DA* 16-50mm F2.8 vs Sigma 17-50 F2.8

Does anyone have any experience of these two lenses?

Reading the user reviews on the other forum they tend to suggest that the IQ of the sigma is as good, if not better, than the Pentax. The sigma is £500 cheaper at SRS so it seems like a good option. I've hired the DA*16-50 for a few wedding shoots but I'd quite like to own a lens in this range for weddings and portrait style shoots.

I know the Sigma is not weather sealed but for a £500 difference I could live with that. Or am I missing something obvious ?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/sigma-17-50mm-f2-8-ex-dc-os-hsm-no-stabi...

Cheers
Andy

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FF: Pentax K-1, D-FA* 70-200, D-FA 24-70, D-FA 100, D-FA 28-105, FA 77, FA 43
APSC: K3, K5, DA*50-135, DA*300, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 10-20, 18-55mm, DA 55-300mm, DA35, 1.4TC
4/3: Q10, Q, 01, 02, 06
Fuji XT1, XF18-55, XF27

Used one at SRS for £575 with 12 months guarantee, looks a no brainer to me

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PENTAX-SMC-DA-16-50MM-F2-8-USED-UK-DEALER-STOCK-1-YEAR...

I love mine, I upgraded from the Tamron rather than the Sigma and found it a lot better than the Tamron, why the reviews put the Pentax, Tamron and Sigma so close I don't know.

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PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography

Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released

http://www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/pentax-16-50-vs-sigma-tamron-17-50mm/introdu...

Direct compare, not a user review. Based on that, for me also a no-brainer: the sigma.

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Pentax K10D + Vivitar 55/2.8 macro + Super Takumar 55/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 85/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 135/3.5 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 200/4 + Super Takumar 300/4
Pentax K100D + DA18-55ALII + DA55-300
Pentax K5 + FA31Ltd + M50/1.7 + DFA100WR + M120/2.8 (+ DA18-55WR at occasion)

Because there are not many users that have compared them directly. So it becomes quite subjective. And if people take the price into account in their rating, the Tamron will score high.

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Pentax K10D + Vivitar 55/2.8 macro + Super Takumar 55/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 85/1.8 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 135/3.5 + SuperMultiCoated Takumar 200/4 + Super Takumar 300/4
Pentax K100D + DA18-55ALII + DA55-300
Pentax K5 + FA31Ltd + M50/1.7 + DFA100WR + M120/2.8 (+ DA18-55WR at occasion)

My problem with any of DA* lenses is the SDM motor. All great stuff while you have a warranty but not so good if you don't. I would struggle to buy a secondhand one, so if it went wrong (and they do a lot by all accounts looking at various forums) i would be pretty much stuffed.
By contrast the Sigma HSM is fast, silent and reliable. A no brainer indeed.

I've read around and it does seem that most of the problems were from earlier examples? Also that they need to be used regularly.

From other interests I have had I have noticed that the internet can magnify issues to a level totally out of all real world proportion.

I have one and it's been fine.

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K5, K200 and several film Pentax cameras!

I'm also put off a second hand DA* lenses because of the reported SDM issues. Just looking at the SRS website for new copies of the three :

Pentax DA* 16-50 - £839
Sigma 17-50 EX DC HSM - £309.
Tamron 17-50 - £279

So to my mind, there "seems" to be little to choose between the sigma and pentax apart from WR which is not important to me. The difference in cost however is a "Pentax DFA 100m f2.8 Macro Lens" worth of pounds so

Sigma 17-50 + Pentax 100 Macro = Pentax DA* 16-50. It does indeed seem like a no brainer !

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FF: Pentax K-1, D-FA* 70-200, D-FA 24-70, D-FA 100, D-FA 28-105, FA 77, FA 43
APSC: K3, K5, DA*50-135, DA*300, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 10-20, 18-55mm, DA 55-300mm, DA35, 1.4TC
4/3: Q10, Q, 01, 02, 06
Fuji XT1, XF18-55, XF27

Ive never had sdm issues with either of my da* lenses which where both bought used. a repair is only £130 and for that you get the new improved motor etc that does away with the alleged problem.

over the years i have used many third party lenses and was only really happy with the results from the Pentax lenses in the end. No doubt sigma have made great strides recently but I still don't think you can beat getting lenses from the same manufacturer as the camera body.

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PPG Wedding photography Flickr
Concert photography

Currently on a Pentax hiatus until an FF Pentax is released

They are expensive yes. Mine was second hand and if it ever needs a repair then it needs a repair. Everything has tyhe potential to fail.

I wanted the weather sealing so for that plus premium glass not really much choice!

If I could afford it the macro would be nice and interesting!!

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K5, K200 and several film Pentax cameras!

£130 sounds reasonable including the new motor. So i can put DA* lenses back on my dream list. The one i really want is the DA* 50-135 but its pie in the sky stuff for me.

I almost bankrupted myself to get both.....!!! The 50-135 really is worth saving for, big and heavy with a huge hood but the results even make me look good!

I see the premium glass as a sort of investment as I *should never* need to buy anything else again. I did the same thing with my Fender Telecaster when I was young, single and on the rigs.........

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K5, K200 and several film Pentax cameras!

SRS Ex Demo £649 with 2 year warranty

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PENTAX-SMC-DA-16-50mm-f2-8-ED-SDM-EX-DEMO-UK-DEALER-ST...

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Alan


PPG
Flickr

I have them both. The Sigma is a great lens. I now rarely use it because the shorter 1mm focal length on the Pentax makes it more useable.

I used the built in OS on the Sigma rather than the in body IS.

It is fast to focus and I have had no issues with focus accuracy on it.

One real quibble for me, the zoom ring rotates in the opposite way to the Pentax and can feel odd at times.

Best regards

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Inspiration is rarer than a plate glass camera.....

Thanks for your opinions guys, some interesting points there.

Don't get me wrong, I'd dearly love to own the Pentax but I just can't afford to ignore the £500 difference right now so I'll probably go with the Sigma for the time being.

Now, when I'm earning thousands a week from photography that will be a different matter


cheers
Andy

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FF: Pentax K-1, D-FA* 70-200, D-FA 24-70, D-FA 100, D-FA 28-105, FA 77, FA 43
APSC: K3, K5, DA*50-135, DA*300, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 10-20, 18-55mm, DA 55-300mm, DA35, 1.4TC
4/3: Q10, Q, 01, 02, 06
Fuji XT1, XF18-55, XF27

I notice there are some good deals on the older non OS version of the Sigma. Getting down into the upper two hundred £s.