Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 II

A few weeks ago I upgraded my Samsung GX 1S to a K20d which I'm now using with the Samsung D-Xenon 18-55 kit lens.

Would there be any benefit in me investing in one of the more recent Pentax SMC DA 18 -55 II lenses (£35 from Chris at SRS) or is there something else I should consider - I'd like a DA* 16 - 50 but finances won't quite run to that !

Perhaps a good compromise would be the SMC Pentax-DA 16-45mm f4 lens, which is a superb professional quality lens. It is also quite a bargain at the moment, I think £199 from SRS and with Casback available as well.

I am not sure that there would be much point in upgrading to the Mark 11 lens.

If the DA* 16 - 50 is a bit beyond your current budget, the DA 16 - 45 is a highly regarded lens at a very reasonable price.

Edit: John beat me to it whilst I was still typing (very slowly).

The DA 18-55 MkII is supposed to have better resolution to more closely match the capabilities of the K20D sensor.

I have one spare which I bought from SRS together with my K20D to get the cashback offer. I have the DA* 16-50mm, DA 16-45mm, & DA 18-55mm MkI lenses so it's surplus to my requirements.

It's new & boxed with all original paperwork & accessories. The box has been opened and closed, lens & hood have not been removed from their packaging, it's in brand new & unused/unhandled condition. The only thing missing is the bar code panel from the box which was removed for the cashback offer.

Yours for £34 including postage to a UK mainland address.

PM me if interested.

Hmmm,

Thanks for the offer Peter.

Consensus seems to be that I wouldn't see any improvement in image quality by getting the mark II.

I might just ask friends and family to lump together for a christmas present and get either the DA* 16 -50 or the DA 16 - 45.

I don't suppose that you have either of those lenses spare that you bought for the cashback offer :wink

At £35 (or effectively even less if you sell your mk I), it is worth upgrading to. I did the same and found sharpness was better, particularly at the borders. You also get a more protective coating on the glass, and a centre-pinch front cap.

The 16-45 is usefully wider and less prone to vignetting, but I didn't find mine was any sharper than my 18-55 II. So it's quite a lot more money for not a huuuuuge amount of extra performance, in my very humble and unusual opinion.

A cheaper alternative to the Pentax 16-50 F2.8 is the Tamron 17-50 F2.8. Search this forum and the net for more comments on it.

I have both, and I'm happy to say . . . they are not for sale.

Peter, are you really, really sure you need both of them ?

You must have seen that ridiculous stuffed dog on TV selling car insurance. My answer's the same . . . Oh yes!

Looks like I'll have to send Santa a begging letter

Just noticed that Nimitz has a Sigma 28 -70 f2.8 EX lens for sale at £150 - I know that this would not give me wide angle coverage but will it give me better image quality than the kit lens ?

Well,

I finally took the plunge and ordered the Pentax 16-45 mm and a Sigma 24 -70 mm (unfortunately not the EX but at £49 a useful portrait lens ??) from SRS Microsystems.

So Christmas is coming a little early for me - they should be delivered on Monday.

I love new toys