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Sigma 150 - 500 mm - any experience with OS

gibsondj
Posted 27/02/2012 - 20:03 Link
Hello, I have been using my K200D with a basic Tamron 70 - 300mm telephoto lens. As spring is almost upon us I am now looking to capture some photographs of garden birds. I find the Tamron quite limiting and I would like to move up to a larger zoom lens. Searching the net the only lens in my price bracket seems to be the Sigma 120-400mm F4.5/5.6 DG OS HSM or the Sigma 150-500mm F5/6.3 DG OS HSM.

Does anyone have any experience on either of these lenses witha Pentax K200D (or similar) ? Also, does the Optical Stabilisation (OS) incorporated into the lense work with a Pentax fit ? and if not how does this affect the lens performance ?

Thanks for any advice on this topic.
Dave
Mannesty
Posted 27/02/2012 - 20:20 - Helpful Comment Link
I, and many others here, have the Sigma 150-500mm F5/6.3 DG OS HSM. Mine performs perfectly in all respects when attached to my K20D and K5.

The optical stabilization (OS) will only work with bodies equipped with SDM contacts.

If you can acquire a new one at or near to £600.00, go for it, I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Peter E Smith - flickr Photostream
Blythman
Posted 27/02/2012 - 20:22 Link
I've no experience with the K200D. The OS is great. Set it to "1" for static subjects and to "2" for panning. I turn off the in body IS. The OS in the lens is better because it gives you a stable image in the viewfinder
Alan


PPG
Flickr
grahamwalton
Posted 27/02/2012 - 20:24 Link
I use the non OS version of the Sigma 150-500 and find it performs very well. I use the in-camera shake reduction.
Friendly Regards
Graham
Posted 28/02/2012 - 07:41 - Helpful Comment Link
I agree with all the above - i actually use mine for macro work and portraits as well - check out the link and pm me if you need to ask anything else.
Learn how to live and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll know how to live.

Check out ones photographs on Flickr!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/
Frogfish
Posted 28/02/2012 - 08:07 - Helpful Comment Link
No question the 150-500 is superior to the 120-400.
http://frogfish.smugmug.com/ Pentax. Pentax DA*300/4, Cosina 55/1.2, Lens Baby Composer Pro & Edge 80, AFA x1.7, Metz 50 af1.
Nikon. D800. D600. Sigma 500/4.5, Nikon 300/2.8 VRII, Sigma 120-300/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 21/2.8, Zeiss Distagon ZF2 35/2.0, Sigma 50/1.4, Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikon TC20EIII, Nikon TC14EII, Kenko x1.4, Sigma 2.0
pentax
Posted 28/02/2012 - 14:10 Link
I use my 150-500 on K10 with no problem and os on the lense but turn of sr on the camera body as per the sigma instructions
gibsondj
Posted 29/02/2012 - 19:42 Link
Thanks everyone for your encouragement and helpful pointers. I have taken the plunge and ordered one, hopefully in a few days I will be able to post a few examples taken with it. Cheers.
Dave
dcweather
Posted 04/03/2012 - 15:29 Link
You won't regret it. I did have to send mine back as the autofocus wasn't snapping in but was repaired and is great now with my K-r. I've been tending to use the in body SR for no particularly reason and it works ok. Will have a run with the lens OS for a while and see what it's like.
Dave
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcweather/

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