If you could only have 1 lens...

jimr-pdx · 04-01-2013, 10:53 AM

the da70 must stay

so either 16-45 or 16-50 to match up with it. sure would miss the 100 macro at times though.

Zaphodmonster · 04-03-2013, 05:01 AM

Easy choice for film (or full frame digi) is FA 43mm limited.

Aps-c is a little more complicated. If we are talking about lenses I don't own then definitely the FA 31mm limited. For lenses I do own and love it would problably be the DA 21mm limited.

I think

normhead · 04-03-2013, 05:33 AM - **1 Like**

Definitely my DA 18-135, sharper than or approximately equal to any Pentax lens available from 22-45- plus the equivalent of 200mm reach on FF in it's long end, and still centre sharp. There isn't another lens like it as far as I can tell. Sharper than any other super zoom, and prime quality at 24mm in it's short end. I'd like to pick up a nice compact 200mm prime to go with it. For zoom the CA is well controlled on it compared to many other zooms, but no where near prime quality.

It's not only the one I'd own, it's the one I leave the house with when I only want one lens. I love the Tamron 17-50, but you have to have the Sigma 70 or Tamron 90 to leave the house with it. It's just not long enough to be the one lens.

NitroDC · 04-03-2013, 09:15 AM

Prime: FA31, maybe the 43...
Zoom: DA18-135

jpyykonen · 04-03-2013, 09:43 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by normhead

Definitely my DA 18-135, sharper than or approximately equal to any Pentax lens available from 22-45- plus the equivalent of 200mm reach on FF in it's long end, and still centre sharp. There isn't another lens like it as far as I can tell. Sharper than any other super zoom, and prime quality at 24mm in it's short end. I'd like to pick up a nice compact 200mm prime to go with it. For zoom the CA is well controlled on it compared to many other zooms, but no where near prime quality.

It's not only the one I'd own, it's the one I leave the house with when I only want one lens. I love the Tamron 17-50, but you have to have the Sigma 70 or Tamron 90 to leave the house with it. It's just not long enough to be the one lens.

I agree with this. I'm rather new with 18-135WR yet as I have had it about one week and I have shot around 300 shots with it but the center sharpness is exceptional for a zoom with this big zoom range IMO. About 18~70mm it may well rival primes in center sharpness and contrast at ~F5.6. Not many zooms have caused "wow" effect but this did with it's center sharpness. I have also 16-50/2.8,17-70/4 and Tamron 17-50/2.8 with similar zoom range. Corners are worse,especially long end, but this may very well be my "one lens" because of it's versatility. This and A* 300/4 makes very versatile and light weight two lens walkabout kit.

I was "scared off" buying this lens before because of bad ratings in reviews. Now finally I have decided not to give too much weight on web reviews. Best is to try yourself and see if it suits you. I think this has become another underrated lens because of bad early reviews. And I'm also starting to believe there is some "Pentax bias" around because of some bad reviews

VoiceOfReason · 04-03-2013, 09:47 AM

I'd have to keep my 18-135.

normhead · 04-03-2013, 10:03 AM

Originally posted by jpyykonen

And I'm also starting to believe there is some "Pentax bias" around because of some bad reviews

I think the guy at photozone just had a bad morning. He rates other lenses that perform much worse, much higher.

jpyykonen · 04-03-2013, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by normhead

I think the guy at photozone just had a bad morning. He rates other lenses that perform much worse, much higher.

Yeah maybe

I noticed this again when I recently checked the review of new Canon 18-135mm IS STM. It is priced similarly to Pentax 18-135 (at least in Amazon). Pentax got price/performance ratio of 1.5 stars and Canon got 5 stars. And Pentax is WR after all. But yeah, this is another debate/thread and maybe discussed already.

**Kerrowdown** · 04-03-2013, 12:57 PM

When you read through this thread, it's interesting to see just what a broad cross spectrum of lenses we've all picked.

joe.penn · 04-03-2013, 12:58 PM

Originally posted by curlednoodles

If you could only have 1 lens

My Sigma 70~200 OS FLD...

bullitt_60 · 04-03-2013, 08:26 PM

You will have to rip my Tamron 70-200 from my cold, dead hands.

brofkand · 04-03-2013, 08:34 PM

Of the lenses I own, the one lens I'd keep if I had to sell the rest is the FA 50 1.4.

Of the lenses I wish to own, I'd keep the FA 31 Limited.

**savoche** · 04-04-2013, 11:32 AM

Zoom: da 18-135
Prime: da* 300

I first thought of a 31 ltd or something 35 as a prime, but the zoom really covers that (not as well, but we have to prioritise here!) So I'd have the 300 for wildlife.

**Checking...jono** · 04-04-2013, 12:09 PM

I'm with Winky. My 16-45 gets the most camera time.

**Dice** · 04-04-2013, 12:24 PM

My DA 50-135. It is a great hiking and all-around lens. Like multiple primes all packed into one. And if I didn't have that one then my DA35 ltd. That lens can do a lot of things very well.

