Tamron 70-300mm Lens

Hi,
Am currently looking at buying a K10D from SRS and the best deal looks to be the special offer kit which includes the above lens.
Just wondering if the lens is any good really, does not have to be anything special as such because I am a complete novice but I have been told the Sigma 70-300 Apo lens is a much better bet and it would be in my best interest to buy the basic kit and this lens seperately.
http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24_28&products...

Or would I be better going for Sigma 55-200/4-5.6 DC lens which SRS have coming in stock which costs not much more than the Tamron and seeing if I can persuade Chris to do a deal
http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/index3.asp?id=473&section=For+Pentax+AF&...

Thanks.

Mike.

There have been countless discussions on here about whether the Sigma 70-300 or the Tamron 70-300 is better and it always boils down to there being no appreciable difference between the two. Just buy the one that's (a) cheapest and (b) in stock.

I've got the Tamron tucked up in a drawer as an occassional lens (just for when I go to watch motor racing really) and I find it quite acceptable as an outdoor lens. It's a bit soft wide open and at its full 300mm but then so is the Sigma - these are budget lenses so you get what you pay for...

if you can afford the extra money and can wait, Pentax are about to release a 55-300mm lens around the £250 mark.

I got to play with one at SRS's open day and was very impressed, it was noticeably better at 300mm than my trusty Pentax FA 80-320.

So do you think it would probably be worth me buying a camera with stock 18-55mm lens and waiting for the Pentax 55-300mm rather than paying the extra £100 for the lens, camera bag and memory card.
I suppose it would keep me occupied for a month os so with just the normal lens.

I own the Tamron 70-300 and for the money (I paid £69 brand new) is pretty good.

From reading much beforehand it seems the Tamron suffers more CA than the Sigma - my Tamron certainly shows CA in high contrast shots. Apparently the Sigma isn't quite as sharp as the Tamron.

I bought the Tamron as a "stop-gap" whilst something better comes along, hoping the Pentax 55-300 might just be the one !!

simon

Re 70-300mm: I came to the conclusion that the Tamron was slightly better after reading reviews, paticularly at www.photozone.de. It is also cheaper and lighter.

I don't know how long you would have to wait for the 55-300mm.

Also consider a Pentax or Samsung 50-200mm if you want to minimise the bulk.

Once again I suggest not getting the standard 18-55mm but instead get improved the mark II version - which can be found for as little as £44 including postage.

Ok, so next question .. Sorry

Do I buy the kit with the Pentax 18-55 or is it worth the extra £20 and buy the body with the MKII Pentax 18-55 until Pentax release the 55-300mm.
Or is there another lens "around" that sort of price that would do me better with the body, whether it be Pentax, Sigma or whoever.

Thanks so far.

Regarding cheap tele-photos the choice is very limited, pretty much to the Sigma/Tamron 70-300s & the Pentax 50-200.

I previously owned the Pentax 50-200 but wasn't impressed with my copy, it was a bit too short in focal range too. The Tamron 70-300 I replaced it with serves my purpose better.

If you can wait, I think it's worthwhile seeing how the reviews of the new Pentax 55-300 go.

simon

From where please?

Bristol Cameras.

£54 with postage.
http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/p-pentax-18-55mm-f3-5-5-6-smc-da-al-ii-lens.htm

There is no other lens of the same sort of price and type that comes close to even the mark I version of the 18-55.

I recently got a mark II version and noticed immediately that it was sharper towards the edges of the image. Other posters on other forums have reported the same thing too.

Bristol Cameras never give any idea of their stock levels.

So unless you phone to check, you could wait weeks or months for something to actually come into stock.

Ah, they've just put the price up in the last few days. I was lucky enough to get one for £44 including £5 postage.

I thought it was too good to be true! I was half expecting to find a mark I in the package, but I did actually get a mark II.

Anyway, I still think it's well worth it at the new price. SRS have it at at a similar price. It's still very cheap, really.

I got my 18-55 II in a couple of days.