APS-C standard zoom lenses

Been a while since I used APS-C but I've just bought myself a K3ii predominantly for weddings with the Sigma OS 70-200mm on but I'm also liking how smaller and lighter it is compared to the K1 so may look to get a cheap standard zoom lens.

Pentax
16-45mm
17-70mm
16-45mm
16-85mm

Sigma
17-70mm

So many choices!

Is the 16-85mm the one to look at or should I drop down to the 16-50mm or ditch early SDM all together and get the 16-45mm?!

The 20-40mm looks very nice but not really keeping the pennies down!

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Gareth
Welsh Photographer

My outfit: K1, K1ii - Z-1P - Pentax D FA 24-70mm - Pentax DA* 300mm f4 - Pentax modified DA* 60-250mm f4 - Irix 15mm Firefly - Pentax FA 35mm - FA 28-70mm f4 - Tamron SP 90mm macro - Pentax AF 540 FGZ II

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My PPG
Foundation NFT

I can recommend the 16-85 as a great all round lens. Colour rendition and sharpness are first class as is it's close focus abilities.

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Paul

K1000, Espio 140, ist, istD, K70, K3iii and numerous lenses, just don't tell my wife.

This may add to the confusion but, Sigma 17-35 DG and Pentax F 35-70. Both at home on APS-C and FF.

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Barrie
Too Old To Die Young

http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/barrieforbes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/189482630@N03/

I really like my Tamron 17-50/f:2.8. Great IQ from my copy, and cheap as chips.

I have a Sigma standard lens for sale in the classifieds.... (hint, hint...)

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Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
My website

You haven't mentioned the 18-135mm, a very versatile and pretty good lens, with the added bonus of WR.

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Best regards, John

I have the 18-135mm and the 16-85mm. My personal habit, the 18-135mm sits on the shelf, I pick the 16-85mm every time. It's better across the whole frame, much better and, I like the extra mm on the wide end. Two important differences when I find myself more at the landscape side of photography.
If I want more reach I take my 55-300mm as well. The two lenses cover just about everything.

If you don't need speed then the 16-85mm is superb. It's my favourite landscape lens as it's very versatile and renders better than most primes.

The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 is another option. It's a really great lens with a special rendering that somehow brings out a subtle magic in many images.

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Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses

Depends on what you want to use it for. I was very happy with the 16-45mm except for one thing: too often found myself wanting to change lens because 45mm was too short. Eventually got the 16-85mm rather than any of the others because I really like 16mm and a mm or two at the short end makes a significant difference. And while the 16-85mm isn't f4 across its whole range, it is from 16 to 45mm so no losing out there. As Nigelk says, the 16-85mm and 55-300mm make a good pair for general use and are what comes with me if I don't have a specific reason to take another lens.

Steve

For focus speed and accuracy plus image quality, you could also look at the new DA*16-50. Only if you have deep pocket. It nearly bankrupt me and cause a divorce!!!

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Yves (another one of those crazy Canucks)

Another vote for the 16-85 for the reasons already mentioned.
I use other lens but invariably return to it as the versatility and sharpness are excellent

17-70mm f4 Pentax or Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 are very good and fairly cheap, although 16-85 could prove a bit more versatile due to slghtly more range on each end but sacrificing a bit on aperture range , only a problem in some specific situations.

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odd lens or 2

Flickr

The Sigma 17 - 70 was my " walkabout " lens a few years ago, versatile, sharp and not to obtrusive.

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Chris

www.chrismillsphotography.co.uk

" A Hangover is something that occupies the Head you neglected to use the night before".

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K1 - Sigma 85mm F1.4, Pentax DFA 150 -450 F4.5 / 5.6, Pentax DFA* 24 - 70 F2.8

Samyang 14mm F2.8, Pentax DFA* 70-200 F2.8

K3iii + K3ii + K5iis converted to IR, Sigma 17 - 70 F2.8, Pentax 55 - 300 F4.5 / F5.6 PLM

Agreed! +1

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A few bits & Bobs

Cracking shot

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Peter



My Flickr page