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worth paying double to get a Siggy 120-400 over the Pentax 55-300mm?

strumstrum
Posted 17/03/2013 - 14:06 Link
I am not a massive telephoto user but I do like going walkabouts with my friend shooting wildlife and enjoy rutting season and like the odd wednesday at mallory park..

in Canon I did this with a 70-200 L glass and yes I had to crop with small birds but they kept the sharpness good enough..

now I have got everything now that I thought essential and have some spare funds so I was quite prepared to get the 55-300 off Amazon @ £257 with £20 going back to my Amazon account so making it £237..

the I started looking at the Sigma 120-400 on SRS, I am tempted but and more so if its worth the extra money, the extra size & weight is not an issue and its the top end of my available funds but again if its worth it I don't mind..

any thoughts, real time feedback appreciated... what I don't like about the 55-300mm is it overlaps my 55-135 but that is pretty low down on the list of reasons not to choose that lens..

Ta
fritzthedog
Posted 17/03/2013 - 15:37 - Helpful Comment Link
I have the 55-300 and the Sigma 120-400. Despite the reverence paid to the 55-300 - and for the price - the IQ is just about impossible to beat - in my opinion - the Sigma 120-400 delivers superior performance in every respect as well as giving you much more reach.

Frankly - to me, other than price - the only advantage of the 55-300-- is weight - although I have no issue hand holding the 120-400 - there is no denying it is a much bigger heavier lens than the 55-300.

If I had the funds to buy either - for me the choice would be a very simple one.

Carl
No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more
stub
Posted 17/03/2013 - 16:34 - Helpful Comment Link
The Siggy is in my opinion a superior lens to the 55-300. Quieter focus and the better reach factor.
K-1Gripped K-1 ungripped K-5ii K7 Various lenses

Stuart..
Mike-P
Posted 17/03/2013 - 17:40 - Helpful Comment Link
Get the Sigma ... worth it for the extra reach and the HSM.

Shame you weren't a bit earlier, Sigma were doing £50 cashback on the 150-500mm which would have meant it was only £50 dearer than the 120-400mm.
strumstrum
Posted 17/03/2013 - 18:03 Link
Thanks all. 120-400 ordered.. was the way I was leaning toward as I have never had anything over 300mm but mainly the longest I have had and for the past few years is 70-200 so it has that something new feeling.
Smeggypants
Posted 17/03/2013 - 22:26 Link
I have a Sigma 135-400. Love it. The IQ from 135 to 350 is great. It does fall off rapidly between 350-400 and a cropped 350 is better than 400. Apart form that I've never been disappointed with the IQ
[i]Bodies: 1x K-5IIs, 2x K-5, Sony TX-5, Nokia 808
Lenses: Pentax DA 10-17mm ED(IF) Fish Eye, Pentax DA 14mm f/2.8, Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8, Pentax-A 28mm f/2.8, Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8, Sigma 135-400mm APO DG, and more ..
Flash: AF-540FGZ, Vivitar 283
reso
Posted 18/03/2013 - 09:20 Link
i have the sigma 135-400 and agree with smeggy great lens great iq a bit heavy but works well on a monopod
k5iis sigma 8-16 sigma 10_20 hsm tamron 17-50 pentax faj 18-35 pentax da 18-135 tokina 20-35 tokina 28-70 atx pro pentax dfa 100 wr
pentax da*50-135 pentax da*60-250 sigma af 400mm pentax 1.7 af adapter
Pentax af aw 1.4 rear converter and a flash
PIRATE
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:21 Link
I was going to raise the Sigma 120-400 OS DG HSM question myself, but not against the Pentax lens. I know the non-OS version is essentially a consumer grade lens (it does nothing particularly brilliantly) and wondered if the same can be said for the OS version. Compared to the 100-300/4, it no contest as the 100-300/4 is vastly superior, but why the K-Mount version demands such unrealistic money is beyond my understanding as they were £400.00 new from Park Cameras before being discontinued (I know, I bought one), and used copies of the EX DG are £400.00-£450.00 for all other mounts.

