| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 131 | | Review Date: November 23, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | value, size | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
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This is a really good kit lens, probably the best offered by any company. It gets underrated as people seek more specialized lenses, but this one performs pretty well.
It is an excellent value!
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Hueytown, Alabama Posts: 1,508 | | Review Date: October 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Close up IQ, Price, Size | | Cons: | Soft at wide open | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
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Took me a while to figure out the sweet spot but I have a bout got it figured out.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2009 Posts: 1,235 | | Review Date: September 26, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $49.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Decent results around 28-35mm, nice build quality for a kit lens. | | Cons: | Small aperture, some flare, vignetting | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
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What I like about the lens:
- It’s cheap and easy to find.
- Overall performance is pretty good for a kit lens. Especially at around 28-35mm in focal length.
- Good build quality for a kit lens.
- The zoom range is convenient.
- A nice lens cap and hood.
- It’s easy to come by and cheap, so you are more prone to take worthwhile risks you wouldn’t usually with more expensive lenses.
- A super small aperture, up to f40 depending on the focal length, is available.
- Focusing speed is fast and reliable as it uses the screw-drive mechanism for auto-focus.
- Quick-shift and Super Protect lens coating.
- The front barrel does not rotate when focusing, so filters like a circular polarizer work well.
What I’m not fond of:
- It covers focal lengths I prefer to use prime lenses at.
- I’m use to fast prime lenses, so this lens can feel a bit debilitating at times. This is less of an issue with a camera that has strong high ISO abilities like the Pentax K-5.
- This is said to be lesser in optical quality compared to the AL II version of this lens.
- 52mm filters are a bit odd compared to most of my other lenses that have 49mm, 58mm, 67mm, and 77mm.
- Hexagonal blur highlights for most of the aperture range due to the 6 straight blades.
- No aperture ring, but this is a “feature” of newer lenses in general.
- The focus ring rotates when the camera is auto-focusing.
- Prone to flare at wide angle (I don’t have a lens hood, so I’m not sure if that would help).
- Vignetting is an issue for a large part of the wide end of the lens.
You can see more info on my blog about the lens (pictures, a video, etc)  | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: Tartu, Estonia Posts: 83 | | Review Date: September 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Build quality, price | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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This can only be rated as a KIT lens and being a KIT lens, the DA 18-55mm is very inexpensive and probably the best you'll get for the money. Compared to other brands' KIT lenses it has the best build and image quality while still being cheaper. It allows to do nice close-ups and I love the ability to use manual and auto-focus simultaineously. I have quite several Pentax lenses, but this still serves as a nice wide-angle and all-around lens.
| | | | | | | Closed Account Registered: March, 2011 Location: Ingham,UK Posts: 229 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: May, 2011 Posts: 61 | | Review Date: May 25, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great value, good IQ | | Cons: | Not much | |
Everyone else has probably said everything there is to be said about this lens, so I won't repeat. I will however say that I recently used my girlfriend's Nikon D3000 (for the first time since getting my KR), with a similar 18-55 kit lens.
Compared to the DA, the Nikon lens was utter crap. Image quality is OK, considering the lower spec image sensor on the Nikon (hard to do a true comparison), but it has a plastic mount, noisier AF, no quick-shift manual focusing, zoom ring is a little rough (although not bad in itself), and worst of all the focus ring only moves about 20 degrees. Hand holding in manual focus I can't see anyone actually getting focus lock, it's such a short throw you'll move the ring the tiniest amount and you'll focus too far. For that alone the Pentax is worlds apart. Bravo Pentax.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,275 | | Review Date: April 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Very good IQ, good build quality, small, light weight, smooth focus & zoom rings, good close-focusing. | | Cons: | As far as I can tell, nothing. | |
This is my little workhorse. I use it primarily for portraits, landscapes, & some indoor shots. For indoor ambient light shooting in low light, it's a little slow, but that's when I break out my 50mm/1.4 prime.
Colors are vivid, and it's plenty sharp and contrasty. I haven't noticed the vignetting, but I haven't really been looking for it, either. I haven't been able to find a "sweet spot", as the IQ is good at all focal lengths. The lens body is plastic, but doesn't feel cheap. Everything works smoothly, as it should, and it generally feels reasonably solid.
I might add, the close-focusing capabilities on this little guy are quite good. Maybe not true "macro", but close.
This is one good, handy little "Swiss army knife" of a lens. It's a keeper, kit lens or no.
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1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 19, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | better than I expected | | Cons: | nothing for a kit lens | |
I can not help myself writting something here after I did a side by side test with my other brand new lens(16-45mm f4 ED). I did testings on k-x under many conditions, such as inside, outside, good light and poor light.
To my surprise, 16-45mm f4 lens can not beat my cheap kit lens! I am beginner in this field. Honestly, I can not tell any significant difference by my naked eyes when stare at those photos.
You know, first I got very disappointed because I thought I bought a bad copy of 16-45mm lens. Many people said 16-45mm f4 is a big step up from kit lens, but I did not see any improvements except more wider, and more expensive, heavier and much longer! After I read more in this forum, then I realize that I may have a good copy of kit lens,  even it is a DA L version, it produces very nice photos, at least as good as my 16-45mm lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | All-round plain good performer, really cheap priced -especially when you got it as a kit lens | | Cons: | Dont really know whether it's because of the lens or the camera, but in very low light autofocus is kind of hard to lock. The focus ring could be bigger. | |
Well, this is the first lens I had, and I must note that this lens is what got me to being a Pentaxian in the first place Upgrading from the 'prosumer' class, I had a little research on entry level DSLR. Bump into A LOT of positive review of this very lens, I decided to purchase a K100DS. A day with this lens, I quickly discover that those reviews are more than just correct.
