i am going to buy K100D next week,
and like many others, i have a lens question.
i searched in the forum so many times, but i still wonder.
in the past i shot with a Canon S1 and i checked my pictures for the focal length i used, and my statistics are :
38mm (that's the minimum in that camera) - 1100 shots.
range of 39mm-50mm - 175 shots
range of 51mm-70mm - 300 shots
range of 71mm-120mm - 500 shots
range of 120mm-380mm - 1000 shots
380mm - 350 shots
so basically i should go with 18-55, 16-45, 17-70, 18-125, and it will be very good for me.
and add somthing like 70-300 or even prime 300 for the longer range.
let's focus now on the short range and i will wonder in the future for the long range.
i summarized all the important things for me -
company, range, F-stop, price, weight
pentax, 18-55, 4.0-5.6, $140, 225g
pentex, 16-45, 4.0-4.0, $495, 365g
sigma, 17-70, 2.8-4.5, $425, 455g
sigma, 18-125, 3.5-5.6, $340, 385g
about the prices, i know it could be cheaper, but i prefer to buy locally, so assume these are prices.
it's my first DSLR,
and i am a little affraid of weight (so i don't know what to think on the 455g of the 17-70.
and i wish for a minimum F as possible (like we all want...), so the 17-70 is the best here.
the 17-70 is also very good in macro (1:2).
18-125 is tempting because of the all-around range.
18-55 is cheaper, less weight
16-45 is expensive, and it's has short range, so i think i prefer others.
Personally I would recommend the 16-45/4 or the Sigma 17-70. I think the Pentax is the better lens and a shorter range will most often mean better quality (lower distortion for one). But some prefer convienience and that is valid if its what you prefer, the 17-70 is still a good lens.. Pentax is releasing their own 17-70 but not until mid next year..
Then either the Penatx DA 50-200 (if you can handle only having up to 300mm) or Tamron DI LD 70-300 or Sigma 70-300 APO DG macro
Last edited by jeisner; 10-04-2006 at 04:10 PM.
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Joel - Canon 50d, EF16-35/2.8 Mk1, Σ 50/1.4, EF100/2.8 Macro, EF70-200/4 IS, 430EX II http://www.eisner.id.au
I would buy the 18-55 as the kit lens - much cheaper than $140 when purchased as a kit.
Add the 50-200, very good deal with the current rebates (if you are in the US).
Stick with this combo for a while, see how it goes. Later you can add a longer lens if you need it - Pentax or Sigma 100-300, or a 70-300. Maybe even the 60-250 due out next year ($$$).
200mm on a K100D is equivalent to 300 on 35mm, so it should suit you well.
As you progress, you may find out want to get different lenses, but for just starting out in dSLR - you can't beat the value of these 2 lenses - best kit lenses on the planet for the money as far as I'm concerned
You must have the 18-55, it's a great little lens for no money. You'll be buying others lenses soon enought, trust me. You will be surprised at the great shots you get with that kits lens, and BTW, it focuses very close.
John
*istDL
Pentax 10-17 fisheye
Tamrom 28-300 DI Macro
Pentax 18-55
Pentax SMC-A 50mm f/1.4
Vivitar Series 1 AF 100-400
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Originally Posted by ccallana
