200-300 RANGE

Hi guys, I was trying to work out from reading reviews what is the best lowest priced zoom lens in the 200-300 range ? Needless to say my research came to nowt ! I'm aware there will be different views but any views will be helpful I'm sure.

DERYN

depends on your budget,

Blimey that was quick !

£100 - £200 - £300 that's about my limit for now.

DERYN

well you can get a tamron 70-300mm for under 100 a sigma 70-300mm for about 150 and a pentax 55-300 for about 200, all good in there own rights, i think the tamron is a cracker at the price as the quality is good but it does suffer from purple fringing, what kind of shooting will you be using this lens for,

Hi, basically I want the lens for when I am sitting around people watching. I use prime lenses at the moment and sometimes waiting for a possible shot to come closer before I can take the photo means sometimes I lose the pic ! So I guess the main use would be for street type photos.

DERYN

hi deryn and welcome.
well i cant see why the tamron is not the lens for you its cheap and is very good, see this,
https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/Still-amazed-with-my-Tamron-12693/p-0#comm_125055

i would get the Pentax 55-300mm - why? because i bought one in replacement of my 55-300mm lens and the quality is brilliant plus i got it for 199 from Warehouse express which was a bargain - I also like people watching and its been sheer brilliant for that

Hi feeb,

that lens is now £295 at Warehouse.

DERYN

link

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/283/Tamron-70-300mm-F4-5-6-Di-LD-Macro---Pentax...



http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/143/Sigma-70-300mm-F4-5-6-APO-DG-Macro-Lens---P...



http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/109/Pentax-smc-DA-55-300mm-f4-0-5-8-ED-Lens.htm...

Hi Deryn i have both the DA 55-300mm and the sigma 70-300mm both excellent lenses.But the sigma offers a macro function between 200-300mm.

If i had to pick between the two it would be the sigma purely for its macro capabilities.

That's all very helpful, much appreciated. Just a choice to make now.

many thanks,

DERYN

A question about that.
Sigma says the minimum focus is 150cm but that's the same as with the Pentax so to both can focus just as close or does the macro make that closer?

In my opinion Stefan the sigma focuses quite a bit closer than the DA.I don't know what they both say on paper but in the field macro wise the sigma is better.The DA is still a very nice lens and i've had nice
results.

[IMG]http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/vv54/sanderscapes/K20D36881.jpg[/IMG]

I've cropped this and blown it up 25% in cs3 I am very pleased with the result but wouldn't have had to do that with the sigma.

I'd recommend the DA 55-300mm. Its a very good lens, and sharper at 300mm than the 70-300mm options.

There is also a Sigma 100-300mm F.5-6.7mm on ebay right now that seems nice