photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Heidi and Ulrich Burkhalter | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Comparing test of new Pentax 18-55 II vs old and Tamron 18-250 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Comparing test of new Pentax 18-55 II vs old and Tamron 18-250

This test compares the new Pentax 18-55 II kit lens,
the older Pentax 18-55 kit lens
and the Tamron 18-250 at their sharred focal lenght.
The shots are from the 18mm, 35mm, and 55mm setting.
The shots are at apertures of f 5.6, f 8.0, f 16
there is a 100% center cropp and a 100% left edge towards the upper corner cropp.
The pictures have been shot with the Pentax K100D 6 megapixel camera.
So I assume that with the newer 10 and 14 megapixel Pentax DSLR cameras you could expect even better result.
Tamron 18-250 at 18 mm @ f 8
Tamron 18-250 at 18 mm @ f 8		 Pentax 18-55 II at 18 mm @ f 8
Pentax 18-55 II at 18 mm @ f 8		 Pentax 18-55 (old) at 18 mm @ f 8
Pentax 18-55 (old) at 18 mm @ f 8
Tamron at f 5.6 center cropp
Tamron at f 5.6 center cropp		 Pentax 18-55 II f 5.6 center cropp
Pentax 18-55 II f 5.6 center cropp		 Pentax 18-55 (old) f 5.6 center cropp
Pentax 18-55 (old) f 5.6 center cropp
Tamton 18-250 f 5,6 left edge cropp
Tamton 18-250 f 5,6 left edge cropp		 Pentax 18-55 II f 5.6 left edge cropp
Pentax 18-55 II f 5.6 left edge cropp		 Pentax 18-55 (old) f 5.6 left edge cropp
Pentax 18-55 (old) f 5.6 left edge cropp
Tamron at f 8.0 center
Tamron at f 8.0 center		 Pentax II at f 8.0 center
Pentax II at f 8.0 center		 Pentax old at f 8.0 center
Pentax old at f 8.0 center
Tamron at f 8.0 edge
Tamron at f 8.0 edge		 Pentax II at f 8.0 edge
Pentax II at f 8.0 edge		 Pentax old at f 8.0 edge
Pentax old at f 8.0 edge
Tamron at f 16 center
Tamron at f 16 center		 Pentax II at f 16 center
Pentax II at f 16 center		 Pentax old at f 16 center
Pentax old at f 16 center
Tamron at f 16 edge
Tamron at f 16 edge		 Pentax II at f 16 edge
Pentax II at f 16 edge		 Pentax old at f 16 edge
Pentax old at f 16 edge
Tamron 18-250 at 35 mm @ f 5.6
Tamron 18-250 at 35 mm @ f 5.6		 Pentax 18-55 II at 35 mm @ f 5,6
Pentax 18-55 II at 35 mm @ f 5,6		 Pentax (old) at 35 mm @ f 5.6
Pentax (old) at 35 mm @ f 5.6
Tamron @ f 5.6 center
Tamron @ f 5.6 center		 Pentax II @ f 5.6 center
Pentax II @ f 5.6 center		 Pentax old @ f 5.6 center
Pentax old @ f 5.6 center
Tamron @ f 5.6 edge
Tamron @ f 5.6 edge		 Pentax II @ f 5.6 edge
Pentax II @ f 5.6 edge		 Pentax old @ f 5.6 edge
Pentax old @ f 5.6 edge
Tamron @ f 8.0 center
Tamron @ f 8.0 center		 Pentax II @ f 8.0 center
Pentax II @ f 8.0 center		 Pentax old @ f 8.0 center
Pentax old @ f 8.0 center
Tamron @ f 8.0 edge
Tamron @ f 8.0 edge		 Pentax II @ f 8.0 edge
Pentax II @ f 8.0 edge		 Pentax old @ f 8.0 edge
Pentax old @ f 8.0 edge
Tamron @ f 16 center
Tamron @ f 16 center		 Pentax II @ f 16 center
Pentax II @ f 16 center		 Pentax old @ f 16 center
Pentax old @ f 16 center
Tamron @ f 16 edge
Tamron @ f 16 edge		 Pentax II @ f 16 edge
Pentax II @ f 16 edge		 Pentax Old @ f 16 edge
Pentax Old @ f 16 edge
Tamron 18-250 at 55 mm @ f 5.6
Tamron 18-250 at 55 mm @ f 5.6		 Pentax 18-55 II at 55 mm @ f 5.6
Pentax 18-55 II at 55 mm @ f 5.6		 Pentax 18-55 old at 55 mm @ f 5.6
Pentax 18-55 old at 55 mm @ f 5.6
Tamron @ f 5.6 center
Tamron @ f 5.6 center		 Pentax II @ f 5.6 center
Pentax II @ f 5.6 center		 Pentax old @ f 5.6 center
Pentax old @ f 5.6 center
Tamron @ f 5.6 edge
Tamron @ f 5.6 edge		 Pentax II @ f 5.6 edge
Pentax II @ f 5.6 edge		 Pentax old @ f 5.6 edge
Pentax old @ f 5.6 edge
Tamron @ f 8.0 center
Tamron @ f 8.0 center		 Pentax II @ f 8.0 center
Pentax II @ f 8.0 center		 Pentax old @ f 8.0 center
Pentax old @ f 8.0 center
Tamron @ f 8.0 edge
Tamron @ f 8.0 edge		 Pentax II @ f 8.0 edge
Pentax II @ f 8.0 edge		 Pentax Old @ f 8.0 edge
Pentax Old @ f 8.0 edge
Tamron @ f 16 center
Tamron @ f 16 center		 Pentax @ f 16 center
Pentax @ f 16 center		 Pentax old @ f 16 center
Pentax old @ f 16 center
Tamron @ f 16 edge
Tamron @ f 16 edge		 Pentax II @ f 16 edge
Pentax II @ f 16 edge		 Pentax old @ f 16 edge
Pentax old @ f 16 edge
Macro Pentax II @ f 5.6
Macro Pentax II @ f 5.6		 Macro Pentax II @ f 8.0
Macro Pentax II @ f 8.0		 Macro Pentax II @ f 16
Macro Pentax II @ f 16
Macro Pentax old @ f 5.6
Macro Pentax old @ f 5.6		 Macro Pentax old @ f 8.0
Macro Pentax old @ f 8.0		 Macro Pentax old @ f 16
Macro Pentax old @ f 16
Overall shot from the Pentax 18-55 II at 55 mm f 16
Overall shot from the Pentax 18-55 II at 55 mm f 16		 Overrall shot of older kit lens at f 16
Overrall shot of older kit lens at f 16

