Any one can give me a suggestion: sigma 17-70mm or pentax 16-45mm f4

*dreamnet* · 08-21-2007, 08:14 PM

i have no idea which one I should pick up
I have been got FA 50mm 1.4 , DA 50-200

barendvl · 08-22-2007, 01:58 AM

Seems you have covered your tele with the 50-200, so I'd go with the 16-45 for that little bit of extra wide, constant aperture and high resolution figure of the 16-45. I got it, and I love it. Merely comes off my camera.

simonkit · 08-22-2007, 05:50 AM

Just been through exactly the same thought process looking to replace the 18-55 kit lens which I just wasn't happy with.

Read several reviews on both lenses & ultimately in the "real world" it doesn't sound as though there is anything to chose between them quality wise - the 16-45 exhibits a little more CA occasionally perhaps.

I chose the Sigma 17-70 based purely upon the focal range, the added telephoto over the 16-45 makes it a more suitable "walkabout" lens for me. I has several instances with the 18-55 where I was "left wanting" on focal range so the 16-45 would have been no better in this respect

Ultimately both are very good lenses so I wouldn't bother consider quality etc when choosing, just practicality/focal length

simon

arbutusq · 08-22-2007, 08:35 AM

I chose the 16-45 for several reasons. I liked the extra 1mm on the wide end, I have the longer end covered with two lenses and it has a 67 mm filter ring, a size for which I have plenty of filters. So far I haven't seen much CA. Its there on some shots but easily corrected.

I also liked the lighter weight of the Pentax lens. There is nothing wrong with either so it is just a matter of your own personal needs.

blende8 · 08-22-2007, 08:44 AM

My recommendation after 30 years of photographing and dozens of lenses:

Whenever there is an alternative from Pentax, take it.

*dreamnet* · 08-22-2007, 08:52 AM

so... 16-45mm ?

simonkit · 08-22-2007, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by dreamnet

so... 16-45mm ?

To be honest only you can make the decision, as I mentioned, image quality etc is virtually identical -

base your decision on your focal length requirements & you'll make the correct one. Asking questions like this on forums will always leave you even more undecided than before !!!

Happy deciding

simon

bymy141 · 08-22-2007, 03:17 PM

There are people that do actual measurements on these lenses.
That will give you more hard facts instead of just opinions.

Have a look at:

For the Sigma:
Sigma Lens: Zooms - Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

For the Pentax:
Pentax Lens: Zooms - Pentax 16-45mm f/4 ED AL SMC P-DA - SLRgear.com!

You may want to concider this Tamron:
Tamron Lens: Zooms - Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical IF SP AF (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

I think (if you look at the score) that this Sigma is below average quality.

Cheers,

Bert

bymy141 · 08-22-2007, 03:32 PM

Sorry, the Tamron comes only with a Sony, Canon or Nikon mount. Guess
Pentax still lacks enough market footprint. Strange enough Tamron european websites don't mention mount types for this lens...

- Bert

Entropy · 08-22-2007, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by blende8

My recommendation after 30 years of photographing and dozens of lenses:

Whenever there is an alternative from Pentax, take it.

I would most definately say NOT to ever use such a rule for decisionmaking.

Such a rule would result in people choosing the Pentax 75-300 over the Sigma and Tamron variants, which is most definately not a wise choice. Every review I have heard of the Pentax 75-300 has been very negative. The Tamron and Sigma variants are by no means perfect and both have known issues, but the general opinion of the Pentax version seems to be "awful in every aspect".