Pentax DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras by Pentax
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Digital camera reviews of Pentax DA 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras
Digital camera Review: Nice Walk Around Lens
Summary: 5 Stars
Being new to dSLRs, I decided to purchase this lens for my new K200D. It is a very nice walk around lens and I used it on a recent trip to the Smokies. I was able to take some excellent pictures using just this lens and the zoom telephoto allowed me to take a variety of picts of the same scenery using the same lens.
The only fault is that you have to remember to lock the lens when not in use. (There is a "lock" button on the lens) If you don't, the lens will extend to full length if you point it downward, like when you hang it around your neck or try to put it in a holster case.
Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the lens mounted on my K200D. Then again, since I use my camera for kostly landscape and scenery, and I am a newbee when it comes to dSLRs, take my comments for what they are, as someone very happy with his purchase.
Digital camera Review: Nice all-around lens
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good all-around lens: it's relatively fast (all depending on perspective, of course), exhibits good bokeh, and is of reasonable cost. It works well with the K10d. The only thing I object to performance-wise, is the amount of vignetting that is visible on some shots. It's more noticable if you are using a polarizing filter.
This lens is nearly identical to the Tamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras.
Digital camera Review: Not great, but not horrible
Summary: 3 Stars
At first glance the Pentax DA 18-250 looks beefy--and it is...in size that is. Performance wise it leaves a lot to be desired. First off the autofocus is very loud and slow as molasses. And trying to focus manually is even worse. The focus is way to sensitive for fine tuning. The lens also makes a grinding noise when focusing in manual mode.
But the biggest put off of all is the extreme vignetting (darkening) at the corners when zoomed all the way out. I didn't think that it would be this much of a problem when I read reviews about this lens.
About the only stellar feature this lens has is it's huge zoom range. assuming you are at a family picnic at noon on a sunny day and your backyard is as big as a football field, this lens is a good option, if you don't mind the dismal low light performance.
I am undecided if I want to keep this lens or not as a travel all-in-one super zoom, but using it indoors... I would definitely not even consider it.
Pros:
Excellent zoom range, almost unparalleled.
Decent focusing under adequate light.
Cons:
Really bad vignetting .
Zoom is not smooth to operate.
Focus is too touchy. Forget about fine tuning focus--it ain't gonna happen with this lens.
Focus makes grinding noise when in manual mode.
Lens is one stop slower at the extreme end than other lens with even longer focal lengths (I already knew this when I bought it but just something to keep in mind).
Just as a reminder, there has been lots of misinformation spreading around ***This lens does NOT have quick shift or macro capabilities!***
Digital camera Review: One stop shop(lens)
Summary: 3 Stars
The Good: Excellent lens. Excellent range.
The Bad: Feels a bit heavy but bet it simply needs getting used to. Then the lens will creep down if you forget to lock it (Only if you forget to lock it).
The Ugly: When getting a distant object in low light, the lens will always remind you to have bought a good flash first.
Recommend: Most Definitely + good service from Amazon
Digital camera Review: Pentax DA 18-250 Zoom
Summary: 4 Stars
There has been quite a few reviews written on this lens so I just wanted to add a few of my observations, now that I have owned this lens for a couple of months.
This lens is quite heavy. I did not actually weigh it but it is considerably heavier than the 18-55mm kit lens. After a while, i got used to it though.
I use the zoom lock almost always. 9 times out of 10 the lens will creep on me if I point it straight down.
It is noisier than the kit lens (when focusing). It's not objectionable but just noticeably louder.
It seems to be slower to focus compared to the kit lens. Maybe this is not a fair comparison as the focal lengths may not be equivalent.
At the recent Detroit Auto Show where I took a few hundred pictures, I ended up with a few blurred shots of marginally lit exhibits. This is something I do not remember happening last year with my kit lens. After I noticed it, I decided to use my flash which eliminated my problem.
Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed by this lens. The sharpness is great at any focal length even at full zoom. Just a little getting used to in marginal or low light situations. The amazing reach allows me to take pictures that were impossible to take before.