comment | share
Speereo 04-Feb-2009 20:06
Tomorrow, if I opt to buy Pentax 18-55 MK II instead of Samsung GX 20 kit lems with the "SAMSUNG" logo on it... We'll see ;)
Gábor Csikós13-Dec-2008 21:10
Hi Heidi and Ulrich, thank you for sharing this very valuable test. I hesitate if 450D or K200d buying, and what only one lens to buy. The K200D budget camera and very unusual good quality in this price range. Canon 450D a little better due noise issue at high ISO. I dont want to be unpolite, but I have question. Please, show us picture at 250 mm or write on yours opinion about longest zoom image quality.
Thank you, Gabor
Simon 06-Oct-2008 03:17
Thanks for the photos.

I'm deciding to buy a DSLR, either Canon 450 or Pentax K200. Can you give me some hints on my choices?

Some issues like Live view, bigger 3" screen and 12MP in Canon are tempting, but I like the solid body and upper side smaller screen of Pentax. The IQ seems to be almost the same in both cameras. In my hands both seem to be OK but Pentax felt much more solid.
Ben (Benoz) 20-Sep-2008 12:52
Excellent work Heidi and Ulrich! Thank you for your reply to my post on PTF "Sigma 18-55 AL > 18-55 ALII". I will wait for the new edition II which I can see performs just that little bit better. Thanks again Ben (Benoz).
John Harvey 26-Mar-2008 23:26
Hi.Thanks for the comparisons. I've just been offered an 18-55 II at a very reasonable price, and I think i'm going to get it.Thanks once again. John.UK.
click on thumbnails for full image