Any comparisons of 50-150/2.8S and 50-200/4-5.6OIS?

I've finally decided to pull the trigger on a NX1 bundle with the 16-50/2.8S lens. I'm a bit uncomfortable ordering it without any hands-on first, but I guess that's what Samsung gets if they don't get them in stores for people to try. Even our local Samsung store doesn't have any in stock!

If the camera passes the 14 day test and I decide it's a keeper, I'll be looking to add some telephoto ability. What I'd really like is high quality telephoto lens in as compact a package as possible. For those familiar with the world of Pentax, here's what my experience has been:

• DA55-300: Great range and size. However image quality was not as good as I'd hoped for (or what I'd been led to believe it was capable of) and the autofocus was dreadfully slow. Sold it off.
• DA50-200WR: Pretty much a smaller version of the DA55-300. Again, not a keeper for me for the same reasons as above.
• DA70/2.4Ltd: One of my favourite lenses ever in a super compact package. I sure wish there was an equivalent for the Samsung series. Great optics and fast to focus. Most of my telephoto work has been done with this.
• DA*50-135/2.8: Great lens (other than the SDM failing). I love it's optics and weather-sealing. It's decently fast at focussing. I feel a lens this big and heavy should have a tripod ring.
• DA*60-250/4: My favourite Pentax telephoto zoom. I'll trade the slower aperture for the longer range and tripod ring. Do wish it were a bit smaller and lighter though.

I think the current Samsung telephoto primes are too big for what I want in a prime so I'm overlooking them for now and hoping someday they make a short telephoto pancake since they seem to be quite adept at making pancake primes.

For now I'm considering the two zooms. I prefer the size and weight of the 50-200 if it's focussing, optical performance and OIS are close to the performance of the 50-150, but I just haven't had any luck finding any comparisons here or elsewhere on the web. Has anyone got any firsthand experience with both the telephoto zooms on the NX1 or else know of a webpage comparing the two? I'd appreciate you sharing your experiences or links. Thanks.

I have both the 16-50mm OIS and the 50-150mm OIS for my NX1. I don't have any experience with the 50-200mm, but someone had mentioned in an Amazon review that it did not work well in movie mode on the NX1. I also wanted a water resistant lens. The other choice was the 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OIS movie lens, which would have made a great all around lens. In the end I wanted something that was the best I could get, so I wouldn't have any regrets later. I also found a great deal on eBay for a used one for $1K.

I have both. And there's no comparison. There's a reason one is $300 and the other is $1500. And it's not just the 2.8 aperture. The 50-200 makes a nice light travel lens since it's fairly small and the IQ acceptable. I kept mine when I bought the 50-150 for that reason. But the 50-150 is in another league. It's no different than comparing the Nikon or Canon 70-200 2.8 with their 50-200 kit lens. Better IQ, better build quality, constant and faster aperture...

bpjod wrote:

I've finally decided to pull the trigger on a NX1 bundle with the 16-50/2.8S lens. I'm a bit uncomfortable ordering it without any hands-on first, but I guess that's what Samsung gets if they don't get them in stores for people to try. Even our local Samsung store doesn't have any in stock!

If the camera passes the 14 day test and I decide it's a keeper, I'll be looking to add some telephoto ability. What I'd really like is high quality telephoto lens in as compact a package as possible. For those familiar with the world of Pentax, here's what my experience has been:

• DA55-300: Great range and size. However image quality was not as good as I'd hoped for (or what I'd been led to believe it was capable of) and the autofocus was dreadfully slow. Sold it off.
• DA50-200WR: Pretty much a smaller version of the DA55-300. Again, not a keeper for me for the same reasons as above.
• DA70/2.4Ltd: One of my favourite lenses ever in a super compact package. I sure wish there was an equivalent for the Samsung series. Great optics and fast to focus. Most of my telephoto work has been done with this.
• DA*50-135/2.8: Great lens (other than the SDM failing). I love it's optics and weather-sealing. It's decently fast at focussing. I feel a lens this big and heavy should have a tripod ring.
• DA*60-250/4: My favourite Pentax telephoto zoom. I'll trade the slower aperture for the longer range and tripod ring. Do wish it were a bit smaller and lighter though.

I think the current Samsung telephoto primes are too big for what I want in a prime so I'm overlooking them for now and hoping someday they make a short telephoto pancake since they seem to be quite adept at making pancake primes.

For now I'm considering the two zooms. I prefer the size and weight of the 50-200 if it's focussing, optical performance and OIS are close to the performance of the 50-150, but I just haven't had any luck finding any comparisons here or elsewhere on the web. Has anyone got any firsthand experience with both the telephoto zooms on the NX1 or else know of a webpage comparing the two? I'd appreciate you sharing your experiences or links. Thanks.

You need to get the Samsung NX to K-mount adapter.  I only have the plastic fantastic DA 50 f/1.8 but it is really a good lens on the NX1.

My copy does not need to be stopped down at 50-150. From 150 to 200 main issue is a loss of contrast that can Always be fixed in LR. Anyway a faster aperture would have been welcome in the 50-100 zone. At 200 mm i found myself shooting over f6.3 For Field size reason (keep all the subject in the focus plane...).
On the other hand i have a small body (nx1100) so the 50-200 is already Too big without any faster aperture.

If you find a good copy is a good compromise between size, Price, reach and IQ. A keeper.
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http://samsungnxtips.blogspot.com

wpstl wrote:

I have both. And there's no comparison. There's a reason one is $300 and the other is $1500. And it's not just the 2.8 aperture. The 50-200 makes a nice light travel lens since it's fairly small and the IQ acceptable. I kept mine when I bought the 50-150 for that reason. But the 50-150 is in another league. It's no different than comparing the Nikon or Canon 70-200 2.8 with their 50-200 kit lens. Better IQ, better build quality, constant and faster aperture...

I also have both, and this is my experience exactly. I still have my NX30 and an NX1000 converted to full-spectrum (IR), and I still use my 50-200 with those cameras- but on my NX1 the difference in image quality is very noticeable. The 50-200 is simply not capable of bringing out the best in the NX1.

Thanks all. I've got my answer and it's pretty much what I expected. I'll get the 50-150/2.8S and continue to use the RX10 when compactness is of primary importance.