Hello,
I faced a similar dilemma recently in my desire to
supplement my primes with one decent consumer-level
zoom, for point & shoot purposes - the kind of
shooting I do with an Olympus Stylus (I know, apples
and oranges...). [Search for topics "A primes guy
seeks advice on a zoom" and "Tokina 28-80mm f/2.8 ATX
Pro and 28-70mm f/2.6-2.8 ATX Pro-II" in the find
window of the archives.] I have considered two fast
Tokinas - a 28-70 and a 28-80 - as well as the various
slower Pentax zooms (28-70/f4, 28-80, the two 28-105s,
and the forthcoming 24-90). If you can wait, I would
definitely lean toward the 24-90 based on speculation
and a little hearsay.
Myself, I happened across the site for Focus Camera
(focuscamera.com), where the older, heavier black FA
powerzoom 28-105 was selling for $255 - that's $100
below B&H. I just ordered it - model 27667. (Note,
there are TWO different Pentax 28-105s. Look here:
"http://www.pentax.com/products/lenses/lense_model.cfm?&lenseType=35mm&lenseSeries=FA&lenseModel=FA%2DZoom";
The older one, model 27667, has gotten great reviews,
but is large and heavy and has power zoom, which your
camera doesn't support. The newer, silver one, model
27678, is cheaper and lighter but optically not
reviewed as well.)
This $255 deal at Focus is still going while
supplies last. See here:
"http://focuscamera.com/cgi-local/frameph2.pl/%3Dpsl%3D12195132";
or use the links SLR SYSTEMS, and then click the
PENTAX logo. Dumb site overall.
Anyway, this seems like a great deal to me, based on
the lens's reputation. I will say that you might
consider whether you want something this large and
heavy for your camera and your particular needs. The
only way I can imagine that it is this cheap is that
they are trying to move some old stock with the
immanent arrival of the 24-90 - or they just plain
screwed-up and will send me the wrong one. We'll see.
My advice is to go the way I went, or if you can
afford $500 and can wait just a little while (adorama
and B&H may already have them, actually) for the 24-90
- go for it. If you really need the 2.8 speed, though
- that really changes the whole argument.
Incidentally, I don't know if I trust these Focus
guys. These bottom-dollar NYC dealers are scary. I
can recommend B&H, Adorama, Cameraworld, and KEH,
though.
Good luck!
Chaso
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