Lenses for K10D

Just ordered a K10D. When researching dslrs, and having a tight budget, I was building my system around the Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.5 DC Macro and the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO Macro DG. (Was looking at D80, s/h 20D and the K10D)

Have been out of the slr field for some years since my OM10 days, but realising that there are lots of s/h Pentax lenses out there, I wonder if anyone has any suggestions instead of the Sigmas.

As is fairly clear, I am looking for a 'walk around' standard zoom. also to double as a landscape lens and a longer zoom for wildlife.

Any thoughts will be most welcome.


Stuart

Well, not second hand, but quite reasonable prices, I'd recommend:

Pentax SMC-DA 16-45mm/f4
Pentax SMC-DA 50-200mm/f4

SRS Microsystems list them at £269 and £129 respectively. If the 16-45 is beyond your budget, then the Pentax kit lens isn't a bad lens at all, especially when stopped down to f8. The best thing is you can get it at a crazy price with the K10D.

For example, SRS list the K10D+18-55+50-200 at £819. Hardly worth arguing with Best thing is they are both extremely compact lenses so you can carry them around most of the time!

The trouble with second hand is that it's getting more expensive as Pentax has become more popular There are some of the second hand Pentax lenses that are worth investigating such as the SMC-FA 80-320 (about £90)

Hope that helps!
Matt

Hi Matt,




I nearly had a heart attack, and another new lens to buy.. would you please not do that, for us sensitive souls..


Cheers

Liam

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Liam


"Make your hands respond to what your mind demands." Jesse James

Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the 'ah-ha'. Ernst Haas

Me too - having forked out on a Bigma I nearly fell off my chair reading that

LOL

I, erm, only bought it because my SMC-FA 80-320 is growing spores It's optical quality is different from the 80-320 (6 blades vs 8 blades, bit softer wide open etc), but stupidly small - without the hood on you think you're holding a medium range zoom (like 28-70). Construction is much like the 18-55.

Shall I say any more??

And after Tony Pleavin's article in the Pentax User Mag I'll be trying it on some landscapes in the future...

Matt

Matt, did you mean 50-500 for £129 or 50-200?

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Please call me aj,

I use a Pentax K10D, on a MacBook with LightRoom (vers 1.3 + beta 2)

http://www.ba-joseph.co.uk/gallery

Just edited it. Doh!
Matt

Thanks for the replies. Events overtook me. I got the K10D just a few days ago and went for the Sigma 17-70. Long story............. Have only had time to take 3 shots and it's raining hard as I type. ''
So far the camera feels great to handle and I'm really pleased that Elements 4 can open the RAW (DNG) files and it's been a real pleasure so far messing about with those 3 shots and not seeing the dreaded noise take over the screen.
So I'm at the bottom of another learning curve and will be on the lookout soon for a telephoto. More than likely also will be posting more questions...........''
Stuart

Hey Stuart,

Just picked up the Sigma 17-70 today. So far I like what I see. Only took a few shots. No rain here just -15oC plus wind chill. Tommorrow suposed to be a baulmy -4oC so hopefully get time to shoot. Let me know what you think. I also have the K10D.

Paulypentax

Hi Paul (I assume your name is Paul)

Envy you the clear weather, but today there is the possibility of some sun - the cloud though is that uniform grey which ruins the light for landscapes. The Sigma 17-70 has so far not disappointed. Have been taking close ups of snowdrops, camellias etc. Quick and easy to focus, feels solid. Minor panic when I saw 'fogging' in the viewfinder and on the shot: turned out that you can't rotate the lens hood halfway - for vertical shots - it obstructs the lens.
I don't have a web site - well, I have a political website but not a photographic website. If you are a member of ephotozine you can see a few shots under the name stuarty. Shots are restricted in size.

So I'm happy so far with the 17-70. Next step is to decide on the longer telephoto. Probably the Sigma 70-300 APO, or s/h Pentax 80-320.

Hope you are enjoying the 17-70.

Stuart

Hey Stuart,

I am a member of ephotozine i will check for your pics. I can tell you the Sigma 70-300 APO is an amazing lens. Have had it for about 8months or so. I've used it to take pictures of my wife in a Triathalon as well I use it to take pictures out of my Kayak of birds. The macro @ 200-300mm is very usefull. You can take great pictures from far away as to not scare your subject. I will post some pics on ephotozine for you to see. A good web page to check is PhotoSig, you can look up pictures by lens, camera, F-stop ect.

Paul