Lenses for Pentax K-30 ?

[Ati]

As the Canon 70D looks as though it's going to be expensive & underwhelming, looking at other options. The Pentax K30 is highly praised for low light / high ISO, which is a major criterion for me. Plus of course other stuff (low body price leaving more €€€ for lenses, weather resistance etc.).
BUT, the Pentax lens choice seems to be... not unanimously praised. I'm thinking of the 18-135mm as a first pass kit lens. It is diversely praised, or shot down in flames.
Any thoughts on that particular lens, and on the larger lens issue for Pentax ?
I won't ever be doing 3'x4' fine art prints, but would like my A4 & A3 prints to be classy.
Thanks, Chris.

[Ati]

UPDATE :
Just been up to the local tech store to get a feel for the K30 : I loved the look and feel of it. The weight is right, the controls are in all the right places for thumb, index, and middle finger, with the 18-135 lens the balance felt ok, the viewfinder suitably large and luminous. By contrast, the 60D with the Canon 18-135 felt impossibly heavy and clunky (I haven't used anything except p&s or expert compact since 2000). Vast acres of sad, unused, desert, black plastic on the body where controls should be and aren't.
Now I really need some lens solutions for the K30 !

[CP140]

Hi Chris,

Like any company, Pentax makes a variety of good lenses, some OK lenses and some inexpensive mass market lenses.

There are good lenses out there...but they are fewer in number/variety than Canon/Nikon. Also, don't forget Sigma and Tamron. They too make lenses for Pentax K-mount.

FWIW, I'm very happy with my K-30. There is nothing wrong with the 18-135WR as long as you realize that as an all-in-one zoom, it is a compromise.

I'll send you a PM with some links that may be of interest to you.

[Black Pearl]

I got my K30 as a back-up/every-day camera as I can't always be bothered to hump the Nikon gear about. Its been with me every day for weeks now and I have to say I'm very impressed. Just the right weight, feels solid, it been soaked a few times and still works (fingers crossed) and the results are fantastic almost regardless of the iso used. The focus isn't the fastest I've come across but on a par with its competition. The exposure meter is a bit weird mind with a tendency to under expose quite often, can't get my head around what its doing but keeping an eye on the screen means I can correct easily.

I got it with the two 'kit' lenses 18-55mm WR & 55-200mm WR as there was a good deal for twin outfit. I was lucky enough to have a 50mm f1.7 knocking about the house that hasn't been on a camera for over ten years so I now have a perfect little little setup. It fits perfectly into a Billingham Hadley Pro which makes a nice day bag without screaming CAMERA.

Found a fascinating fact the other day - you can mount Pre Ai Nikon lenses on a Pentax body if you put them on upside down...I have a Nikkor-H 28mm f3.5 which I've used to great effect.

[MrB]

The 18-135 WR lens would be great for everyday use on the K-30 WR body and, particularly, for shooting in all conditions. It is well-built, compact, not too heavy, and has quiet, accurate focusing. It has a good focal range for fairly wide landscape to medium telephoto shots, and who would want to risk swapping lenses when rain is pouring down or wind is blowing up the dust. It produces good colours and contrast, and the sharpness/resolution across most of the frame is excellent. Criticisms are mostly directed at edge softness when wide open and/or at long focal lengths, but often this does not affect real-world shots - e.g. a person, animal, or flower photographed at 135mm is likely to be in the central part of the frame, and sharpness away from the edges is up there with the best lenses. So, in my opinion, the 18-135 would be a very good choice of lens to match up with the K-30 body.

Cheers.

Philip

[Ati]

Hi Chris,

FWIW, I'm very happy with my K-30. There is nothing wrong with the 18-135WR as long as you realize that as an all-in-one zoom, it is a compromise.

I'll send you a PM with some links that may be of interest to you.

Hi Martin, I really appreciate your time & trouble. Glad to know you like the K30. I'll answer your pm separately, I'm taking time to have a look at your great pics !.

[Ati]

Found a fascinating fact the other day - you can mount Pre Ai Nikon lenses on a Pentax body if you put them on upside down...I have a Nikkor-H 28mm f3.5 which I've used to great effect.

Hi Robin, thanks for your considered reply. Glad to know you like the K30 ! I'll check out the 2 lens combo you mention.
BTW... I have a couple of Nikon kit lenses hanging around from my old F70, but they're AF-D

Thanks, Chris.

[Ati]

The 18-135 WR lens would be great for everyday use on the K-30 WR body and, particularly, for shooting in all conditions. It is well-built, compact, not too heavy, and has quiet, accurate focusing. It has a good focal range for fairly wide landscape to medium telephoto shots, and who would want to risk swapping lenses when rain is pouring down or wind is blowing up the dust. It produces good colours and contrast, and the sharpness/resolution across most of the frame is excellent. Criticisms are mostly directed at edge softness when wide open and/or at long focal lengths, but often this does not affect real-world shots - e.g. a person, animal, or flower photographed at 135mm is likely to be in the central part of the frame, and sharpness away from the edges is up there with the best lenses. So, in my opinion, the 18-135 would be a very good choice of lens to match up with the K-30 body.

Cheers.

Philip

Hi Philip, thanks for your feedback and experience. I'm really happy that all feedback so far is positive ! (touches wood very hard....).

Just a random thought for all who've taken the time to read : I've checked out prices for the K30 + 18-135 at (a) my local tech / media store (b) Amazon.fr (c) my local specialist camera store. Guess which one is cheapest ? (c) is 100€ cheaper than (a), and 30€ cheaper than (b) ! It's a wonderful world.

Thanks, Chris.

[MrB]

Just a random thought for all who've taken the time to read : I've checked out prices for the K30 + 18-135 at (a) my local tech / media store (b) Amazon.fr (c) my local specialist camera store. Guess which one is cheapest ? (c) is 100€ cheaper than (a), and 30€ cheaper than (b) ! It's a wonderful world.
Thanks, Chris.

It's usually the same around here, Chris, as the local specialists (SRS) are just a few miles away. Support your local store!

Cheers.

Philip