Lens

[SEXiao]

Hi guys

Is there any equivalent lens from KM for this Nikon lens:

Nikon 18-200/3.5-5.6 DX VR.......

and how muchy???

[hazta]

Think there's only e Sigma or e Tamron tho specs not s great s e Nikon.

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/len...02&navigator=6

http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/18200_diII.asp

[zcf]

KM actually has it's own 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3, but most likely similar to Tamron one, I think Pai (or someone) own one? May be can check with him for the price?

[pai]

hee, every KM lens is a VR (AS) lens mah :P

KM has a 18-200 f3.5-6.3, can get for $700+
Tamron version should be at least $30 cheaper, but harder to find.

both are slower at the long end than the nikon one. aiyah, the price is 2x, how to fight?

[SEXiao]

Originally Posted by pai hee, every KM lens is a VR (AS) lens mah :P KM has a 18-200 f3.5-6.3, can get for $700+ Tamron version should be at least $30 cheaper, but harder to find. both are slower at the long end than the nikon one. aiyah, the price is 2x, how to fight?

Thank bro zcf and bro pai.......

I have posted a thread at Nikon thread, but I am doing it here again becaue I am looking at setting up a Nikon or KM system... (hmmm KM I think lower start up cost....)... I am not fimilar with KM and equiv. lens, so using the Nikon one as a guide, please advise....

a. KM5D
b. 85mm (for Potrait)
c. KM 18-200 f3.5-6.3 (the one you mention above, any good for doing macro??)... i am worried about the f6.3 though...
d. Speedlite SB800 equiv.

[zcf]

Some of the range of KM lens can be found here
http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/.../Maxxum_Lenses
While some price reference can be found here,
Singapore Price Guide - KM & KM-Compatible Lens
although both short of the latest 18-200mm,

KM do have
b. 85mm f/1.4 G for portrait,
d. 3600HS (D) (lower end) or 5600HS (D) (higher end), though there were rumour that there will be new flash anounced out in PMA. Now, have to wait and see.

Whether 18-200mm is good for Macro or not, have to wait for pai to reply.

[pai]

Originally Posted by SEXiao a. KM5D b. 85mm (for Potrait) c. KM 18-200 f3.5-6.3 (the one you mention above, any good for doing macro??)... i am worried about the f6.3 though... d. Speedlite SB800 equiv.

the 18-200 alone cannot be used for macro, the minimum focusing distance is too great. to get close enough to the insects to fill enough of the frame, you can put a close up filter (CUL) on it, such as a hoya +4, or more expensive CULs like the nikon 6T.

test shoot with 18-200mm and hoya +4

the pictures will not be as sharp as using a dedicated macro lens, like the minolta 100 2.8 macro or the tamron 90mm macro, especially away from the centre of the frame.

for some shots taken with the 90mm, look here.

lots of other, better, examples of the 90mm and 100mm macro shots can be found in the macro/closeup forum.

oh one last thing, the 90mm macro is also a very sharp portrait lens. only $550 new, cheaper secondhand. think about it

SB800 equivalent speedlite would be the HS5600. wait a few weeks to see if sony comes up with a replacement. the price of the HS5600 is $500+++ in shops. oracle was selling at $490, but they are sold out, with no new stock

[SEXiao]

Originally Posted by zcf Some of the range of KM lens can be found here http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/.../Maxxum_Lenses While some price reference can be found here, Singapore Price Guide - KM & KM-Compatible Lens although both short of the latest 18-200mm, KM do have b. 85mm f/1.4 G for portrait, d. 3600HS (D) (lower end) or 5600HS (D) (higher end), though there were rumour that there will be new flash anounced out in PMA. Now, have to wait and see. Whether 18-200mm is good for Macro or not, have to wait for pai to reply.

Thank bro zcf and bro pai for the valuable advise.... real hard to get the rite mix of lens... ......

So bro zcf, how the KM5D so far.... what you like and dislike about it??

