[weirdnjfan1]

Hi all,

I'm thinking with my tax return coming in the main in the next couple of weeks, I'm considering purchasing a a new lens for my K100D. I'm so used to using Pentax lens, so I'm shopping around for one. The thing is I want a long range lens, one with a decent zoom. The one I'm probably looking at will be long range zoom. I'm really starting to like the 50-200mm the Pentax makes, mainly because it the same as the current lens that I have on my camera, the 18-55mm that I got with my camera last weekend. Is the DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 lens a good one or is there a better on out there made by Pentax. Please help me out.

[Tuner571]

The DA 50-200mm is a very nice lens, and I have heard lots of great things about it. However, next month, pentax will be releasing a 55-300mm that you might want to take a look at that.

[weirdnjfan1]

The DA 50-200mm is a very nice lens, and I have heard lots of great things about it. However, next month, pentax will be releasing a 55-300mm that you might want to take a look at that.

Thanks Turner. Is that one full auto also? If I'm shooting action spots, I like to leave my camera on auto when I'm doing this.

[Tuner571]

Thanks Turner. Is that one full auto also? If I'm shooting action spots, I like to leave my camera on auto when I'm doing this.

Yes, it is also a full automatic lens. You see, like you, I too am need of a nice zoom lens and the 50-200mm was my first choice. However, now that I have learned about this new lens I am going to wait and pick up this one instead.

[dancheng]

How about selling your existing 18-55mm lens and buy the 18-250mm lens? This is a walk-around lens quite good for travelling. The Tamron and Pentax both have this 18-250mm lens. Tamron offers 6 year warranty if you live in USA.

[kittykat46]

The DA 50 - 200 mm is a very nice lens, and complements the DA 18 -55mm kit lens nicely.
Good value for money, I think they are available for less than USD $ 180 now.

The main shortcoming is that 200 mm is great for general outdoor use, but not really enough for action sports.

A few posible Options
a) Replace your current kit lens with an 18-250 mm. Very convenient, but a 14x zoom range does come with compromises on image quality, especially at the two extreme zoom ends.

b) Keep your kit lens.
Add a 70 - 300 mm , both Tamron and Sigma have it, and easily purchased.
Less commonly available is the Pentax FA J 75-300 mm. This is an old design, but still great value.
All are good value for money.

This would leave a slight gap between 55 - 70 mm in your range.
Doesn't bother me in practice, More opportunity for LBA later...

[weirdnjfan1]

The DA 50 - 200 mm is a very nice lens, and complements the DA 18 -55mm kit lens nicely.
Good value for money, I think they are available for less than USD $ 180 now.

The main shortcoming is that 200 mm is great for general outdoor use, but not really enough for action sports.

A few posible Options
a) Replace your current kit lens with an 18-250 mm. Very convenient, but a 14x zoom range does come with compromises on image quality, especially at the two extreme zoom ends.

b) Keep your kit lens.
Add a 70 - 300 mm , both Tamron and Sigma have it, and easily purchased.
Less commonly available is the Pentax FA J 75-300 mm. This is an old design, but still great value.
All are good value for money.

This would leave a slight gap between 55 - 70 mm in your range.
Doesn't bother me in practice, More opportunity for LBA later...

Thanks for the suggetion kitty. Are either of the Sigma or the Tarmon lens full auto? This is the reason why I like using the Pentax lens, because of the fact that I like being able to switch from manual to automatic just by flicking a switch. That's why I'm considering the lens from Pentax.

[kittykat46]

Thanks for the suggetion kitty. Are either of the Sigma or the Tarmon lens full auto? This is the reason why I like using the Pentax lens, because of the fact that I like being able to switch from manual to automatic just by flicking a switch. That's why I'm considering the lens from Pentax.

No problem. The "Pentax" version of the Sigma and Tamron lenses are fully compatible the Pentax dSLR body.
You can switch between manual and auto focus using the same switch.

These are 3rd party lenses and there may be slight differences in exposure metering to what you are used to for Pentax made lenses. You get used to it after a while.

Ah, the lenses are a bit soft between 200 mm - 300 mm at wide open aperture, but still usable. Pretty sharp at 200 mm and below, or switch to smaller aperture above 200mm.

[Ken T]

If you don't mind buying used lens, there's one that too many people after, the FA 80-320mm f/4.5-5.6. I've acquired an used one off Ebay for $180 and never regret. May be I was lucky and got a good copy, it is pretty sharp the whole range, even at 320mm.