Kit lens comparison

[sebianos]

Would like your opinion on the various kit lens at the moment especially in the 18-55mm range.

There's the DAL supplied with KX, and DAL II comes with k200d - are there big differences between the two apart from the metal mount and construction. Just wondering how different is the IQ between the 2.

Gengh also mentioned tamron 17-50/2.8 which can replace the kit lens. How does it compare with DAL II?

Ok, not exactly upgrading at the moment but this will be good to know as there are a lot of new pentaxians here. :devil:~ dishing out LBA poison

 

[flowerpot]

I or II or WR or not, there are so many version i also cannot keep track....anyway IQ wise i personally cannot tell the diff... maybe my eyes are getting old... :bsmilie:

either 1 is fine... dun worry so much their differences...

should think of the next lens to own... wait for the prince to give u some advice... :bsmilie:

i personally would suggest keeping the kit lens, get the 50-200 or longer, plus the 50mm f1.4 and you are done with... skip the tamron...unless u prefer the 1 lens serve all purposes kind...

if u have money to burn, then u r always welcome to challenge FW and Ben on their exotic collections...

 

[snapnut]

I agree with flowerpot... keep the kit, get the 50-200 (or 55-300) and 50MM 1.4 (This is a gem)

However, the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is also a very nice lens. Bright and sharp.
f2.8 may be the main reason you may want to upgrade from the kit.
When I travel, I bring the tamron, 50-200mm and the 50mm 1.4

I would want the Pentax DA* 16-50mm f2.8 if I have a bit more $

 

[scorpioh]

The kit lens can keep but try not to use it too often. I would recommend going for a all-prime setup. Yes, the 50 f1.4 is highly recommended. Else you could get the DA15, DA35/FA35, DA70/FA77 and probably a long lens like the DA*200/300 depending on your needs. Add the 10-17 fisheye when u are feeling a bit more interesting.

 

[darrrrrrrrrr]

actually i had a FA50 when i had the 18-55 I, but in the end i didn't use both after i got my tamron 17-50. the tamron doesn't have the pedigree, rendering and cult status of the pentax primes, but it's a good versatile workhorse lens.

 

[elavan]

yup, tamron 17-50 f2.8 highly recommended :thumbsup: it has very noisy gears and rear element block gets dusty easily tho..

 

[sebianos]

Wow..... Thanks everybody for the input.

I'm very happy with my AL II at the moment so no upgrade plan in action, yet. I have probably been reading dpreview too much until I'm sick in the head. So if flowerpot says he cannot tell the diff, chances are that I can't too. I old too.. hahaha

So yes, better to save the money and go prime. Would be nice if can have 2 zooms to cover the entire range from 18 to 300 (one zoom even better but i think it will cost me my leg). Let me play with AL II first and decide when the time comes.

Urm... won't dream of challenging fw or ben with their exotic collection. ;p

Sidetrack a bit - 50/1.4 got several versions. A, A*, M, DA, FA.... just throw dice and choose or see which one fits the budget. Going to put up a WTB soon - probably SMC M 50/1.4 to feed LBA

 

[istDeS]

Pentax 50mm f/1.4 only have M, K, A, F and FA version. Don't have A* or DA.

M, K and A are all manual focus but A have the auto aperture. F and FA are auto focus lens.

 

[sebianos]

Pentax 50mm f/1.4 only have M, K, A, F and FA version. Don't have A* or DA.

M, K and A are all manual focus but A have the auto aperture. F and FA are auto focus lens.

Hi Des, thanks for the correction. M, K, A, F, and FA - that's still like 5 models to choose from. Mega headache - think will sort this out once I understand whether i need auto focus for 50 1.4 or auto-aperture.

Does this mean that the most manual one is M and K models?

 

[darrrrrrrrrr]

Hi Des, thanks for the correction. M, K, A, F, and FA - that's still like 5 models to choose from. Mega headache - think will sort this out once I understand whether i need auto focus for 50 1.4 or auto-aperture.

