Limited madness

I suspect a flurry of kindly abuse, but sometimes its nice just to hear it... Am I mad for considering selling FA 43mm limited lens in order to fund a Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 IF OS HSM lens? I have a K7 and recently got a NEX 5N as second, quality compact with 16mm for when I dont want the bulk/risk of carrying K7 + 43mm.

Now I'm thinking, maybe going back to decent zoom on the K7 and at some future point getting decent 35mm manual for the NEX (lile Voigtlander 35mm). I have 28mm and 50mm lovely takumars for K7 anyway. Too much thinking perhaps...

I know the Sigmas won't be as good as the 43mm Limited, but assume it'll be way better than the 18-55 WR kit lens, right?

Any kind thoughts welcome.

Thanks, Rich

Not completely mad - I've got an older Sigma 24-70 EX and it's very good, capable and competent. It isn't special in the same way as a 43 limited, though.

I think it depends what you want and it sounds as if you have given it some thought. I'd suggest having a look for an older, non-OS 24-70/2.8 or even 28-70/2.8 and keeping the FA43 if possible.

Great price for the older one here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sigma-24-70-mm-f2-8-EX-DG-MACRO-PENTAX-FIT-3-Year-Warr...

I gave nearly as much second hand

It will give you a much more versatile range!...and the image quality of the new zoom lenses is quickly catching up with the quality of the older primes!...you probably wont see a great difference.......I wouldn't assume the 28/70 will be "way better!" than the kit lens,as everyone knows ,the Pentax kit lens is the best on the market compaired to the main competition!

I don't think this is true any longer... the Canon 18-55 IS is now 'king of the kits'

Thanks Alan - I did see that listing on ebay of the 24-70mm EX DG Macro. Sigma's duplicate lenses confound me. Is the HSM version optically any better or is that extra cost in the HSM silent drive technology. Image quality and general build quality is more important to me than silent focusing to be honest. Thanks!

I can't compare the two I'm afraid. I just baulked at the price of the new one, so checked reviews of the older confident that at shorter focal lengths Pentax SR is as good (or perhaps better) than Sigma OS. The reviews on pentaxforum suggest weight and quality control are the cons with the older version. Weight doesn't bother me, and I actually find it re-assuring suggesting a robust build. As to QC, if you register with Sigma in the first month, you'll get a 3 year warranty.

Don't particular like the WR 18-55 that came with my Pentax... maybe it is just me but I found the 18-55 from Nikon better (although it feels like a little toy compared to the Pentax) and not anywhere near the 17-50 Tamron.

I have the 18-55 WR lens. The idea is to sell on that lens and 43mm limited and get fast zoom lens like the 24-70 sigma, which in my head is a quality compromise, somewhere in the middle. I can clearly see a big difference between the 18-55 Wr and the 43mm Limited...as you should do with £450 quid between them! If anyone has any thoughts or knows of any links to direct comparison between the 18-55 WR and the 24-70 EX DG, let me know.

Thanks, all.

Apart from that desire to change, which is good, I can't help but think that you're better off with the 43mm and 18-55mm than the 24-70mm Sigma, with its much more limited wide angle capability. And don't forget the weatherproofing.

You're right John, sometimes the desire for change and going round and round gets in the way of some logical thinking. I do love the 43mm limited and maybe I'd risk being underwhelmed by the Sigma. Food for thought...

Yes.

I've got an FA 43 and it's my favourite lens. Sometimes it's too short, sometimes it's too long, but when it's just right it gives results that no zoom can get close to IMHO.

I've tried 4 or 5 short range zooms, desperately wanting one to work for me for convenience sake, but have never been convinced by any of them. I'd say the 18-55 is the one I liked best, partly no doubt because of its relatively low cost. But of course it depends on your needs.

I wouldn't part with my 43 mm Ltd. either!

Hey Rich,
nothing wrong with the change....i guess Sigma is a good lens and offers focal lens which I find most useful. Since it is FA43 i would give it careful consideration though, I used to have a silver FA43, sold it to finance FA31 only to find later that I miss image quality FA43 offers, and eventually ended up with getting another FA43, this time a black one. At some point I bet you'll miss FA43's character, question is if Sigma will do good enough to make up for it. FA31 wasn't good enough to make me forget FA43...