[zmatt]

I am looking to get a bit more reach from the ground photographing airplanes and from inside down, I think i have come to the conclusion that i am going to get the Sigma Zoom Telephoto 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG AF.

Are there any downsides to this or any recommendations of any other lenses to pick up?

I currently have the K100D super with the kit 18-55 lens

Thanks

[metalfab]

I am looking to get a bit more reach from the ground photographing airplanes and from inside down, I think i have come to the conclusion that i am going to get the Sigma Zoom Telephoto 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG AF.

Are there any downsides to this or any recommendations of any other lenses to pick up?

I currently have the K100D super with the kit 18-55 lens

Thanks

I have the K100D-S and 18-55 lens as well. I was deciding on the Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG and the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Di. After looking at real-world photos (and not pixel peeping) in the PBase database I chose the latter. Both all depend on the user as well but, after pouring over a few hundred shots of each, Tamron seemed to have the most consistent sharp images. My Tamron should be here tomorrow or early next week.

I also have a P-FA 50mm 1.4 that should arrive in the same time frame. Damn LBA has started!

[zmatt]

well i just ordered the tamron too i think its going to be the better choice aswell, i ordered the nice dare i say it cannon slr backpack so i have a reason to get more optics :P

i'm going to tare off the cannon badge off the pack though i cant walk aroudn with that

[The PIPE]

Dear ZMatt:

The PIPE Here...and although it MIGHT be something that might have to be saved up for...

...might the longer focal length of the Sigma 135-400 zoom lens. which I've nicknamed the "Li'l Bigma", be amenable to your own aviation photo-shooting needs?

My early November 2007 thread about my interest in this lens in our Pentax forum here, at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/14659-sigma-s-...-my-k100d.html , even gives a PBase.com link that DOES have some WW II vintage British aircraft shot by one Andy Dunn with this lens (but on a N-i-k-o-n D70 6 MP DSLR) if you look through a goodly number of the pages at that site-the link exists at Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical Lens Sample Photos and Specifications .

I've JUST started saving up for my own example of a Li'l Bigma, for my "sort-of-new" Pentax K100D DSLR, purchased last June...my 12 year old car DOES need a new cat-back exhaust for its Massachusetts emissions inspection by the end of February, that could challenge saving up for this lens during that time...but with the price showing on a vendor's page at Sigma Zoom Telephoto 135 400mm f/4.5 5.6 APO DG Aspherical Autofocus Lens For Pentax that I've had bookmarked since I found it two months ago, THAT "Li'l Bigma" lens...which I can ALSO use on my veteran 1980 vintage Pentax K1000SE film SLR, as it's a FULL FRAME format lens...will hopefully be in my camera bag (with the K100D) by the end of June this year, for LOTS of aviation shots (full size AND radio control scale models) later this year...!!!!

One example of what my K100D can shoot, with the DA 50-200 lens I ordered it with, can be found at https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/79488-post14.html ...especially the LOWER photo...of a "quarter scale" (3 inch to 1 foot scale size) World War I Fokker D VII fighter plane...it HAD to be cropped digitally on my PC to get that "tight" on the plane's image, but with the Li'l Bigma...I'm looking forward to a whole lot LESS cropping being needed...!!!

Going to keep saving up "where I can" for the Li'l Bigma as the winter wears on, towards spring...and be sure to check out Andy Dunn's aviation photos, through a Sigma 135-400 lens, at PBase.com that you've now got the link for, and please let us know what you think of those WW II British aircraft shots of his!

Yours Sincerely,

The PIPE!

[Fl_Gulfer]

If you settle on the 70-300 lenses, either get the Sigma APO 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG or the Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Di. make sure these are the exact ones, they both make the same lens in a cheaper version. Like the Sigma without the APO and the Tamron without the Di .
I have the Tamron and it's a great lens but I wish I would have waited a few months till the Tamron 18-250 came out, But now I have them both...lol

Just remember:::: He Who Dies With The Most Toys, Wins

[Ash]

Agreed.
The Sigma without the APO is indeed a 'cheap' telephoto zoom.
I have it, thinking it was a good deal at the time, and now regret not just going with the DA 50-200.
When I can no longer handle it, I'll upgrade to that Tamron or a Bigma.

So do pay attention to those details Fl Gulfer mentioned...