Advice for KX kit lens choice...

TOUGEFC · 04-16-2010, 12:42 AM

Hey guys, my old man wants to get his first DSLR, now the last time he owned a slr was about 12yrs ago (mz-50). Since then he has had many point and shoot digitals.
Now ive convinced him into getting a KX.
The only question now is the kit lens.

Here in Australia i can get the kx (any colour) with 18-55 for $739

or the kx (black only) with the sigma 18-125 for $699

Now to me the kx with the sigma sounds like a better deal, with a much more verstile lens and cheaper too.
He doesnt really care for the colours.

What do you guys think?

jct us101 · 04-16-2010, 01:16 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Hey guys, my old man wants to get his first DSLR, now the last time he owned a slr was about 12yrs ago (mz-50). Since then he has had many point and shoot digitals.
Now ive convinced him into getting a KX.
The only question now is the kit lens.

Here in Australia i can get the kx (any colour) with 18-55 for $739

or the kx (black only) with the sigma 18-125 for $699

Now to me the kx with the sigma sounds like a better deal, with a much more verstile lens and cheaper too.
He doesnt really care for the colours.

What do you guys think?

Is it the older Sigma 18-125mm? Or the newer OS version?

The older lens is terrible, don't get it. The lens literally goes from horrible barrel distortion at the wide end to terrible pincushion distortion at the long end. I had one of the non OS versions, and I absolutely hated it. The range is nice and all, but if you take photos of anything that has anything to do with architecture, you're automatically going to notice it.

The lens is also not that sharp, when stopped down a bit it can be, but when it's wide open you really can't get a sharp photo from it unless you're trying really hard to.

I don't have any opinions on the new OS version though, I haven't tried it either.

TOUGEFC · 04-16-2010, 01:37 AM

Im not sure if its the new or old lens, i assuming it would be the new one since its brand new?
How can i spot the difference?

Here is the link to the lens only for sale from the place-
Sigma 18-125mm f3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia

dlacouture · 04-16-2010, 01:40 AM

OS stands for Optically Stabilised... So, that's the new one...

But, honestly, I cannot see how the Kx+18-125OS could be cheaper than with the 18-55... So they must be dumping their old non-OS stocks...

jct us101 · 04-16-2010, 01:40 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Im not sure if its the new or old lens, i assuming it would be the new one since its brand new?
How can i spot the difference?

Here is the link to the lens only for sale from the place-
Sigma 18-125mm f3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia

That is the new one (the OS stabilized version). I don't know anything about it personally, but Photozone.de tested it a while back on Canon, you can at least read what they had to say about it on there (they didn't bother to test it on Pentax since the OS is repetitive with the Shake Reduction that Pentax has already. Other than this review I don't have any experience with this version of it.

Sigma AF 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC HSM OS (Canon) - Review / Test Report

Remember that the results aren't entirely comparable, but this just can give you a basic idea of what they got when they tested this lens. The range isn't that bad too.

icywarm · 04-16-2010, 01:46 AM

heck the kit lens can be had so cheap, has he considered just buying the body and ordering a kit from someone? He might be able to find the DA kit, which has the metal mount for less than he would pay for the kits DAL.

TOUGEFC · 04-16-2010, 01:57 AM

Heres the prices
Body only (black only) $669
Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699
Body (any colour) 18-55 $739

So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then if its the OS version?
If not standard kit 18-55.

jct us101 · 04-16-2010, 01:59 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Heres the prices
Body only (black only) $669
Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699
Body (any colour) 18-55 $739

So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then?

For that price, hell yes! The lens still sells for about $300 on it's own, which is what makes me suspicious that it might actually be the original non OS version.

icywarm · 04-16-2010, 02:02 AM

Yeah that extra range will be nice. If he really wants the kit, I'll sell him mine for $70 shipped and he can have both

Jasvox · 04-16-2010, 02:04 AM

If you can get a kit with the K-x and the sigma 18-125 for less than the K-x with the kit lens, I would do that in a heartbeat...although I seriously doubt they are advertising the OS HSM version of that lens for that price as they would be losing money on each sale.

Jason

dlacouture · 04-16-2010, 02:06 AM

Carrefour France just sold the Kx + sigma 18-200 for 300€ (got two!)...
So you never know...

séamuis · 04-16-2010, 02:10 AM

verify with the retailer as to which version of the sigma is being offered. if its not the new one, then I would suggest getting the one with the standard 18-55mm kit lens.

TOUGEFC · 04-16-2010, 02:12 AM

Ok thanks guys for all the help, he was keen on the sigma kit because of the extra range plu cheaper price so i will get him to buy that one if its the OS model, i'd say i may be taking him to get it tomorrow or next weekend. I will post up what he gets. I may even get him to join up here too!

Shahmatt · 04-16-2010, 02:45 AM

You know, it would be so good if the K-x were offered with a kit pancake prime lens to compliment its compact size. But that's still wishful thinking.

KxBlaze · 04-16-2010, 08:19 AM

Originally posted by TOUGEFC

Heres the prices
Body only (black only) $669
Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699
Body (any colour) 18-55 $739

So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then if its the OS version?
If not standard kit 18-55.

Am I missing something? The link you provided says the Sigma is $440 by itself. So are you getting the body for $250? If so then jump all over that. That Sigma lens is a very good lens.

