Editorial Review:Product Description:What a range! The smc Pentax DA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 ED AL [IF] interchangeable zoom lens, designed for exclusive use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, will provide just about all the coverage you'll need. With an approximate 14X zoom ratio covering from wide-angle to super-telephoto ranges, this versatile lens handles a great variety of applications from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sporting events and wildlife photography.
Amazon.com Product Description:Designed for exclusive use with Pentax and Samsung digital SLR cameras, the DA 18-250mm interchangeable zoom lens gives you just about all the coverage you'll ever need. With an approximate 14x room ratio, this versatile lens handles a great variety of applications, from wide-angle landscapes to close-up sporting events and wildlife photography. Features include ED element and two aspherical elements that compensate for chromatic and spherical aberration; a focal length equivalent to 27.5mm to 383mm in the 35mm format; a close focus range of 18 inches throughout the entire zoom range; and an internal focus mechanism that prevents the front lens element and lens barrels from moving during focusing.
- Angle of view: 76 to 6.5 degrees
- Diaphragm: Fully automatic
- Minimum aperture: f/22-45
- Number of aperture blades: 7
- Metering system: TTL open aperture metering
- Minimum focus distance: 1.48 feet
- Filter diameter: 62mm
- Maximum magnification: 0.28x
- Lens mount: Pentax KAF2
- Hood: PH-RBB 62mm
- Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter and 3.4 inches long
- Weight: 16 ounces (without hood)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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solid zoom
a little pricey for a 3.5-6.3 but a very solid "all purpose" lens. On the wide end there is some obvious distortion near the edges but I like that compared to my other pentax lenses. And, im pretty sure this is one of maybe 2 options in this zoom ratio so there you go...
Rating: 
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quality issues?
This lens is said to be a rebadged Tamron. I wouldn't care less. But if quality becomes an issue, that would be a totally different story.
I bought this lens because it now bears the Pentax name, and it's a really cool carry-around lens. Of course I would expect it to be of the same high quality as other Pentax lens would have.
Other than the VIGNETTING effect, the first thing I noticed was when I am checking image on the LCD at the back of the camera, while this lens is pointing downwards, the lens will SLIDE OUT to its full lenghth. The same thing happens when I am taking the camera from the camera bag.
Just like taking the small blue pill before you go to an important business meeting.
Is it because the front end of the lens is too heavy? I hope this is just a small problem that no one else would have. In any ways, I am probably going to return it.
Rating: -
Dust catcher
I sent my first 18-250 back to Amazon for replacement due to dust behind the front lens element. They promptly sent me another, and it was fine for a few months, but now it has dust specks in the same place. The lens has never been used or stored in a dusty environment. Its maximum aperture makes it a slow lens for low light use, so any dust is reducing the amount of needed light.
It is a very sharp lens with minimal chromatic abberation, but it does have a pincushion problem that can be managed with good photo editing software.
Zoom creep is another problem, and it is so loose that I'm supposing the dust is entering there.
The lens could be a joy to use, but the price is very steep for the for the quality.
Rating: 
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A Great all round lens
It has a great handling, good size & feel to it.
It is not a fast lens. But, as most 18-200mm & 18-250mm lens owners know, this is a weekend or short trip lens that covers a great range.
The quality is up there along Nikon 18-200mm VR.
Rating: -
Great pentax glass - amazing versatility
This lens is outstanding. My other lenses include the 18-55 kit lens, and the 50mm/1.4(also highly recommended) and this lens is beautiful as a replacement to the kit lens. I have been able to get everything from dramatic landscapes to insect macros to zoomed in moon shots. The only additional things I could ask for - 1, the Quick Shift Manual Focus thing that Pentax has on almost every other lens, and 2, a more versatile zoom-lock - because of the ridiculous range of this lens, it creeps quite readily, and it would be handy to have a lock that you could set at any focal length, rather than the current one that only works at 18mm.
So, as a walk-around, capture whatever happens to show up lens, this one is extremely hard to beat. However, I do wedding photography part time, and this lens actually hasn't performed nearly as well for those events - the aperture range just isn't there. For those occasions, pick up the 50mm F/1.4, which will allow you to take natural light pictures in all but the darkest scenarios, and gives you a magical background for portraits.
Between the two, I feel like I have a pretty good set up. This serves as a great all-around lens as a replacement for the kit, and a logical second lens once you want to get more serious with your photography. If you have this and a fast, low-light prime, you could be equipped for 95% of situations with only $600 invested in glass - crazy good deal if you ask me, especially when you consider that this includes image stabilization. A very price-competitive package compared to the other DSLR systems out there right now.