28-80mm zoom - which is the best?

I have several varieties of Pentax 28-80mm AF zoom as well as 28-90mm and 35-135mm. I need to thin the herd and would be grateful for any comments on the merits or otherwise. Usage will be on a K5 and k100d as a general walk around lens.

Which one do you prefer?

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John K

Good question. I did some testing over the weekend as I hardly picked up a camera over the last year. The 28-90 and 28-70 f4 stood out. I will keep the 28-70 and can use it on full frame eventually.

Before you make a selection I would suggest you check out the FA24-90, a fine lens with a better rep than contemporary Pentax zoom lenses. The PZ 28-80 had a bit of a mixed bag review wise, but the PZ 28-105 was highly regarded.

From what I head there was a fault of some sort with the 28-70, which probably explains why you don't see many about and were replaced in the range by the F35-80.

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Z-1p, K-1, P50
F50 1.7. FAs 24, 35, 50 1.4, 85, 135. DFA15-30, DFA24-70, D-FA*70-200. D-FA 100 (gone now!). The SMC-FA Limited Trinity.
Metz 45 CL-4, AF500FTZ. AF540FGZ.
Some Mamiya and some Nikon

Thank you, that is very helpful. I think the issue with the 28-70 is lens separation in the rear group. I have not tried the PZ 28-105 so will look out for one (although I am supposed to be thinning the herd!).

The PZ 28-105 was always considered better than the 28-80 (which is better than the PF reviews state). The weak point is the PA/S switch on the barrel which always break on PZ lenses - but the basic PZ functionality still works on DSLRs.

I'm about to put my PZ 28-105 up for sale...

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PPG Flickr

One of the most over-looked lenses in the FA series - it often sells for relatively low prices and performs well on digital. It doesn't look or feel a particularly high end lens (quite plasticky, lightweight, bit wobbly) but I often take it out in preference to the weightier D-FA24-70.

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LennyBloke

I did have a 24-90 and foolishly sold it to fund another digital body

Are there any non-Pentax lenses in the focal length range that might work well (although I remind myself I am selling not buying lenses)?

An option is the Tarmron SP 24-135 - xx-80 or xx-105 zooms aren't really long enough to be one lens to rule them all for travel purposes for me. I'm only really interested in 24-50 and then 135+ (my K-1 minimal travel kit is an FA20-35, FA43 & M150).

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PPG Flickr

John, thank you. A two lens kit for (long distance) travel is actually a good idea. The 24-135 was unknown to me - an online search suggests it is heavy but the spec looks very good.

I prefer one lens for day trips and walking hence looking at the 28mm+ options and being a cheapskate by having lenses in the 28-90 range already.

In diameter it's quite broad but compact in length and has a zoom lock switch to stop it creeping when carrying it.

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PPG Flickr

Each to their own, of course, but for me my favourite 28-80-ish is my 18-135

The poor Pentax 28-80 - one free with every P30! What everyone overlooks is that there are two versions (three if you include the Takumar badged one). The standard Pentax-A 28-80 is the one that gets the bad press. The other, far rarer version is the SMC Pentax-A 28-80. Get one of those and you will be very happy. ..... It took me about 3 years of checking every 28-80 that appeared on E bay before I found one - and it sold for peanuts !

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Both the *istDS and the K5 are incurably addicted to old glass

My page on Photocrowd - link

David, thank you (Don’t tell too many people though!h.