I've never used the kit lens... motorcycle travel and photography

steve_t.1 · January 3, 2009

Hi All,

A couple summers ago I bought the K100D Super. At about the same instant, I bought the Tamron 18-250 zoom, installed it on the camera, and that's where it has lived ever since. The kit lens (18-55mm) has never seen service, other than the first afternoon of ownership when I was just goofing with the camera. (Erased all those shots that day, none meant as keepers.)

So I've been building my new K20D kit (body only, added a FA50mm f1.4, Tamron 90mm macro, Sigma 18-50 f2.8, and putting the Tamron 18-250 toward the K20D kit), which I intend to use as most of you use yours. My primary avocational interest in life is motorcycling- rural, non-interstate day trips out where other people aren't. (Sorry, the bike even outweighs my ever growing photography interest, but combining the two is terrific.) I ride mainly pavement, but unpaved county roads, forest access roads, etc. are traveled, too. The K100DS spent many miles with me on the motorcycle, and it will continue to be the go-to camera for riding. Frankly, I don't want to subject the K20D to the ever potentially rough world of motorcycle travel. Too much money involved...

So, my point- that 18-55 Pentax kit lens that came with the K100DS, is it worthy of good keeper photos, or is it not worth the effort? It is certainly smaller and lighter than the Tamron 18-250, and frankly I've found that most of my motorcycle travel photography is at the wide zoom end, not the telephoto zoom end. Yeah, I have that new Sigma, but I don't want that out on the motorcycle. No real good reason I guess, other than the chances of abuse (constant vibration from road and machine, the possibility of damage in an "unplanned get-off", etc.). My camera is kept in a camera bag, sitting on top of a sheet of egg crate foam, inside the rear trunk box of the motorcycle surrounded by other traveling gear. It's about as protected as can be given the circumstances.

So... for motorcycle travel, would you-

-Use the kit 18-55 Pentax?

-Continue to use the Tamron 18-250? (would rather not for above reasons)

-Buy the generation II Pentax 18-55 kit lens? (Is it really better than generation I?)

-Other suggestions? I'm listening! As stated above- "I've found that most of my motorcycle travel photography is at the wide zoom end, not the telephoto zoom end."

For you motorcycle riding photogs who are curious, it's a 2007 Suzuki VStrom 650. (Man, what a terrific bike.) 7-8 months of 20-mile per day commutes, about 6000 annual pleasure miles. If I could only earn a good living doing photography from a motorcycle... oh, would life be good!!!

Thanks,

Steve.

david richhart · January 3, 2009

I have the first generation of the 18-55mm. Not a great lens, but a capable lens. I also want it for the wide angle shots, though I really like primes. It's just handy for a quick grab shot when I'm on the road. Those pink elephants don't just stand there forever, you know what I mean?

Since you already own it, why not try it a while and see how it works for you?

musings · January 3, 2009

I am not a biker, but I will say that the 18-55mm kit lens is pretty good and could serve your purposes well. It is lightweight and the IQ is okay (at wide angles mostly, the IQ differences will be hard to notice). The lens is not particularly sharp (at least my copy isn't), but software plug-ins for Photoshop like Focus Magic help a lot at these focal lengths. My "standard" lens for the K10D is the 16-50mm f/2.8, but I shoot a lot in low light and need a faster lens.

Cheers, Jeff

david richhart · January 3, 2009

Let me try that picture one more time...<div>

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</div>

r.t. dowling · January 3, 2009

I've never understood why people are so afraid of the kit lens. It's a good lens! I've been using mine for two years now and have gotten tons of great shots with it. At print sizes of 8"x10" or smaller, I doubt anyone would be able to tell the different between the kit lens and one of the more expensive lenses.

Use it. Enjoy it. If it gets broken, at least you've not lost a lot of money. It's actually a very fun lens to use... it just works and doesn't get in the way.

<img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/IMGP0527a.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/IMGP0529a.jpg" alt="" /> <img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/04-21-2007/IMGP0488.jpg" alt="" /> All of the above taken with the lowly kit lens... sharp enough for ya'? (if they look soft or jagged, it's due to photo.net resizing them. you can view the bigger versions at: http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/04-21-2007/IMGP0488.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/IMGP0529a.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y144/mec407/IMGP0527a.jpg

jgredline · January 3, 2009

I have found that my Kit lens is actually pretty good. Infact, in the little I have used it, I have found it to be great..Light weight and the little fella focus quickly. When I go on serious hikes, I take that lens, mostly because if I thrash it, it is no huge loss, but if I felt the images would suffer because if it, I would not take it with me.