I was also considering the Pentax 300/4 and Sigma 300/2.8, though I believe the 300/4 would be the logical choice based on IQ and used prices. Anyone care to chip-in further based on qualified use and ownership of all or any of the above? I know what the 120-400 non-OS and 100-300/4 can do, so am looking for opinions on the OS 120-400, 300/4 Pentax and Sigma 300/2.8.
PIRATE
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:30 Link
strumstrum wrote:
Thanks all. 120-400 ordered.. was the way I was leaning toward as I have never had anything over 300mm but mainly the longest I have had and for the past few years is 70-200 so it has that something new feeling.

Did you buy it via the SRS evilBay outlet store as delivery is free as opposed to claiming it back on their main website? Once you get it, can you post your initial findings in terms of IQ throughout the focal range, OS operation/battery life and CA control as having owned 2x copies of the non-OS version, I found it severely lacking in AF speed due to the stupid HSM which I found works like a speed governor slowing it down unlike a screw-driven lens and IQ was no better than a budget zoom. I'm hoping the current OS version will be a huge improvement from it's predecessor, though I have that horrible feeling . . .
Blythman
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:31 Link
[quote:3496ace15f="PIRATE"]............ but why the K-Mount version demands such unrealistic money is beyond my understanding as they were £400.00 new from Park Cameras before being discontinued (I know, I bought one), and used copies of the EX DG are £400.00-£450.00 for all other mounts.
[quote]Falling to understand why Pentax K mount has been singled out as expensive. The Pentax version of he new lens is £499 at SRS. Both the Canon and Nikon version are £629
Alan


PPG
Flickr
PIRATE
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:37 Link
Blythman wrote:
Failing to understand why Pentax K mount has been singled out as expensive. The Pentax version of he new lens is £499 at SRS. Both the Canon and Nikon version are £629

I know, SRS have ongoing sales for the Pentax mount of Sigma lenses, though depending on where you buy, prices for other mounts can be cheaper depending on lens model, but the point remains valid as to why certain models demand 2x the price for K-Mount.
Mike-P
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:45 Link
PIRATE wrote:
but the point remains valid as to why certain models demand 2x the price for K-Mount.

Supply and demand ... Both the 100-300mm f4 and the Sigma 180mm f3.5 macro are very hard to source for Pentax mount as Sigma sold relatively few and people tend to keep them once found.

I did tell you this when you first advertised for one but you knew better
gwing
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:48 Link
PIRATE wrote:
Blythman wrote:
Failing to understand why Pentax K mount has been singled out as expensive. The Pentax version of he new lens is £499 at SRS. Both the Canon and Nikon version are £629

I know, SRS have ongoing sales for the Pentax mount of Sigma lenses, though depending on where you buy, prices for other mounts can be cheaper depending on lens model, but the point remains valid as to why certain models demand 2x the price for K-Mount.

Simply because us Pentax users are starved for good quality long glass while much more is on the market for other makes. So when a Siggy 100-300f4 comes up we descend on it like a ravening hord and push the price up, there isn't the same demand for it in other mounts so the price is lower. Same goes for the Siggy 400 telemacro etc. etc.
Blythman
Posted 18/03/2013 - 11:52 Link
Quote:
Supply and demand .....

For second hand. As Mike says. A lens is worth whatever someone is willing to pay.
Alan


PPG
Flickr
Edited by Blythman: 18/03/2013 - 12:07
carmagw
Posted 18/03/2013 - 12:32 Link
I bought my Sigma 100-300 F4 from SRS from the remaining stock and it was £810 brand new in July 2010. (still have the reciept)

At the time I couldn't find it anywhere else in stock, glad I bought it as its a great lens.

I can imagine other brands 2nd hand are also cheaper due to the Sigma 120-300 being available which I understand was seen as the replacement for the 100-300.

Regards

George

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