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09-27-2011, 05:17 AM   #31
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Lucky for me I dont own ethier of them, I dont like zooms
but from what Ive seen from both lenses the 50-135 is more impressive, but yes it sure is "reliably inferior"!

Post up some shots from your 50-150

09-27-2011, 05:20 AM   #32
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QuoteOriginally posted by JHD Quote
From what I've seen, I'd hardly call the 50-135 "optically superior" but most definitely reliably inferior!
JHD, you've made your position quite clear, you dislike the DA*50-135 and like the Sigma 50-150. We get it.

Honestly, they're both great lenses. I recently had the opportunity to try both (at the same time) and I have to say that I would have been very happy to keep either one. Both are sharp and excellent lenses optically. If I had to give the edge to one optically, I'd probably give it to the DA* as I felt it had slightly more contrast wide open, although it was close. In terms of AF performance, the Sigma was certainly faster (as expected), but the margin wasn't quite as huge as I expected. In terms of build, I would say they are very similar, which is to say both are excellent in this regard.

Which brings us to reliability. Yes, there have been some SDM failures on the DA*50-135, no doubt. What are the chances that a given individual DA*50-135 failures? None of us have any clue that the real numbers are, including JHD. Same goes for the Sigma. I certainly suspect the failure rate for the Sigma is lower than the DA*, but I will not pretend to have any idea by what margain. At the end of the day, everyone has to assess their own ability to tolerate risk and make their decision from there.
09-27-2011, 02:50 PM   #33
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QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
JHD, you've made your position quite clear, like the Sigma 50-150. We get it.
YES! I most definitely like the Sigma 50-150 - as does pretty much everyone else who is lucky enough to own one.
09-27-2011, 03:42 PM   #34
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QuoteOriginally posted by JHD Quote
YES! I most definitely like the Sigma 50-150 - as does pretty much everyone else who is lucky enough to own one.
Well, my original statement (that you took the liberty to edit) was really more about everyone knowing about your dislike of the DA*50-135.

But otherwise you're right, as I mentioned in the above post, the Sigma 50-150 is a great lens and I don't think anyone is trying to argue otherwise. I had one for the past few weeks and had no complaints while I was trying it out. If I didn't already own the DA*50-135 I very likely would have kept it

09-27-2011, 03:58 PM   #35
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Pentax 50-135:
Length: 5.4 in (137.2mm)
Diameter: 3.0 in (76.2mm)
Filter Size: 67mm

Sigma 50-150 non-OS (now discontinued):
Length: 5.5 in (140.2mm)
Diameter: 3.0 in (76.5mm)
Filter Size: 67mm

Sigma 50-150 OS (new, announced but not released):
Length: 7.8 in (197.6mm)
Diameter: 3.4 in (86.4mm)
Filter Size: 77mm

Sigma 70-200 OS:
Length: 7.8 in (197.6mm)
Diameter: 3.4 in (86.4mm)
Filter Size: 77mm

As you can see the old version of the 50-150 sigma was the same size or there abouts as the 50-135, but the new Sigma 50-150 has grown massively and is identical in size to the 70-200.
09-27-2011, 04:04 PM   #36
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QuoteOriginally posted by twitch Quote
As you can see the old version of the 50-150 sigma was the same size or there abouts as the 50-135, but the new Sigma 50-150 has grown massively and is identical in size to the 70-200.
This is true. The 50-150 I was using this weekend was practically identical in size to the 50-135. At quick glance I wasn't always sure which was on the camera when I was trying them both out

It's too bad the newer 50-150 is the same size as the 70-200. I always felt one of the major selling points of the 50-135/50-150 was the smaller size as compared to a conventional 70-200/2.8.
09-28-2011, 12:01 AM   #37
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QuoteOriginally posted by dgaies Quote
I recently had the opportunity to try both (at the same time) and I have to say that I would have been very happy to keep either one. Both are sharp and excellent lenses optically.
I found the same when I compared my 50-150 to a friend's 50-135. Even pixel peeping the photos didn't reveal much difference, it was impossible to tell which lens made which photo without checking exif.
I'm lucky I could get one of the last 50-150's here. Great IQ, faster AF, 3 year warranty, much lower price made it a no brainer to buy

09-28-2011, 09:40 AM   #38
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QuoteOriginally posted by JHD Quote
From what I've seen, I'd hardly call the 50-135 "optically superior" but most definitely reliably inferior!
But you're forgetting, anytime two lenses are very close optically, the Pentax lens is automatically considered to have better optical quality. It may have something to do with Pentax's patent on "pixie dust".

Here are some samples from my Sigma 50-150mm. These aren't all necessarily my favorite/best photos from this lens, but these are the samples I already had available from a while back. I've since gotten many, many other photos that I love with this lens. It has even replaced my beloved Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 as my lens of choice.

I don't have time to upload the full size images right now, but if I get a chance later I might link a few to the original 12MP image. When I do, you'll be able to see that the lens is sharp even wide open at f/2.8.


































































09-28-2011, 09:54 AM - 1 Like   #39
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This thread I put up earlier has a mixture of Sigma 50-150 (non-OS) and DA*300. See if you can guess which are which.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/159268-sports-shanghai-rugby-sevens.html
09-28-2011, 12:31 PM   #40
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QuoteOriginally posted by Frogfish Quote
This thread I put up earlier has a mixture of Sigma 50-150 (non-OS) and DA*300. See if you can guess which are which.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/post-your-photos/159268-sports-shanghai-rugby-sevens.html
I'm going to say number 2 for sure, and possibly 3 and 5 - strictly on account that I suspect those might be shot at longer focal lengths. Apart from that, they all look like they were photographed with the same lens.
09-28-2011, 12:41 PM   #41
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QuoteOriginally posted by Edgar_in_Indy Quote
But you're forgetting, anytime two lenses are very close optically, the Pentax lens is automatically considered to have better optical quality.
Sad, but true.

Nice series BTW. Now you've got me thinking I should pull the K-x out of retirement. I have yet to mount my 50-150 on it.
09-28-2011, 01:20 PM   #42
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QuoteOriginally posted by JHD Quote
I'm going to say number 2 for sure, and possibly 3 and 5 - strictly on account that I suspect those might be shot at longer focal lengths. Apart from that, they all look like they were photographed with the same lens.
#1, 2 & 4 were taken with the K5+Sigma 50-150 with #3 & 5 with the K5+ DA*300 ! All on a monopod.

Very good series Edgar highlighting the quality of the 50-150. # 3 & 5 especially had my wife aaaahing !
09-28-2011, 02:51 PM   #43
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Is it a big thing if Consumer Reports tests and finds that the SDM provided is not "suitable" for the lens?

Much like early M16 rifles were prone to jamming in Vietnam but worked well in "ideal" conditions.
09-29-2011, 04:27 AM   #44
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I have resisted posting here, because so much of the discussion revolves around unkowns. Anecdotally, I have used my DA 50-135 for 3 years without problem. I think the difference between the Sigma and Pentax lenses (other than size with the Sigma update) are colors. Obviously, though those are fixable in post processing. Auto focus speed is "fast enough" on the DA 50-135, although certainly not speedy.

Some samples:







09-29-2011, 05:14 AM   #45
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Nice photos! There's no denying that the 50-135mm has a winning optical formula.
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