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jjbuzard · 09-12-2010, 06:59 PM

I am interested in improving my collection of glass, in the area of 70 to 300mm- 50 to ?? zoom, with a price range of $500 to $1000, as wide open (f-stop) as I can get. any recomdations as to a lense to concider and why?

Freak · 09-12-2010, 07:05 PM

Originally posted by jjbuzard

I am interested in improving my collection of glass, in the area of 70 to 300mm- 50 to ?? zoom, with a price range of $500 to $1000, as wide open (f-stop) as I can get. any recomdations as to a lense to concider and why?

The two that spring to mind are the:

DA* 300mm F4...
Sigma 100-300 EX f4

JohnBee · 09-12-2010, 07:09 PM

Originally posted by Freak

The two that spring to mind are the:

DA* 300mm F4...
Sigma 100-300 EX f4

Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things?

JoepLX3 · 09-12-2010, 07:11 PM

Do you need that long all the time?
- Sigma 50-150 mm F2.8 is also good one

**jpzk** · 09-12-2010, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by JohnBee

Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things?

John:

I own a DA*300/4 and previously owned a Sigma 100-300/4 as well. I sold the Sigma to finance the DA*. It was a matter of size and weight.

Anyway, in terms of IQ at the long end, I will say that they are very similarly great. I don't have any samples ready for show right now, to compare both, but from what I read on other forums as well they both are great lenses.

If you need the versatility of a zoom, go Sigma; if not I would definitely pick the DA* for its lesser weight.

JP

Mechan1k · 09-12-2010, 10:33 PM

Also keep hearing and seeing good images from the DA* 60-250 f/4
I have seen great images from the Sigma 100-300 f/4
And also great images from the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 as well.

It comes down to which probably feels best while holding the camera and lens together too ... weght and distributon of weight as well.

Freak · 09-13-2010, 01:55 AM

Originally posted by JohnBee

Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things?

I have looked at them extensively, and i purchase Bigma 50-500 with OS...

But the 100-300 seemed like the much better deal to me, the images were comparable and i actually seemed to prefer the images from the Sigma 100-300.

And the fact that the Pentax has SDM and costs a lot more, made me decide the 100-300 Sigma is on my shortlist for a faster slightly shorter lens for me, at some stage soon..

Check out the forums for reviews, and images from both, but the cost and IQ would sway me towards the Sigma. (Surprising considering the Pentax is a prime) The Weather Resistance of the Pentax is attractive however.

bdery · 09-13-2010, 05:06 AM

Why didn't anyone mention the DA* 50-135 and 60-250? They're extremely well regarded.

Mechan1k · 09-14-2010, 03:38 AM

I am hoping to find out what the 60-250/4 is soon.

jjbuzard · 09-14-2010, 07:38 AM

I currently have a Sigma 70-300 f 4-5.6, which I don't feel is overly sharp and needs bright sunlight to take good pictures, macro is good but at 300 it lacks crispness. So I want a fast lense that will get me to at least 300 and take great pictures.

jjbuzard · 09-14-2010, 07:42 AM

Also what would you recommend to replace the DA 3.5-5.6 18-55 that came with my K10 as a better replacement lense?

JeffJS · 09-14-2010, 07:59 AM

For $1000, how fast and far past 300mm do you expect to go? I don't think there are Any Pentax auto focus lenses you are going to touch with that kind of money. If you have arms like Popeye, the Sigma 50-500 is plenty sharp at 500mm and can be had in your budget.

Quote:

Also what would you recommend to replace the DA 3.5-5.6 18-55 that came with my K10 as a better replacement lense?

Just about any lens out there in that range is going to be an improvement.

**Lowell Goudge** · 09-14-2010, 08:25 AM

if you are willing to look in the used market, the origonal sigma AOP 70-200F2.8 EX is an excellent lens and works very well with the 1.4x and 2x TCs

this gives you the ultimate in speed at lower focal lenghts when needed and length when wanted

JoepLX3 · 09-14-2010, 10:46 PM

And the 50-150 mm is easier to carry

RioRico · 09-15-2010, 03:50 AM

All that money! I have a perfectly nice Tamron 60-300/4-5.6 in KAR mount that cost me an entire US$13. Manual focus, auto aperture. See, you can have it all without blowing a bundle...

At the other extreme (from Better Glass, the subject here) are some of the Taks and other K-mounts I'm selling on the bay now (ID: r*m). The Canon and Leitz glass I'm selling off may be in the Better Glass category, but the A35-80 and the M40-80 just don't get no respect... And how much stuff I don't want must I sell, to be able to afford Better Glass? Let's see, a Sigma 10-20 is how much exactly?