I shot mainly basics, but loves to do close shot/pseudo macros on anything plants. This lens never let me down on that.
Here's my shost:
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Kennewick WA Posts: 167
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 13, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp rich beautiful images, great lens for the price | | Cons: | Needs a little more range | |
Being a guy who love a good piece of glass I must say this little beauty is a gem, I have been able to create some amazing works of art from this little “kit lens”. I currently own over a dozen pieces of glass but, in a pinch I always come back to this lens, it has never let me down. Bang for the buck this has to be by far the best lens that has ever came with the Pentax name on it, let's face it, where else can you go and find a lens that will consistently put out this type of quality for $50.00? Really?
I know everyone is always looking for the “sweet spot” on their lens, but I have to say I have taken this lens from F 3.5 to 18+ and 18mm to the 55mm and I have yet to find a bad spot on this lens, if someone was to ask me if I would recommend this lens, hands down anytime! I don’t know if I lucked out and got a great piece of glass or if this lens was just built that good. The cameras I have used this little lens on are my IST ds, my K200D, and my beloved K20D, and I couldn’t be happier.
As far as to the build, this is not a heavy lens, but it doesn't feel cheesy either. I have to say when you put this little sucker on your Pentax body it just looks and feels right. I have many prime lens, that just feel and look wrong, this lens feels like that old comfortable pair of shoes, you know the ones you wife wanted you to throw away, but you keep finding a way to keep them around.
This is one of those lens that will always be in my camera bag, and will spend it's fair share of time on the shooting range! haha This is a rugged, well built, piece of glass, that will come in handy in many situations. This lens will give you great contrast, and colors, all of this while producing and sharp image.
I love the killer tones and colors I get from this little beauty. Then again I love high contrast images!
Hey Pentax if you read this, send a 645D my way and watch the damage I can do with that! haha 
Here are a few examples of what this little devil can do for you
Shot with K20D
Shot with K200D
Shot with IST ds
 | | | | | Banned Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 190 | | Review Date: December 6, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Convinient size, zoom length almost perfect for daily use, Great quality pictures, comes in different colours | | Cons: | Seems that is just for a kit lens and not for resale | |
This due to its range, it’s my most used lens and it never disappointed me! If I want to take photos of something and I want to be 100% that I will take it right – I just use this lens… OK it might not have an F2.0 or a 300mm length, but it will sure cover you for your daily normal needs.
Its generally very well made. With an Automatic Focus options and also a Manual option. Its size and weight are not to be noticed and can be easily put in any bag!
I have a white k-x, and the fact that this lens comes also into different colors it is great! Now I just have a white body and a white lens!
Sometimes you might feel that is not focusing quite quickly, but that is not a major drawback for a kit lens that comes with a new camera.
In general I was never disappointed with the resolution of the lens, knowing its capabilities, and not noticeable vignette from my part. But of course I am still at my early DSLR life… (just 6 months)
The construction of the lens, might feel to someone that is a bit of cheap plastic, but what you pay is what you get. The focusing ring and also the zoom ring are so smooth, that I am disappointed when I need to work with my Tamron 75-300 lens!
If I had the money I would’ve purchased the same length, but lower focal ratio. But for its value – I would recommend to anyone this lens! I do not think that anyone should have any complaints for this lens considering the price that someone can get it. Best kit lens that Pentax could have thrown in the basket, for a beginner DSLR user, considering that K-X targets beginner photographers.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: June, 2010 Location: Manila, Philippines Posts: 4 | | Review Date: December 3, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good for starters (before the LBA kicks in) | | Cons: | None | |
This came as a kitlens for my K10d, and has been with me for over 5 years now.
Very good and sufficient for starters, before the LBA starts kicking in...
It never leaves my bag, because you never know when you'll need the urge for AF.  | | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2009 Posts: 43 | | Review Date: November 25, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Price:Quality ratio, metal lens mount, build quality | | Cons: | Vignetting/distortions at 18mm | | New or Used: New
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This was the kit lens that came with my first dslr - a *ist DL. I have since moved onto sharper primes/zooms and a K-7, but my review comes from the perspective of what I learned from using this lens.
The image quality is on par when compared to kit lens offerings from other manufacturers. However, the metal lens mount and better build quality with an, on average, lower price, makes this an attractive offering for the beginning photographer.
At 18mm, this lens suffers from distortions and very noticeable vignetting that requires stopping down to F5.6 - F8 for the sharpest photos. But, extended use working within these limitations led to understanding and appreciation of the sharper offerings in the Pentax lens lineup, especially the legacy lineup of manual primes.
The 18-55mm range is the perfect range for a learning dslr photographer. I no longer use the kit lens, but looking back at the photographs I took with this workhorse, this lens taught me how much I enjoy wide angle focal lengths.
Sample photos:
Wide End (18mm),
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/437054494/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/437304579/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/437343817/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/439168720/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/439167914/
Normal End (35-50mm),
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/437004503/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwfchu/437343793/
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| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: Hungary Posts: 12 | | Review Date: October 30, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Cheap,good drawing. | | Cons: | plastic body.... | | New or Used: New
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Kitobjectives....cheap plastic, but not bad!
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| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: March, 2010 Location: AUSTIN TEXAS Posts: 6 | | Review Date: September 16, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
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I absolutely love this lens, I use this lens more often than not. It's so versatile I can use it in any situation.
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