| Author: | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 | | Review Date: February 9, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | 2 WR Lens for $50 | | Cons: | None for the Price | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K5IIs
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If you know how to work with this Lens it will work for you. it one of the best Kit Lens i have seen in a long time...the other was a Kit lens Sony DT 16-105mm and it was not WR and right now it sell for $399 dollar for dollar you can't beat the 18-55mm Pentax..i am new to Pentax but not new to DSLR....
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Naples Posts: 10 | | Review Date: November 1, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | small and light, water resistent, cheap, optical performance is quite good for the price and has a "sweet spot" 23-35mm from f5.6. | | Cons: | wide angle performance is not good enougt unti f5.6, | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k-5
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In kit, it's a best buy.
To be so cheap, it has many qualities and some problems.
Light compact and well built.
Weather resistent!
Optically it's not bad at all. From 22 to 37mm it's very good!
Sharpness in the center is good. On borders need at least f5.6. Contrast and colours follow the same behaviour.
Contrast and sharpenss are very weak in wide angle. from 18 to 22, and in tele, from 40 to 55 (but here may be good for potraits).
To start it's perfect, and is still usefull as a WR lens or as a "battle" lens for circumstance where it's bettere to leave at home the more expensive stuff.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2013 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 1,126 | | Review Date: October 12, 2013 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | small, WR, sharp when stopped down, flare control, aberrations, small size, very light, well built | | Cons: | really need to stop down to get sharp corners and stop down quite a bit to get a sharp image | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-30
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The lens can produce a good picture but it will be only under certain conditions. You will have stop it down to get a sharp image. The corners are pretty bad as well. That being said, the contrast is not too bad, the flare control is excellent and at small enlargement you can get a good photograph out of it. Aberrations are pretty good as well.
The obvious advantage is that it is weather proof. It is also very well built for a kit lens with materials that are nice to touch.It is also quite small and easy to handle. Autofocus hunts just a bit and is a bit slow - roughly on par with other kit lenses.
Optically the lens is a lot worse than the olympus zuiko 4/3rds kits I am used to (original 14-42mm and a 14-45mm), but it wins in terms of flare control, weather proofing and a mount capable of connecting to a much better dSLR.
My recommendation is, if you want a cheap WR wide zoom and got it as a kit - keep it. If you want good optical quality zoom and don't mind shelling some 80 bucks more, get a used 16-45mm.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 13 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 306
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 22, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Wr,sharp,colors,no flate, weight,size,zoom | | Cons: | No 2.8, sharpnes not great but good | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5
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For the price great, after buying tamron 17-50 no use this
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: August, 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | build quality, compact size, lightweight | | Cons: | lack of speed, a little noisy | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-X
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I got this lens used after I started getting a little tired of using the heavier/larger DA 18-135mm zoom. I already had a DA-L 18-55 that originally came bundled with my K-x but never used it that much. I heard the WR was optically the same but better built (metal mount, lens body construction) and has convenient features like quick-shift focusing and a lens hood. So when a WR model was listed recently on the PF marketplace, I jumped on it and boy I am glad I did! Even though I have many primes and some nice zooms in my camera bag, I find myself using this little compact, lightweight zoom a lot as an everyday moments "snapshooter." I'm not trying to create art with this lens, nor am I using it indoors in low light conditions. But for quick trips to the playground with my kid, or other outdoor adventures in my town, this is an excellent and convenient zoom lens and matches beautifully with my K-X or K-01. It just feels right in the hand, and I can easily hand-hold the camera with one-hand and take shots using this lens. Although I'm sure I'll take my DA 18-135 on vacation instead, this lens fills an important niche for me. Very happy I got one at a very reasonable price!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2013 Posts: 731 | | Review Date: August 21, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Price, Quality, Weight, Sharpness | | Cons: | Fstop is slow, Pop on rear lens cap | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-5 II
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I bought this lens new with my K-5 II. This was my first Pentax camera and Lens and I can say this is a great lens for the money. My previous system was Canon and I did have a few L lenses (only f4 lenses). Obviously, this lens won't beat out a L lens in sharpness or build quality, but I can say it does hold its own.
This lens is a true joy to shoot with. This lens/camera system truly gets out of the way of your photography and allows you to focus on shooting and not on your gear. When I owned Canon and the L glass, I was always worried about my gear and thinking too much about it and less on my photography. With the weather sealed system and beautiful sharp pictures this lens can produce, I find my self enjoying photography truly.
The build quality of this lens is sturdy and not cheapo feeling. The zoom ring moves very steady and does not creep. The extension of the tube is minimal and does't make you fee like the lens is protruding from the camera. The lens hood snaps on with a satisfying click with no wobble or shake. I personally find 18-55 to be a very usable range and I believe a lot of people would agree with me.
To achieve maximum sharpness, I often times stop the lens down to about f8. I am not sure where the Maximum sweet spot is for this lens, but I can say my results at f8-f11 are awesome.
Only negative... Low light is a challenge. You need to bump your ISO often times to 3200 to capture motion in low light. I would like to have a fast prime for indoors to switch to instead of this lens. (maybe I'll get a 35mm some day)
I am a advanced amateur/hobbyist photographer and I recommend this lens. The price won't break the bank, it makes your weather sealed camera a weather sealed system, and the pictures are solid and crisp.
Keep Shooting! | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 20
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 16, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Good spec, well built, handling, sharp at F8 | | Cons: | Not sharp wide open | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 7
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K30
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This lens came bundled with my K-30 and I only intended to use it as a stop gap until i could afford a better standard lens. Such as the Pentax DA 16-45 or Tamron 17-50 2.8.
