DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed

Hi Mark,

From my post on the other thread you can see I’ve just bought the Sigma. I went though the same process, initially looking at the 50-135. I already have the Sigma 100-300 F4 EX which is brilliant but also I wanted something smaller and lighter.

I looked at the direct comparison on the other forum and on photozone.de under the Nikon APS section they have reviews for both the Sigma and the Tokina 50-135 (my rationale being that while not on a Pentax body the comparison on a common body was a valid lens comparison) and concluded that there wasn’t that much between them.

Add to that even if I bought second hand, the Pentax lens comes out at about £650 vs £400 new for the Sigma and second hand the Pentax would have 6 months warrantee vs 3 years for the Sigma and I really had a problem to fight with my sensible side!

Nick

I would agree with Mike the 50-135mm is slow on bodies up to the k20d. However I have tested it on my K-R & there is a more noticeable improvement, seems to lock on quicker, I don't think it rotates faster just locks on quicker.

But the IQ of the 50-135mm is superb & pleased i bought mine...

123mm at f/2.8 the so called soft end

I'll go along with this. I have a K10, K20 and a K-5 and my 50-135 is very speedy and precise on the K-5

On the K10/K20 it is rather sluggish

Thank you all for your help.

If that's the soft end I think I need new glasses!

NickW - That's kind of why I was asking about the cost of SDM repair. I will be using this lens in all weather and think that the added security of the weather sealing could be worth the difference.

I have used my 50-135 in torrential rain on the K10D, quite confident with the sealing on that lens.

The long end look a little soft, mostly low contrast, not lack of sharpness.

It is an amazing lens, yet I still use it less than the 16-50

Thanks for all the advice.

Decision made - I've now bought a second-hand DA* 50-135 from SRS.

I went into the store as they had 3 available at slightly differing prices. The one I settled on is in mint condition and also has a UV filter. Matt at SRS was extremely helpful and vey knowledgable.

I haven't had too much of a chance to play with it yet but I'm sure it will spend ma lot of time on my camera.

I had two Sigma 50-150s and they both focused blazingly fast on my K20D. Unfortunately both copies front-focused like mad at 100mm and above (not the camera, because I got out the DFA100 for comparison and it focused fine for the same shots/light), so after the second one I gave up and got a DA35 Limited instead

I have just received my 50-150, no sign of FF at all. Though it is definitely a little softer wide open than when stopped down, by f4 it is pin-sharp though.

Congrats on your new 50-135 Mark ! It does seem like the best option for you since you definitely require WR.

On my K7 the new (to me) 50-135 does seem to focus and lock very quickly - cetainly fast enough for my needs.

I should have a chance to get out and play with it at the weekend so I'll post up some results.

Hi,

I had the Sigma 50-150mm with my previous Canon outfit and it is superb. I do think the supposed advantage of WR lenses is very over hyped, photographers have been using non WR lenses in all weathers for decades and not exactly having lots of problems.

On the subject of the 50-150 being discontinued:

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/news/110208_apo50-150_28ex_dc_os_hsm.htm

Sigma's lens OS is apparently quite good, but it does seem to have significantly increased the heft of the 50-150, whereas petiteness (as well as price) was one of the old one's big advantages over the 50-135.

Whoa, they've sure messed up that lens - 77mm as opposed to 67mm filter size and it's now a great hulking beast like the various 70-200s (over 6cms longer alongside the extra 1cm wide, and presumably about twice the weight). The old Sigma gives great performance and handling in a relatively small - considering the wide aperture and handy range - package. I can't really see much point in a 50-150 over a 70-200 if they're the same size.

Sigma puts OS in every lens of them also made for Pentax but for Pentax it's only deadweight. There is no real benefit of OS compared to the in-body of Pentax DSLR's. Better to pick up some old Sigma lenses without OS at half the cost in most cases.

I use both systems and in lens OS has the edge over in body IS.

Best regards

It's very close, but it depends on the camera and focal length.
The body IS of the K-5 is a little better than the K20D.
As for lens OS and body IS, the big difference is that with lens OS, you can see the stabilisation working in the viewfinder. But when it comes to results, there is not much in it. The Sigma 150-500 I tested at focus I took the same shot with OS on one and IS on the other. Results are just about the same. nothing in it really. But, as I say, the advantage of lens OS is that you can see the correction through the viewfinder, however up to 135mm there is nothing in it, longer lengths is where it is better.

Now to that mk2 Sigma 50-150. Its too big, thank god I have the 50-135.....