[zcf]

It's hard for me to comment, as I use/try only KM system,
Zenten did some comment here:
http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=177438
It's really subject to individual need,
What I think about KM system:
+ve:
-cheap, useable kit lens 18-70mm compare to others 18-55mm.
-AS (Anti-Shake) build in body, mean almost all lens are with antishake function without extra cost.
-More colourful direct output, useable photo without further PC adjustment. Most other system need post process through PS or other program to make the colour look better.
-good hand grip.
-most lens with circular blade, nice bokeh/blur background.
-useful aperture/shutter dial.
-large 2.5" LCD
-cheaper 2nd hand lens, but now seem to be more KM5D user, so the 2nd hand market also raise a bit
-friendly and helpful user in KM forum.

-ve:
-most comment hard to find some top end 1st or 2nd hand lens in local, because of smaller users base. But I seem to build up my system quite well though
-not many SSM lens, or they tend to be expensive.
-some comment focusing speed seem may not be as fast, but I didn't really try other system so I don't know.
-no vertical grip.
-service centre open on weekday working hour only, hard to get some accessory sometime. But since it's bought over by Sony, things should change for better. But afraid of "Sony" price though .

As most KM5D user, enjoy using it.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by zcf It's hard for me to comment, as I use/try only KM system, Zenten did some comment here: http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=177438 It's really subject to individual need, What I think about KM system: +ve: -cheap, useable kit lens 18-70mm compare to others 18-55mm. -AS (Anti-Shake) build in body, mean almost all lens are with antishake function with extra cost. -More colourful direct output, useable photo without further PC adjustment. Most other system need post process through PS or other program to make the colour look better. -good hand grip. -most lens with circular blade, nice bokeh/blur background. -useful aperture/shutter dial. -large 2.5" LCD -cheaper 2nd hand lens, but now seem to be more KM5D user, so the 2nd hand market also raise a bit -friendly and helpful user in KM forum. -ve: -most comment hard to find some top end 1st or 2nd hand lens in local, because of smaller users base. But I seem to build up my system quite well though -not many SSM lens, or they tend to be expensive. -some comment focusing speed seem may not be as fast, but I didn't really try other system so I don't know. -no vertical grip. -service centre open on weekday working hour only, hard to get some accessory sometime. But since it's bought over by Sony, things should change for better. But afraid of "Sony" price though . As most KM5D user, enjoy using it.

[zcf]

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt

sorry, without extra cost.

[SEXiao]

Originally Posted by zcf It's hard for me to comment, as I use/try only KM system, What I think about KM system: +ve: -cheap, useable kit lens 18-70mm compare to others 18-55mm. -AS (Anti-Shake) build in body, mean almost all lens are with antishake function without extra cost. -More colourful direct output, useable photo without further PC adjustment. Most other system need post process through PS or other program to make the colour look better. -good hand grip. -most lens with circular blade, nice bokeh/blur background. -useful aperture/shutter dial. -large 2.5" LCD -cheaper 2nd hand lens, but now seem to be more KM5D user, so the 2nd hand market also raise a bit -friendly and helpful user in KM forum. -ve: -most comment hard to find some top end 1st or 2nd hand lens in local, because of smaller users base. But I seem to build up my system quite well though -not many SSM lens, or they tend to be expensive. As most KM5D user, enjoy using it.

The only prob I worry is the avail of lens only.... the +ve stuff you menition is what make me look at KM system.... hmmm... do more research first...

[TME]

Originally Posted by SEXiao The only prob I worry is the avail of lens only.... the +ve stuff you menition is what make me look at KM system.... hmmm... do more research first...

There will be lenses available... u just need to get the shops to order them in for u and wait... only the very high end lenses G and SSM lenses are rather hard to come by as they have stopped production of the SSM lenses and few were sold anyway...

[pai]

eh, just being kaypo

are you set on getting a 18-200 lens? i've got one lah, but actually few people on the forum have one and many recommend that you don't buy because an 11x zoom will have to sacrifice some optical quality. e.g. this thread

one common recommendation is to just stick to the 18-70 kit lens, and get a 75-300 lens (quite a few different models) to go with it. that way you're covered from 18-300mm without spending too much extra.

not trying to say my own lens bad lah, if i bought it and haven't sold it, it must be good for something just thought maybe you can consider other options

[SEXiao]

Originally Posted by pai eh, just being kaypo are you set on getting a 18-200 lens? i've got one lah, but actually few people on the forum have one and many recommend that you don't buy because an 11x zoom will have to sacrifice some optical quality. e.g. this thread one common recommendation is to just stick to the 18-70 kit lens, and get a 75-300 lens (quite a few different models) to go with it. that way you're covered from 18-300mm without spending too much extra. not trying to say my own lens bad lah, if i bought it and haven't sold it, it must be good for something just thought maybe you can consider other options

Hi Bro Pai

Thank for the advise.... no, I have not fix on any lens yet, now just toying the idea of the best combination that I can get..... will check out the 75-300 lens... any good and not too ex one??

