Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is a Variable aperture Auto Focus (AF)
Standard Zoom lens with APS-C / DX max sensor coverage, and it is designed to be used with
KAF3 Mount cameras.
What type of photography is the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE lens good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various photography scenarios:
Reasons to Buy Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE Lens
Here we've included a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE lens in a list form to help you determine whether it offers the features you need.
| Weather-sealed |
| Autofocus |
| Hood supplied |
| Light weight at only 158g / 5.6 oz |
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| Lens Extents while zooming |
| Slow Aperture at Tele end |
| Variable Aperture |
Lens Mount
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is compatible with cameras that have a Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF3 lenses are Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Size, Weight and Filter Thread
Size and weight is a very important decision factor when searching for your next lens. Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a maximum diameter of 41mm and total length of 71mm when not extended. It weighs 158g / 5.6 oz.
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a filter thread of 58mm. Below are links to the filters that we recommend you to consider for your Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE:
Focal Range
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a focal range of 18-50mm and 2.8X zoom ratio which has a 35mm equivalent focal range of 27-75mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
Weather Sealings
The Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is a weather-sealed lens, which provides extra protection to prevent water and dust get inside the lens and camera body under light rain, snow and wind. In order to have effective protection, you have to pair the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE with a weather-sealed camera body such as the Pentax K-3 III Monochrome, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Optical Image Stabilization
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE doesn't have an optical image stabilization system so the only option to stabilize the image taken with this lens is to mount on a camera body with IBIS (sensor based In-body image stabilization).
Alternatively, you can check the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM in Pentax KAF3 mount that have similar focal range but features Optical Image Stabilization.
Lenses Similar to Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE With Optical Image Stabilization
Zoom Method
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE features Rotary (extending) zoom method where the length of the lens changes as you zoom in or out. This makes it possible to design the lens with a smaller minimum length ( generally when it is zoomed out) compared to internal zoom lenses. The disadvantages of this design are being harder to seal against dust and moisture, weight balance shifting while zooming and zoom creep in certain lenses.
Maximum Magnification Ratio
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE has a Max Magnification Ratio of 0.23x and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.3m.
Below are the 3 Standard Zoom type Pentax KAF mount lens alternatives with highest max magnification ratios:
Aperture
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is a variable aperture lens with a max aperture of f4 and a minimum aperture of f22 at 18mm, and a max aperture of f5.6 and minimum aperture of f32 at 50mm .
| Focal Length |
Max Aperture |
Min Aperture |
|
18mm
|
F4 |
F22 |
|
50mm
|
F5.6 |
F32 |
Optical Formula
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE's optical formula consists of 11 elements in 8 groups . Following special elements are used in this design:
Lens Hood
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE comes with a removable lens hood which is handy to reduce lens flare and glare in your photos.
Body Colour
Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE is available in Black and white color.
Popular Comparisons of Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE
Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE amongst Camera Decision readers.
Top Alternatives of Pentax DA 18-50mm F4.5-5.6 DC WR RE Lens
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