Samsung 18-55 Kit Lens

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday afternoon, I was delighted to finally receive an unused Samsung 18-55 kit lens from a very nice photographer in NewFoundland.

As I have not yet plunged into DSLR's, I've mounted it on George's SFX film body and it functions splendidly. I really like the non-rotating front element (aspherical?) Because:

I'm a polarizer fan and do not presently have a 52mm CPL. So, off to eBay. Found a B&W selling for more than I paid for the lens.

Now, I know B&W are very well respected and well made (I have a 58mm UV).

What blew me away was when I saw the close-up picture on eBay and read Schneider Kreuznach on the rim.

The same name is on the Samsung D-Xenon lens!

I believe John mentioned in an earlier post that Pentax had partnered with a respectible outfit to produce the re-badged 18-55 for Samsung. I just never made the connection.

NOW, I'm REAL happy!

Quick question if I may.

As this lens functions so well on an SFX, can I assume it will do as well on *1stD's and K100D's ?

Off to blast through a roll. (Remember rolls?)

Cheers!

Works fine on my GX-10 (which IS a K10D )

The 18-55 is designed for digital sensors which are smaller than a 35mm film frame. The smaller image circle means you will get vignetting when using it with a film camera.

It functions well with all digital Pentax and Samsung SLRs and is generally thought to be a decent "kit" lens - apparently better than equivalent lenses from Canon and Nikon. Don't forget the 16-45 and 16-50 alternatives, though, if you want even better optics.

The Samsung and Pentax versions are practically the same.

I suggest not wasting a film and keeping the lens in mint condition in case you may want to resell it. Depending on the deals available at the time, you may find it economically better to buy a digital camera that comes with a lens rather than a body only.

Are you sure? There is massive vignetting at the wide end on mine (sfx with 18-55).

I don't think Mac has shot his roll yet!

Not sure if that is toung-in-cheek or not but if not, this isnt just a darkening in the corners - this major! You cant miss it in the viewfinder.

I've yet to explore it, but using DA lenses on a film camera might give interesting results.

Sometimes a "disadvantage" can be used creatively. A soft focus lens is the most common example of this.

Thanks for the input guys!

Am in the process of "shooting my roll" and am keeping to the 35 - 55mm end.

I can imagine the vignetteing I'll get when I add a polarizer!

Just enjoying the quick and quiet focusing for now, and the rather nice build quality. Better than I expected for a kit lens.

I take your point Iceblinker, and will keep it mint just in case - but I have a habit of passing stuff along to my daughters so it'll never be a loss.

This lens may drag me (finally) into DSLR world, simply so I can see its full potential.

Cheers to all,

the 18-55 is full frame from about 24mm onwards and works very nicely on my Z50P and my friend's P30T (though obviously only in P mode on the latter since the lens lacks an aperture ring).

At the wide end there is massive vignetting but this can be quite good fun. My friend has a thoroughly unflattering but good fun portrait of me taken at minimum focus distance and 18mm.

When I first looked through my 18-55 lens (from my K100D - small, darkish viewfinder) on my flatmate's Pentax ME (MASSIVE bright viewfinder but vignetting with a capital V), it felt like I was staring into a massive black cave - quite disorientating!

JR said:

hmmmn 10-17 mmm CIRCULAR fisheye zoom....

Yes, it's quite fun actually.

It vignettes so much at 18mm that it looks as if it was taken from the inside of an old TV set. Even more fun if you use a thick polarizer.

Being a dark lens (3.5 - 5.6), I've had to use higher speed film - especially for flash on the SFX. At 100ASA, my AF280T TTL flash calls for f4 - precluding any shots above 35mm, and producing limited DOF. Not so good for group shots!

I like it fine for outdoor work and closeups - quite sharp with good colour.

Now I've got to find a K100D Super body to go with it.

Yup, saved a bunch with this lens!

Just think, Samsung will finally drag ol' Mac into Pentax DSLR world .

Cheers!

I've just been checking out the DA lenses on a film SLR and, visually through the viewfinder at least, they all seem fairly promising at the middle to long end of their zoom range.

At the widest setting they all vignette horribly, but taking the 12-24mm as an example, by 14mm it's starting to cover the full frame.

Considering that so many camera club judges keep suggesting burning-in the corners of prints, we could be on to a winner here!

John, I would interested to know your findings with the 16-45

Steve

It looks as though it will be useable from about 19mm onwards on a film SLR. I've yet to try it properly, but the vignetting as seen in the viewfinder seems to clear up at about that point.