hmmmm, have to check my shots in lightroom to see how often I use 18mm but I have a sneaking suspiscion I use it a lot.

24-135 might be not short enough perhaps. any samples someone can point to of this lens?

I had considered the 18-250. it scores well, but it isn't WR and it doesn't have quick shift.

I've gotten used to it on my 18-55, especially when my DA L 55-300 hunts like billyo in comparison.

however, I am pragmatic. and money talks.

the sigma 18-125 sounds quite nice as an alternative to the 18-135 and I'll remain open to getting what I can.

basically I have a 18-55 WR up for grabs and I can use the money to leverage a 18-135 or 125 into my collection.

well I don't have it yet, but I intend to use the DA21mm Ltd lens for that. I did consider the 15mm DA ltd, but I can't justify the £200+ more that this costs over the 21mm.

What I think I'll need, vs what I'll probably end up with.

love my K30, and the more I use it, the more I am developing an appreciation for different lenses for different tasks. At the same time I'm also loath to have lots of lenses. I don't intend humping a massive around filled with lenses I will occasionally use.

I tend to roam a lot with a camera, so I envisage a 'go to' workaday lens, supplemented by specifics for certain things.

I currently have only the original kit lenses of 18-55 WR and a DAL ED 55-300 with a teleplus 1.7x PZ-AF TC to extend the reach of my 300.

what I have discovered is while I have 18-300 covered and then the TC gives me extra throw for airshows. the 18-55 for me, whilst a good lens with quickshift, doesn't cover enough range. I feel the 18-135 or even the 18-250 is a much better choice for a general all rounder. but I prefer the Weather resistant aspect of the 18-135.

So where I see myself heading is

18-135 WR as my 'go to' lens.
Sigma 50-500 for my airshow stuff
DA21mm limited for wandering around town shooting architecture and wide landscapes when I'm out and about in the countryside.

when I go to Japan later next year I see me carrying just the 18-135, the 21mm DA and the TC. I do not want to be lugging a huge lens around on holiday. The TC will give me a bit of extra range without having to carry two big lenses.

well apart from cropping, I didn't do any post on these. I just wanted to see what the lens and TC combo could manage and it's pretty good. Like I say, it was a gloomy day and in post I would definitely diddle these to make it brighter.

the building tower blew me away with how well I caught the roof detail and the windows etc. it would also seem I've got a pretty good example of the actual lens because even out to the edges it's nice and sharp.

second round. went to Saltaire yesterday. gloomier day so more challenging. ISO was 400-800.

ran a higher F number 9-11 mainly. Cricket was on so used that as a test for something moving and got my little un to run at the birds to make them fly. Overall, i'm very impressed with the reach the Teleconverter has given me, plus I at least know I can hold a camera steady enough to get a good shot wide open at 750mm! so if/when I ever get a bigma I know I should be able to cope with it.



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concur with the above.

I was in Harrogate today pootling with the TC today and my none quick shift 55-300.

wide open, it can hunt but not always, sometimes it focused instantly. there are certainly some peculiarities to this lens and TC combination which will take some getting used to. in nice bright weather, the Fstop stayed low which helped a lot. Got some nice shots today and I was quite impressed with the macro shooting on some flowers from across the street.

handheld I was okay, just got to get used to really steadying myself. I'm sure using my shoulder mount will help.

ideally of course I would do better with the DA version of this lens (I have the DA L) but it wasn't bad for first time out. just going to need to practise more. All of these photos are fresh from the camera. no post at all beyond a tiny amount of cropping in some cases.



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got a third party one. no way I'm paying £40+ for a lens hood

having looked at my duxford photos again, I've come to the conclusion that I didn't help myself when I was shooting towards the sun and had no hood on my lens.

my DA L 55-300 never came with a hood when I bought it (white box item off ebay) so what kind of hood should I get?

a straight circular one? or a petal type? or even a rubber collapsible 3 position type?

yeah, its me then. I'll be wide open and pointing it at the planes coming in and it hunts. so I come out a bit, re-acquire and et voila. fine.

poor technique from me then basically.