Does this mean that the most manual one is M and K models?

yup you will have to manual focus and do green button stop-down metering for K and M lenses. more troublesome than A lenses but the build quality on K and M lenses :thumbsup:

 

[Grey Knight]

on this topic of 50mms, anyone here know where to find the 50mm f1.7? I heard its in a way better than the 50 f1.4.any price too?

 

[sebianos]

on this topic of 50mms, anyone here know where to find the 50mm f1.7? I heard its in a way better than the 50 f1.4.any price too?

New or 2nd hand? M, A, K, or FA.... hahaha, i'm beginning to sound quite pro. :bsmilie:

Anyways, FA 50 f1.4 is about $275-300. Don't think there's an FA 50 f1.7

50 f1.7 A is about 130-150, 50 f1.7 M is about 100-120 in B&S.

Can't comment on f1.7 is waaaay better than f1.4 though. But can confirm A 50 f1.2 is the BEST and the rest pales in comparison.

 

[Grey Knight]

New or 2nd hand? M, A, K, or FA.... hahaha, i'm beginning to sound quite pro. :bsmilie:

Anyways, FA 50 f1.4 is about $275-300. Don't think there's an FA 50 f1.7

50 f1.7 A is about 130-150, 50 f1.7 M is about 100-120 in B&S.

Can't comment on f1.7 is waaaay better than f1.4 though. But can confirm A 50 f1.2 is the BEST and the rest pales in comparison.

I dunno leh.:dunno: never heard of it myself but saw it on pentax forums LOL its FA50f1.7 haha

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-50mm-F1.7-Lens.html

thats the link to the review haha

 

[woefulwabbit]

Anyways, FA 50 f1.4 is about $275-300.

Sadly, it's no longer so cheap

 

[Ahren]

looks like many pentaxians is raving about this 50mm f1.4 I saw that on US Amazon website, it cost about US$360. Is it cheaper in Singapore?

 

[hamustar]

Actually if wanna disect the Kit lens for comparison, the
Version 1 - original with 12elements in 9 groups
Version II and DA-L - 11 elements in 8 groups

The later versions said to have better resolving ability. But i think to layman like myself cannot see the difference lah.

Info courtesy of Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax resource page. Newbies to Pentax should go visit his site for orientation

 

[woefulwabbit]

Back in March I bought it at $340. I heard the prices locally have gone up to ~$500 already
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534146

 

[istDeS]

New or 2nd hand? M, A, K, or FA.... hahaha, i'm beginning to sound quite pro. :bsmilie:

Anyways, FA 50 f1.4 is about $275-300. Don't think there's an FA 50 f1.7

50 f1.7 A is about 130-150, 50 f1.7 M is about 100-120 in B&S.

Can't comment on f1.7 is waaaay better than f1.4 though. But can confirm A 50 f1.2 is the BEST and the rest pales in comparison.

I dunno leh.:dunno: never heard of it myself but saw it on pentax forums LOL its FA50f1.7 haha

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-50mm-F1.7-Lens.html

thats the link to the review haha

There is FA 50 f/1.7 but it is no longer available new unlike the FA 50 f/1.4 which is still in production and available new in the shop.

There are also the M, A and F version of 50mm f/1.7. The M version is very compact, about the size of the 43mm Ltd.

 

[Grey Knight]

There is FA 50 f/1.7 but it is no longer available new unlike the FA 50 f/1.4 which is still in production and available new in the shop.

There are also the M, A and F version of 50mm f/1.7. The M version is very compact, about the size of the 43mm Ltd.

aww dam..

 

[istDeS]

Actually if wanna disect the Kit lens for comparison, the
Version 1 - original with 12elements in 9 groups
Version II and DA-L - 11 elements in 8 groups

The later versions said to have better resolving ability. But i think to layman like myself cannot see the difference lah.

Info courtesy of Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax resource page. Newbies to Pentax should go visit his site for orientation

I dig up the old thread on the comparison.

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374709