Yeah it's not the end of the world, but it is disappointing - I just bought an *ist 35mm, since none of my auto or manual focus film bodies will work without an aperture ring. Didn't really have much choice if Sigma and other companies decide not to support the older bodies. But I really do think it's a bit cheeky expecting us to pay the full price for a non-HSM no-aperture-ring version, especially considering how long it took for them to produce it in this mount. Unfortunately the lens specs apart from that seem ideal; otherwise I'd cancel my order and probably avoid Sigma completely.

As for misinformation coming from Sigma, hardly surprising, but you were lucky to even get mis-information!

Thanks for the offer Daniel. Normally I'm happy using manual focus, but it's not so practical with a long zoom considering some of the purposes I'd be using it for. Also I'm hoping to find something new because I part-exchanged a number of items for a price at least as good as I'd have got on eBay. If it wasn't for that I'd have gone to SRS or another of the few Pentax-friendly shops and wouldn't be finding it so difficult now. As for whether I want a fast AF zoom or fast manual one... well to be honest what irritates me is that not that long ago I could have got both (the Sigma or Tokina for AF being available new).

Ah well don't mind me, I'm just having a grumbly day. Time for me to go take some photographs with the lenses I have rather than worry about the ones I can't get. Patience is a virtue...

Damn... I just heard from Sigma. The new lens will not have the "HSM" capability (as I expected), but also it will not have an aperture ring. Quite why they couldn't put an aperture ring on, when the old version had one, I really don't know. Presumably they don't expect film users to buy the lens so couldn't be bothered adding the ring. As for availability, apparently it will be available this summer... since we're in summer already, that doesn't help a lot.

I'm reconsidering at the moment - first of all whether I should get a fast telephoto (I'm also looking for a better wide-angle, so it's a question of which comes first). And secondly what I should even be looking for. Sigma clearly aren't all that interested in providing for Pentax customers. Tamron, they're in no hurry to release lenses for the K-mount either. And Tokina, well thanks to their dealings with Pentax I can't even get Tokinas any more. I have to pay the extra for Pentax - who no longer make lenses for 35mm.

Yes, it's going to be one of those posts. I don't like to complain about Pentax. I avoid doing it on other forums where people seem intent on forcing everyone to go for C or N. The obvious answer is "If you're not happy why not switch brands"; except I don't want to. I think Pentax have the best products for the money, and often I think they simply have the best products (though getting those products into our hands is another matter). I think there's less of the cult-like behaviour of some of the other brands' users. I have no intention of ditching Pentax, and if they disappeared then I'd probably give it all up in disgust and shoot old TLRs for the rest of my days. But honestly, I'm not finding it much fun being a Pentaxian at the moment. The dSLR market is huge now, everyone's rushing out to buy C and N and everyone's rushing to make and/or or sell lenses for them. Shops I know which are remotely interested in selling Pentax, I can think of maybe two or three.

Since I'm losing patience with Sigma (frankly why should we pay the full price if we don't get HSM and they can't even be bothered to build an aperture ring?), I might just get one of the new Pentax fast zooms and give up all hope of shooting film. Alternatively I could ask the shop to try and track down a decent Pentax prime for me... although they probably won't, since they're discontinued and after all it's only Pentax

Well I did warn you, it was going to be one of those posts

McBrian, thanks for posting that - assuming the new one has an aperture ring too I won't need to buy another film body.

Classvino, as far as I know all lenses, not only zooms, are likely to be softer at the edges. But as you say, with the 'cropping' of the smaller sensors you're probably not using the edges, so using 'full-frame' lenses on digital should result in less edge softness, and also less vignetting on lenses where that would be an issue.

Odd - the paper catalogue I have lists only the Canon and Nikon mounts for the Sigma TC - and most stores including the places I usually check for Pentax glass - SRS and Park Cameras - only list the Canon and Nikon versions. I could be wrong but I'm guessing that the Sigma TC available for Pentax is an older design that's been discontinued like the original 70-200 was.

