lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I'm not posting this in the gallery area since I really want an opinion on the lens not the image per se. I got lazy today and brought out my Pentax DA f/3.5-5.6 18-55mm Zoon "kit" lens that I got with a used camera purchase. I think it cost about $200 when new, but it is light in weight. I also have a $750 Pentax DA* f/2.8 16-50mm Zoom that I know is pretty nice. But usually I shoot with prime lenses anyway.

But I was shooting some non-critical documentary images of some construction in my yard and got tempted by a Dandelion-like flower "pod". Anyway, this was shot hand-held and Av, and gulp, I actually used autofocus. I believe f/8, 1/2000, ISO 200, at "Macro" on lens. Believe me I usually use a tripod and prime macro lens.

But does this seem like I have a pretty good "kit" lens anyway. I hear so many people complain about "kit" lenses. (And some of the images I've seen are horrible form an optics stand point, and some are fine.) Hope you can read DNG files or I'll have to go and make a TIFF. TIFF was too large, would not post. So here is a JPG.

Hand-Held Kit Lens, Shallow DoF, But is the focus point the white "dandelion" OK for a cheap lens?
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JPL

If it delivers good pictures then it is a decent kit lens.

I can not say that the pic you have provided is a good one. But it is not possible to tell if that is because of the lens or something else.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

You seemed to have written before I had an image up. Were you able to read the DNG file. It did not show on screen at my end and neither did a TIFF. Error message, to large! WB shifted M or R a bit. I did not fiddle with it much in ACR or Ps much at all. But then I was asking about sharpness. Main issues hand-held (a no no in my book) and the lens itself.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

No desire to start a Pentax vs the rest war but the quality of results than can be achieved with basic Pentax gear is amazing. You have done no more than prove it my man.
Good basic lenses and practically indestructible bodies possibly held back by lack of promotion.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Yes, Ricoh Pentax does not promote it self enough. Look at the DxOMark rating for my older original K-5, they rate it at 82. People can research themselves to see that that is higher than some FF models to say nothing of APS-C Cropped sensor sized cameras. I also was a bit surprised to see what some of the highest of all rated cameras were, this would start an argument. Sure they are mostly FF, but not all the brands or models you might expect! :hunf:

Actually, what I posted is not bad for a hand-held. When I'm taking a serious shot I use a tripod, macro lens, cable release. That was just a grab shot and I wondered what others thought as it was a kit lens. It is certainly not my best composition. 8-)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Having blown it up to have the image more than fill my 27" 2560x1440 monitor it is sharp, very shallow depth of field (what else could you expect) but certainly acceptable sharpness in the dof. And a fairly large herd of insects and other small life on the plants.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

with any piece of photo equipment , results may vary from user to user. run your own test and see how you feel about the results.