[campdog]

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Just looking at filling the gap in my lens range for my Pentax K10d. Just wanting a bit of advice on what to get. I have been looking at a second hand FA*28-70mm.
I like to cover a range of photography from landscape to animals to portraiture but something is missing.

Sigma 10-20mm Landscape.

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8. Im not happy with this lens and isnt as sharp as I would like.
Thinking of replacing it with a new lens or second hand FA*28-70.

Pentax FA*80-200 which I love for landscape, people and anything that moves.

Pentax 100 macro 2.8.

I would like something a bit better than the Sigma 17-70 to fill the gap.Is a great lens for long exposure and sunrise but not the sharpest lens.

Something I can use when not wide angle or lugging the 80-200 around. Lookesd athe Pentax 16-50 2.8 but a lot of different reviews.
John

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Last edited by campdog; 07-05-2010 at 03:53 AM.

[twitch]

A Tamron 28-75 f2.8 would seem to slot nicely into your existing lens lineup.

[bdery]

I disagree with your opinion about the Sigma, but that's just me

Indeed, the Tamron 28-75 would fit well in that list. Or the Sigma 24-70, or the DA* 16-50 which would leave a gap between 50-80 but would minimize lens swapping for the lower end.

[Marc Sabatella]

Frm what I've seen, the Sigma 17-70 would be just about *sharp* as any of the proposed alternatives, but of course, it's not actually f/2.8 except at the widest end where it matters least. the real reaosn to replace it with one of the others would be to get an actual f/2.8 zoom, as it could really help to have something faster in the normal-short telephoto range where speed helps the most. I suppose, without knowing your experience level, that the slower speed of the Sigma is what is fooling you into thinking it's not very sharp (if you aren't getting fast enough shutter speeds at low enough ISO. Although that wouldn't really be the case in good light, of course.

[sushi warrior]

You need to get some primes and stop worrying about covering every mm of the focal range. Primes can really improve your creativity some times

[Aristophanes]

Just looking at filling the gap in my lens range

Here's the one lens that fills the gap nicely:

*EX+* Pentax-A* (star) SMC 85mm/f1.4 Lens w/Hood 85/1.4 on eBay.ca (item 310224287708 end time 01-Aug-10 06:40:24 EDT)

[campdog]

Frm what I've seen, the Sigma 17-70 would be just about *sharp* as any of the proposed alternatives, but of course, it's not actually f/2.8 except at the widest end where it matters least. the real reaosn to replace it with one of the others would be to get an actual f/2.8 zoom, as it could really help to have something faster in the normal-short telephoto range where speed helps the most. I suppose, without knowing your experience level, that the slower speed of the Sigma is what is fooling you into thinking it's not very sharp (if you aren't getting fast enough shutter speeds at low enough ISO. Although that wouldn't really be the case in good light, of course.

Thanks Marc. Looking back at some of my photography with the 17-70 it performed faultless for landscape and long exposures ets. I found it a little soft when taking photos of people when shadows or afternoon light. Your reply is pretty well spot on. I may need to play with ISO a bit more to get the faster speed. I agree tat it would be hard to replace it with a better lens for the price. Thats where I was leaning towards the FA* 28-70 at a higher price range.

[campdog]

Here's the one lens that fills the gap nicely:

*EX+* Pentax-A* (star) SMC 85mm/f1.4 Lens w/Hood 85/1.4 on eBay.ca (item 310224287708 end time 01-Aug-10 06:40:24 EDT)

It sure would fill the gap. The gap in my forhead made by my mrs with a baseball bat. Very nice lens but out of my league.Thanks anyway.

[Ira]

IThe gap in my forhead made by my mrs with a baseball bat.

A man after my own heart.

[CWyatt]

There are a ton of lenses that could fit, but are you looking for a f/2.8 zoom? Depending on your budget and build etc needs, the discontinued Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 has a good reputation as a bang-for-buck lens.