09-12-2010, 06:59 PM	#1
jjbuzard Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40	Better glass I am interested in improving my collection of glass, in the area of 70 to 300mm- 50 to ?? zoom, with a price range of $500 to $1000, as wide open (f-stop) as I can get. any recomdations as to a lense to concider and why?

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09-12-2010, 07:05 PM	#2
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Originally posted by jjbuzard I am interested in improving my collection of glass, in the area of 70 to 300mm- 50 to ?? zoom, with a price range of $500 to $1000, as wide open (f-stop) as I can get. any recomdations as to a lense to concider and why? The two that spring to mind are the: DA* 300mm F4... Sigma 100-300 EX f4

09-12-2010, 07:09 PM	#3
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Originally posted by Freak The two that spring to mind are the: DA* 300mm F4... Sigma 100-300 EX f4 Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things?

09-12-2010, 07:11 PM	#4
JoepLX3 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 518	Do you need that long all the time? - Sigma 50-150 mm F2.8 is also good one

09-12-2010, 07:15 PM	#5
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by JohnBee Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things? John: I own a DA300/4 and previously owned a Sigma 100-300/4 as well. I sold the Sigma to finance the DA. It was a matter of size and weight. Anyway, in terms of IQ at the long end, I will say that they are very similarly great. I don't have any samples ready for show right now, to compare both, but from what I read on other forums as well they both are great lenses. If you need the versatility of a zoom, go Sigma; if not I would definitely pick the DA* for its lesser weight. JP

09-12-2010, 10:33 PM	#6
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	Also keep hearing and seeing good images from the DA* 60-250 f/4 I have seen great images from the Sigma 100-300 f/4 And also great images from the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 as well. It comes down to which probably feels best while holding the camera and lens together too ... weght and distributon of weight as well.

09-13-2010, 01:55 AM	#7
Freak Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 361	Originally posted by JohnBee Any idea how the Sigma compares to the DA* on the 300mm end of things? I have looked at them extensively, and i purchase Bigma 50-500 with OS... But the 100-300 seemed like the much better deal to me, the images were comparable and i actually seemed to prefer the images from the Sigma 100-300. And the fact that the Pentax has SDM and costs a lot more, made me decide the 100-300 Sigma is on my shortlist for a faster slightly shorter lens for me, at some stage soon.. Check out the forums for reviews, and images from both, but the cost and IQ would sway me towards the Sigma. (Surprising considering the Pentax is a prime) The Weather Resistance of the Pentax is attractive however.

09-13-2010, 05:06 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,363	Why didn't anyone mention the DA* 50-135 and 60-250? They're extremely well regarded.

09-14-2010, 03:38 AM	#9
Mechan1k Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,891	I am hoping to find out what the 60-250/4 is soon.

09-14-2010, 07:38 AM	#10
jjbuzard Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40 Original Poster	I currently have a Sigma 70-300 f 4-5.6, which I don't feel is overly sharp and needs bright sunlight to take good pictures, macro is good but at 300 it lacks crispness. So I want a fast lense that will get me to at least 300 and take great pictures.

09-14-2010, 07:42 AM	#11
jjbuzard Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Illinois Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40 Original Poster	Also what would you recommend to replace the DA 3.5-5.6 18-55 that came with my K10 as a better replacement lense?

09-14-2010, 07:59 AM	#12
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	For $1000, how fast and far past 300mm do you expect to go? I don't think there are Any Pentax auto focus lenses you are going to touch with that kind of money. If you have arms like Popeye, the Sigma 50-500 is plenty sharp at 500mm and can be had in your budget. Quote: Also what would you recommend to replace the DA 3.5-5.6 18-55 that came with my K10 as a better replacement lense? Just about any lens out there in that range is going to be an improvement.

09-14-2010, 08:25 AM	#13
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	if you are willing to look in the used market, the origonal sigma AOP 70-200F2.8 EX is an excellent lens and works very well with the 1.4x and 2x TCs this gives you the ultimate in speed at lower focal lenghts when needed and length when wanted

09-14-2010, 10:46 PM	#14
JoepLX3 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 518	And the 50-150 mm is easier to carry

09-15-2010, 03:50 AM	#15
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	All that money! I have a perfectly nice Tamron 60-300/4-5.6 in KAR mount that cost me an entire US$13. Manual focus, auto aperture. See, you can have it all without blowing a bundle... At the other extreme (from Better Glass, the subject here) are some of the Taks and other K-mounts I'm selling on the bay now (ID: r*m). The Canon and Leitz glass I'm selling off may be in the Better Glass category, but the A35-80 and the M40-80 just don't get no respect... And how much stuff I don't want must I sell, to be able to afford Better Glass? Let's see, a Sigma 10-20 is how much exactly?

Better glass

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