Thanks for the shots from the Tokina. At the moment, unless I find out that it won't be available for months (I'm still trying to find someone at Sigma who knows something), I'm still waiting for the Sigma 70-200... because if nothing else, it should hold its value if it remains this hard to get one

I was also thinking of getting a 1.4x teleconverter for a bit of extra reach (I can't see a 2x being much good)... of course, Sigma probably don't make that for Pentax either

I want to have my cake and eat it, and have ice cream and coffee too basically I'm looking for a good all-purpose telephoto; something good for portraits and landscapes but also a bit of wildlife and sports, hence wanting the f/2.8. The 100-300 looks interesting, I could probably live without the 70-100 range and benefit from the extra 100mm at the long end, but the minimum focus distance is twice as long, it's even bigger and heavier (true the other one's big but I have to draw the line somewhere ) and of course it's slower. Still I'll see if I can get my hands on one and thanks for suggesting it.

Thanks for the suggestions; you all seem pretty happy with the Pentax 50-200... is it really that good even wide-open? I've been using a Tamron 70-300 which is ok but really needs to be stopped down to f/8. Prior to that I had a manual focus Kiron-made Vivitar which was ok but again needed to be stopped down past f/5.6 which I found a bit limiting. To be honest I'd rather have that extra speed of the f/2.8 and know that I can stop down to whether other zooms start for better performance. As for the weight I think I need the exercise

I'm planning to take a look at the new Pentax 50-135mm DA* f/2.8 which is actually cheaper than the new Sigma; but I can't see myself going for it since I have fast 50s and think 135 is a bit short, plus if I'm investing in a good lens I'd like to be able to use it with film too. But still I'll take a look... and I wonder whatever happened to the 60-250 that was supposed to be released with the new 16-50 and 50-135? Anyway for now I'm keeping my order placed for that Sigma but will continue looking for more currently existing alternatives

Hey thanks for all the replies. Just to complicate things further... I just got a call from the shop where I was trying to buy the Sigma on part exchange. Sigma say they don't make the new version in Pentax, as we thought, but also that if they do it may not be for several months (so July looks very unlikely). On the other hand their US site (thanks Classvino for the link) says Pentax mount is "coming soon"... of course by know we know that "soon" has a different definition for optics companies

So I guess my options are...
1) See if the shop can try and source the older non-macro version (pretty unlikely I'm guessing).
2) Give up on the Sigma and see if they can get hold of a Tokina or something else.
3) Try to track down a Sigma or other lens myself, but that would mean asking for all my part-exchanged equipment back from the shop and e-Baying it myself (would rather not ) ...

OK mind if I change the subject slightly now? Assuming that I can't get the Sigma, what would you consider a good alternative? I've seen a Tokina 80-200mm f/2.8, but noticeably cheaper than the Sigma (which is odd because on lower-end lenses I always felt the Tokina were better than the Sigma). Does anyone have experience with that Tokina? If not is there anything else I could be looking for? I'd basically like something that covers a similar range to the Sigma, 70-200 or thereabouts, and fast; f/2.8 unless you know of a really spectacular f/4. I'd like it to work with 35mm; the image circle needs to be large enough for that, and finally an aperture ring would be ideal but not essential (I guess I'll have to buy an *ist or something for film work now). Thanks in advance for any suggestions!


Update: I just called Sigma UK myself. They are taking orders for the Pentax mount but have no idea when it will be available. Optics companies and internal communication seem to be incompatible.

Thanks. One thing I hadn't really noticed before; there's no aperture ring, so no using in on my MZ5N, p30 or any mechanical cameras. Annoying since one of the main reasons I was considering the Sigma was that it would work with 35mm as well as digital. Looks like I'll have to either try to find a Tokina instead, or get the Sigma and exchange my film bodies for ones with automatic aperture selection. Argh, again. anyway thanks for the info!