Good all range lens

Despite all the threads on various lenses I'm still at a bit of a loss as to which one would be best to get.

I'm after a good zoom lens that could cover from around 30mm to around 200mm give or take.

I realise that on such a wide range it is hard to find something that will produce top sharpness in all areas. Though I need it for versatility for motorsports photography.

I haven't got huge amounts of money to spend, but at the same time I need something that won't be too slow (ie if possible I would like at least f2.8 ).

What lenses are out there that would offer a good compromise between flexibility, price, and speed in this regard? Are there any lenses forthcoming from Pentax that might be suitable?

Hello
You didn't say whether it was for film or digital, but assuming it's digital this Tamron lens is getting good reviews. Unfortunately it's not as fast a lens as you would like, but having said that a zoom that would cover the range you require and f2.8 or faster would cost the earth.
http://www.tamron.com/lenses/prod/18250_diII.asp

Basically you want a 28-200 F/2.8
which will never appear.

If speed is dominent in your decision you should look at
Tamron/Sigma 70-200 F/2.8
Pentax 50-135 F/2.8
Sigma 50-150 F/2.8

They are also more expensive lenses, and therefore higher quality.

If you arent bothered about speed there are various 18-125s, 18-250s, 18-200s, 24-135s, 28-300s

There is the Tamron 28-200, but its max aperture range is 3.8-5.6

Of course if you have the money to spend, DA* 16-50, DA*50-135, and two HSM supported bodies.

Ideally I would want something with 28-300 range. However that is just an ideal. 50mm on the short end is a bit tight. But even a 35-135mm would be quite versatile for what I need.

Point is I need a camera that offers me 'something' on the wide end and 'something' on the telephot. Reason I need it fast'ish' is because the weather conditions can sometimes be pretty horrendous and on a mountain in mist and rain I need everything I can get. If possible.

That's still a tall order. The nearest I can find is the old Pentax-A 28-135mm F4 - but that's a large manual-focus job.

I think you're going to have to get two lenses. This is why (some of) the pros carry two camera bodies.

I've only read this thread from the OP, but there's nothing in it to suggest which camera he's using. So we don't know whether 28 is wide, or 18 is.

Second, you can pick any two from good, versatile, fast, and cheap. Occasionally, you might get good, fast and cheap with, for instance, a 50mm M 1.7, but that's hardly what he's looking for,

If you want versatile at all (as in superzoom), you can't have fast.

I think he needs to sort out what his real priorities are, because he isn't going to find his ideal.

Also, motorsport and wet misty mountains aren't going to happen on the same day all that often. Does he really need just one lens?

95% of my photography is landscape work & much of that whilst hiking around the mountains of North Wales - I appreciate completely the changing weather conditions you're talking of however...

do you really need a single lens with such a range - I use the Sigma
17-70 (25.5 - 105, 35mm equiv, x1.5 crop) & it really is excellent for this type of photography, I rarely need to go beyond 105mm & when I do I have the new Pentax 55-300 in my bag just in case. The Sigma is 2.8 at the wide end too if needed.

Just my thoughts

simon

Okay. I'm using a K10D. I have a Sigma 18-50 EX DC, a Super Takumar 135mm f 3.5, and a 50mm 1.7 and 28mm 2.8 SMC's.

While the 135 is a fine lens, I need some decent glass to cover a more useful range.

I was photographing rallying the other day, in Wales, which as Simon has mentioned can be very changeable! The trouble is that the cars sometimes come so thick and fast there often isn't time to change lenses without missing a great moment. I can't be splurging money on two camera bodies, much as I would like to.

Sometimes I am close to the track, which means that I need a wide angle to fit the cars in shot, and sometimes I need to photograph the corner which is a way away with a telephoto. I'm getting a bit fed up of guessing which lens I should use, only to find that the cool action happens in a range that doesn't suit the lens I have attached to the camera.

I'm only doing this for my own enjoyment, not for business.

You've never watched the TT.

G

Why not? A second K10D would cost less than the Holy Grail of lenses which you are describing, and you could put your Sigma zom on one and the Tak on the other.

Having just tried a bit of motor sport photography, armed with a 300mm and a 16-50, I have to say that the combo would have worked very well with a second body.

G

alas the lens you describe doesn't exist at any price, and if it did then it would be easily into the £1000+ range.

The options you have are:

1. Get a second camera body and mount your two existing lenses one on each camera so you can use either as becomes necessary. (~£400 if you can find a K10D)

2. Be content to boost the ISO and get a slower lens like the Tamron 18-250 or Sigma 18-200, ~£200-300 depending on the lens and the badge on it

3. decide you need the speed and can live without the wide-angle, get a Pentax 50-135 F2.8

4. decide you need the speed and the 18-50 is NEARLY long enough, get a Tamron 28-75 F2.8 or Sigma 24-70 F2.8.