[Braciola]

So who upgraded their 18-55 kit lens to something close in that range?
What have you tried, and what were the results?

[elpolodiablo]

There are a lot of reasons why people want to upgrade from kit lens, you gotta ask yourself what you want in that upgrade.

Range(not long enough? not wide enough?)/Image Quality?/ Build Quality?/ Handling?

I am sure similar question has been asked a trillion times here, use the the search function to find similar post, some very good suggestions there already.

[mlatour]

I purchased this one at the same time as my K-x :

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO (AF Lens) Lens Reviews - Pentax Third-Party Lens Review Database

If you do any low-light/night shots, it has a constant f2.8 thru the range,
reason it's mounted on my camera 99% of the time.

[Ash]

Be more specific about what you want. Upgrade to what capability/ies? Best to research your needs then browse through the forum's Lens Review Database (link in Lenses tab above) for most of the options available for Pentax cameras.

[Braciola]

Okay, I'll be more specific.

After many hours of research, I'm going to wind up choosing one of the following (and ONLY one of the following)

If you have upgraded your Kx 18-55 kit lens with any one or more of the following, I'd like to hear your thoughts.......



Sigma NEW 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM

Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro

Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF]

Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 ED AL (IF) SDM

===============================================

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM

Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro

Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)

[RioRico]

By all means, buy a new DA*16-50. You'll make the managers and stockholders at PenHoya very happy.

Whatever you do, don't buy a Sigma or Tamron lens. The PenHoya honchos and owners will NOT be happy.

Just out of curiosity, how long have you had your KX and 18-55? And what do you want to do that you can't do with what you have?

[planedriver]

I haven't checked the prices but I for the price of the da16-50 2.8 you can get a da16-45 and a fa50 1.4 I guess. So you not only go wider but you can start to play with low light or depth of field. That was my way..those two lenses are very good.

Andras

[Jasvox]

Do a little search of this forum for kit lens replacement/upgrade etc and you should find many many threads, all of which current and will pertain to and be relevant to the K-x.

Jason

[MegaPower]

DA* 16-50mm

so far so good.
I love the weight of the lens
love the F2.8
never look backward.

but if you are on a budge, go for 16-45, F/4

the DA* 16-50mm is quite expensive and probably i am not buying any other lens for a while

[Braciola]

Thanks guys,

I pretty much decided against the Pentax SMCP-DA* 16-50mm
It's weather proof which is not a big plus for me or the Kx
Reviews are so so
But bigest of all are the dozens of QC issues I've read about.

Right now, It's between theTamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical [IF]
And the new Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS
Problem is, is that there aren't many reviews of the new Sigma with Pentax users.

[JLou]

I have got the Tamron 17-50mm and have been very pleased with it

Just a question, but why would you want to spend the money for the OS in the Sigma lens, when you already have SR in the body of your Kx?

Cheers

[Braciola]

Just a question, but why would you want to spend the money for the OS in the Sigma lens, when you already have SR in the body of your Kx?

Cheers

Yes, I'm aware that I don't need the OS, but If the IQ is better than the Tamron, than I don't mind spending more.

[mohb]

I got the Tamron 17-50 mainly because I photograph many community events where that little bit of extra width and the extra speed are useful. Any increase in image quality is only obvious in large prints or if cropping a lot. I still use the kit lens because it is a lot lighter and the quality is perfectly acceptable for prints up to A3.

[bikecoboss]

I bought the Tamron for the faster, constant speed, as I am under the forest canopy a lot. Love the lens; some have reported focusing issues, but mine has been fine. The non-VC version is a terrific value for cameras with in-body SR.

[interested_observer]

Other than wanting to spend more money, what have you not been able to do with the 18-55 kit lens? What do you want the new lens to do, that the kit lens does not support? The kit lens is capable of very good IQ across a wide range of situations. What set of situations is the Kit lens not delivering within? The common thread through the lenses you have listed is a faster aperture. Here is another thread with a link that touches on the subject...

• https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/118189-pro-vs-...ra-lenses.html