[ken111111]

Originally Posted by pai eh, just being kaypo are you set on getting a 18-200 lens? i've got one lah, but actually few people on the forum have one and many recommend that you don't buy because an 11x zoom will have to sacrifice some optical quality. e.g. this thread one common recommendation is to just stick to the 18-70 kit lens, and get a 75-300 lens (quite a few different models) to go with it. that way you're covered from 18-300mm without spending too much extra. not trying to say my own lens bad lah, if i bought it and haven't sold it, it must be good for something just thought maybe you can consider other options

Getting the 18-200mm lens is to save the hassle of keeping changing the lens whenever u need wideangle and closeup. I was at the chingay last week, and I had to use the 18-70 lens to get the float in the picture, and change to 75-300 to get closeup pic of the performers.

The idea of getting 18-200 popup in my mind at tt time too...

[pai]

there's some discussion on the 75-300s going on here:

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=177132

shots with 18-200 here:

http://forums.clubsnap.org/showthread.php?t=177205

covering the entire range from wide to tele.

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by SEXiao The only prob I worry is the avail of lens only.... the +ve stuff you menition is what make me look at KM system.... hmmm... do more research first...

Worry about the avail of lens? how many lenses do you actually need?

See with KM System, you probably won't have many lenses to choose from (enough though).... but it is a good thing.. so you don't just keep buying lenses but actually using it.

If you just buy the KM 5D with the kit 18-70 +75-300 and a 5600HS, should be enough for most application. Of course, you can add a 50mm f2.8 Macro, or 100mm f2.8 macro, or Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro if budget can't stretch that far.

All in all, I think KM gear is much cheaper compare to other brand except for their SSM lenses.... Since KM don't sell that many of them.

Hart

[SEXiao]

Originally Posted by Agetan Worry about the avail of lens? how many lenses do you actually need? See with KM System, you probably won't have many lenses to choose from (enough though).... but it is a good thing.. so you don't just keep buying lenses but actually using it. If you just buy the KM 5D with the kit 18-70 +75-300 and a 5600HS, should be enough for most application. Of course, you can add a 50mm f2.8 Macro, or 100mm f2.8 macro, or Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro if budget can't stretch that far. All in all, I think KM gear is much cheaper compare to other brand except for their SSM lenses.... Since KM don't sell that many of them. Hart

Thank bro for the sound advise... agree fully.... after these few days of "research", indeed KM setup cost is much lower.... now just toying the idea of lens to get, an my usage is:

1. Potrait (more for famil)- 85mm??
2. Kit lens (18-70mm)- general purpose... I save on wide angle lens because for a start, think kit lens can do for scenery/building?? Your advise...
3. Macro (100mm??) or 75-300mm (for the reach)???

That's basically what I am looking at, and of course flash...

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by SEXiao Thank bro for the sound advise... agree fully.... after these few days of "research", indeed KM setup cost is much lower.... now just toying the idea of lens to get, an my usage is: 1. Potrait (more for famil)- 85mm?? 2. Kit lens (18-70mm)- general purpose... I save on wide angle lens because for a start, think kit lens can do for scenery/building?? Your advise... 3. Macro (100mm??) or 75-300mm (for the reach)??? That's basically what I am looking at, and of course flash...

Well, just use 18-70 for portrait and general purpose. for reach, get the 75-300. Then if you need macro, then get Tamron 90mm f2.8 lor.. if budget is your ultimate goal. If you don't do real macro (meaning you don't do 1:1 most of the time) 18-70 & 75-300 should do for you.

18-70 lens is pretty good in terms of versatility, a bit soft wide open, but hey, its so light, I will bring it out anywhere...

Here some shots I did with 18-70.







Good luck... Buying good lens don't always equal to good picture.. learn how to use them properly. I am still learning a lot everyday.

Regards,

Hart