Putting A K-x Kit Together....

magkelly · 10-16-2010, 12:25 PM

Looks like I'll be able to afford a K-x by Christmas if not a bit before. (Thanks to the fine folks at Mattel and collectors of very old Barbies, grin.) I know it comes with an 18-55 lens but I am wondering what the 55-200 and 55-300 lenses run used? With any luck I'll have a $100-150 or so left over from the K-x and while I was thinking about picking up a 135MM Takumar and a 200MM Takumar I am wondering if I could get either one of these two used for about the same money?

Better deal? Or should I just stick with the Takumars that I know I can pick up for that or less? I do already have a 50, a 55 and a 105, plus I have a Vivitar M42 70-260MM zoom. I was thinking to get a 135MM and a 200MM Takumar fixed though at some point. Digitally speaking I just can't afford much more than the kit lenses though. Not right now anyway.

My goal is mostly portrait and product photography, some birding and other similar wildlife photos. Advice please?

Thanks!

GlennG · 10-16-2010, 12:50 PM

I have seen the non-L version of the 50-200 used for about $100, or maybe a little more. However, if the budget will allow, why not buy it new as an "L" version with the kit? The differential cost above the kit price is very little - within $100, I think. The 55-300 is a bit more, even used. I've seen prices for that in the $250 to $300 range. I don't have any information to comment on the other lenses that you are considering. Good luck, and enjoy the k-x.

stormcloud · 10-16-2010, 12:55 PM

i think you can get the kit with the 55-300mm included for only about $139 more than the base kit from amazon

thats supposed to be a great lens and better than the 50-200mm

**interested_observer** · 10-16-2010, 12:55 PM

If you are interested in one of the longer lenses, there are 2 separate 2 lens Kx kits available from Pentax - one including the 50-200 and the other with the 55-300 lens. The 55-300 lens is much better than the 50-200. The 2 lens kit is substantially cheaper than buying a single lens kit and then looking for the second lens used.

Now the only slight difference is that in the kit the 55-300 comes as a DAL version, which has a plastic mount, no focus clutch nor lens hood, otherwise its optically exactly the same. Personally, I would just go for the DAL version and not worry about the differences.

For the 2 lens kit with the 55-300 its been noted that its about $140 more than the single lens kit. The DA 55-300 sells new retail for about $420. You would really need to look around for single DAL 55-300 but I think I remember someone posting that they were going for about $200 by themselves.

So in terms of value for your money, purchasing a 2 lens kit is the best bang for the buck.

magkelly · 10-16-2010, 01:04 PM

Thanks, I was looking hard at that kit on Amazon and wondering if the 18-300MM was a good idea, was actually a better lens or not. Price seemed right. But I wasn't quite sure about the 55-300 vs the 50-200MM.

jolepp · 10-16-2010, 01:43 PM

See photozone.de (Pentax K / Samsung NX Lens Tests) for a review for both the 50-200 and the 55-300. Executive summary: the 55-300 is optically better, and in fact a great piece of kit for the price (especially so if bought as a part of the two lens kit :-) User reviews in the review database on this site would seem to be in agreement of the photozone lab findings.

A quick search on completed auctions on Ebay would seem to indicate that used prices given by GlennG above are pretty accurate.

10-16-2010, 12:25 PM	#1
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	Putting A K-x Kit Together.... Looks like I'll be able to afford a K-x by Christmas if not a bit before. (Thanks to the fine folks at Mattel and collectors of very old Barbies, grin.) I know it comes with an 18-55 lens but I am wondering what the 55-200 and 55-300 lenses run used? With any luck I'll have a $100-150 or so left over from the K-x and while I was thinking about picking up a 135MM Takumar and a 200MM Takumar I am wondering if I could get either one of these two used for about the same money? Better deal? Or should I just stick with the Takumars that I know I can pick up for that or less? I do already have a 50, a 55 and a 105, plus I have a Vivitar M42 70-260MM zoom. I was thinking to get a 135MM and a 200MM Takumar fixed though at some point. Digitally speaking I just can't afford much more than the kit lenses though. Not right now anyway. My goal is mostly portrait and product photography, some birding and other similar wildlife photos. Advice please? Thanks!

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10-16-2010, 12:50 PM	#2
GlennG Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 824	I have seen the non-L version of the 50-200 used for about $100, or maybe a little more. However, if the budget will allow, why not buy it new as an "L" version with the kit? The differential cost above the kit price is very little - within $100, I think. The 55-300 is a bit more, even used. I've seen prices for that in the $250 to $300 range. I don't have any information to comment on the other lenses that you are considering. Good luck, and enjoy the k-x.

10-16-2010, 12:55 PM	#3
stormcloud Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 232	i think you can get the kit with the 55-300mm included for only about $139 more than the base kit from amazon thats supposed to be a great lens and better than the 50-200mm

10-16-2010, 12:55 PM	#4
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	If you are interested in one of the longer lenses, there are 2 separate 2 lens Kx kits available from Pentax - one including the 50-200 and the other with the 55-300 lens. The 55-300 lens is much better than the 50-200. The 2 lens kit is substantially cheaper than buying a single lens kit and then looking for the second lens used. Now the only slight difference is that in the kit the 55-300 comes as a DAL version, which has a plastic mount, no focus clutch nor lens hood, otherwise its optically exactly the same. Personally, I would just go for the DAL version and not worry about the differences. For the 2 lens kit with the 55-300 its been noted that its about $140 more than the single lens kit. The DA 55-300 sells new retail for about $420. You would really need to look around for single DAL 55-300 but I think I remember someone posting that they were going for about $200 by themselves. So in terms of value for your money, purchasing a 2 lens kit is the best bang for the buck.

10-16-2010, 01:04 PM	#5
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901 Original Poster	Thanks, I was looking hard at that kit on Amazon and wondering if the 18-300MM was a good idea, was actually a better lens or not. Price seemed right. But I wasn't quite sure about the 55-300 vs the 50-200MM.

10-16-2010, 01:43 PM	#6
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	See photozone.de (Pentax K / Samsung NX Lens Tests) for a review for both the 50-200 and the 55-300. Executive summary: the 55-300 is optically better, and in fact a great piece of kit for the price (especially so if bought as a part of the two lens kit :-) User reviews in the review database on this site would seem to be in agreement of the photozone lab findings. A quick search on completed auctions on Ebay would seem to indicate that used prices given by GlennG above are pretty accurate.