Alternative for Sigma APO 100-300mm f4 EX DG

gut1kor · 04-14-2011, 03:19 AM

Hi,

After reading the lens review, I wanted to buy this lens for my k-x. How ever I found that this lens is discontinued and it is difficult find one from a trusted source. Apart from choosing DA* 300mm f4, is there any alternative to that Sigma zoom (any range till 400mm) which close or better than that in optical quality and IQ?

As I never shot with a telephoto prime as of now, i would like to go for this high quality zoom. Please suggest.

Cheers
Guna

chrism_scotland · 04-14-2011, 03:32 AM

I don't know anything about it but this is listed on the Sigma website as being available in a Pentax Mount:
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm

Frogfish · 04-14-2011, 03:41 AM

Originally posted by chrism_scotland

I don't know anything about it but this is listed on the Sigma website as being available in a Pentax Mount:
120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM
Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm

Exactly the lense I was going to suggest (120-400). An excellent 'compromise' lense. Not as sharp or fast as expensive 2.8s or 200/300 primes but a very nice lense, with a very nice price, all the same.

Zav · 04-14-2011, 04:35 AM

Originally posted by chrism_scotland

Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm

The Bigma is actually the 50-500 and it is supposed to have the best optical quality of the Sigma telezooms with variable aperture.

chrism_scotland · 04-14-2011, 04:40 AM

Originally posted by Zav

The Bigma is actually the 50-500 and it is supposed to have the best optical quality of the Sigma telezooms with variable aperture.

Doh I knew there was a 50 in there!!! Even better and yes I've read people recommending it, I don't really use a telephoto myself.

Ubuntu_user · 04-14-2011, 06:49 AM

I haven't heard many good things about the 120-400mm Sigma... It's a budget lens, and it's IQ speaks for that...

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-14-2011, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by gut1kor

Hi,

After reading the lens review, I wanted to buy this lens for my k-x. How ever I found that this lens is discontinued and it is difficult find one from a trusted source. Apart from choosing DA* 300mm f4, is there any alternative to that Sigma zoom (any range till 400mm) which close or better than that in optical quality and IQ?

As I never shot with a telephoto prime as of now, i would like to go for this high quality zoom. Please suggest.

Cheers
Guna

perhaps not the answer you were looking for but you may wish to try the combo I use. You will, however need to deal in the used market.

I use the origonal AP) 70-200F2.8 with both the 1.4x and 2X teleconverters.

The reason I like this option is that if I don;t absolutely need the additional length, I have a much faster lens. unfortunately, most high end tele zooms are constant aperture, I would like the 100-300 much more if it was F2.8 or something like that at the short end,

The reason I suggest the non DG version of the 70-200 is that it has the reputation of being the sharpest of all the sigma 70-200 lenses both wide open and at 200mm.

Entropy · 04-14-2011, 10:27 AM

Really depends on if you need the speed.

If not - Bigma!

If so - A 70-200 + 1.4x TC is probably your best bet.

**Lowell Goudge** · 04-14-2011, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by Entropy

Really depends on if you need the speed.

If not - Bigma!

If so - A 70-200 + 1.4x TC is probably your best bet.

but if he is going for the A70-200, why not go AF and get the generation 1 sigma lens. It for sure will be better than the A lens. No offence to the A lens but this is one area where the first generation sigma really does set a standard for quality

Frogfish · 04-14-2011, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by Ubuntu_user

I haven't heard many good things about the 120-400mm Sigma... It's a budget lens, and it's IQ speaks for that...

There were samples posted on here (I think) by someone who bought the 120-400 - for the price it's a very capable lense ... though not in the same league as the 100-300 or *300 of course.

RonHendriks1966 · 04-14-2011, 02:23 PM

There is also coming the Sigma 120-300mm/f2.8 EX DG OS HSM coming towards the summer in Pentax mount. Not a cheap alternative.

Pentaxor · 04-14-2011, 06:36 PM

how about the Pentax 60-250 ?

goddo31 · 04-14-2011, 07:36 PM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

how about the Pentax 60-250 ?

That's what I was going to say.
I recently got the DA* 60-250 and really it's an excellent lens. It is only 250mm at the long end but there's a lot of room for cropping due to the sharpness of it...

DogLover · 04-14-2011, 08:47 PM

If something happened to my 100-300 (God forbid), I would probably go with either the DA*300 or the 60-250, and probably the latter because I do use the zoom pretty frequently. Why Sigma discontinued that lens is a definite head-scratcher to me. How many folks do they think are really gonna spend three times as much for the 120-300? Plus, we Pentaxians can't use any of their current TC's with that lens. My total lens + TC investment is still well less than half what that lens alone costs, it gives me up to 420mm, and has (to my eye, anyway), about 97 to 98% of the IQ of that lens. How was that not a successful product for them?

highyellow1 · 04-15-2011, 11:47 PM

How is the DA* 60-250 on AF speed/accuracy?