04-16-2010, 12:42 AM	#1
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561	Advice for KX kit lens choice... Hey guys, my old man wants to get his first DSLR, now the last time he owned a slr was about 12yrs ago (mz-50). Since then he has had many point and shoot digitals. Now ive convinced him into getting a KX. The only question now is the kit lens. Here in Australia i can get the kx (any colour) with 18-55 for $739 or the kx (black only) with the sigma 18-125 for $699 Now to me the kx with the sigma sounds like a better deal, with a much more verstile lens and cheaper too. He doesnt really care for the colours. What do you guys think?

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04-16-2010, 01:16 AM	#2
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Hey guys, my old man wants to get his first DSLR, now the last time he owned a slr was about 12yrs ago (mz-50). Since then he has had many point and shoot digitals. Now ive convinced him into getting a KX. The only question now is the kit lens. Here in Australia i can get the kx (any colour) with 18-55 for $739 or the kx (black only) with the sigma 18-125 for $699 Now to me the kx with the sigma sounds like a better deal, with a much more verstile lens and cheaper too. He doesnt really care for the colours. What do you guys think? Is it the older Sigma 18-125mm? Or the newer OS version? The older lens is terrible, don't get it. The lens literally goes from horrible barrel distortion at the wide end to terrible pincushion distortion at the long end. I had one of the non OS versions, and I absolutely hated it. The range is nice and all, but if you take photos of anything that has anything to do with architecture, you're automatically going to notice it. The lens is also not that sharp, when stopped down a bit it can be, but when it's wide open you really can't get a sharp photo from it unless you're trying really hard to. I don't have any opinions on the new OS version though, I haven't tried it either.

04-16-2010, 01:37 AM	#3
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Im not sure if its the new or old lens, i assuming it would be the new one since its brand new? How can i spot the difference? Here is the link to the lens only for sale from the place- Sigma 18-125mm f3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia

04-16-2010, 01:40 AM	#4
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	OS stands for Optically Stabilised... So, that's the new one... But, honestly, I cannot see how the Kx+18-125OS could be cheaper than with the 18-55... So they must be dumping their old non-OS stocks...

04-16-2010, 01:40 AM	#5
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Im not sure if its the new or old lens, i assuming it would be the new one since its brand new? How can i spot the difference? Here is the link to the lens only for sale from the place- Sigma 18-125mm f3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM - Digital Camera Warehouse Australia That is the new one (the OS stabilized version). I don't know anything about it personally, but Photozone.de tested it a while back on Canon, you can at least read what they had to say about it on there (they didn't bother to test it on Pentax since the OS is repetitive with the Shake Reduction that Pentax has already. Other than this review I don't have any experience with this version of it. Sigma AF 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC HSM OS (Canon) - Review / Test Report Remember that the results aren't entirely comparable, but this just can give you a basic idea of what they got when they tested this lens. The range isn't that bad too.

04-16-2010, 01:46 AM	#6
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	heck the kit lens can be had so cheap, has he considered just buying the body and ordering a kit from someone? He might be able to find the DA kit, which has the metal mount for less than he would pay for the kits DAL.

04-16-2010, 01:57 AM	#7
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Heres the prices Body only (black only) $669 Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699 Body (any colour) 18-55 $739 So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then if its the OS version? If not standard kit 18-55.

04-16-2010, 01:59 AM	#8
jct us101 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Rohnert Park, CA Posts: 3,793	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Heres the prices Body only (black only) $669 Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699 Body (any colour) 18-55 $739 So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then? For that price, hell yes! The lens still sells for about $300 on it's own, which is what makes me suspicious that it might actually be the original non OS version.

04-16-2010, 02:02 AM	#9
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	Yeah that extra range will be nice. If he really wants the kit, I'll sell him mine for $70 shipped and he can have both

04-16-2010, 02:04 AM	#10
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	If you can get a kit with the K-x and the sigma 18-125 for less than the K-x with the kit lens, I would do that in a heartbeat...although I seriously doubt they are advertising the OS HSM version of that lens for that price as they would be losing money on each sale. Jason

04-16-2010, 02:06 AM	#11
dlacouture Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Var, South of France Photos: Albums Posts: 1,074	Carrefour France just sold the Kx + sigma 18-200 for 300€ (got two!)... So you never know...

04-16-2010, 02:10 AM	#12
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	verify with the retailer as to which version of the sigma is being offered. if its not the new one, then I would suggest getting the one with the standard 18-55mm kit lens.

04-16-2010, 02:12 AM	#13
TOUGEFC Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,561 Original Poster	Ok thanks guys for all the help, he was keen on the sigma kit because of the extra range plu cheaper price so i will get him to buy that one if its the OS model, i'd say i may be taking him to get it tomorrow or next weekend. I will post up what he gets. I may even get him to join up here too!

04-16-2010, 02:45 AM	#14
Shahmatt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 68	You know, it would be so good if the K-x were offered with a kit pancake prime lens to compliment its compact size. But that's still wishful thinking.

04-16-2010, 08:19 AM	#15
KxBlaze Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,602	Originally posted by TOUGEFC Heres the prices Body only (black only) $669 Body (black only) sigma 18-125 $699 Body (any colour) 18-55 $739 So the sigma kit seems like the way to go then if its the OS version? If not standard kit 18-55. Am I missing something? The link you provided says the Sigma is $440 by itself. So are you getting the body for $250? If so then jump all over that. That Sigma lens is a very good lens.