pentax k-x: 18-55mm kit or not?

Lid · 12-07-2009, 06:30 AM

Hello everybody!!
I'm new here and I hope you can help me... I'm going to buy the new pentax k-x.

I already have a lens SIGMA US AF 28-70mm F3.5/4.5 in good conditions, so I am wondering if I can save 100euros buying only the camera... I'm asking if the 18-55mm that they give in the kit is such a good lens that I can do without it, especially in term of AF. I mean my lens is quite "old" (2002) and I don't know if the AF mechanism has been modified in the latest pentax cameras.

any advices?

thank you in advance!
best whises

bymy141 · 12-07-2009, 07:38 AM

Originally posted by Lid

Hello everybody!!
I'm new here and I hope you can help me... I'm going to buy the new pentax k-x.

I already have a lens SIGMA US AF 28-70mm F3.5/4.5 in good conditions, so I am wondering if I can save 100euros buying only the camera... I'm asking if the 18-55mm that they give in the kit is such a good lens that I can do without it, especially in term of AF. I mean my lens is quite "old" (2002) and I don't know if the AF mechanism has been modified in the latest pentax cameras.

any advices?

thank you in advance!
best whises

You will see that the difference between 18mm and 28mm in the lens opening angle is huge!
Take the kit lens, it is a very decent piece of glass and cannot be beaten for that cost.

If you want to experience the difference, check out this link: http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learning_center/tools/focal-length-comparison.php

Marc Sabatella · 12-07-2009, 08:56 AM

I agree - 28mm is not very wide at all on a DSLR. If you're not familiar with the idea of a "crop factor", google the term and prepare to read a lot and be confused for a while, but the bottom line is, you need an 18mm lens to give you the same field of view you would have had with the 28mm lens on a film SLR. Similarly, the 55mm end of the 18-55 will provide a field of view similar to the the 70mm end of the 28-70 on film (a bit more telephoto, actually). So if you liked using the 28-70 on film, you'll need an 18-55 to give you a simialr experience on digital.

adwb · 12-08-2009, 03:32 AM

All previous said is 100 % correct and the discount the shop will give you is a lot less than if you tried to buy the lens or at least here thats what it is like, but what I would like to point out is the 18-55 is very very good for close up's and while not a macro it will allow you to produce some stunning flower images and surprising good once enlarged a bit close up's on larger insects.
take the lens you won't regret it.
Alistair

gowerray · 12-08-2009, 04:29 AM

More than happy with the kit lens I got with my K100D Super. As an amateur whose only aspirations are to take good (to me anyway) photos it fits the bill. A non-macro, macro with it below.

fearview · 12-08-2009, 05:41 AM

if you really want to save money, you still can buy a second hand kit lens here..
with pentaxforums user..

**Rondec** · 12-08-2009, 06:03 AM

I have to agree with the above. You are better off getting the kit lens and then selling it if you decide you don't want it. You'll certainly get back what you paid for it. When I went from a film camera to an APS-C camera I had thought that I could get a K100 and just keep my old 28-80. I found out pretty quickly that 28mm on a dslr is not very wide at all and when I was in doors in restricted space, I felt pretty limited.

kevinschoenmakers · 12-08-2009, 01:45 PM

The kitlens is a great performer when not pushed to its limits, you will not regret buying it in any case, not for the small amount of money it'll cost you. There are better lenses, but they are much, much more expensive. Also, when, in a few years, you might feel you want to buy a newer/better camera, it's probably easier to sell your K-x with the kitlens, than without it.

Oggy · 12-08-2009, 02:49 PM

One thing to bear in mind - there are three versions of the kit lens around.

DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Al, DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II and the DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR. To give you an idea, in UK they are about £35, £45 and £70 bought on their own.

Which one you get makes a big difference to which bundle is best value.

kevinschoenmakers · 12-08-2009, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by Oggy

One thing to bear in mind - there are three versions of the kit lens around.

DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Al, DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II and the DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR. To give you an idea, in UK they are about £35, £45 and £70 bought on their own.

Which one you get makes a big difference to which bundle is best value.

Only the first one is DAL, the other two are regular DA. However, I don't think the K-x is bundled with any other lens than the DAL, so this isn't really relevant.

Oggy · 12-09-2009, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by kevinschoenmakers

Only the first one is DAL, the other two are regular DA.

Copy and paste error

Quote:

However, I don't think the K-x is bundled with any other lens than the DAL, so this isn't really relevant

They may or may not advertise the other two, but since they want your money so it's always worth trying it on. Guess how I know.

Lid · 12-11-2009, 03:50 AM

many thanks to all of you!
you pointed out very interesting things to consider, and this will be very useful for me.
I'll follow your advices and I'll take that lens.

have a nice day!

