New Pentax lens roadmap
Pentax Japan have updated their lens roadmap recently. Besides two fast DA* zooms, which are in production now, and four primes announced a week ago there is another one 35mm prime. Hope, it will be faster then 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited, but the only thing known about it - it will be equipped with SDM - Supersonic Drive Motor.
Also, roadmap contains DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM lens, which should be perfect for portraiture photography as well as low light works.
The other interesting lens is DA 55-300 telephoto zoom. I think, it will be F4-5.6 to fit upcoming DA 17-70mm “kit” lens.
July 8th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
It’s sad they dont make a 18-100 or 135mm. Sadly 50-135mm doesn’t fit my needs. I’d like to have one versatile Pentax lens for travelling, having to transport two or more lenses is a burden for me.
July 8th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Try Sigma or Tamron. Tamron 18-250mm was good in tests.
July 8th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Thank you for the advise, I wasn’t considering Tamron and thus didn’t knew about this lens. The main problem is cromatic aberation, but of course post processing can help a lot.
But Pentax owners have a big problem: tests are mainly done with Cannon or Nikon DSLRs, and you cannot - as far as I know - hope to get the same results with a Pentax camera. This is clearly stated at each lens review at Photozone. Take a look at this review: http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_18250_3563_nikon/index.htm
The autor states: “The results are NOT cross-system comparable due to the differences between the image systems (low-pass filter + sensor + A/D + in-camera post-processing + RAW converter profile).”
As an example read the “Vignetting” part of this review, you’ll get an excellent example of this problem with the Nikon and Cannon version of the lens.
So in fact I have to find a review of this lens based on a Pentax K10D or K100D.
Thanks again and I’m more than sorry you had to read my lame english. :|
July 8th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I believe that results will be close to each other for the same lens design with the same coating, diaphragm etc. Not the same but pretty close.
SLRgear have the Canon version review:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=1009
Unfortunately, I don’t know about any Pentax + Tamron 18-250mm thorough reviews.
Also Sigma 18-125mm F4-5.6 and Sigma 24-135mm F2.8-4.5 have a lot of positive comments.
http://pentaxlife.com/sigma-24-135mm-f28-45-review-by-cptofgondor
July 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’ve already read a few tests of those lenses, I’m not impressed. Money is generally an issue but this time I dont really care (ok 1000€ is a no go area!).
While searching I found the FA 28-105/3.2-4.5 AL [IF] that is no longer produced, but still available on the german market. 28 is a bit far, but well there is no perfect lense and life is a compromise. I’m going to digg in the ancien Pentax lenses market.
July 11th, 2007 at 6:54 am
There is another way: take three new Limited pancakes. They are no bigger than Tamron 18-250mm together but much better in image quality.
February 24th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
guys, but pentax has own smc 18-250 new one, but probably costs more like tamron or sigma, cose pentax…