Waratah's reviews

  • Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC SMC DA WR

    7 out of 10 points and recommended
    Well built, fast focus, weather resistant
    Dissapointing shots

    I had visions of this lens being my day to day lens and saving the 50-135 for important shoots. Gotto say the images were never 'great', always ok but never great. After about 2 months I put my previous day to dya lens on for one special occasion (18-250) - and wow the photos of my kids at a school formal event were immediately noticeably better.

    When money got tight one lens had to go and a little reluctantly the 18-135 was sold.

    Maybe I had a bad copy, or maybe the 18-250 is a better than average copy but optically there was not comparison. My 18-250 is not far behind the great 50-135 in many conditions.

    reviewed June 22nd, 2013 (purchased for $550)

  • Pentax 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 ED AL IF SMC DA

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Versatile, pretty well built, great photos in right conditions
    Slow, not weather resistant

    I think I was blessed with a great copy of this lens. It produces shots damn near as good as the 50-135.

    Wish it was weather resistant.

    Fairly slow focus but that's less of an issue on the k5II than the k200d.

    Always feels better knowing this lens is available - whatever I'm shooting from models to landscapes - even if its buried deep in my pack sometimes.

    reviewed June 22nd, 2013

  • Pentax 50-135mm f/2.8 ED AL IF SDM SMC DA*

    9 out of 10 points and recommended
    Quality, handling, weather resistance, quick shift,
    SDM (always in the back of my mind),

    Helluva lens. From f3.5 and up has never let me down. Early I tried the 2.8 in unsuitable situation (hasty glamour shoots in nature etc) and was frequently underwhelmed but now I understand it better - its just brilliant.

    If Pentax ever need an idea for a new lens - combine the best of this lens with the best of the 18-135 and create a 30mm ish to 100-110mm ish constant aperture , WR, DC focus lens I'd be over the moon. Other than that I'll never be without this lens as main outdoor glamour lens.

    reviewed June 22nd, 2013 (purchased for $970)