What's the best zoom for sports?

Class A · 02-16-2011, 01:47 AM

The K100D super definitely supports SDM lenses (the K100D doesn't). No doubt about it.

N.B., the other difference the K100D super brought was sensor cleaning (and a slightly different JPG engine).

**Rondec** · 02-16-2011, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by highyellow1

The K100D and K10D came out at the same time. I remember b/c I orginally purchased the K100D b/c the K10D was on backorder. I would eventually uprgade to the K10D. I'm pretty sure that the K100D super came out afterwards allowing the SDM.

So if we're talking about production dates (or offering to public) I think he is correct. Right?

You are right. I had gotten the K100 and K100 super confused in my mind. K100 super was release about 9 or 10 months after the K10 was. Both could use SDM, but the k10 was the first.

**andre-mz5** · 02-16-2011, 09:04 AM

Great job and well done Adam.
I have the Sigma 70-200 HSM without the OS and it is my workhorse for indoor sports now. I have just recently upgraded from K7 to K5 so that will give even more options for indoor sports.
My DA* 50-135 which was the workhorse before the 70-200 has now been assigned to portrait work where AF speed is not the first priority.
I am eager to see your comparison of the Sigma 120-300 against the Pentax primes. I don't have the FA*300, but the DA*300 and I am pretty pleased with that lens.

Entropy · 02-16-2011, 09:44 AM

I think it would have been beneficial, if B&H had been willing, to also compare the older Sigma non-OS HSM 70-200. It is still available and Sigma doesn't appear to be discontinuing it (probably realizing that Tamron would kill them in the Pentax market if they did).

OS alone isn't worth the $600 price delta from the Sigma non-OS to me, but if the image quality doesn't suffer significantly, $80 (the price delta from the Tamron to the non-OS Sigma HSM) would be worth it for HSM. Also, if the image quality of the OS Sigma is significantly improved from the non-OS, it would possibly be worth the money.

Ubuntu_user · 02-16-2011, 05:18 PM

I have owned two copies of the Sigma 70-200mm HSM non-OS and neither were very satisfactory in my opinion. I decided I'd give the 50-150mm a try and have been extremely pleased with it's image quality. It's sharper wide open than the Tamron 70-200mm from my experience.

jake14mw · 02-18-2011, 07:46 AM

If there is going to be a test done with the 120-300, I hope a 100-300 f4 could be included there. I'm lucky enough to own that lens, and I absolutely love it. It would be very interesting to see whether the additional stop is worth all that additional money.

RonHendriks1966 · 02-18-2011, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by jake14mw

If there is going to be a test done with the 120-300, I hope a 100-300 f4 could be included there. I'm lucky enough to own that lens, and I absolutely love it. It would be very interesting to see whether the additional stop is worth all that additional money.

and again a lens that can be tested at 135mm/f4 and also a lot of the mentionet lenses can be tested at 200mm/f4 or 200mm/f2.8 and 300mm/f4.

pop4 · 02-18-2011, 08:34 PM

As an owner of the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM II (non-OS), here's a few things I'd like to comment on

Quote:

The Sigma, again, is high-tech. But Sigma got it all wrong and for some reason reversed both the order and the sliding direction of the focusing and zoom rings, making it hard for a Pentaxian to get used to them.

Reversing of the order of the focusing and zoom rings on the OS version as in the review does seem to be silly and it's a decision I question, but the HSM II version has the rings in a logical and easy to use order. And with regards to the direction (whether focus or zoom), it's never bothered me at all; and this is from someone that owns several Sigma lenses that zoom in different directions (yep, not all Sigmas zoom in the same direction)

Quote:

The Tamron's....rear cap is very difficult to put on compared to the Pentax cap, as it must be lined up to a single spot

The Sigma's....rear cap, like the Tamron's, is a pain to put on.

I've never had an issue with either Tamron or Sigma lens caps, and I have my fair share of Sigma lens caps; just line the dots up, and they go on without an issue.

