I have just come back to Pentax with a recently acquired K200D which came with an 18-55mm WR and I am very impressed with the build quality of the lens. However I need to cover the long end of things. The problem I have is whether to sell the 18-55 WR and get a Tamron 18-250mm (or Pentax) or keep the 18-55 and get a 55-300 DA-L.
The advantages of the 18-250 is no lens changing but is there a loss of IQ, anyone be kind enough to help ?

I am looking for an 18-250mm, either Tamron or Pentax, and have found a Pentax one in a camera shop in Scotland. I notice that they also have a silver K200D,which along with the lens is listed as "just in".

The shop is closed until Tue,so I wonder if any of you can help with a question I have in my mind, was the Pentax 18-250mm ever made in silver ?

Also, is there any difference between the Pentax and Tamron version in terms of IQ ? be gentle if that sounds daft


anyone able to help ?
regards Donald

I am looking to get a new dslr set up and wonder how good the 18-55 and 55-300 are. I used to have a K200D with the 18-55 Mk 11 which was pretty good,but I am wondering how these new lenses compare,would value the forums views.

Is it going back on eBay ?,I think it would generate more interest if you sold the grip separately, would you consider offers for body only and if so how much ?

If only it had the weather seals of the K200D, superb review though.
http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/pentax_kx_review/

Another one, has less than a thousand shutter actuations
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PENTAX-K200D-DIGITAL-CAMERA-WITH-18-55-MM-LENS_W0QQitemZ28...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=300358348169&Category=31388...
Body only, but the 18-55 Mk11 is available on ebay for very little,K200D difficult to find second hand.

But what is really weird is that when they release a camera they can hit it right on the button. K200D is a perfect example, classed as so called entry level, but how many people went to a camera shop to look at a D60 or 400D and then held a K200D and didnt need anyone to tell them the difference, it was to be seen, and felt, right there in the hand.

You wonder though, does it ever cross the minds of marketing at Pentax what their strategy says about them. If you worked in a camera shop that carried Nikon, Pentax, Canon, and Olympus do you think it would even be easy to recommend Pentax ? how many models are current with the other three, compared to Pentax ?.

Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of Pentax but lets be real, the model line up isnt exactly mouth watering alonside the others with stuff like the D5000/90 - 500D/50D etc.

Agree with above, it may have come out after the K200D, but it was never a replacement, not even reviews looked at it in that way, rather a lower down the entry level dslr (how I hate that term).

The cameras described as "entry level" can produce results every bit as good as those mega bucks above them.

I am currently using a Canon EOS 1000D which has an amazing kit lens, superb IQ and has IS into the bargain. There is a great story doing the rounds on the dpreview forum. Its about a guy who was doing the pics at wedding, when his top end Canon gave up the ghost. He borrowed a guests 1000D, and was astonished at the results,never looked on it as entry level again.