Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
02-15-2011, 07:19 PM   #1
Pentaxian
Sagitta's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Maine
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,081
Sigma DL Macro Super 70-300mm

Anyone have any experience with the Sigma 70-300mm lenses?

Would the DL Macro function on a K-x or will I be stuck in manual mode?

I went and impulse bought one off eBay ($37, including shipping) then poked through the reviews on here and they only served to puzzle me a bit more about what these lenses are.

If anyone has any sample shots from the lens, I'd love to see them...

02-16-2011, 09:19 AM   #2
Senior Member




Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Salt Lake City UT
Photos: Albums
Posts: 182
I have a version of this lens rebranded as a Quantaray (Ritz camera rebrands - but the rear lens cap has the greek letter for sigma printed on the inside ). The lens has a macro capability at 300mm via a switch on the side of the lens. When you zoom to 300mm, you can flip the switch into macro mode. This will allow the lens to focus to about 3 feet, which is half-life size (1:2) at this focal length. This macro capability is ONLY available at 300mm and engaging the macro mode locks the lens at 300mm - you must bring the focus of the lens back to normal (non-macro) range in order to disengage the switch and adjust the zooming of the lens again.

My experience with this lens seems to match the ratings in the third party lens reviews (6.5-7.5/10 rating). Construction is decent overall but the lens is a little weighty due to the metal used in the build. The focus seems a tad sluggish for a screw driven focus lens. At 300mm, the lens is a little soft. Its a fair lens, and since there arent a lot of options for Pentax users for 200-300mm+ this isnt a bad lens option. For $37 Id say you did well (the lens listed for $199-249 new 12 ish years ago - I paid $199 for mine). I dont use mine as much anymore as I find that my 50-135 provides superior image quality cropped compared to this lens up to about 200-225mm, however, if I absolutely need the reach above that point, this lens works out well enough.
02-16-2011, 09:41 AM   #3
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 550
QuoteOriginally posted by PentaxScott Quote
I have a version of this lens rebranded as a Quantaray (Ritz camera rebrands - but the rear lens cap has the greek letter for sigma printed on the inside ). The lens has a macro capability at 300mm via a switch on the side of the lens. When you zoom to 300mm, you can flip the switch into macro mode. This will allow the lens to focus to about 3 feet, which is half-life size (1:2) at this focal length. This macro capability is ONLY available at 300mm and engaging the macro mode locks the lens at 300mm - you must bring the focus of the lens back to normal (non-macro) range in order to disengage the switch and adjust the zooming of the lens again.

My experience with this lens seems to match the ratings in the third party lens reviews (6.5-7.5/10 rating). Construction is decent overall but the lens is a little weighty due to the metal used in the build. The focus seems a tad sluggish for a screw driven focus lens. At 300mm, the lens is a little soft. Its a fair lens, and since there arent a lot of options for Pentax users for 200-300mm+ this isnt a bad lens option. For $37 Id say you did well (the lens listed for $199-249 new 12 ish years ago - I paid $199 for mine). I dont use mine as much anymore as I find that my 50-135 provides superior image quality cropped compared to this lens up to about 200-225mm, however, if I absolutely need the reach above that point, this lens works out well enough.
The macro mode works from 200mm to 300mm not just at 300mm. But for 1:2 yes you need to be at 300mm. Just wanted to add this information. I'd try looking into the APO version as it is better in terms of IQ. Same design and all but can be identified with the red line around the barrel. and it says APO.
02-16-2011, 11:06 AM   #4
Senior Member




Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Salt Lake City UT
Photos: Albums
Posts: 182
QuoteOriginally posted by epqwerty Quote
The macro mode works from 200mm to 300mm not just at 300mm. But for 1:2 yes you need to be at 300mm. Just wanted to add this information. I'd try looking into the APO version as it is better in terms of IQ. Same design and all but can be identified with the red line around the barrel. and it says APO.
Yours may, but mine does not (Mine may not be the 'super' version and just the regular...it was a rebrand after all). There seem to have been several revisions of this lens (the database here lists 4 - 2 DL and 2 DG) where in every case Ive seen the optical formula remains VERY similar. One revision, which was "claimed" to be the best, had the APO designation, but I havent seen or heard anything that makes one stand out among the rest.

Interestingly enough, Tamron also made a lens around the same time frame that was also a 70-300 with a macro switch at 300. Ive seen some versions of this lens that had a macro switch from 180-300, although I dont recall if that was a Sigma or Tamron version.

02-16-2011, 12:16 PM   #5
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ontario
Posts: 550
Hrm Something new I didn't know. I thought all the versions of it went from 200-300 in macro mode. My mistake. I know one version of the tamron has 180-300 for macro mode. As for sample pictures. I'm going to refer you to the post in the Beginner Corner forum as there is another topic similar to this one and I've posted some pictures from my APO version of the lens in that post.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-beginners-corner-q/133420-good-sec...ns-my-k-x.html
02-16-2011, 06:03 PM   #6
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
QuoteOriginally posted by epqwerty Quote
The macro mode works from 200mm to 300mm not just at 300mm. But for 1:2 yes you need to be at 300mm. Just wanted to add this information. I'd try looking into the APO version as it is better in terms of IQ. Same design and all but can be identified with the red line around the barrel. and it says APO.
All that is accurate. Here is one hand-held "macro" shot, about 20 inches away.
I always had trouble with the sticky macro switch.


That was before the lens suffered an aperture-blade death, apparently while on the shelf :-(
02-16-2011, 07:02 PM   #7
Junior Member
sambo's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 41
I have the non-APO DL macro (bought in Singapore 1999) and mine only lets you use the macro switch at 300 and locks the zoom - weird that there are different versions. Image quality is pretty bad wide open (low contrast, soft etc.) but is actually not bad stopped down to F8 or so. The zoom ring on mine isn't very smooth, but it helps to minimize zoom creep. I don't find the screw drive focus slow, but it will hunt in low light. I think you will have some fun with it for $37, and can probably recoup your investment if you find you want something else.

02-16-2011, 07:37 PM   #8
Pentaxian
Sagitta's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Maine
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,081
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by sambo Quote
I have the non-APO DL macro (bought in Singapore 1999) and mine only lets you use the macro switch at 300 and locks the zoom - weird that there are different versions. Image quality is pretty bad wide open (low contrast, soft etc.) but is actually not bad stopped down to F8 or so. The zoom ring on mine isn't very smooth, but it helps to minimize zoom creep. I don't find the screw drive focus slow, but it will hunt in low light. I think you will have some fun with it for $37, and can probably recoup your investment if you find you want something else.
This is what I figured when I grabbed it. Since I was popping back and forth to the forums here to look at the ratings on the different lenses I was seeing on eBay, when I spotted this I figured "eh, if the lens isn't my bag, I can always resell the thing".
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
70-300mm, dl, k-mount, lenses, macro, pentax lens, sigma, sigma dl macro, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DL Macro Super? LadyRo Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 06-01-2010 09:11 AM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 70-300mm DL macro super nicholas621 Sold Items 6 12-17-2009 12:04 AM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma DL Macro Super 70-300mm f/4-5.6 1:2 Macro Lens, Worldwide Ship! wallyb Sold Items 10 12-16-2009 10:36 PM
For Sale - Sold: New Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DL Macro Super II $95 jake14mw Sold Items 4 05-15-2009 12:22 PM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DL Macro Super drabina Sold Items 4 05-12-2008 11:16 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:08 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top