| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2016 Location: British Columbia Posts: 41
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 4, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Durable, fast and constant aperture on a budget | | Cons: | No weather seals, lens hood is stiff to get on and off | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-50
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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I wanted a faster, wider lens for walk around shooting in lower light. Seems fast, wide APS-C primes are not a Pentax priority and at roughly 95% cheaper than the new Pentax DA* 16-50 PLM, it was a bit of a no brainer. Interestingly, the redundant seeming lens lock was actually a nice feature to have for one-handed operation at 18mm. This lens seems on par with say the Pentax DA 18-135 in terms of image quality and build quality, save the absence of weather seals. Not super sharp at 2.8, but close enough that modern sharpening software like Topaz will make quick work of its shortcomings. I've never tried a Tamron or older Pentax DA* equivalent to compare IQ, but in comparing the price of those two used, I think I got a good deal. One odd discovery in Affinity Photo 2 -- the software only recognizes this lens with images shot at 18 mm. Anything longer and the lens is unrecognized by the software.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Gotland Posts: 169 | | Review Date: February 17, 2015 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Versatile, allround, f 2,8 | | Cons: | None for the price | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K10D, K20D, K7, K5
Autofocus: 8
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This has been my most-used lens since I returned to Pentax with the K10D 2007. It usually sits on my camera.
It seems there is a variation between samples and that I have a good one. It was damaged once, fell from a table onto a concrete floor by an unforeseen gust of wind, and I looked around for alternatives. Tamron 17-50 or a later Sigma 18-50 Macro were interesting. In the end I preferred to have this lens repaired. It came out at least as good as new.
The sun shade is not really deep matte black on the inside. I painted it to get rid of glossiness and got rid of some.
With Photoshop CS6 I always use the lens compensation function and get rid of barrel and pincushion aberrations. They are no problem when composing pictures.
Summary: it lacks the great feel of some legacy and Limited lenses. After all this is mostly plastics. But it works well enough.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: November, 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 6,003 | | Review Date: November 25, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | lightweight, IF focus, 2-8 constant aperture, image quality | | Cons: | sharpness drops at 2.8, color rendition | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K10D
Autofocus: 7
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I purchased this lens as an all purpose lens for my K10D back in 2007. This was the first real autofocus lens I owned. It would be nice if it went down to 16mm but then the price would be a lot higher. The lens is sharpest around F5.6 - 8. It is a bit soft at F2.8. Autofocus works well in good light but falls when in low light, but this could be my K10D as well. Colors tend to be a bit flat at times but nothing that can not fixed in Lightroom. Not the greatest macro but it is not a macro lens. Overall I think it is a decent lens and I still use it. I primarily use it as an indoor lens now.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32 | | Review Date: January 8, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Aperture / Weight, image quality | | Cons: | Manual focus, too much plastic | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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This review will be short: very good, but not exceptional lense on most criteria.
I would have like it to go a little wider, 16 or 17 mm instead of 18, and a longer focusing ring course.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: August, 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054 | | Review Date: April 11, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | solid construction, lightweight for a 2.8 constant zoom, sharp! | | Cons: | a little soft at 2.8, no macro, "only" 18mm on wide end | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-x
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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Very happy with my sigma 18-50 f/2.8 which I bought used on the PF marketplace. I wanted a 2.8 constant aperture walk-around zoom to replace the kit lens and also for convenient snapshots indoors. This fits the bill, especially for the price I paid ($250). I was tempted to get the Tamron 17-50 or the Sigma 17-50 but those were $200 and $400 more than what I paid, although that is the price for a new lens. Still, even when those lenses are on sale used, they'd be well over $300 easily. And what I love about the sigma 18-50 is that it's lightweight (much lighter than sigma 17-50) and has nice construction (better than Tamron 17-50). Sure the AF is screwdrive and a little noisy, but not any more than other screwdrive lenses I own. It's not as sharp as the Tamron 17-50 but it's good enough for me, and I am really enjoying using the lens so far!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Posts: 478 | | Review Date: June 7, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | good IQ, fast zoom | | Cons: | | |
I added this lens to complete the fast zoom trio. I found that my Tamron 28-75 was not wide enough indoors on APSC. This lens is a cheap alternative to simiar offerings from other manufacturers. I found the lens to have very good IQ and meets my needs. It is a decent kit lens replacement.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,620 | | Review Date: January 25, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | nice build quality, attractive price, fast 2.8 | | Cons: | IQ not as good as DA 16-45 | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 8
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I bought this lens at the same time I bought the Pentax DA 16-45 f/4 and put both through a series of comparisons. I like the faster f/2.8 here, especially for indoor shooting. Besides that, I found the DA 16-45 to be sharper across the board and have nicer color rendition. I also really like the extra bit of wideness, down to 16mm. I ended up selling this lens and keeping the DA16-45.
YMMV.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: January, 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 1 | | Review Date: February 11, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $340.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Build quality, Focus speed, | | Cons: | A bit soft | |
The build quality of this lens is great. It is a great all round dependable lens but does not produce the sharpeness and Crispness that I sometimes need. For the price it is a great lens
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2008 Location: NorCal Posts: 217 | | Review Date: May 20, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Solid build, fast aperture, sharp, nice bokeh, price | | Cons: | | |
This has been my default walkaround lens ever since I bought it. Very versatile lens, and a significant upgrade from the 18-55 Pentax kit lens. Not a true macro (though marketed as such), but still provides excellent results at 1:3 close focus (8"), and pleasing bokeh. Very sharp for me at all apertures. AF is accurate and does not hunt in most conditions, although motor is louder in this lens than in my Pentax 14mm f/2.8. Solid build and a nice weight; doesn't feel like an el cheapo plastic knock off.
There are reports that the lens is soft at f/2.8, but I have never noticed that as a problem in my use of the lens. At the time I bought this lens, the Pentax 16-50 f/2.8 was not available, and I might have gone with that one. But after reading some reviews of problems with that lens, I'm quite happy that I bought this one for $250 less than the Pentax version.
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Moderator Emeritus Registered: May, 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Posts: 10,643 | | Review Date: March 15, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good build, Small and well built. Decent IQ Fast | | Cons: | A little soft | |
A fairly good lens and a good fast upgrade from the kit lens. But not as sharp as the macro version or the DA*16-50. But much less expensive. Good colour and fast. Focuses quickly and well built. Will close focus quite well but has no macro setting. Typical EX built quality.
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