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Pentax 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 - recommended

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cheddargav

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Hello,

Another one of those "is this any good" threads, sorry!

BUT, a store in England is offering the Pentax 24-90mm f/3.5-4.5 FA AL [IF] for £299 reduced from £499 and as there is nowhere I can try it, I thought I'd ask here.

I must say, I haven't seen it mentioned much

Cheers,

--
I've over exposed myself in public too many times . . .
 
Missed out the ?
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I've over exposed myself in public too many times . . .
 
Really, I might have to take a look - 4.5 at the 90mm seems quite attractive, cheers

Any examples of it's performance? (or your skill with it!)
--
I've over exposed myself in public too many times . . .
 
I've got one and use it quite a lot. If I'm just wandering around and don't want a lens that's too big or I might be taking people shots I take the 24-90. If I know I'm going to need the widest possible angle I take the 16-45 which I think is optically a bit better than the 24-90.

I find it's a hard choice to make, which one to take.
 
*isteve said:
Yes this is my most used lens. The build seems a little flimsy (but
it works fine) but this does not detract from its optical quality
which is excellent. Its also light and very compact.
Click to expand...
hhmmm - it never strikes me as all that light or compact: it's about the same weight as a 16-45, if I remember right. But I completely agree about its qualities - you could get by for a long time with this lens and no other. 36-135 (35mm equiv) is a very useful range for walkabout-type shooting. If you want wider, just pop the 18-55 kit in as well (now that's really light). I have compared the 24-90 with the 16-45 at the same focal lengths, and it's just as good as far as I can detect.

(I'm off to India next month and the 24-90 will be my main lens for the trip. What else to take is a serious dilemma.)

--
tim
 
When I use the 24-90 (for convenience over primes) I also carry the 14mm f/2.8 to cover the wide stuff.

Nick
timo said:
timo said:
(I'm off to India next month and the 24-90 will be my main lens for
Click to expand...
the trip. What else to take is a serious dilemma.)

--
tim
Click to expand...
 
That Hotel Xenia... Was it place for sale, or is it actually in use or what? What a strange place. A modern antique building or how to put it.

Jonas
 
Hi Jonas,

it's actually a motel that was abandonned years ago and left there to rot. My cousin went there last year and there were merely 6 cars in the parking lot. The beach was totally free and quiet. When we returned this year in order to escape the frantic beaches of the village where we were staying, we had the surprise of finding at least 500 cars parked everywhere under the pine trees, litter and rubish everywhere, rows of umbrellas and beach bars covering the beach. And the motel is still roting there with nature claiming back its territory a little bit more every year. A very strange place indeed.

But I did really appreciate the architecture of the buildings, it reflects so well the function of being a seaside motel. Amazing.
A good spot for photography anyway.
Cheers
Francois
--
http://www.pbase.com/panchito/galleries
 
How does it compare ? I mean besides the extra reach of the pentax, and the tamron's wider opening. I am saving for the tamron but since i found out about the pentax 24-90, i don't know anymore. I know the pentax is more expensive but is it worth the extra cost ?

I'm shooting weddings every so often, and that's with that thought in mind i wanted the tamron.

How will the pentax perform in low light/ inside condition ? I am using an external flash anyway, but still wondering...

As you can tell, i can't decide! Any input appreciated.

Mike
 
mikerigel said:
How does it compare ? I mean besides the extra reach of the pentax,
and the tamron's wider opening. I am saving for the tamron but
since i found out about the pentax 24-90, i don't know anymore. I
know the pentax is more expensive but is it worth the extra cost ?
I'm shooting weddings every so often, and that's with that thought
in mind i wanted the tamron.
How will the pentax perform in low light/ inside condition ? I am
using an external flash anyway, but still wondering...

As you can tell, i can't decide! Any input appreciated.

Mike
Click to expand...
Mike, I wish I could give you an opinion but can only compare my new-ish FA24-90 to my Sigma 28-70/2.8 EX and I prefer the former. I have found the one stop average extra speed doesn't help the Sigma focus any better in low light and the slightly wider short end really makes the difference for a handy broad range. At 50mm at f/4 both lenses appear as sharp as each other in the centre (USAF target test) but f/2.8 on the Sigma does not meet my standards so I find worthless. That leaves the FA24-90 with a better focal range, smaller, light handling (but not as well made by a long shot) and good resolution and colour -- remember it was the perfromance standard lens introduced to pair with the semi-pro MZ-S when it was released.

The Tamron I have only handled not used and many people do like it a lot. From all reports it is a very capable lens but I would need convincing f/2.8 is good enough because if it isn't sharp enough then the extra speed is worthless.

90mm f/8



--
Brett



The Journey is the Thing
 
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