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TAMRON 28-300mm 3.5 - 6.3 for PENTAX model 185D

Posted 09/01/2010 - 03:38 Link
Hello,

I am a new Pentax K-x owner - my first DSLR. I have an opportunity to pick up a TAMRON 28-300mm 3.5 - 6.3, model 185D at a pretty good price. Does anyone have experience with this lens? Any advice you would offer a newbie? Is it worth purchasing this lens?

Thanks for your help,

JD
Cheers - JD

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams
Mike-P
Posted 09/01/2010 - 10:12 Link
When I got my first Pentax I had the newer version and have to say I was pretty unimpressed and sold it on Ebay for around £150 if I remember correctly. The older version is unlikely to be any better so unless you are paying about £75 then personally I wouldn't bother.

I found very quickly (and to my cost) then its best to bypass old lenses at good prices (unless they are stellar performers) and save for something decent from the outset.

There is a link to the 185D HERE which Google will translate into English.
iceblinker
Posted 09/01/2010 - 11:23 Link
Bear in mind that 28mm will hardly give you wide angle on your Pentax digital camera. 28-300mm was intended as a "do it all" range for film cameras as it gives a wider field of view on those.

If mostly interested in the telephoto end, you'll probably get better results from a Pentax 55-300mm or a Tamron 70-300mm.
~Pete
Posted 09/01/2010 - 13:35 Link
Thanks Mike and Pete. I appreciate the feedback. I guess the old rule holds true - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. For $200.00 I think I may have a look, and take a few photos with the K-x - in particular at the extreme ends of the zoom. If they are not satisfactory, then I will pass on it. If I don't look, I'll be forever asking myself if I missed a good deal, but I'll go in with a level of skepticism based on your feedback .

I am mostly interested in the telephoto end, so if this one does not cut it, I'll take your advice Pete, and look at the Tamron 70-300mm. Our local Duncan and Wright store has the Tamron AF 70-300MM F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2 for Pentax for $30.00 more then the used one, or the Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Pentax for about double that.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate you taking the time to provide your input.

JD
Cheers - JD

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams
JohnX
Posted 09/01/2010 - 17:52 Link
I've got the 70-300, and its a great budget lens. Only issue I've found with it, common to this lens generally it seems, is purple fringing in certain situations. Easily removed in Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.

Worth checking prices before you buy, though, as the price you're quoting ($230?) is at the upper end of the price range for this lens in the UK.
Edited by JohnX: 09/01/2010 - 17:54
bforbes
Posted 09/01/2010 - 18:12 Link
I have the Tamron 28-300 and find it ok as a travel lens with the Pentax 18-55. I have also been looking at the Pentax 18-250 as a one lens solution but have I seen that the Tamron 18-250 is the same lens?
iceblinker
Posted 09/01/2010 - 18:19 Link
The Pentax 18-250mm was designed by Tamron, and is essentially the same as the Tamron lens, I understand.
~Pete
Posted 10/01/2010 - 03:38 Link
Hello All,

Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions. I spent the day today trying a variety of lenses. Here's the list:

Used Tamron 28-300 - 185D: $200.00 - not at all what I was looking for. The IQ was just not there at the max tele end - very soft (almost seemed out of focus), and lots of colour aberration. I had anticipated this to a certain degree, but had to see it for myself.

New Tamron AF 70-300MM F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro 1:2: $229.00 - sharp photos, but quite strong purple fringing at the long end. I liked this lens a lot, and if not for the fringing, I would have bought this one.

New Pentax smc DA 55-300 mm F4 - 5.8ED: $500.00 - beautiful, clear, sharp photos - no fringing - gorgeous! But unfortunately currently out of my budget .

SIGMA 70-300MM 4-5.6 APO DG MACRO: $319.00 - Image quality was comparable to the Pentax smc DA 55-300 - crisp, clear photos, with no fringing. It was at the high end of what I wanted to spend, but I was impressed enough to put my money into this lens.

Thanks again to everyone,

JD
Cheers - JD

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams
cedricd
Posted 10/01/2010 - 11:59 Link
IMHO forget the Tamron, I found it to back focus by miles on my K10. Never even bothered to put it on the K20.

Cedric
Enjoy life
bforbes
Posted 10/01/2010 - 13:36 Link
cedricd wrote:
IMHO forget the Tamron, I found it to back focus by miles on my K10. Never even bothered to put it on the K20.

Cedric

Which Tamron do you mean?
cedricd
Posted 10/01/2010 - 15:30 Link
Barrie, mine is the XR DI IF 28 - 300mm 1:3.5 - 6.3. I went to +500 in Debug mode and the focus was still off. The upside is that having found the Debug I have determined the ideal for my Pentax glass. None of which were much over +100.

Cedric
Enjoy life
Edited by cedricd: 10/01/2010 - 15:33
bforbes
Posted 10/01/2010 - 15:55 Link
Thanks Cedric, i did wonder if you had tried the 18-250. My 28-300 seems OK for Focus apart from being a bit soft at 300mm.
cedricd
Posted 10/01/2010 - 16:18 Link
I ended up buying a Pentax DA 50 - 200, wanted to make sure it wasn`t me. It`s a very good lens.

Cedric
Enjoy life
Posted 10/01/2010 - 21:32 Link
I managed to take a few shots today down at Lasalle Park, in Burlington. The Sigma lens was amazing (helping to make the dummy behind it look better than he really is ).

You can see some samples (I'll have to wait till tomorrow to post to the gallery):
http://picasaweb.google.com/RobStr86/SundayAtLasallePark# http://picasaweb.google.com/RobStr86/Princess_Point_Park#

I did tweak some of them for exposure, but there was absolutely no fringing in any of them. I think I love this lens

JD
Cheers - JD

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams
Dangermouse
Posted 10/01/2010 - 23:17 Link
In general, it seems that the wider the zoom range the worse the lens?
Matt

Shooting the Welsh Wilderness with K-m, KX, MX, ME Super and assorted lenses.

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