I have owned and extensively used both the Sigma 105 DG EX Macro and the Pentax 100 F2.8 WR (still got the Pentax). Both of these lenses are true stunners, but for different reasons.

- The Pentax is a magnificent macro lens, extremely sharp, great colours and contrast and would be my default choice for macro work

- The Sigma is also a very good macro lens, not quite in the same league as the Pentax, but it does have more subtle colour rendering and better bokeh which make it an absolutely stunning portrait lens and probably the better 'all rounder' of the two

I wouldn't know which one to recommend without understanding what it will mainly be used for, but I can say that both are brilliant and well worth spending your money on.

I wouldn't look any further than one of those two.

Regards
David

I would be tempted to buy a new one, after reading more of this thread and seeing your sample image. The DA L version can be bought new for well under £200, this is the one I have and it is superb. I've never felt the need for 'quick shift' and the plastic lens mount is not an issue for me. If you get a good copy of this lens you will be impressed by its performance.

Regards
David

Could you all please post some entries in this week's Weekly Competition? There's only two entered so far


Cheers
David

I can't speak for anyone else, but certainly not from me. I have no problems with whatever processing anyone wishes to apply, I was simply commenting from an artistic point of view.

Regards
David

Are you using any filter on the lens? If so, remove it and try it again. The 55-300 does not like filters of any kind.

Secondly, is the lens calibrated to the camera for AF? If not, it should be and this could be the problem. My 55-300 is fantastic, but almost got binned when I first owned it. The focus accuracy with my first K-x was abysmal, then I tried it on a different camera and it was transformed. I wouldn't assume the lens is at fault until you have eradicated all other possibilities.

Regards
David

I think what I was referring to (as others have picked up on within this thread) is that there is artistry applied to the way in which some process their images. This could involve applying textures, vignettes, brushes, layers, contrasts, colours, levels or almost anything you can think of in any image processing software. However, to me, the artistic approach is not to simply apply a pre-determined filter to a complete image, it is to use the tools provided in a selective manner, with individual control and skill to produce a final result which is formed from a person's individual input and skill. Like using a paintbrush and paints to paint a picture.

Again, these images do not demonstrate anything like this and they look to me like a faint pastiche of what they were, made plastic and unreal by what has been done to them by a set of algorithms, and not by a person's own input.

Regards
David

The K-x is a great camera. However, for me the K-5 was required for several reasons:

- Weather Sealing
- Better AF and ability to adjust for individual lenses
- Quiet Shutter
- Better rear LCD
- Better ergonomics
- Image quality

Out of the above, IQ was the least important as the K-x already has fantastic picture quality, even though it is 'only' 12.3mp. The most important consideration was weather sealing, followed by adjustable AF for each lens as I had experienced problems with one of my K-x's in terms of poor AF accuracy, particularly with the 55-300 lens.

I have never used a K50 so I can't comment on this, but if you can comfortably afford a K-5II I don't think you would be disappointed. It is a lovely camera to own and use, better than a K-x in almost every respect, but don't expect a huge leap in image quality as you won't get it. Expect subtle improvements, probably more so if you buy a K-5IIs as opposed to a K-5II.

I think Alan (Blythman) poses a good question and suggests that good glass may be a better upgrade than a new camera, but I'm in no position to preach having gone from a K-x to a K-5, then onto a K-5IIs and a K-3!

Regards
David

A really fantastic shot, in difficult conditions, I am impressed! The colours are very bright but look natural to me, the foliage in the background is definitely not over-saturated.

Regards
David

These are great Simon, really well shot and give a fantastic sense of the day's racing. Thanks for sharing them with us!

Regards
David

Thanks for the correction John, I've looked it up and you are correct, the K-3 is rated at 200,000 actuations, double that of the K-5.

Regards
David