free delivery on top of that.

09-11-2009, 01:55 PM	#5
Frankie500 New Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 12 Original Poster	Tks Yves, that's good info it was one of the ones on my list.

09-13-2009, 06:28 PM	#6
code4code5 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 438	Originally posted by bdery Why didn't you buy the kit lens with your camera? It would have been cheaper. There are three versions of that lens. Version 1 is pretty good. Version II (labeled as such) is even better. Version 3 is weatherproof and has the same optics as version II. That might explain the differences. But if you're going to purchase a lens like this, but not as a kit, there are better lenses that could be purchased for just a little more money, such as the Pentax 16-45 (if you can find it), the 17-70, or the Sigma 17-70. To muddy the waters even further, there's also the DA-L lens varient as well. It has the same optical formula as the II and WR versions but has a plastic lens mount to save weight. It also does not include the Quick Shift focus system found on other DA lenses. These can typically be found very cheap, and the trade-offs are minimal in the grand scheme of things.

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