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04-01-2013, 10:53 AM	#31
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	the da70 must stay so either 16-45 or 16-50 to match up with it. sure would miss the 100 macro at times though.

04-03-2013, 05:01 AM	#32
Zaphodmonster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 151	Easy choice for film (or full frame digi) is FA 43mm limited. Aps-c is a little more complicated. If we are talking about lenses I don't own then definitely the FA 31mm limited. For lenses I do own and love it would problably be the DA 21mm limited. I think

04-03-2013, 05:33 AM - 1 Like	#33
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Definitely my DA 18-135, sharper than or approximately equal to any Pentax lens available from 22-45- plus the equivalent of 200mm reach on FF in it's long end, and still centre sharp. There isn't another lens like it as far as I can tell. Sharper than any other super zoom, and prime quality at 24mm in it's short end. I'd like to pick up a nice compact 200mm prime to go with it. For zoom the CA is well controlled on it compared to many other zooms, but no where near prime quality. It's not only the one I'd own, it's the one I leave the house with when I only want one lens. I love the Tamron 17-50, but you have to have the Sigma 70 or Tamron 90 to leave the house with it. It's just not long enough to be the one lens.

04-03-2013, 09:15 AM	#34
NitroDC Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 342	Prime: FA31, maybe the 43... Zoom: DA18-135

04-03-2013, 09:43 AM - 1 Like	#35
jpyykonen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 191	Originally posted by normhead Definitely my DA 18-135, sharper than or approximately equal to any Pentax lens available from 22-45- plus the equivalent of 200mm reach on FF in it's long end, and still centre sharp. There isn't another lens like it as far as I can tell. Sharper than any other super zoom, and prime quality at 24mm in it's short end. I'd like to pick up a nice compact 200mm prime to go with it. For zoom the CA is well controlled on it compared to many other zooms, but no where near prime quality. It's not only the one I'd own, it's the one I leave the house with when I only want one lens. I love the Tamron 17-50, but you have to have the Sigma 70 or Tamron 90 to leave the house with it. It's just not long enough to be the one lens. I agree with this. I'm rather new with 18-135WR yet as I have had it about one week and I have shot around 300 shots with it but the center sharpness is exceptional for a zoom with this big zoom range IMO. About 18~70mm it may well rival primes in center sharpness and contrast at ~F5.6. Not many zooms have caused "wow" effect but this did with it's center sharpness. I have also 16-50/2.8,17-70/4 and Tamron 17-50/2.8 with similar zoom range. Corners are worse,especially long end, but this may very well be my "one lens" because of it's versatility. This and A* 300/4 makes very versatile and light weight two lens walkabout kit. I was "scared off" buying this lens before because of bad ratings in reviews. Now finally I have decided not to give too much weight on web reviews. Best is to try yourself and see if it suits you. I think this has become another underrated lens because of bad early reviews. And I'm also starting to believe there is some "Pentax bias" around because of some bad reviews

04-03-2013, 09:47 AM	#36
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I'd have to keep my 18-135.

04-03-2013, 10:03 AM	#37
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by jpyykonen And I'm also starting to believe there is some "Pentax bias" around because of some bad reviews I think the guy at photozone just had a bad morning. He rates other lenses that perform much worse, much higher.

04-03-2013, 12:49 PM	#38
jpyykonen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 191	Originally posted by normhead I think the guy at photozone just had a bad morning. He rates other lenses that perform much worse, much higher. Yeah maybe I noticed this again when I recently checked the review of new Canon 18-135mm IS STM. It is priced similarly to Pentax 18-135 (at least in Amazon). Pentax got price/performance ratio of 1.5 stars and Canon got 5 stars. And Pentax is WR after all. But yeah, this is another debate/thread and maybe discussed already.

04-03-2013, 12:57 PM	#39
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,818	When you read through this thread, it's interesting to see just what a broad cross spectrum of lenses we've all picked.

04-03-2013, 12:58 PM	#40
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by curlednoodles If you could only have 1 lens My Sigma 70~200 OS FLD...

04-03-2013, 08:26 PM	#41
bullitt_60 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 320	You will have to rip my Tamron 70-200 from my cold, dead hands.

04-03-2013, 08:34 PM	#42
brofkand Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 836	Of the lenses I own, the one lens I'd keep if I had to sell the rest is the FA 50 1.4. Of the lenses I wish to own, I'd keep the FA 31 Limited.

04-04-2013, 11:32 AM	#43
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Zoom: da 18-135 Prime: da* 300 I first thought of a 31 ltd or something 35 as a prime, but the zoom really covers that (not as well, but we have to prioritise here!) So I'd have the 300 for wildlife.

04-04-2013, 12:09 PM	#44
Checking...jono Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Northeastern Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 717	I'm with Winky. My 16-45 gets the most camera time.

04-04-2013, 12:24 PM	#45
Dice Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Emeryville, CA Posts: 1,122	My DA 50-135. It is a great hiking and all-around lens. Like multiple primes all packed into one. And if I didn't have that one then my DA35 ltd. That lens can do a lot of things very well.