Pentax Lenses

Hi everyone.

K10D Body

Current lenses are Pentax smc 70-210 F Zoom 1: 4-5.6 circa early 80's
Pentax 28-80 also quite old
Kit Lens Pentax 18-55 new last year

Problem: the 70-210 seems to have a 'bloom' inside the lens which could be a fungus according to the camera outlets I have spoken to.
If so the cost of repair, even if possible, could be prohibitive.
Therefore if lens is scrap what would be the best replacement ??
Have been offered a new Pentax 18-250 at a price ! but cannot find any reference to the lens on the Web.

advise please .

Peter

The best would probably be the DA* 60 - 250 F4 except it is not out yet (due later this year) and it will not be cheap

I will leave it to others, with far greater knowledge, to suggest lenses that are currently available.

The SMCP-F 70-210 is a superb lens. I would investigate the cost of having it cleaned.
The 28-80 probably has no SMC coating and is of limited use on a DSLR.
The SMCP-DA 18-55 kit lens is a reasonable performer, surpassed only by the 16-45mm in that range, or the DA* 16-50mm.

Personally, I would ditch your 28-80, buy a 12-24 or Sigma 10-20 and maybe a SMCP-FA 80-320 or similar. You could keep the 28-80 to fill the gap between 55 and 80mm. If you have the money, the DA* 50-135mm is a superb optic.

For reasonable money you could have the Pentax 50-200 or the soon to be released Pentax 55-300, or the Sigma DG Apo Macro 70-300 or the Tamron Di II 70-300. All are a more or less direct replacement for the 70-210. I can vouch for the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 50-200.

The 18-250 is a very useful lens and a pretty decent performer given the inevitable compromises - I've had no problem with enlargements to A4 from it.

The perfect companion to your 18-55mm could be the pentax 50-200mm. Very compact, same filter size, very very good quality

Where did you hear that amilner? I have been looking at that lens sitting on the Pentax Roadmap for almost two years now with nothing listed about it other than categorized as "Future DA Lenses" I'd love to hear that it is soon to be released and LOVE to find out it is as good as the 50-200mm DA.

Drew

I thought the release of the 55-300 was common knoewledge photo*ist
It should be out next month or two.
Near perfectly compliments the 18-55, but personally I would prefer the 50-300 overlap.
http://www.digital.pentax.co.jp/en/lens/roadmap.pdf
its on there alright
F4-5.8
So it probably performs better at 55 than the 18-55 at least
considering that you wouldnt be wide open at F/5.6.
Its supposed to be on par with the 18-55 MKII.

Well, that IS great news. I have religiously been checking the same Pentax roadmap site you posted and I have never seen a release date mentioned there (and still don't). Doing a Google confirms it is indeed to be released at the end of May and just in time as I'm going to the Victoria BC, Tall Ship Festival at the end of June. PURRRFECT! Thanks for the info guys, I appreciate it.

Glad I've moved all the way up to "common knowledge" now.

Drew

It probably is wide open at 55mm and f5.6. If the lens is set on its widest aperture and zoomed, the aperture doesn't close but the f number changes.

A simple 50mm lens 25mm diameter = 50/25 or f2
A simple 100mm lens 25mm diamter = 100/25 or f4

This is why zoom lenses aften have variable apertures, because no correction is made during zooming. optical or mechanical correction is needed to maintain a constant aperture.

Rob was refering to the 55-300mm, which has an aperture range of 4-5.8, so at 55mm and f/5.6, you wouldn't be wide open, as wide open is f/4.

Drew, those of us who bothered travelling to Watford earlier in the month (didn't see you there ) had a play with one - seemed quite nice to me, but I was more interested in the DA* 300mm, so didn't take more than a minute or two to have a quick play.

Mongoose and Reuben both liked it, there's a couple of comments about it on this thread: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7101&postdays=0&postord... (just ignore all the nits about mugs and mouse mats ).

Dan

Thanks for that info Daniel. Don't know how I missed the Watford show.

Drew

Yeah, I was sure I'd see you there.

Dan

Thanks to all for the information, suggestions and personal opinions.

In the first instant I will get a price for repair as the 70-210 has such a good rating.

Dissapionted to hear my 28-80 is not really suitable for Digital SLR.

Will keep you all posted.

Talking to Simon at SRS Rayners Lane yesterday regarding this problem
( he suggested the 18-250 as a good replacement ) I went mad and bought a Pentax smc FA: 1: 1.4 50mm. It seemed like a good idea at the
time. Does anyone else do things on impulse ??

Regards

Peter

Just about everyone

http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/page5.html

Mathers of Lancashire have the 55-300mm listed at 225
which seems a very good price to me, considering it will be new, and srs state the rrp as 259.