Lenses

Who makes the best 10-70mm Pentax fit, and what's the best medium zoom to take on holiday?

Why are there more focal length lenses for Canon cameras compared to Pentax?

Kindest regards,

Peter

Does anyone make a 10-70mm in Pentax fit?

Medium zoom for holiday : something like the Pentax/Tamron 18-250mm maybe?

There are more (current)focal length lenses for Canon cameras compared to Pentax purely because there are a lot more Canon users I would guess.

The kit lenses (18-55mm and 50-200mm) would serve very well. The 18-250mm would also serve very well.

It does, however, depend on what you shoot on holiday - my photography doesn't change because I'm on holiday.

Canon users are a little less imaginative, less capable and less mobile than Pentax users?

LMAO

John

I'd go with the 18-55mm and 50-200mm, neither is horribly expensive (there are a lot of brand new 50-200mm on ebay UK at the moment for under £100) and between them you cover most situations.

After that I might see if there was space for something like a 28mm prime (or the 21mm DA Ltd if money is no object). I'm a big fan of the old manual primes as they're relatively cheap, compact, light and sharp. Ideal for making your camera a bit less obvious and therefore less of a temptation to light-fingered types in some areas.

Why are there more focal length lenses for Canon cameras compared to Pentax?

Kindest regards,

Peter[/quote]Many attempts before they got one right!

Quite a few of those extra lenses are quite expensive and specialised, reflecting the fact that Canon has some very specific solutions for professional users.

In terms of lenses that us mere mortals would actually buy, there is probably not that much difference. A few more certainly, but it does become more even.

You also need to consider the fact that the kit lenses in some brands are apparently discarded pretty rapidly - they're built down to a price with the idea that people will get hooked on photography and immediately buy a better lens. I hear that the Sony kit zoom is pretty hopeless for one.

Pentax's 18-55mm is one of the best kit zooms available and not far behind the more "premium" zooms they offer in similar focal lengths. This means they simply don't have to make multiple different lenses to satisfy different users, the 18-55mm will satisfy even fairly advanced photographers while there is a model above it for the really serious/wealthy shooters.

Does anybody make a 10-70mm lens in any mount?

I would have thought that range would make the lens either horribly expensive, or if not, of dubious image quality.

Canon are more a "gattling gun" rather than a "sniper rifle" when it comes to lenses. Flood the market with with similar focal lengths, rather than focus on specifics. For example, Canon make 5, yes 5 lenses at 70-200mm, they are, and I quote 70-200mm F4 USM, 70-200mm F4 IS USM, 70-200mm F2.8 USM, 70-200mm F2.8 IS USM and 70-200mm F2.8 IS USM MK2. Whereas, for the same EFOV, Pentax make the DA* 50-135mm F2.8 SDM.....Enough said!.

Because Canon dominate the market and have a large range of users (and bodies) they try and dominate the lens market too with differing Lenses to suit the needs of the different users who have a need of various lens that they produce. For example the 50mm comes as a F1.8 (for amateurs) F1.4 (for enthusiasts)and F1.2 (for Pros). However even this has its detremental effect as most pros prefer the F1.4 version.......

Is it a good philosophy? well no as it is too saturated.

Pentax however, with their range provide optics that will suit the needs of most of their customers. Is it too small? well yes and no.
Yes, because they are playing catchup from years of limited number of products. and no, as even now, the range is already excellent and a history of suitable lenses (even manual) that pentax users can obtain.