Help pick the Turkish photographer a good lens

[ozadars]

Hi there,

This is Selim from Turkey. I will be in Singapore this July for 2 days and I want to buy a lens for my Pentax k10d. Actually my Southeast Asia trip will start from Thailand so it would be better to buy from Thailand (so I can use it during my trip) but if i cant find in Thailand, I should wait till Singapore.

Currently I have a 50-150mm lens of my dad that I use for tele plus a 2x tele converter. However with the tele converter you need to much light and the quality drops significatly. Also, since this lens is old it doesn't have auto focus.

I am in a low budget trip so I am not sure if I can spare money for a lens but I will try to save money. I want to learn which lenses would you recommend for me? I want to shoot wildlife during the trip so I am looking for a tele lens.

I am also looking a wide-angle lens. I have a starter 18-55 mm lens but its not wide enough ofcourse. I need something wider.

If you can add the avarage price for the lens you suggest, i would appriciate.

Best Regars,
Selim

[fengwei]

Hi, welcome to Clubsnap.

If you want wide, you can get either the Pentax DA 12-24 or Sigma DC 10-20, or trade your kit lens for a DA1645. If you want long lens for wide life, I guess you can either think of the DA*300 or DA*60-250. Good tele lenses don't come cheap. I guess for travel, DA1224+DA*60-250 is an excellent combo.

[ozadars]

Thank you for your help. I actually found a 100-300mm here but I think its an old one (although it has auto focus) and not sure about the quality.

Do you know the price of the 300mm or 60-250mm lenses? Are they similar to Amazon.com or can I find them cheaper at Singapore or Thailand?

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by ozadars Thank you for your help. I actually found a 100-300mm here but I think its an old one (although it has auto focus) and not sure about the quality. Do you know the price of the 300mm or 60-250mm lenses? Are they similar to Amazon.com or can I find them cheaper at Singapore or Thailand?

Here the prices might be more than the ones you saw on amazon. I don't know about Thailand, but most likely Pentax lenses would be more expensive over there too, comparing w/ amazon prices.

If you want cheaper solution, a DA55-300 or even your 100-300 will get the job done It's more important to see different places and people than taking photos of them when travel, don't put too much load in your back. Enjoy the trip, that's the most important thing.

If you want a shooting company when you are here, please drop us a line here at the forum. I'm sure some here would be glad to show you some of our streets, and great food

[kphoto]

There is only a limited choice for Pentax lenses in Thailand.
The best options I have found so fare are respectively Digital photo, 5th floor of Pantip plaza (electronic/computer/photo mall) and a few shops on the 5th floor of MBK.
You will definitely find more lenses in Singapore, and you will more easily find your way than in Bangkok as everyone speaks english in SG!

Fengwei's options are nice but expensive.
You can try either the 55-300 or 50-200, or the 70-300 from Sigma.
For a wide angle lens: I own the Sigma 10-20 and it is a very good value for money. However a free alternative is... a panorama stitching tool (e.g. Autostitch ou PTGui), free and very easy to set up!

[otc]

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=511408

For sale and you may contact sree.

Try browsing buy and sell section here and you may find some that suits your needs.

marcus

[night86mare]

i suggest sigma 10-20.

[ozadars]

Thanks for your help guys.

I want to ask which one is better: Tamron 70-300mm or Pentax 100-300mm?

[fengwei]

Originally Posted by ozadars Thanks for your help guys. I want to ask which one is better: Tamron 70-300mm or Pentax 100-300mm?

Pentax got three 100-300 lenses:
F 100-300/4.5-5.6
FA 100-300/4.5-5.6
FA 100-300/4.7-5.8

Which one you got there?

Optically the F version is pretty good. But it's heavy and big. The second FA isn't bad either, but the third one is one of the lousy ones from Pentax.

Nevertheless, the Tamron 70-300 is probably on par of any of them if not better. I'd go w/ the Tamron or Sigma 70-300 for this range. The other two lenses you should consider are Pentax FA 80-320 and DA 55-300.

Good luck.

[ozadars]

Thanks for your help.

I missed a second hand Tamron 70-300 for around $150 in Turkish ebay. Now, there is a new Sigma 70-300mm for $215 but I am not sure if I should look for another second hand tele lens or not.

Btw, there is also a second hand Pentax 10-17mm wide-angle lens and Sigma 10-20mm. I know the difference between those lenses but I wonder if 17mm of Pentax is still have that curving of the fisheye? The price of both lenses here is $480 for second hand.