Both the DA 16-45 and the DA 12-24 are far superior, particularly the latter. Paul On Feb 20, 2007, at 10:16 PM, Mark Cassino wrote:
> Hi Bong - Nice to see you back on the list. > > Can't help much with the lens decision - I'm thinking through the same > thing now. I find the Da 18-55 to be an adequate lens, but not on par > with other zooms like the FA 28-70 f4 AL or the FA 20-35 f4. And while > those are very good, they fall short of the best primes (eg a 50mm > f 1.7 > or 1.4). But... the 18-55 is better than all in the 18-27 mm range :-) > > My specific complaints about the Da 18-55 are chromatic aberrations in > the corners, and notable light dropoff (even at fairly small > apertures). > But for a <$100 lens - well, like they say a Popular Photography > "excellent performance for a lens of this class." > > I really only need this lens, or any lens in the focal range, for > wider > angles - I have better non-DA lenses for 28mm on. But the 17-28mm > fisheye distorsts too much to be good on a DSLR and too little to be a > fisheye, and my 14mm Sigma prime is (aside form being a monster in > size) > really prone to flare. So getting something at the wide end that is > good > and convenient and portable is a challenge. > > Keep us posted if you do get an upgrade. > > - MCC > > Bong Manayon wrote: >> Hello...I'm back after all these years. >> >> I got my istDS over a year ago and since I have an existing >> collection >> of lenses, I got it without the kit lens (18-55/3.5-5.6). Except for >> the fact that I don't have a wide angle with my DS (since all my >> 28mms >> became 42mms), I was quite happy with my setup. Opportunities that >> came my way (a couple of guys bought my 28mms--Pentax are rare in the >> Philippines even if some models are actually assembled here) left me >> without anything that approximates a wide lens for the DS (I shortest >> lens in my inventory now is a 35mm). Checking the net shows that the >> price of the DA 18-55 has dropped below $100 so the cheapskate in me >> sees a bargain. >> >> Or is it? >> >> Should I save up for the upcoming DA* 16-50/2.8? >> >> Or go for the Sigma 18-50/2.8 which is available now (over $300 >> last I checked)? >> >> Or maybe even stick with the Sigma 18-50/3.5-5.6 DC has always been >> around under $100? >> >> Bong >> > > > -- > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > Mark Cassino Photography > Kalamazoo, Michigan > www.markcassino.com > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
