Re: Zoom for ist-D and RTF
Thanks, Joe and Jim, for your feedback on my inquery. In the end, I opted for the 20-35mm as both of you suggested. I'm not sure what the going rate is, but I was personally content to pay under $400. As desired, it gives me the compact walk-around lens that I needed for the ist-D, with the built-in flash compatibility that the 16-45mm (which I'll certainly be keeping) lacks. I think it will complement the 50mm nicely. While the 20-35mm doesn't get me any wider with the ist-D, it'll be my widest lens on the MZ-S. So, it also gives me incentive this summer to dust off my only 35mm body left (inactive for over a year) and see if that slide film in the refrigerator is still any good. Thanks again. - Jerome
Zoom for ist-D and RTF
Hello, All. Recently, with so many weddings, birthdays, and graduates of late, I've been using my ist-D moreso for snapshots than for anything else. In doing so, I've tried to travel light, using the DA 16-45mm lens more often than not. The trouble comes in when I try to use the built-in flash: not enough flash coverage. That is, the flash can't make it over the lens barrel, and so I get those horrid lens shadows that I'm guessing we've all seen before. From there I either end up switching to the 50mm 1.7, or mounting a flash. The 50mm is a nice lens but really isn't the right angle as an all-the-time-lens on the ist-D (for my usage, anyway). And the shoe mount flash makes me look crazy at casual outtings [it defeats the whole point of the ist-D being small]. So here's the question... What are my options if I want to stick with an inexpensive but decent zoom for casual snapshots for which the ist-D actually has sufficient RTF coverage? More spefically, would the FA 18-35 fit the bill? How about the DA 18-55? The bottom line is that I want the option of using the full range of the lens WITH built-in flash. And while we're on the topic, do these two lenses absolutely stink, or would you dub them as reasonable for snapshots from your personal experience? I guess a shorter prime is also an option... but that would cost significantly more than I'd want to pay for snapshots. Thanks in advance for your input. - Jerome _ Jerome D. Coombs-Reyes, Ph.D. Norfolk State University, Math Dept. http://math.nsu.edu/Math/faculty/jreyes/jreyes.htm http://exposedfilm.net
Re: Zoom for ist-D and RTF
I believe that the DA 18-55 is fully compatible with the rtf. But hang on to that DA 16-45 for times when image quality matters. An alternative would be the FA 20-35 f4. Less zoom range, but superb image quality -- even slightly better than the DA 16-45. Joe
Zoom for ist-D and RTF
Your best bet is probably the DA 18-55, as it is really inexpensive and gives a 35mm equivalent FL of 27mm. I have used the inexpensive Sigma 24-70 f3.5-5.6 HF zoom (ca. $130) for this situation and it works just fine. Its quality is a lot higher than the price would lead you to expect, its light, and it doesn't vignette the onboard flash. The only drawback is that it only delivers a 35mm FL equivalent of 36mm. Another possibility is the Pentax FA 20-35mm F3.5-4.5 zoom, but it costs a lot more. No vignetting, and it delivers a 30mm equivalent FL. Regards, Jim