12-07-2009, 06:30 AM	#1
Lid New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3	pentax k-x: 18-55mm kit or not? Hello everybody!! I'm new here and I hope you can help me... I'm going to buy the new pentax k-x. I already have a lens SIGMA US AF 28-70mm F3.5/4.5 in good conditions, so I am wondering if I can save 100euros buying only the camera... I'm asking if the 18-55mm that they give in the kit is such a good lens that I can do without it, especially in term of AF. I mean my lens is quite "old" (2002) and I don't know if the AF mechanism has been modified in the latest pentax cameras. any advices? thank you in advance! best whises

12-08-2009, 04:29 AM	#5
gowerray Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Wales UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 48	Kit lens More than happy with the kit lens I got with my K100D Super. As an amateur whose only aspirations are to take good (to me anyway) photos it fits the bill. A non-macro, macro with it below.

12-08-2009, 02:49 PM	#9
Oggy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: West Sussex UK Posts: 235	One thing to bear in mind - there are three versions of the kit lens around. DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Al, DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II and the DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR. To give you an idea, in UK they are about £35, £45 and £70 bought on their own. Which one you get makes a big difference to which bundle is best value. Last edited by Oggy; 12-09-2009 at 02:56 PM. Reason: Copy, paste and ****

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12-07-2009, 07:38 AM	#2
bymy141 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,563	Originally posted by Lid Hello everybody!! I'm new here and I hope you can help me... I'm going to buy the new pentax k-x. I already have a lens SIGMA US AF 28-70mm F3.5/4.5 in good conditions, so I am wondering if I can save 100euros buying only the camera... I'm asking if the 18-55mm that they give in the kit is such a good lens that I can do without it, especially in term of AF. I mean my lens is quite "old" (2002) and I don't know if the AF mechanism has been modified in the latest pentax cameras. any advices? thank you in advance! best whises You will see that the difference between 18mm and 28mm in the lens opening angle is huge! Take the kit lens, it is a very decent piece of glass and cannot be beaten for that cost. If you want to experience the difference, check out this link: http://www.tamron.com/lenses/learning_center/tools/focal-length-comparison.php

12-07-2009, 08:56 AM	#3
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,686	I agree - 28mm is not very wide at all on a DSLR. If you're not familiar with the idea of a "crop factor", google the term and prepare to read a lot and be confused for a while, but the bottom line is, you need an 18mm lens to give you the same field of view you would have had with the 28mm lens on a film SLR. Similarly, the 55mm end of the 18-55 will provide a field of view similar to the the 70mm end of the 28-70 on film (a bit more telephoto, actually). So if you liked using the 28-70 on film, you'll need an 18-55 to give you a simialr experience on digital.

12-08-2009, 03:32 AM	#4
adwb Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bristol UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,636	All previous said is 100 % correct and the discount the shop will give you is a lot less than if you tried to buy the lens or at least here thats what it is like, but what I would like to point out is the 18-55 is very very good for close up's and while not a macro it will allow you to produce some stunning flower images and surprising good once enlarged a bit close up's on larger insects. take the lens you won't regret it. Alistair

12-08-2009, 05:41 AM	#6
fearview Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,067	if you really want to save money, you still can buy a second hand kit lens here.. with pentaxforums user..

12-08-2009, 06:03 AM	#7
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 26,390	I have to agree with the above. You are better off getting the kit lens and then selling it if you decide you don't want it. You'll certainly get back what you paid for it. When I went from a film camera to an APS-C camera I had thought that I could get a K100 and just keep my old 28-80. I found out pretty quickly that 28mm on a dslr is not very wide at all and when I was in doors in restricted space, I felt pretty limited.

12-08-2009, 01:45 PM	#8
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	The kitlens is a great performer when not pushed to its limits, you will not regret buying it in any case, not for the small amount of money it'll cost you. There are better lenses, but they are much, much more expensive. Also, when, in a few years, you might feel you want to buy a newer/better camera, it's probably easier to sell your K-x with the kitlens, than without it.

12-08-2009, 02:54 PM	#10
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	Originally posted by Oggy One thing to bear in mind - there are three versions of the kit lens around. DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 Al, DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II and the DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR. To give you an idea, in UK they are about £35, £45 and £70 bought on their own. Which one you get makes a big difference to which bundle is best value. Only the first one is DAL, the other two are regular DA. However, I don't think the K-x is bundled with any other lens than the DAL, so this isn't really relevant.

12-09-2009, 02:36 PM	#11
Oggy Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: West Sussex UK Posts: 235	Originally posted by kevinschoenmakers Only the first one is DAL, the other two are regular DA. Copy and paste error Quote: However, I don't think the K-x is bundled with any other lens than the DAL, so this isn't really relevant They may or may not advertise the other two, but since they want your money so it's always worth trying it on. Guess how I know.

12-11-2009, 03:50 AM	#12
Lid New Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 3 Original Poster	many thanks to all of you! you pointed out very interesting things to consider, and this will be very useful for me. I'll follow your advices and I'll take that lens. have a nice day!

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