Pentax or Sima Zooms

Hi all, I am a newbie about to purchase K10 with 18-55 kit lens. My question is should I go for Pentax 55-200 or Sigma 70-300 dg apo for its extra focal legnth. Comments from current users would be most appreciated. Thanks in anticipation Josh.

If you go with the Pentax 50-200mm you will have a super quality lens at an incredibly low price. See the AP test when the magazine is out on Tuesday.

Your two lenses would then also have the same filter size (52mm), the same handling characteristics and the same colour balance.

There's a lot to be said for staying with Pentax lenses.

Hope that helps!

Hi Josh,
I completely second J.R's opinion. See some results here.https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5715
Good luck with your decision.

Martin.

It's been my experience that in this case the Sigma 70-300 APO is a much better lens than the Pentax 55-200 for everything except physical size. A total no-brainer to go with the Sigma IMHO - it's sharper & faster throughout the shared focal range (it's a little soft at the very long end although stopping down to F8 helps a lot) plus it has a very useful 1:2 macro capability as well. I've put a few example shots up on http://www.pbase.com/niblue/sigma_70_300

Despite already having an 80-200 F2.8 I've found the Sigma 70-300 to be a very useful lens - a good combination of capability, flexibility, size and value for money.

I would also consider the price. Sometimes the 2 lens kits that are sold means that the 50-200 costs next to nothing. If you don't like it you could then sell it and get the Sigma. Personally, I would go for the Pentax.

Kim

It's a good point about the good prices that can be had on 2-lens kits (especially Samsung ones) however given they're about the same price new I think you'd either have to be primarily interested in the Pentax's small size to consider it before the Sigma which is considerably better in every other way (in my experience and opinion of course!).

When you could get the Samsung version for £50 I'd definitely have bought the 50-200, but it's not worth £170.

As a slight aside, I treated myself to a new tripod today. Price for the tripod £130, price for the head £70. Both together £150! The interesting thing is that they still came in their seperate boxes.

Kim

That's only half a tale, Kim C! Spill the beans, what tripod was that?

:

The kit was the Manfrotto 055MF3 base with the 804RC2 head. However I managed to talk the guy into upgrading the base unit to the 055PROB version for just a little extra.

One of the reasons I like supporting my local shops.

Now hoping for a reasonable clear night to get some good night shots of Lincoln Cathedral on top of the hill.

Kim

My Sigma 70-300 APO Macro (about 10-11 years old now) was going to be sold to make way for the DA* 60-250 f4 (when it eventually appears), and I took it with me on holiday...

I regret to say I didn't treat it too well, I lost the lens cap, the lens hood and dropped it....However, looking at the shots I took with it, on the *ist D and K10D - it's a pretty damned good lens...However, we had a Sigma rep in the group and he tells me that my lens is better than what they produce at the moment...

No experience of the DA 50-200 I'm afraid..

I've also got one of the older ones (70-300 APO Super II) and there are usually plenty available on Ebay (min cost about £60). The current model seems to be reviewing well though.

Hi,
I own both the lenses and for me the choice comes down to portability. The Pentax is small and leightweight, the Sigma is heavier and larger, but it also adds semi-macro capability and additional zoom range.

When I'm doing landscape photography, I usually opt for the Sigma. But when I need to travel light, I opt for the Pentax.

IQ is quite comparable in my opinion.

Perhaps you should ask yourself what you can do without: the macro and the zoom range of the Sigma, or the portability of the Pentax.

Talking about 70-300 sigma, I've recently had some problems with quite large vignetting. I can't recall at which focal lengths but I think surprisingly that at high focal lengths. Any idea why this happens? I'll do some test shooting just to find out when the vignetting occurs.
Otherwise a very good lens if you tighten from time to time (once every two years approx) the mount screws.

I've only used mine with an APS-C DSLR and I've not seen noticable vignetting at any focal length.