Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

There aren't many in this range made expressly for the line by the camera manufacturer, are there? Does this one cut the mustard, do you think? … Do you have it? … Do you use it? … Or, not so much, anymore?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

It came out at about the same time as Tamron's 16-270 and most reviews showed the Pentax to be superior.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, really, S? … Funny!!! … I thought it was the same lens - as the Tamron 18-270. So, how could that be?

Largobob

Hey Chris T.....are you trolling again?

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Made for Pentax by Tamron. It is a "contract lens", made with (probably) some modification to glass or coatings to suit the Pentax specifications, so while basically the same, it could be slightly better. This is pretty common in the lens world. Tamron and Sigma both make "contract" lenses for Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Canon and others, usually very similar, but with minor stated "improvement". I have seen this first hand disassembling lenses.

DHooch

I purchased the Pentax 18-270 zoom lens with my Pentax K5-II body. So, this was my first lens for that camera. I have since purchased two more lenses. I find the lens to be very nice, although I wish it was weather resistant, like my other lenses. The auto-focus mechanism is slightly different from some of the other Pentax lenses out there and, hence, is a little slower and noisier, albeit not by much. For its zoom range, it is pretty compact. Its weight is about average for its size.

It may have been manufactured by someone other than Pentax, but, it has the quality and focus/zoom rings working directions of all the older Pentax lenses I have owned over the years. That makes a difference to me because I am used to manually turning lens aperture, focus and zoom rings in certain directions, so I don't have to think about which lens I'm using at the time.

If you can get a good price for the Pentax lens (or any lens you want, for that matter) buy it.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Mike - if it WERE the same lens - then wouldn't the specs be the same? … How could it be the same one if it's better? … I don't get that. How could Tamron (or, Pentax) make it better - if it were the same lens???

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

NO! … But, I see YOU ARE, Bob!!!!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

I've seen it for $595, D - no idea whether that's a good price or not, till I know more about it. If it IS the Tamron lens - rebranded for Pentax - which currently sells for approximately $300 - then it's quite clearly not a good price. But, if the improvements Pentax made to it - are significant - which I hope this post will hope to make clear - eventually - then, perhaps it's worth twice the money. If you're happy with it, D - that's really all that matters. And, yes - it would be nice if it were WR - like most Pentax glass. I agree!

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

My simple answer (having been in the "build to print/build to spec" world for a long time - decades) is that a lot of the parts and mechanics are the same, or nearly the same, the electronics/boards/connection/mountings and such would have to be attuned to the electronics/boards/connections and mountings of a specific body/brand, as would flange distance and mechanism shape/style.

They might specify a different focus motor, (although they often sound the same/look the same, diff P/N for diff. buyer, etc.), and very often a different coating on a particular lens element. They could even modify the lens groupings slightly, a long as it doesn't require a physical change to the structure of the lens, and the paint job, markings, rubber and such could easily be different.

We all know that the actual short/long mm listing for lenses is often fudged, so the builder could be using very similar tubes/gears/sliders/guides and such in several lenses of close length, along with very similar glass, and who ever contracted the lens could call it whatever they want.

These are all very common practices in the electronics world (or others for that matter), which is why you often find similar boards and components in different brand radios/TVs/computers, etc. etc. They may not be primary manufacturers that are in any way related, other than going to the same suppliers for certain parts. Easy example, think of all the camera and phone companies that use Sony "contract" sensors.

I will see if I can get schematics for the two lens variations; Tamron 18-270 and Pentax 18-270, from same build time frame, and post a pic or link. I don't know if either company will verify, but I have seen on Pentax forums admissions of sameness.

tdekany Loc: Oregon

You are the one trolling. Sounds like you don’t have the slightest idea what a forum is for. Lol!!! How silly some people are.

Kingman

Pentax/Ricoh currently uses Tamron's FF 15-30mm/f2.8 and 24-70mm/f2.8 as the basis of the corresponding Pentax labeled DFA versions of these lenses. Also the cropped DA18-250 and DA18-270 Pentax lenses are derived from the Tamron designs. I have the Pentax DA18-250 and while it's certainly is soft at the higher end of the zoom range, it serves as a decent all purpose compact walk around piece of glass when optimal sharpness and low light levels are not paramount. I currently prefer fixed Pentax primes FA31mm/1.8 Limited and FA77mm/1.8 Limited on my cropped Pentax K3 and the DFA 24-70/2.8 and the DFA70-200* on my FF Pentax K1 bodies.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Hey, now, Mike - that'd be GREAAAAAAT - as Tony the Tiger once said.

Yes, it seems to me - quite obviously - they HAVE to be the same lens - kinda like that 18-250 Sony - which Tamron also used to make - and which you indicated - is also the Sigma 18-250 OS HSM Macro - with slight modifications. But, that one's not quite so obvious - whereas - THIS one - IS!!!!

If they turn out to be, as I suspect - then, the next thing is to figure out - if and why the specs are diff.

Money-wise - one - the Pentax - is twice as much as the Tamron - currently, but that could change.

You never know - huh?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Thanks for noticing that, Tom …

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

There you are, yasee … OleMikey and I were discussing that, earlier. Yes, Tamron used to make an 18-250 - which Pentax also had. But, then - when Tamron dropped it and went to the 18-270 - concurrently - Pentax released THIS one. So, if Mike is right - that Tamron makes most of the glass for Pentax, Sony and Nikon - then - this lens, clearly - is the same one! …

Those are - most certainly - great primes, to use on your K-3, Kingman … a couple of decent zooms, there, too … so, how is the K-1 working out for you? … Pining to go to the K-1 II, yet - or no?