PF Holiday Loyal Site Supporter Special | December Pentax Lens Tournament

saladin · 02-21-2012, 07:17 PM

Hi all.

I'm thinking of upgrading the DA 18-55 series 1 kit lens (supplied with my K10). I'd like to have a full-frame (in case pentax ever release one!) and have found two sigma's - 20-40mm 2.8 EX DG, and the 24-60 2.8 EX DG at fairly decent prices. Ignoring the various focal length issues, I'm wondering whether either of these discontinued lenses would be a clear step up in IQ from the DA kit? Certainly the constant 2.8 has some appeal for indoor/low light use, but i'm unsure whether the gain in IQ is there or if i should just save for current glass (in doing so I probably have to drop the FF idea unless i get the 24-70 siggy? not sure what else is out there for a general zoom).

Cheers.

Steinback · 02-21-2012, 07:44 PM

I have the older Sigma 24-70 which is definitely a step up from the kit lens. Flare resistance isn't as good with bright light sources in or near the frame and I lost quick shift focus override but the image quality is better and shooting at f/2.8 or 3.2 across the whole range in poor light is a major improvement. 24-70mm does work nicely for indoor portraits and events if I don't need to do group portraits in a tight space. I expect that the 20-40mm on 24-60mm are better than the kit lens in their common range as well but I don't have any direct experience with them.

To some extent which other lenses you are considering picking up could impact your decision. I no longer have the kit lens, but I do have several very good long zoom lenses and I am working on picking up an ultrawide lens for the times that 24mm isn't wide enough. If you want a direct replacement for the kit lens and have no intention of picking up something wider (or continuing to use the kit lens for 18 to 24mm) then the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 may be a better choice.

I still have several film cameras that can use the Sigma 24-70, which was another factor in my decision to buy it.

sterretje · 02-21-2012, 09:30 PM

Both lenses are in the lens database Sigma Lenses for Pentax: Legacy Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Note that the reviews are subjective.

mgvh · 02-22-2012, 01:28 PM

I'll vouch for the quality of the full-frame Sigma 24-135mm F2.8-4.5 Aspherical IF as a big improvement over my DA-L 18-55.

02-21-2012, 07:17 PM	#1
saladin Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 398	Superceded siggy Full frame walk-about lenses? Hi all. I'm thinking of upgrading the DA 18-55 series 1 kit lens (supplied with my K10). I'd like to have a full-frame (in case pentax ever release one!) and have found two sigma's - 20-40mm 2.8 EX DG, and the 24-60 2.8 EX DG at fairly decent prices. Ignoring the various focal length issues, I'm wondering whether either of these discontinued lenses would be a clear step up in IQ from the DA kit? Certainly the constant 2.8 has some appeal for indoor/low light use, but i'm unsure whether the gain in IQ is there or if i should just save for current glass (in doing so I probably have to drop the FF idea unless i get the 24-70 siggy? not sure what else is out there for a general zoom). Cheers.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lenses that can do Full Frame in the lens DB	Flickeroo	Site Suggestions and Help	8	03-05-2018 04:33 PM
Full Frame lenses and value if a FF camera is introduced	olivemike	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	22	01-16-2012 11:20 PM
Hopes for the future? Pentax full frame (ff), K-5, and lenses	Clinton	Pentax DSLR Discussion	35	09-05-2010 05:07 PM
If Pentax goes full frame, will they promote 645 lenses to fill the lens gap?	turbosaturn	Pentax News and Rumors	17	07-10-2010 09:36 PM
Full Frame Lenses	Taff	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	41	10-25-2009 01:00 AM

02-21-2012, 07:44 PM	#2
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	I have the older Sigma 24-70 which is definitely a step up from the kit lens. Flare resistance isn't as good with bright light sources in or near the frame and I lost quick shift focus override but the image quality is better and shooting at f/2.8 or 3.2 across the whole range in poor light is a major improvement. 24-70mm does work nicely for indoor portraits and events if I don't need to do group portraits in a tight space. I expect that the 20-40mm on 24-60mm are better than the kit lens in their common range as well but I don't have any direct experience with them. To some extent which other lenses you are considering picking up could impact your decision. I no longer have the kit lens, but I do have several very good long zoom lenses and I am working on picking up an ultrawide lens for the times that 24mm isn't wide enough. If you want a direct replacement for the kit lens and have no intention of picking up something wider (or continuing to use the kit lens for 18 to 24mm) then the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 may be a better choice. I still have several film cameras that can use the Sigma 24-70, which was another factor in my decision to buy it.

02-21-2012, 09:30 PM	#3
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Both lenses are in the lens database Sigma Lenses for Pentax: Legacy Zoom Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database Note that the reviews are subjective.

02-22-2012, 01:28 PM	#4
mgvh Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 943	I'll vouch for the quality of the full-frame Sigma 24-135mm F2.8-4.5 Aspherical IF as a big improvement over my DA-L 18-55.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Superceded siggy Full frame walk-about lenses?

PF Holiday Loyal Site Supporter Special | December Pentax Lens Tournament