Tamron's AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II lens was made available in the Spring of 2005 and designed exclusively for digital cameras with APS-C sensors. It was superceded the following year with the AF 18-250mm Di-II lens which was said to be an improvement on the 18-200.

The 18-250mm version was also released with a Pentax 'badge' and I understand JR's 'other half' uses one of these as do I and I find it works quite well at all focal lengths.

Recently Tamron have pushed the design further by increasing the telephoto end of its range to 270mm but I am not aware of a Pentax mount version of this incarnation of it yet.

An 18-200mm in the film era would surely have been quite exceptional?

John

I have found that the K-5 seems to have overcome the metering deficiency with K and M lenses experienced with previous models when stopped down and exposure metered via the green button. It seems a bit drastic to ruin an otherwise good lens by removing the aperture lever, you may live to regret it.

John

If you are thinking of using filters designed for monochrome film photography to take monochrome photos (such as a yellow filter to lighten skies or a green to lighten foliage) then these are available in camera when selecting the monochrome 'digital effect.'

As suggested a polarizing filter is good for increasing or decreasing reflections and darkening some skies. The neutral density filter has its uses but first see if using a low ISO setting and small aperture achieve what you want.

Other filters such as starbursts and variocross etc. offer special effects giving instant feedback of the end result though something similar may be achievable in post processing. I think getting a good end product straight out of the camera often beats trickery pokery in PP!

John

I quite liked the 40mm M lens for my film camera as a general purpose lens. It was a frequent focal length choice for many of its contemporary compact cameras too before they started to acquire zooms (eg the Olympus 35RC that I had.)

Therefore my ideal DA prime lens for the APS-C sensor would have to be a 28mm, but it doesn't exist! I have a 28mm A lens which is great with the digital bodies and an FA version is available too but they are only f2.8.

I have a DA35 macro and that is a truly outstanding lens.

I think he means its got plenty of funky green and purple colour fringing built in!

John

Mine's the same, 3 bars to the left. I don't really see the point in incorporating an electronic aid that isn't anything near accurate. Perhaps a software update is needed to add an adjustment setting to correct this error, or if that really is not possible then ditch the idea of including it altogether. It isn't any help at all.


John

I hadn't realised how poor the bodies of the opposition were now by comparison. Plus a Pentax 18-55 would surely have outshone the three tested. I know my Pentax 18-55 that came with the K100 compared very favourably to an 18-55 on an EOS300 (I've never tried the Nikon version.)

But hardly a good test shooting from a vibrating helicopter through perspex. I think they could have done much better. No mention of shake reduction systems, ASA range, in fact nothing really.

Sorry Gadg show, only 1G for the review. Their online poll doesn't even allow for votes for other DSLRs which might have given the producers some indication of the validity of their test.

Some prospective purchasers may take that review seriously and not buy what would be best for themselves. And perhaps we're biased, but Oh dear!

John

Our local paper indicates that DSLRs will be tested on the programme tonight. I wonder if Pentax will get a mention?

John

Thank you all for your replies tonight.

Regards,

John

Thanks, yes I can see that would be an issue. I was thinking they'd be fully open by default like the older lenses. I guess lenses like the 100mm DFA Macro which has an aperture ring would work normally by setting the aperture just the same as an M lens or would something still not be quite right?! Perhaps the only way is to try buy I'd hate to get a new lens stuck on an old body.

John