What is the difference

1947lcs · 2014-06-19T17:19:47+0100

Now I am the proud owner of a K-5 I was thinking of updating my 18-55 AL kit lens to the weather resistant version. Is there any optical difference in these two lenses or is it just the weather proofing that is the difference. Thanks Les

Pentax Digital SLRsPentax Digital SLRs

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microlight201... microlight2010

156 posts
15 years
Hampshire,
UK

Posted 23/06/2014 - 15:53 Link

Hi Les. Like you, I have a K-5 (it's three years old now!). I upgraded from the 18-55 WR to the 16-45 a couple of years ago and have never regretted it; there's a noticeable difference - and you don't have to worry about shooting it wide open as it maintains its IQ from wide open at f4 down to f16. My standard kit is completed by the 55-300 that you also have (another great lens!), topped off by the A50/1.4 and A28/2.8.

So I'm definitely in the pro-16-45 camp. People criticise it because it casts a shadow at the wide end with the built-in flash, but it's not a problem for me as I rarely use flash (and use an off-camera gun when I do).

K-3II - HD DA20-40 Limited, HD DA55-300PLM, SMC DA10-17 Fishy, AF201FG Flashy

Plus Member Simonmac Simonmac

715 posts
14 years
Birmingham

Posted 23/06/2014 - 16:01 Link

Great lens. Sadly I only got rid of mine as there was an AF problem at the 16mm end. THe AF would not lock- whatever I aimed at with centre AF (which I always use) but resorting to manual focus easily resolved the problem.
I now use a Tammy 17-50 2.8 (non VC version) and I couldn't be happier!

Mac

microlight2010 wrote:
Hi Les. Like you, I have a K-5 (it's three years old now!). I upgraded from the 18-55 WR to the 16-45 a couple of years ago and have never regretted it; there's a noticeable difference - and you don't have to worry about shooting it wide open as it maintains its IQ from wide open at f4 down to f16. My standard kit is completed by the 55-300 that you also have (another great lens!), topped off by the A50/1.4 and A28/2.8.

So I'm definitely in the pro-16-45 camp. People criticise it because it casts a shadow at the wide end with the built-in flash, but it's not a problem for me as I rarely use flash (and use an off-camera gun when I do).

www.flickr.com/photos/simac/
www.500px.com/simac