Here are some 18-55mm samples.

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steve_t.1 · January 3, 2009

Hey, ain't too bad at all. Actually, I'll agree with R.T.- if you wouldn't have told me... This season I'll give it a go with the kit lens.

Awe, Dave... how cute. Nothing like a boy and his elephant.

Let's see if I can attach a photo... I'll figure this out eventually. If this works, I'm somewhere in the middle of nowhere, far southeastern Minnesota, just west of WI and the Mississippi River, just north of Iowa a handful of miles.<div></div>

pj_vesterback · January 3, 2009

I had no problems with the kit lens. This shot is printed 30" wide. I also have a shot of my cat that would be 36" before the crop. Both sharp and taken with the kit lens.

peter_mellis · January 3, 2009

I've printed quite a few pictures taken with the kit lens (and my 6mp DS ) at 10X15, with minimal cropping. Results look just fine;even sold a couple. I think it is somewhat underrated and will yield good results if not pushed too far.

michael_kuhne · January 4, 2009

I am delighted with the kit lens. I have the II version, but have seen plenty of good results like these here from the original as well. If you won't be needing the tele beyond 55mm, this lens is about as compact a zoom as you can carry. It works fine with the built-in flash too, with no interference.

stephen_van_egmond1 · January 4, 2009

Pentax made a great move by providing such a good kit lens. Rather than annoy you into upgrading it right away, it performs well in typical new-photographer scenarios. You can take good daytime pictures, and it will do something reasonable in an evening shot with the flash on.. Experienced photographers might turn up their noses at the slightly loose-feeling plastic construction. However: the construction is fine where it counts, it just doesn't *feel* expensive.

Experienced photographers might also turn up their noses at the modest aperture range. However: I don't think many people who just upgraded off a P&S even know what aperture is and what it does and why they should care. In the meantime until they get around to caring about these things (that spells LBA, folks) it takes good pictures and doesn't weigh a ton. I almost miss it. My Sigma 17-70 is a weighty monster in comparison and doesn't take appreciably better photos.

godfrey · January 4, 2009

I hardly ever use "kit' lenses either. They're usually too slow to be of much interest to me, and I don't like zooms except for the wide range.

My motorcycle camera it for many years was a Leica M4-P with either 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/2 lens. Or both. No meter to break, no batteries to worry about. Just set exposure, focus, point and shoot. Small and rugged.

Nowadays I use digital cameras and I'm not riding much anymore. But a compact kit is still very important to me when I travel ... I hate lugging an excess of gear around. In Pentax gear, a body with DA21 and FA43 Limiteds perform pretty much the same task. Throw in a DA70 for a bit more reach. With my FourThirds gear, an 11-22 zoom, a 25 and a 35 Macro lens does about the same job. Either kit with all accessories will fit in a very small bag and weighs less than three kilos.

You don't need much else.

Godfrey

joe_jackson4 · January 4, 2009

Steve, you can do all kinds of stuff with the kit lens... Plenty of examples here:

<a href="http://www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=388&view=submissions&page=1">http://www.dpchallenge.com/lens.php?LENS_ID=388&view=submissions&page=1</a>

chune_hoong_pong · January 4, 2009

Hi Steve, Like most of the above, i think the kit lens (i own Version I along with the K100D Super) is a fine little zoom lens, greatly underrated too. It remains as my go-to lens in spite of other additions quite simply because it gets the job done adequately, not to mention some great results off it. For what it's worth, i say keep it for the rough ride :) Here are a few shots taken on its maiden outing. <img src="http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr235/hchune/Web%20Uploads/IMGP0095.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="615" /> Paddington <img src="http://i487.photobucket.com/albums/rr235/hchune/Web%20Uploads/IMGP0327.jpg" alt="" width="615" height="413" /> Utzon's Peels

steve_t.1 · January 4, 2009

For the '09 riding season, the kit lens it shall be. Thanks!

revolver · January 4, 2009

Dave,

as others have stated the 18-55MM lens is a good lens. I have taken many good shots with mine.

the problem with your Elephant shot is the not the fault of the lens

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I've never used the kit lens... motorcycle travel and photography

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