| Reviews : Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras |
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens for Pentax and Samsung Digital SLR Cameras Product By Pentax Available From 15 Sellers |
Technical Details
- Box Content - smc Pentax DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II (21717), Lens Hood PH-RBA 52mm (38759), Lens Cap O-LC52 52mm (31522), and Rear Lens Cap B (31006)
- Ideal zoom focal range for a wide range of shooting applications
- Improved resolution to match with high-resolution sensors
- Pentax SP coating protects the exposed lens elements
- Aspherical elements compensate for spherical aberration
Product Description
The smc P-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II is the ideal zoom lens for a wide range of shooting applications, covering a wide to moderate wide-angle. This lens has improved resolution to match with high-resolution sensors and Pentax SP coating, which protects the exposed lens elements. Developed specifically for Pentax digital SLRs, the DA 18-55mm II has aspherical elements to compensate for spherical aberration, and a focal length equivalent to 27mm to 82.5mm in the 35mm format. Focal length equivalent to 27mm to 82.5mm in the 35mm format Minimum Aperture - F22-38 Lens Construction - 11 elements in 8 groups Angle of View - 76-29 degrees with Pentax Digital SLRs Minimum Focusing Distance - 0.82' (0.25m) Diaphragm Control - Fully Automatic Maximum Diameter x Minimum Length - 2.7 x 2.7 (68.0 x 67.5mm) Weight - 7.8 ounces (220 grams) without hoodSimilar Products
Customer Reviews
By Rc Novice
I got this lens in a kit w/ a K20D body (excellent overall camera). After looking at the positive reviews here I had to do a double-take, to see if we were talking about the same lens (we were) and the next question was, if, as some reviewers noted, this is an improvement over a previous model, I don't think I'd want to use the original.
Don't get me wrong, the lens is not bad. Construction quality is good and it works well with the K20D. The biggest problem I have with it is at short focal distances 18-24mm I can clearly see (and I am not a pro by any stretch of the definition) the problems with image quality:
1) Distortion (images start looking fish-eyed)
2) Vignetting
3) Chromatic aberration
Now, there are two pieces of good news: (1) these effects almost completely disappear at 24mm and up (2) at shorter focal distances raw processing software can deal with these problems to some extent (I use Bibble, YMMV). At 24+mm this lense is EXCELLENT and overall a good value. So the drawback is that now any time I take a picture with it I have to weigh the advantage of a wider angle vs. the guaranteed distortion and other problems I will have to deal with in post-processing.
By Aldo R. Perez (Pittsburgh)
I got the Pentax K2000 Camera that comes with the cheap version of the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL. I say cheap because it uses the same glass but with a cheaper construction. Plastic mount, no lens hood and no "Quick-Shift Focus System".
Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II upgrades in the following areas:
1) Better overall construction, metal mount
2) Hood is included
3) "Quick-Shift Focus System" and focus measurements on the focus ring
4) Less Vignetting compared to Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL
5) Sharper on and boders compared to the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL on my Pentax K2000
In this version II of the lens it is very similar to the old Pentax 16-45mm f/4.0 SMC PDA ED AL lens in image quality.
Problems is still has
1) Has the very same Distortions as the Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL common to zoom lenses.
2) Same speed (f/ stops) across the lens
3) Same 18 - 55mm short zoom range
So the question becomes, is it worth the money? I got it for $90.00 so to me it was a decent price and a decent upgrade.
The question you have to ask yourself if weather you would be better served by some of the new standard zoom lenses that go from 18-200 mm and have the same lens speed when at the same focal length as the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II. They will cost more, be heavier but could do dual duty as a zoom lens in adition to standard lens.
I gave it only 4 stars because the larger 3.5 aperture is still too small for low light pictures and the zoom range too short to get really close to anything you would consider far away.
In the end I find the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II a good buy. It is small, light and is nice to walk around. What it does it does well, it just might not do enough for some.
Update: After careful comparison between the Pentax DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL and Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II Lens the difference between to two seems bigger.
at 18mm F/3.5: The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II has more contrast, sharpness, especially on the corners, but it is still soft. At F/5.6 both lenses improve in sharpness but the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II stays ahead. At F/8 both are almost equally sharp at but the The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II still has sharper corners. The The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II clearly has less Vignetting at all apertures at 18mm.
at 35mm F/4.5: The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II has more contrast, sharpness, especially on the corners. At F/5.6 both lenses improve in sharpness but the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II stays ahead. At F/8 the The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II is almost in a virtual tie with the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL, the closest I find both lenses to each other and the sweet spot for both lenses. The The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II clearly has less Vignetting at F/4.5-6.3 apertures at 35mm.
at 55mm F/5.6.5: The Pentax L DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL is soft. On the other hand the the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II is sharper and has a nicer bokeh (out-of-focus blur). At F/8 the The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II clearly has a sharper and brighter image. The The Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II clearly has less corner Vignetting at all apertures at 55mm.
From my testing it is clear the Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II is the superior lens.
By Carol A. Waldvogel (Yalaha, Florida)
I wasn't very happy with the quality of the 18-55mm kit lens, but I did like the focal range. The newer, upgrade of the 18-55mm is a bit sharper...not the excellent quality of the DA 50-135, but it will be great for family snapshots! Glad I decided to get it.
By Leland W. Mark
I bought this lens as a cheap auto focus for my K20D when I went to China. the quality is great and from what I've seen the lens is fairly sharp, without much chromatic aberration. The only complaint I've had with it is that the auto focus doesn't work well in areas that it considers dark, which aren't very dark at all. Overall though I'd say that this lens is worth the money if you are looking for a wider lens with good lens characteristics.
By janorkar
I was looking for a decent wide angle lens and had read about the AL I version of this lens. Upon researching more I figured out this version (AL II) of the 18-55 lens doesn't have the issues of previous 18-55 AL I. I was about to buy a Pentax SMC A 28mm or a manual Pentax 28 mm lens. The 18-55 AL II lens has very low distortion,practically no PF and the "light fall off at the edges" problems with 18-55 AL I have been fixed.
I waited nearly 1 month for the right price on Amazon and boy did I get a deal...at only USD 69.99 a brand new copy of this lens is just the perfect icing on the cake!!
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