LBA hypotheticals...

icywarm · 08-13-2010, 12:39 AM

Ok, I am a semi-noob... just enough knowledge to be dangerous... I sell the odd piece and consider myself more artist than photog... I have more lenses than I can use and my favorite camera is a twin lens MF Ricoh... but my kx is much cheaper day to day...

I have the lenses i need to make money(in case my accounting practice ever folds)... what I am after now are the better lenses for me to have fun with... mainly for 'hunting' in the fall, chasing kids etc... I think at some point I will shell out for the 645D or a FF camera, but for now I am happy with my set-up and wondering what I should try next...

What I am getting...
FA 100mm Macro (have one on hold here, when the seller gets back)
DA 70mm Ltd... had one, sold it, it was lost in the mail... really want to get another... dang lens has already cost me $500!!!

Ok enough pre-amble...

what I am having fun with now is tele-photo... I have an old, Russian, M42 500mm mirror lens, I have ok results with it... in fact I have actually sold prints from it(after touching up the dust spots on it

)...

I am really wondering between DA* 60-250 (which I could crop into deep tele) or the Bigma/Sigma 50-500mm...

price is of some concern... but not a serious one as I will just use it as a write-off...

Thoughts? Anyone have both? Anyone has other thoughts...

PS if I could use it in the hockey rink between 50-150mm that would be added bonus as it would make me serious money... but really that is what the FA 100mm or DA 70mm are for vs my current M75-150mm

Last edited by icywarm; 08-13-2010 at 01:05 AM.

Adam · 08-13-2010, 12:55 AM

I would go with the 60-250mm. It's extremely sharp (and said to be sharper), so unless you need the 10x zoom range, I'd say it's the natural choice.

**G_Money** · 08-13-2010, 03:58 AM

The DA* 60-250 is also a stop and a half faster at the long end. Food for thought.

SpecialK · 08-13-2010, 07:53 AM

There is also the less expensive 150-500.

icywarm · 08-13-2010, 09:01 AM

Thanks guys... I had thought about that stop and a half - which is sort of winning against the longer zoom in my mind right now...

Originally posted by SpecialK

There is also the less expensive 150-500.

How do you like yours? Use it often?

**Clinton** · 08-13-2010, 06:41 PM

The 60-250 is better glass, faster, way lighter, and weather sealed. The 50-500 is slower, but there's that extra 250mm staring you in the face. It's also massive.

The 60-250 is going to cost a bit more, but you should buy it first. I'd suggest looking for a 50-500 used in the forums. $850 IMO is fair for that lens.

08-13-2010, 12:39 AM	#1
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	LBA hypotheticals... Ok, I am a semi-noob... just enough knowledge to be dangerous... I sell the odd piece and consider myself more artist than photog... I have more lenses than I can use and my favorite camera is a twin lens MF Ricoh... but my kx is much cheaper day to day... I have the lenses i need to make money(in case my accounting practice ever folds)... what I am after now are the better lenses for me to have fun with... mainly for 'hunting' in the fall, chasing kids etc... I think at some point I will shell out for the 645D or a FF camera, but for now I am happy with my set-up and wondering what I should try next... What I am getting... FA 100mm Macro (have one on hold here, when the seller gets back) DA 70mm Ltd... had one, sold it, it was lost in the mail... really want to get another... dang lens has already cost me $500!!! Ok enough pre-amble... what I am having fun with now is tele-photo... I have an old, Russian, M42 500mm mirror lens, I have ok results with it... in fact I have actually sold prints from it(after touching up the dust spots on it)... I am really wondering between DA* 60-250 (which I could crop into deep tele) or the Bigma/Sigma 50-500mm... price is of some concern... but not a serious one as I will just use it as a write-off... Thoughts? Anyone have both? Anyone has other thoughts... PS if I could use it in the hockey rink between 50-150mm that would be added bonus as it would make me serious money... but really that is what the FA 100mm or DA 70mm are for vs my current M75-150mm Last edited by icywarm; 08-13-2010 at 01:05 AM.

08-13-2010, 06:41 PM	#6
Clinton Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,910	The 60-250 is better glass, faster, way lighter, and weather sealed. The 50-500 is slower, but there's that extra 250mm staring you in the face. It's also massive. The 60-250 is going to cost a bit more, but you should buy it first. I'd suggest looking for a 50-500 used in the forums. $850 IMO is fair for that lens. Last edited by Clinton; 08-13-2010 at 06:47 PM.

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08-13-2010, 12:55 AM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	I would go with the 60-250mm. It's extremely sharp (and said to be sharper), so unless you need the 10x zoom range, I'd say it's the natural choice.

08-13-2010, 03:58 AM	#3
G_Money Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 598	The DA* 60-250 is also a stop and a half faster at the long end. Food for thought.

08-13-2010, 07:53 AM	#4
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	There is also the less expensive 150-500.

08-13-2010, 09:01 AM	#5
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278 Original Poster	Thanks guys... I had thought about that stop and a half - which is sort of winning against the longer zoom in my mind right now... Originally posted by SpecialK There is also the less expensive 150-500. How do you like yours? Use it often?