04-14-2011, 03:19 AM	#1
gut1kor Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bangalore Photos: Albums Posts: 176	Alternative for Sigma APO 100-300mm f4 EX DG Hi, After reading the lens review, I wanted to buy this lens for my k-x. How ever I found that this lens is discontinued and it is difficult find one from a trusted source. Apart from choosing DA* 300mm f4, is there any alternative to that Sigma zoom (any range till 400mm) which close or better than that in optical quality and IQ? As I never shot with a telephoto prime as of now, i would like to go for this high quality zoom. Please suggest. Cheers Guna

04-14-2011, 03:41 AM	#3
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by chrism_scotland I don't know anything about it but this is listed on the Sigma website as being available in a Pentax Mount: 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm Exactly the lense I was going to suggest (120-400). An excellent 'compromise' lense. Not as sharp or fast as expensive 2.8s or 200/300 primes but a very nice lense, with a very nice price, all the same. Last edited by Frogfish; 04-14-2011 at 05:28 AM.

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04-14-2011, 03:32 AM	#2
chrism_scotland Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 76	I don't know anything about it but this is listed on the Sigma website as being available in a Pentax Mount: 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm

04-14-2011, 04:35 AM	#4
Zav Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,371	Originally posted by chrism_scotland Also theres the "Bigma" 150-500mm The Bigma is actually the 50-500 and it is supposed to have the best optical quality of the Sigma telezooms with variable aperture.

04-14-2011, 04:40 AM	#5
chrism_scotland Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 76	Originally posted by Zav The Bigma is actually the 50-500 and it is supposed to have the best optical quality of the Sigma telezooms with variable aperture. Doh I knew there was a 50 in there!!! Even better and yes I've read people recommending it, I don't really use a telephoto myself.

04-14-2011, 06:49 AM	#6
Ubuntu_user Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,545	I haven't heard many good things about the 120-400mm Sigma... It's a budget lens, and it's IQ speaks for that...

04-14-2011, 09:36 AM	#7
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by gut1kor Hi, After reading the lens review, I wanted to buy this lens for my k-x. How ever I found that this lens is discontinued and it is difficult find one from a trusted source. Apart from choosing DA* 300mm f4, is there any alternative to that Sigma zoom (any range till 400mm) which close or better than that in optical quality and IQ? As I never shot with a telephoto prime as of now, i would like to go for this high quality zoom. Please suggest. Cheers Guna perhaps not the answer you were looking for but you may wish to try the combo I use. You will, however need to deal in the used market. I use the origonal AP) 70-200F2.8 with both the 1.4x and 2X teleconverters. The reason I like this option is that if I don;t absolutely need the additional length, I have a much faster lens. unfortunately, most high end tele zooms are constant aperture, I would like the 100-300 much more if it was F2.8 or something like that at the short end, The reason I suggest the non DG version of the 70-200 is that it has the reputation of being the sharpest of all the sigma 70-200 lenses both wide open and at 200mm.

04-14-2011, 10:27 AM	#8
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Really depends on if you need the speed. If not - Bigma! If so - A 70-200 + 1.4x TC is probably your best bet.

04-14-2011, 12:53 PM	#9
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,886	Originally posted by Entropy Really depends on if you need the speed. If not - Bigma! If so - A 70-200 + 1.4x TC is probably your best bet. but if he is going for the A70-200, why not go AF and get the generation 1 sigma lens. It for sure will be better than the A lens. No offence to the A lens but this is one area where the first generation sigma really does set a standard for quality

04-14-2011, 02:11 PM	#10
Frogfish Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shanghai Posts: 4,490	Originally posted by Ubuntu_user I haven't heard many good things about the 120-400mm Sigma... It's a budget lens, and it's IQ speaks for that... There were samples posted on here (I think) by someone who bought the 120-400 - for the price it's a very capable lense ... though not in the same league as the 100-300 or *300 of course.

04-14-2011, 02:23 PM	#11
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	There is also coming the Sigma 120-300mm/f2.8 EX DG OS HSM coming towards the summer in Pentax mount. Not a cheap alternative.

04-14-2011, 06:36 PM	#12
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	how about the Pentax 60-250 ?

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04-14-2011, 07:36 PM	#13
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	Originally posted by Pentaxor how about the Pentax 60-250 ? That's what I was going to say. I recently got the DA* 60-250 and really it's an excellent lens. It is only 250mm at the long end but there's a lot of room for cropping due to the sharpness of it...

04-14-2011, 08:47 PM	#14
DogLover Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,054	If something happened to my 100-300 (God forbid), I would probably go with either the DA300 or the 60-250, and probably the latter because I do use the zoom pretty frequently. Why Sigma discontinued that lens is a definite head-scratcher to me. How many folks do they think are really gonna spend three times as much for the 120-300? Plus, we Pentaxians can't use any of their current TC's with that lens. My total lens + TC investment is still well less than half what that lens alone costs, it gives me up to 420mm, and has (to my eye, anyway), about 97 to 98% of the IQ of that lens. How was that not* a successful product for them?

04-15-2011, 11:47 PM	#15
highyellow1 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 77	How is the DA* 60-250 on AF speed/accuracy?