However my first impressions were very positive, it is a proper step up from the DA 18-55 and two steps up from the DA-L 18-55. It looks better, is finished to a higher standard and also includes WR.
In operation its extremely smooth, both the zoom action and manual focus. Much better than either of the DA or DA-L lenses i have owned. It's also lightweight and compact. Has same great hood that Pentax supply for all their DA lenses, with its natty filter window. Throw in Quick shift manual focus and a metal mount, and you have one of the best, possibly THE best, specced Kit lens available.
Yes its a bit soft wide open and the corners are not great but i certainly do not agree with other reviewers that its "unusable by 45mm". It sharpens up nicely by F8 and that's consistent through the zoom range. This has been a decent lens.
Recently intended to replace it with the DA 16-45 but decided to hang on while i evaluate the 16-45. So far the DA 18-45 WR beats the 16-45 for looks, finish and handling. The 16-45 is optically better but not greatly so. Quite disappointing really. So the DA 18-55 WR may get a stay of execution while i sell the 16-45 and look to the Tamron 17-50 as the replacement.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2008 Location: UK Posts: 34 | | Review Date: July 1, 2013 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | WR | | Cons: | Not sharp | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5 and K10
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Lens came as part of a kit for my K5 its ok and a good starting point, but not a lens i would buy. nor will i keep.it. i shalll continue using my 16-45 f4 as my general lens.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2011 Posts: 81 | | Review Date: June 28, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Light; WR-means I'll explore more; Quick shift; feels ok build quality | | Cons: | not sharp; bit slow | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k5II
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Not much more to add to the ratings - having this lens means I'll feel brave enough to take it riding/kayaking/bushwalking with my older k200; and will have it in my backpack in case I get caught out somewhere with k5II.
Its better than the cheap Sigma 28-90
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Man With A Camera Registered: June, 2010 Location: The Great Pacific Northwet, in the Land Between Canada and Mexico Posts: 28,068
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 18, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $196.95
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good everyday lens, weather sealing. | | Cons: | Could be faster, the 3.5-5.6 maximum apertures are slow. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K10D, *istDL
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I got this lens to replace the 18-55 kit lens that came with my *istDL. It works quite well as an everyday lens and is the one I use most of the time. I keep it on my camera and always have the camera handy for when a photo opportunity pops up.
The weather sealing is also a plus, and compliments the weather sealing of the K10D.
Purchased new from Adorama in 2012.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2012 Location: Bangkok Posts: 2 | | Review Date: June 9, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $85.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | sharp when Enough light | | Cons: | Gloomy light | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax k-5
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I always use this lens especially for on street and rainy day photography. It's Not expensive | | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 66
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 6, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $130.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | WR, quick shift, CA, bokeh, light and very cheap | | Cons: | could be faster and sharper | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5
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This lens is not that easy to use. Because it is slow, I can easily get soft images because of shaking. But I never had anything close to the bad one shown below. May be there is some kind of big sample variation. One or two stops down, it provided me with sharp images when the scene has enough contrast. Sharpness is not to the level of my M50's or FAs but it is not bad. The numbers given in photozone agree with what I see.
The bokeh is reasonably good. It gets a bit busy sometimes but I never saw surrounded discs. I have not seen chromatic aberration or purple fringing while my other lenses would show some. Autofocus is ok as I do not expect great performances from Pentax bodies on that side, anyway.
The main reason to buy this lens is because it is weather sealed. Given its reasonable optical performance, this is a useful lens, very good for its price. This is why I rate it 9. I strongly recommend it considering what offers for what you pay.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2013 Posts: 23 | | Review Date: May 28, 2013 | Not Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 2 |
| Pros: | Light weight, looks cool with green ring on front | | Cons: | Terribly soft, light fall off in corners | | Sharpness: 2
Aberrations: 2
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 5
Handling: 5
Value: 3
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K%iis
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 I bought this lens as a cheap intro to the Pentax stable. I maxed out on a new K5iis and took ethe cheap option for now with the lens.
Lens easy to use and very light, a plus in my books. Shots look good on screen, but when you get them home, the worst.
No sharpness, everything not at the focus point is very vague, light fall off in corners. Very very bad, at least it was cheap.
I have previously had a kit lens from olympus and was happy, this lens sucks period.
Cant wait to trade up to a decent lens or the camera is off for sale.
Im serious i wouldnt even pay $20 Hong Kong dollars for it. Its an embarrassment. Can take better photos putting a beer glass over the body.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,548
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 29, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Weather resitance | | Cons: | not fast | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
New or Used: New
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Very convenient lens that 'turns your dslr into a point and shoot'. Best features are it's weather resistance and durable and decent build quality. Doesn't obstruct the built in flash with the hood attached, but reversed, which is very handy. Polarizer window in the hood is great, as is the quick shift manual focus, for videos. Screw drive focus is slightly noisy, but it is very fast and reliable. Focus with this lens is very accurate and works in surprisingly low light.
Images are are sharp enough in the centre at all focal lengths, but you need to zoom to at least 21mm before you get decent edge performance. At 18mm, it's not so good with noticeable softness and aberrations in the corners. Beyond 21mm, it's a good lens in all regards.
This lens performs superbly close up and at is very sharp at 35mm, so you can think of it as a normal lens with a bit of "adjustability".
Both the photos above taken at 18mm, which is an indication of it's worst focal length - the solution as shown is simply to use f/8. Obviously the main limitation is that it's not a constant aperture lens. But you knew that already.
For it's price (included with the camera), it performs well enough. I would say, if it's included with your kit, you will keep it because the WR is useful for bad weather, but don't go out of your way to buy it if you can afford a better lens. If you can afford it, I recommend the 18-135, which isn't that much larger and shares all the positives of this lens, plus having more contrast and pleasing rendering.
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