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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-28-2015, 12:14 PM
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I used the 18-55 on a recent trip to India because my son had borrowed my 18-135. It wasn't bad, but neither was it very good. Because of this, I ended up using my primes (15, 40, 70) for most of my shooting. I would have used the 18-55 more if it had been raining, as it was the only WR lens I had with me.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-27-2015, 04:34 PM
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If price is the issue, perhaps the venerable DA 16-45 would suit you. It was discontinued a couple of years ago, but is still widely available at a very good price, new or used. It is a much better lens than the 18-55.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-27-2015, 12:52 PM
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Welcome to the forum.
Neither lens is ideal for what you want by itself. The 55-300 is certainly not wide enough for group shots (unless you can get a very long way back), and the 18-135 is not sharp enough at the edges for that purpose. I am very fond of the DA 18-135, especially for travel photos, but its edge softness would see students situated at the ends looking quite indistinct. The thing about a formal class shot is that every Mum and Dad will want to see their little offspring as sharp as possible.
I did the official photo for a conference I was attending in Stockholm earlier this year, using my K3 + DA 40mm. You can see it at the top of the conference page. If you click on the image you will get a large size, and can even click again to zoom in further: you will see it is very sharp right to the edges. The disadvantage of the DA 40 though is that again you have to go a fair way back, and you have to be able to "zoom with your legs", which is not always possible.
I think a better zoom option would be the HD DA 16-85, which is sharper across the frame than the 18-135. The long end (85mm) may also be sufficient for your "single student from a distance needs", but if not you could add the 55-300 at a later stage. I quite like that lens for long "portraits".
Forget the 18-55; not suitable. I have used it for a conference photo once before, but even stopped down to f/8, the people at the edges are noticeably less sharp than those in the middle (and neither centre nor edge compare to the DA40).
Happy snapping.
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