DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed

Hello,

I've been wanting something a bit faster than the DA 50-200 WR I have been using with my K-7 for equine sport photos (cross country and show jumping) and had originally looked at the Sigma 50-150 and 70-200.

However, I was in Park Cameras over the weekend and tried out a DA* 50-135. What a lens! I think the weather sealing together with the legendary IQ could make the difference and it is now my preffered option.

I have read that there have been problems with SDM failures and whilst this would be covered in warranty does anyone know what the approximate costs of repair would be.

I think my mind is already made up but it would be good to know how much it may end up costing me in the long run

Thanks

There are lots of references to a DIY fix for some SDM failures on the internet, no cost or skill required.
Look HERE

It is a fantastic lens, I fell for mine immediately. How much do they want?

Davex.

Around £150 apparently.

For a moment then I thought you meant the asking price
Nearly wet my pants

Davex.

Mark. You might also want to consider the excellent Sigma 50-150 (no SDM issues and has HSM).

NickW has just put up this link - 400 is a great price : https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/sigma-50-150-and-1-4x-converter-26169

There was also an excellent comparison on the other forum from jsherman - virtually nothing in it between that and the 50-135.

Guess I should have said re-consider

That's what 1/2 the price of the 50-135 ? No-brainer unless you have money to burn. I've sent them an email already !

Had both at one time.

Sold the Sigma as the Pentax lens takes it IQ wise and with the weather sealing and build quality is (imo) worth the extra.

Have since sold the 50-135mm due to the slow AF, the Sigma is faster and certainly good value

Taken wide open with the Sigma.

So is that a vote for neither or both, I can't quite work it out.

Both are very good lenses and both are worth the asking price.

Thank you all for your advice and comments.

I was originally looking at both of the Sigmas on grounds of cost but am now considering a secondhand 50-135. Mainly due to the weather sealing but also, now having tested one, the build quality and "feel".

Just how much slower is the SDM focus speed compared to the HSM of the 50-150? I should have tested the sigmas back-to-back with the Pentax.

I tend to pre-focus when taking jump shots as I know where the horses are going to be. Although I've been doing this to improve my chances with the screw drive DA 50-200.

Mike - That's one great pooch pic!

Does 135mm give enough reach for a sporting event where you're a long way away? You might want to consider the 60-250 instead. It's F4 rather than F2.8 wide open - but that shouldn't be a problem at an outdoor event during the day.
Great image quality, and might give you a bit more flexibility.

The 50-135mm is painfully slow on any body up to and including the K20D. (personal opinion)
Much better on the K-7 and better still on the K-5.

Sigma HSM is noticeably faster though and may be a better choice for horse jumping.

To be honest I would have thought 150mm is a bit short : for the sort of thing you want the lens for and would go back to looking at the 70-200mm or 60-250mm.

Edit: Looks like Giles beat me to it

I've just read a couple of the DIY fix instructions and it doesn't seem too difficult. Having said that, I haven't dismantled any kind of lens before and I'm not sure I want a DA* to be the first!

It would be for use on my K-7. When I tested the 50-135 it certainly felt faster than the screw drive 50-200. Maybe that was just because it wasn't making any noise

For the cross country jumps I tend to use around 50mm to 80mm as you can be alongside the course. Show jumping would be longer as you're outside the arena.