I do appreciate the review and comparison though (and I believe the rest of the community appreciates it too), and the things said about the Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM OS confirms my personal opinion that if someone wants a Sigma 70-200/2.8, unless they have money to burn, then it's a smarter choice to get the older 70-200/2.8 HSM II model. Nothing I have read has indicate that the IQ from the OS version is noticeably improved over the non-OS version.

Class A · 02-19-2011, 02:11 AM

Originally posted by pop4

I've never had an issue with either Tamron or Sigma lens caps, and I have my fair share of Sigma lens caps; just line the dots up, and they go on without an issue.

+1

The cheap Pentax caps that just pop on or off without any alignment, on the other hand, are a disgrace, AFAIC. They fall off just by being stared at. I replaced the cheap plastic cap that came with my FA 50/1.4 with a Sigma cap and have been happy since. If that cap is on, it stays on.

Ubuntu_user · 02-20-2011, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by pop4

Nothing I have read has indicate that the IQ from the OS version is noticeably improved over the non-OS version.

Have you read the two reviews over at dpreview? From my limited reading, it has been clear that IQ is improved.

ewig · 02-20-2011, 02:56 PM

interesting to see ..sigma had a really really lot of tempted choice in long range zoom ..

150-500
120-400
50-500

and now here...

sigma 120-300/2,8

just great.....

Arpe · 02-20-2011, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by Class A

They fall off just by being stared at.

Remind me not to look at you!

pop4 · 02-20-2011, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by Ubuntu_user

Have you read the two reviews over at dpreview? From my limited reading, it has been clear that IQ is improved.

I have now, and it does look like from their testing, that the MTF-50 values are generally improved.

Class A · 02-20-2011, 10:27 PM

Originally posted by Arpe

Remind me not to look at you!

Me?
I'm no friggin' Pentax lens cap!

Arpe · 02-21-2011, 12:41 AM

Originally posted by Class A

Me?
I'm no friggin' Pentax lens cap!

No but you were staring at.. never mind!!

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02-16-2011, 01:47 AM	#16
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	The K100D super definitely supports SDM lenses (the K100D doesn't). No doubt about it. N.B., the other difference the K100D super brought was sensor cleaning (and a slightly different JPG engine).

02-16-2011, 07:23 AM	#17
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,652	Originally posted by highyellow1 The K100D and K10D came out at the same time. I remember b/c I orginally purchased the K100D b/c the K10D was on backorder. I would eventually uprgade to the K10D. I'm pretty sure that the K100D super came out afterwards allowing the SDM. So if we're talking about production dates (or offering to public) I think he is correct. Right? You are right. I had gotten the K100 and K100 super confused in my mind. K100 super was release about 9 or 10 months after the K10 was. Both could use SDM, but the k10 was the first.

02-16-2011, 09:04 AM	#18
andre-mz5 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eindhoven Photos: Gallery Posts: 268	Great job and well done Adam. I have the Sigma 70-200 HSM without the OS and it is my workhorse for indoor sports now. I have just recently upgraded from K7 to K5 so that will give even more options for indoor sports. My DA* 50-135 which was the workhorse before the 70-200 has now been assigned to portrait work where AF speed is not the first priority. I am eager to see your comparison of the Sigma 120-300 against the Pentax primes. I don't have the FA300, but the DA300 and I am pretty pleased with that lens.

02-16-2011, 09:44 AM	#19
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	I think it would have been beneficial, if B&H had been willing, to also compare the older Sigma non-OS HSM 70-200. It is still available and Sigma doesn't appear to be discontinuing it (probably realizing that Tamron would kill them in the Pentax market if they did). OS alone isn't worth the $600 price delta from the Sigma non-OS to me, but if the image quality doesn't suffer significantly, $80 (the price delta from the Tamron to the non-OS Sigma HSM) would be worth it for HSM. Also, if the image quality of the OS Sigma is significantly improved from the non-OS, it would possibly be worth the money.

