[jjfdvm72]

I currently have a K10D with the kit 18-55mm lens and wanted to upgrade. I was thinking about the Pentax or Tamron 18-250mm but now I am wondering if I be better off just getting the Pentax 50-200mm lens.

Pros of 18-250:

1) convenience of carrying only one lens
2) not having to change lens in the middle of shooting

Pros of 50-200
1) Cheaper
2) Better opticss?? (not sure about this, but people tell me that longer range zooms are worse than narrow zooms)

Any opinions?

[Jasvox]

It depends on your situation maybe? I bought the Tammy 18-250 because I travel so much and wanted a good all around single lens for me and my small camera bag. I think for my purposes, it is idea, not to mention I think its very good quality.
I do however prefer my 50mm 1.4 for indoor general photography or low light shooting, as long as I don't plan on shooting a large group all together. And for portraits, its shaper and preferred over the 18-55 or 18-250.

If you don't mind carrying a bag around that accommodates multiple lenses, or live in a dust prone area, maybe the 50-200 or the 75-300 would be a more economical option as well as a decent lens for the buck.

I love the 18-250 and certainly prefer it to carrying other lenses and changing on the fly, but your situation may be different and if so, either should be fine!

Jas

I currently have a K10D with the kit 18-55mm lens and wanted to upgrade. I was thinking about the Pentax or Tamron 18-250mm but now I am wondering if I be better off just getting the Pentax 50-200mm lens.

Pros of 18-250:

1) convenience of carrying only one lens
2) not having to change lens in the middle of shooting

Pros of 50-200
1) Cheaper
2) Better opticss?? (not sure about this, but people tell me that longer range zooms are worse than narrow zooms)

Any opinions?

[axl]

Hard chice...
if you're talking about budget zooms like DA 18-55 and DA 50-200 vs Tamron 18-250, maybe I'd go Tamron, I don't think IQ is going to be that much different, though both Pentax lenses are quite underrated I think.
If you would consider, fast primes, or even fast zooms (Tamron 28-75f2.8, Sigma 24-70f2.8) then yes, two lenses are better than one....

[heatherslightbox]

Since it sounds like you're fairly new to photography, I would advise you to get the 50-200. You can pick one up gently used for under $200 easy. Use it and the 18-55 for a while and see what focal lengths you use the most (ExposurePlot is a good little freeware program that will make this easy). You can use the data from ExposurePlot to help you determine where you should sink most of your lens money. For example, if you find that you tend to go more wide-angle, then get a better wider-end zoom (like the Sigma 17-70, 18-50/2.8, Tamron 17-50, or Pentax *16-50) and hang on to the 50-200 for the longer lengths. If you tend to use more telephoto than WA, then you could put more money into a really good telephoto (Sigma or Tamron 70-200 or Pentax *60-250) and not worry so much about upgrading the 18-55.

Another way of looking at this question is after using the 18-55 lens for a while, do you find that either you wish it would go wider or go out further (or both)? Ask yourself the same thing in regard to the 50-200 lens. Depending on how you answer both of those questions, then that may open up even more lens choices--i.e. Sigma 10-20, Pentax 10-17 & 12-24 for wider and Sigma or Tamron 70-300 or Pentax 55-300 on the tele end, for example.

If convenience is what you're really after, then the 18-250 is a good option. The only disadvantage with these "super zoom" type of lenses is that you lose some IQ with such a wide range, although they can produce some good images.

I second the idea of getting a 50/1.4 for low-light situations. If you can afford it, the 43/1.9 is an excellent option, as well.

I know that this is a lot of info to digest, but the most important point I want to get across to you is to take your time and see how you really use your camera and lenses before making any impulse lens-buying decisions.

HTH,
Heather

[lapeen]

I was recently trying to make this decision also and ALMOST went with the Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro lens to go along with my kit lens, but at the last minute I decided that it was worth the extra cost to not have to change lenses or miss shots because I didn't want to change lenses... or was in the middle of changing lenses.

I decided to go with the Pentax 18-250mm and I could not be happier with it! The images are crisp, and I only 'need' 2 lenses. The 18-250 for outside, and my 50mm 1.4 for in

[SRT-202]

I switched to the Tamron 18-250 and couldn't be happier.

[Sprags]

Circuit City has the Pentax 50-200mm zoom for $159.

I bought one but returned it after I changed my mind and decided to go with Limited primes...but now I think I'm going to get a Tamron 18-250 simply for the convenience when all I want to carry is just one lens.

[SpecialK]

Circuit City has the Pentax 50-200mm zoom for $159.

That is a great price and a good lens.

[stewart_photo]

(snip) I was thinking about the Pentax or Tamron 18-250mm but now I am wondering if I be better off just getting the Pentax 50-200mm lens.

If you can afford it, don't cut corners on this. Spend the extra money for the Tamron AF18-250mm. I purchased this lens a few months ago with the idea of using it for a travel lens, but it's versatility and excellent image results have led to it being used in many other areas of photography as well. Therefore, if I could only choose a single lens, this would be the one without hesitation. If allowed two lenses, the second would be a fast, shorter, zoom for low-light situations.

By the way, I'm not the only one praising this lens. In the May 2007 issue, Popular Photography magazine said, "Subjective Quality Factor (SQF) data came in at Excellent at all focal lengths" and concluded "An impressive optical achievement, the industry's first 13.9x digital-only zoom hits a trifecta by expanding zoom range, utility, and optical quality."

stewart

[Chako]

I have a Pentax 18-250.mm. A beautiful but slow lens. IQ is really good, and so is everything else with it. However, it is slow. If you need to use this in low light, be sure to pack a tripod or some other form of camera support. I would not hesitate in buying one.

I also have the 50-200 which doesn't see much use lately.