hi new guy here intending to go for k10d, a few queries

[Equatorer]

i agree with u, i should not be over-ambitious b4 i actually try it..
so postpone the prime first.
tamron 24-135 seems to be a really good travel lens, although a bit compromise in wideangle.
or simply double kit? price comparable

for macro and portrait, already decided on sp90, but no hurry now.

 

[fengwei]

If at all possible, look for a two-zoom lens solution. An all-in-one 10x zoom lens comes with a lot of compromises - it all boils down to how much you are willing to sacrifice image quality for convenience.

Basing on your interests it seems a two-zooms and one prime/macro is what you're looking for.

Or three prime solution: DA14/2.8, FA50/1.4 and FA200/2.8 These three will serve me well if I'm out traveling, or shoot in the city

 

[fengwei]

i agree with u, i should not be over-ambitious b4 i actually try it..
so postpone the prime first.
tamron 24-135 seems to be a really good travel lens, although a bit compromise in wideangle.
or simply double kit? price comparable

for macro and portrait, already decided on sp90, but no hurry now.

My suggestion is to go and get the camera plus the kit lens, and a DA50-200, you are set for a good start.

 

[drakon09]

i agree with u, i should not be over-ambitious b4 i actually try it..
so postpone the prime first.
tamron 24-135 seems to be a really good travel lens, although a bit compromise in wideangle.
or simply double kit? price comparable

for macro and portrait, already decided on sp90, but no hurry now.

Allow me to put things into perspective - the higher the zoom ratio, the greater the optical compromises. Optically, a 18-70mm and a 70-300mm will perform a lot better than an 18-250mm. If you are on a budget, then stick to the dual-kit.

Fast lenses are very expensive - you need to consider them as investments.

 

[night86mare]

My suggestion is to go and get the camera plus the kit lens, and a DA50-200, you are set for a good start.

Actually if absolute sharpness is not a key factor,

My suggestion is get kit + 70-300mm from Sigma or Tamron (if you can find though lol)

Why?

You can try macro as well.

I don't know, to me the kit lens is fantastic, possibly because I haven't used anything very expensive before, but a sharp copy is quite solid, very nice colours, very light, very versatile. And of course I only used kit lens for all my shots for quite some time haha

 

[Equatorer]

is it necessary to do a little upgrade of kit lens to da16-45?

 

[istDeS]

Not necessary to upgrade to DA16-45 unless you have spare cash. The camera plus the kit lens, and a DA50-200 is a good start and maybe later you can consider to add a FA50mm f/1.4 for low light photography. The suggested here are value for money and no need to dig deep into your pocket also.

So we gonna see another new pentaxian soon?

 

[Equatorer]

k thx thats what i think oso.
and thinking of replace 50-200 with tamron 70-300

 

[the mac 13]

k thx thats what i think oso.
and thinking of replace 50-200 with tamron 70-300

It is hard to find the Tamron here in Singapore unless you order. However, the sigma equivelent is almost everywhere.

 

[Erenon]

Which is sad as the Tamron (di LD macro) is a good little lens that covers a nice range of situations.. a little soft near the top end, but good at between 150-230. The close up is useful too.

SOmeone commented that its a good training lens.

Ditto for the kit lens btw. Don't knock it. I've been thinking of replacing my kit lens (a sigma 18-55... bought cam in australia) with the sigma 18-50 f2.8, but realised that i still can't justify it to myself.

BTW buying online is a really good option to consider.

 

[Equatorer]

starting my serious photog... prefer a virgin camera lol
will consider of course,if the price is very attractive.
still a university student,looking for source of income..if can find some private tuition or stable part-time job then immediately go CP alr.

 

[dnaxe]

He need a little more patience to flip thru pagessss of the trading forum to find Pentax stuff on trading.

Do an advanced search.

 

[dnaxe]

I would just buy the camera with the DA 18-55. After that you'll have a better idea of what is important to you.

 

[creampuff]

Don't underestimate the kit lens, it may not have that wide a focal length range but a lot of people find that the 18mm end makes for a useful wideangle (27mm in 35mm film equivalent). I think it's quality is better than similar kit lenses by Canon or Nikon and you can use it for IR as well.

 

[Equatorer]

do u all change lenses when travelling? is the convenience and dust a big problem?
if very troublesome to change, think i better start with 17-70 or 18-125

 

[dnaxe]

do u all change lenses when travelling? is the convenience and dust a big problem?
if very troublesome to change, think i better start with 17-70 or 18-125

Yes I change, and it can be a real PITA.

However, I generally change between a 50/1.4 (sharper) and my kit. My 70-300 generally gets less use - unless i'm sitting in a car and taking pictures out of it.

So - I'm going to get a 16-50

 

[creampuff]

Jeez, what is so difficult about changing lenses??? Interchangeable lenses is the key benefit of the single lens reflex camera design. Practice and you can do it in seconds. Of course with DSLRs, you need to switch off the camera first.

Just align the red dots of the lens mounting marks to the bayonet mount and turn. To remove the lens, just press the lens release button and turn in the opposite direction. Pretty simple.
In the past, with my Minolta or Nikon cameras I could change lenses in almost complete darkness with the help of the plastic dot on the lens barrel or AI-S index metal guide. The older Pentax M and A lenses have this plastic white piece on the lens barrel as well.

Worried about misplacing your rear lens caps? Here's a tip that some pros use. They basically glue end to end 2 rear lens caps. That way when they remove the lens from the camera, they can quickly change to the next lens and know that the other is capped.

 

[fengwei]

do u all change lenses when travelling? is the convenience and dust a big problem?
if very troublesome to change, think i better start with 17-70 or 18-125

Yes, I do. It's not a big deal whence you get used to it. Just be a little bit careful, the camera would be fine. But for travel, of course I normally only bring two lenses, a wide zoom and a tele lens. The wide zoom lens stays on the camera most time, I only use the tele when I think it'd help to get a better photo. Sometimes I do bring a fast normal lens if I foresee I'd shoot in the dark (street)

It's an SLR camera, don't be afraid of changing lenses. But if you really do, just get a mag zoom lens like Sigma 18125 or 18200, or even the Tamron 18250, you'd have a camera that is better than any prosumer level DC (provided you know how to use the cam ) with a mag zoom lens for all purpose

Cheers!

 

[dnaxe]

Jeez, what is so difficult about changing lenses??? Interchangeable lenses is the key benefit of the single lens reflex camera design. Practice and you can do it in seconds.

No, it's not a key benefit. That's marketing spin.

It's at best a necessary evil, because size/weight/cost of something like a 18-300/2.8 would be ridiculous with present technology.

Being able to do it in seconds is not the same as having it on the camera.

It's not difficult, but it's definitely inconvenient, and is something to be completely avoided in hostile situations (for example, in any situation where weatherproofing is put to the test).

 

[Erenon]

I think its a benefit dnaxe. Like you said, a 18-300/2.8 (with good optics) would be rediculous, both in size, weight and cost.
being able to change lenses is the compromise we live with. Seriously Equatoror, if changing lenses is such a bother to you, you should consider an EVF instead.

that said some photo journos carry two camera's, one with a wide angle (or standard) and one with a tele so they never miss a shot.

I currently have three lenses, my kit 18-55 f3.5-5.6 sigma, tamron di ld macro 70-300 that i picked up first hand for a song (last one before the di2 showed up) and a 50mm SMC-A f1.7, which is a superb prime lens that i bought second hand at a very reasonable price. It has no auto-focus, but i can meter through it.