02-16-2011, 05:18 PM	#20
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	I have owned two copies of the Sigma 70-200mm HSM non-OS and neither were very satisfactory in my opinion. I decided I'd give the 50-150mm a try and have been extremely pleased with it's image quality. It's sharper wide open than the Tamron 70-200mm from my experience.

02-18-2011, 07:46 AM	#21
jake14mw Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 977	If there is going to be a test done with the 120-300, I hope a 100-300 f4 could be included there. I'm lucky enough to own that lens, and I absolutely love it. It would be very interesting to see whether the additional stop is worth all that additional money.

02-18-2011, 05:08 PM	#22
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by jake14mw If there is going to be a test done with the 120-300, I hope a 100-300 f4 could be included there. I'm lucky enough to own that lens, and I absolutely love it. It would be very interesting to see whether the additional stop is worth all that additional money. and again a lens that can be tested at 135mm/f4 and also a lot of the mentionet lenses can be tested at 200mm/f4 or 200mm/f2.8 and 300mm/f4.

02-18-2011, 08:34 PM	#23
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	As an owner of the Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 HSM II (non-OS), here's a few things I'd like to comment on Quote: The Sigma, again, is high-tech. But Sigma got it all wrong and for some reason reversed both the order and the sliding direction of the focusing and zoom rings, making it hard for a Pentaxian to get used to them. Reversing of the order of the focusing and zoom rings on the OS version as in the review does seem to be silly and it's a decision I question, but the HSM II version has the rings in a logical and easy to use order. And with regards to the direction (whether focus or zoom), it's never bothered me at all; and this is from someone that owns several Sigma lenses that zoom in different directions (yep, not all Sigmas zoom in the same direction) Quote: The Tamron's....rear cap is very difficult to put on compared to the Pentax cap, as it must be lined up to a single spot The Sigma's....rear cap, like the Tamron's, is a pain to put on. I've never had an issue with either Tamron or Sigma lens caps, and I have my fair share of Sigma lens caps; just line the dots up, and they go on without an issue. I do appreciate the review and comparison though (and I believe the rest of the community appreciates it too), and the things said about the Sigma 70-200/2.8 HSM OS confirms my personal opinion that if someone wants a Sigma 70-200/2.8, unless they have money to burn, then it's a smarter choice to get the older 70-200/2.8 HSM II model. Nothing I have read has indicate that the IQ from the OS version is noticeably improved over the non-OS version.

02-19-2011, 02:11 AM	#24
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by pop4 I've never had an issue with either Tamron or Sigma lens caps, and I have my fair share of Sigma lens caps; just line the dots up, and they go on without an issue. +1 The cheap Pentax caps that just pop on or off without any alignment, on the other hand, are a disgrace, AFAIC. They fall off just by being stared at. I replaced the cheap plastic cap that came with my FA 50/1.4 with a Sigma cap and have been happy since. If that cap is on, it stays on.

02-20-2011, 09:31 AM	#25
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	Originally posted by pop4 Nothing I have read has indicate that the IQ from the OS version is noticeably improved over the non-OS version. Have you read the two reviews over at dpreview? From my limited reading, it has been clear that IQ is improved.

02-20-2011, 02:56 PM	#26
ewig Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 312	interesting to see ..sigma had a really really lot of tempted choice in long range zoom .. 150-500 120-400 50-500 and now here... sigma 120-300/2,8 just great.....

02-20-2011, 04:28 PM	#27
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Originally posted by Class A They fall off just by being stared at. Remind me not to look at you!

02-20-2011, 06:58 PM	#28
pop4 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: YMML Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,879	Originally posted by Ubuntu_user Have you read the two reviews over at dpreview? From my limited reading, it has been clear that IQ is improved. I have now, and it does look like from their testing, that the MTF-50 values are generally improved.

02-20-2011, 10:27 PM	#29
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by Arpe Remind me not to look at you! Me? I'm no friggin' Pentax lens cap!

02-21-2011, 12:41 AM	#30
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	Originally posted by Class A Me? I'm no friggin' Pentax lens cap! No but you were staring at.. never mind!!