Which zoom lens to use with Pentax digitals?

[fengwei]

wow...just scoured the entire funan and peninsula and only 1 shop sells the Sigma 18-200mm lens for the Pentax. Unfortunately, the only shop selling it is charging $$$...sigh...

To be honest, you'd better not buy a super zoom lens like that. It's really hard to make a 11x zoom lens which performs very well for a cheap price. Better go with either two-lens solution, or a lens like the Sigma 18-125 (a 7x zoom lens).

Don't waste money there... Just my 2 cents.

 

[CSLee]

may be you can try out the Sigma 17-70mm.

Check out this link for some review http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19159170




..

 

[fengwei]

may be you can try out the Sigma 17-70mm.

Check out this link for some review http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19159170

..

Yeah, that's another excellent option. Is the Pentax mount available here in SG? Any price info on this? I know CP has C/N mount for abit over 600 bucks ...

 

[airconvent]

To be honest, you'd better not buy a super zoom lens like that. It's really hard to make a 11x zoom lens which performs very well for a cheap price. Better go with either two-lens solution, or a lens like the Sigma 18-125 (a 7x zoom lens).

Don't waste money there... Just my 2 cents.

Thanks but I already bought it this afternoon.
Moving to this lens from the kit lens, I noticed that the image quality is a tad worse off than the kit lens and there is some barrel distortion at the edge but nothing you can notice normally. There is also some chromatic aberration but I guess I can live with that!
Also, my other dislike is the size...makes the camera a tad heavier.
On the plus point, I get my 200mm zoom while still retaining the gorgeous 18mm wide view..heh heh.

BTW, I'm wondering if anyone who owns this lens notices...the camera has problems focussing quite a few times. It tended to hunt for a focus and not getting there. I had to refocus again (all in auto mode) before it will lock. Is this normal?

 

[airconvent]

Which shop is dat?

Hi Munk,
I popped by Funan today and confirmed the shop name is Bally Photo and they are located on level 5. I got mine today at Alan Photo SLS at a cheaper price. You can try there too....
cheers

 

[airconvent]

may be you can try out the Sigma 17-70mm.

Check out this link for some review http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19159170

..

looks good but unfortunately, this one is simply too close to the kit lens (18-55mm) to justify the investment....

 

[fengwei]

Thanks but I already bought it this afternoon.
Moving to this lens from the kit lens, I noticed that the image quality is a tad worse off than the kit lens and there is some barrel distortion at the edge but nothing you can notice normally. There is also some chromatic aberration but I guess I can live with that!
Also, my other dislike is the size...makes the camera a tad heavier.
On the plus point, I get my 200mm zoom while still retaining the gorgeous 18mm wide view..heh heh.

BTW, I'm wondering if anyone who owns this lens notices...the camera has problems focussing quite a few times. It tended to hunt for a focus and not getting there. I had to refocus again (all in auto mode) before it will lock. Is this normal?

Congrats on the new lens. Let's see some nice photos then

Cheers and happy shooting.

 

[Munk]

Thanks but I already bought it this afternoon.
Moving to this lens from the kit lens, I noticed that the image quality is a tad worse off than the kit lens and there is some barrel distortion at the edge but nothing you can notice normally. There is also some chromatic aberration but I guess I can live with that!
Also, my other dislike is the size...makes the camera a tad heavier.
On the plus point, I get my 200mm zoom while still retaining the gorgeous 18mm wide view..heh heh.

BTW, I'm wondering if anyone who owns this lens notices...the camera has problems focussing quite a few times. It tended to hunt for a focus and not getting there. I had to refocus again (all in auto mode) before it will lock. Is this normal?

How much u got it for? im looking for this kind of lens for travel.

 

[southernoise]

I can't wait for the new 2.8 zoom lens by Pentax.

Was using mainly the FA135 2.8 whole of last weekend at baybeats. 2.8 indeed is necessary for concert photos.

 

[fengwei]

I can't wait for the new 2.8 zoom lens by Pentax.

Was using mainly the FA135 2.8 whole of last weekend at baybeats. 2.8 indeed is necessary for concert photos.

You'd need to pay some serious money for that one

 

[fengwei]

Just got myself a DA50-200 last Fri., so far so good:

I'm hoping this lens would benefit a lot with the new Pentax bodies w/SR feature.

 

[CY_OH]

You'd need to pay some serious money for that one

Yeah agree. See links below on price and specifications of the Tokina versions. Approx S$1622 for 16-50 and S$1981 for 50-135.

http://www.tokina.co.jp/news/4961607atx165news.html

http://www.tokina.co.jp/news/4961607atx535news.html

 

[southernoise]

I seriously need to eat bread and tap water from now on.... arrrggghhhh.......

 

[CSLee]

Congrats to both of you on the new lens.

 

[CSLee]

Hi Munk,
I popped by Funan today and confirmed the shop name is Bally Photo and they are located on level 5. I got mine today at Alan Photo SLS at a cheaper price. You can try there too....
cheers

how much for it ???

 

[airconvent]

Hi Munk/CSLee
Bally quoted me around $660 but I paid around $590 at Alan Photo.
The one at Funan does not have stock, so I got it from the sls branch. you can forget about MS Color and Cathay Photo..they don't seem to stock them.

 

[airconvent]

Hi Feng Wei
How did you get your shots so tack sharp? My test shots are actually quite bad...

 

[airconvent]

Here are the samples...

 

[airconvent]

and more...

 

[fengwei]

Hi Feng Wei
How did you get your shots so tack sharp? My test shots are actually quite bad...

Hmm, for me, I just make sure I've got enough speed (1/(focal lengthx1.5)s) to get a decent result. But for kids photos, I'd just wait for the right moment 'cause they just keep moving

Of course if a tripod is used, that's another story.


Your samples do seem quite strange. Did you use a tripod at all when took these shots? If not, I'd be more than happy to get those myself

For night scenes like these, you'd need a steady tripod, a cable release or wireless remote, plus 2 second mirror-up: