All Forum Comments
Comment by Mark-B posted on DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed at 01/03/2011 - 07:29
Mike-P wrote:
Much better on the K-7 and better still on the K-5.
Sigma HSM is noticeably faster though and may be a better choice for horse jumping.
To be honest I would have thought 150mm is a bit short : for the sort of thing you want the lens for and would go back to looking at the 70-200mm or 60-250mm.
It would be for use on my K-7. When I tested the 50-135 it certainly felt faster than the screw drive 50-200. Maybe that was just because it wasn't making any noise Mark-B wrote:
Just how much slower is the SDM focus speed compared to the HSM of the 50-150?
The 50-135mm is painfully slow on any body up to and inclding the K20D.Just how much slower is the SDM focus speed compared to the HSM of the 50-150?
Much better on the K-7 and better still on the K-5.
Sigma HSM is noticeably faster though and may be a better choice for horse jumping.
To be honest I would have thought 150mm is a bit short : for the sort of thing you want the lens for and would go back to looking at the 70-200mm or 60-250mm.
For the cross country jumps I tend to use around 50mm to 80mm as you can be alongside the course. Show jumping would be longer as you're outside the arena.
Comment by Mark-B posted on DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed at 28/02/2011 - 21:54
davex wrote:
There are lots of references to a DIY fix for some SDM failures on the internet, no cost or skill required.
Look HERE
I've just read a couple of the DIY fix instructions and it doesn't seem too difficult. Having said that, I haven't dismantled any kind of lens before and I'm not sure I want a DA* to be the first!There are lots of references to a DIY fix for some SDM failures on the internet, no cost or skill required.
Look HERE
Comment by Mark-B posted on DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed at 28/02/2011 - 21:47
Thank you all for your advice and comments.
I was originally looking at both of the Sigmas on grounds of cost but am now considering a secondhand 50-135. Mainly due to the weather sealing but also, now having tested one, the build quality and "feel".
Just how much slower is the SDM focus speed compared to the HSM of the 50-150? I should have tested the sigmas back-to-back with the Pentax.
I tend to pre-focus when taking jump shots as I know where the horses are going to be. Although I've been doing this to improve my chances with the screw drive DA 50-200.
Mike - That's one great pooch pic!
I was originally looking at both of the Sigmas on grounds of cost but am now considering a secondhand 50-135. Mainly due to the weather sealing but also, now having tested one, the build quality and "feel".
Just how much slower is the SDM focus speed compared to the HSM of the 50-150? I should have tested the sigmas back-to-back with the Pentax.
I tend to pre-focus when taking jump shots as I know where the horses are going to be. Although I've been doing this to improve my chances with the screw drive DA 50-200.
Mike - That's one great pooch pic!
Comment by Mark-B posted on DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed at 28/02/2011 - 21:25
Hello,
I've been wanting something a bit faster than the DA 50-200 WR I have been using with my K-7 for equine sport photos (cross country and show jumping) and had originally looked at the Sigma 50-150 and 70-200.
However, I was in Park Cameras over the weekend and tried out a DA* 50-135. What a lens! I think the weather sealing together with the legendary IQ could make the difference and it is now my preffered option.
I have read that there have been problems with SDM failures and whilst this would be covered in warranty does anyone know what the approximate costs of repair would be.
I think my mind is already made up but it would be good to know how much it may end up costing me in the long run
Thanks
I've been wanting something a bit faster than the DA 50-200 WR I have been using with my K-7 for equine sport photos (cross country and show jumping) and had originally looked at the Sigma 50-150 and 70-200.
However, I was in Park Cameras over the weekend and tried out a DA* 50-135. What a lens! I think the weather sealing together with the legendary IQ could make the difference and it is now my preffered option.
I have read that there have been problems with SDM failures and whilst this would be covered in warranty does anyone know what the approximate costs of repair would be.
I think my mind is already made up but it would be good to know how much it may end up costing me in the long run
Thanks
Comment by Mark-B posted on DA* 50-135 - Buying advice needed at 28/02/2011 - 19:32
Problem now solved - thanks for all your suggestions.
Having read somewhere that removing some of the paint in the area where the electrical contacts would connect I bit the bullet and started to scrape off paint.
Sure enough they now work! I've repeated the process for all 3 tubes in the set and the stop-down metering now works for the tubes in combination or individually.
Having read somewhere that removing some of the paint in the area where the electrical contacts would connect I bit the bullet and started to scrape off paint.
Sure enough they now work! I've repeated the process for all 3 tubes in the set and the stop-down metering now works for the tubes in combination or individually.
Comment by Mark-B posted on Help needed with Vivitar Auto Extension tubes at 15/12/2010 - 23:51
Blythman wrote:
You wouldn't have a problem with metering with the lens only attached as it has the "A" setting.
Are you working in Manual, having set to allow use of the aperture ring?
Yes - I have selected "aperture ring permitted" and as mentioned the stop-down metering works fine when the lens is attached directly to the camera. It just doesn't work when the extension tubes are between the lens and the camera.You wouldn't have a problem with metering with the lens only attached as it has the "A" setting.
Are you working in Manual, having set to allow use of the aperture ring?
Comment by Mark-B posted on Help needed with Vivitar Auto Extension tubes at 15/12/2010 - 11:45
Unfortunately it's the stop-down metering that I'm having the problem with.
The attached lens is being held fully open regardless of the aperture ring position. When I stop-down meter with no tubes attached (just the lens) it works fine and I can see the lens closing down. However when I attach the tubes the lens stays fully open.
I have found this thread
link
Unfortunately the photos of the paint removal are missing from the thread.
The attached lens is being held fully open regardless of the aperture ring position. When I stop-down meter with no tubes attached (just the lens) it works fine and I can see the lens closing down. However when I attach the tubes the lens stays fully open.
I have found this thread
link
Unfortunately the photos of the paint removal are missing from the thread.
Comment by Mark-B posted on Help needed with Vivitar Auto Extension tubes at 15/12/2010 - 10:37
Thanks for the link John.
Unfortunately my tubes don't have any contacts at all. Do you know if it is still the same area that needs to be removed?
Unfortunately my tubes don't have any contacts at all. Do you know if it is still the same area that needs to be removed?
Comment by Mark-B posted on Help needed with Vivitar Auto Extension tubes at 15/12/2010 - 10:12
But the IQ of the 50-135mm is superb & pleased i bought mine...
123mm at f/2.8 the so called soft end
NickW - That's kind of why I was asking about the cost of SDM repair. I will be using this lens in all weather and think that the added security of the weather sealing could be worth the difference.