[trog100]

i would describe the sigma apo version as excellent.. the cheaper variants are nearly as good.. mine is very usable (focuses well) and sharp even wide open at 300mm..

none of the current 70 to 300mms are bad even the cheapest tamron version which is still sharp wide open but might have a few more fringes..

not much choice thow unless u want to spend vast fortunes for faster glass..

there might be bad copies about thow i dont know..

trog

ps.. i have sample pics from the sigma apo and the cheaper tamron.. also from the tamron 18 x 200.. sigma 28 to 300 and a few other super zooms like the tokina 35 to 300.. and my panasonic fz20 bless it.. he he

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Last edited by trog100; 12-29-2006 at 08:04 AM.

[trog100]

a sigma apo dg 70 x 300.. macro at 300mm.. full frame shot.. jpeg straight from the camera..

"superb" aint a bad description image quality wise..



trog

[mutley]

As there is no motor in the Pentax version, how does the in-camera focusing motor work with that lens, and what camera are you using it on?

Thanks,

Larry

[joele]

This was shot with the Tamron 70-300 LD Macro on my Pentax *ist DS

[trog100]

the sigma pic was handheld useing a k100.. joels tamron pic kinda backs up my statement that none of them are bad..

the lens uses the body motor just like any autofocus pentax lens its slower because things have to move further.. given reasonable light it will get a bird in flight thow whcih is good enough for me.. point it press the shutter and take pic.. pic is in focus.. in poor light it/they will hunt a bit but thats to be expected.. i dont like to use a tripod so its all handheld stuff.. given the sr and good iso performance on a k100 F5.6 at the long end is good enough for most things..

my son has the tamron and i bought the sigma to compare the two.. i could have bought the tamron..

the tamron is cheaper both are sharp the more expensive apo sigma dg perhaps has less fringes but they both function nicely..

the bottom line is there aint much in it.. both are designed to compete with each other and that they do..

trog

ps.. the two tamron/sigma samples i have tried both maintain good centre sharpness wide open.. which is important on a long lens..

[GregNS]

I'm no pro photographer, but I have had a lot of fun with my Sigma 70-300 DG Macro. I have heard a number of negative things about this lens, but my one (APO version) has done quite fine by me :-)

Handheld at 300mm.

[Alvin]

Edvinas - left me hanging here looking at some modestly priced yet very attractive 70-300's. Got any sample pics from your 80-320? You guys are feeding my LBA - very badly. LOL.

[wipearl]

Tri State Camera & Video has the Tamron 70 - 300 lens for $179.95!

Here's mine.

70-300 Promaster f4 - 5.6 Macro

ISO800, F4.5, 1/125 & 180mm (270fov)

[trog100]

nice pic eddy.. so whats a promaster.. i thought it looked like an older tamron but there is an 18 x 200 promaster which is a tamron lens that hasnt been a around that long..

not a name i have come across.. are they just tamrons under another name..

trog

nice pic eddy.. so whats a promaster.. i thought it looked like an older tamron but there is an 18 x 200 promaster which is a tamron lens that hasnt been a around that long..

not a name i have come across.. are they just tamrons under another name..

trog

Promaster Lenses are, I understand, only sold in the US.

The 70-300 that I have looks, and feels, very much like a Tamron Lense.

I use it quite a bit. I has a good solid feel to it and appears to have a good build.

Promaster is a group of dealers called Photographic Research Inc. who have banded together and have equpment branded with Promaster. If you look at their website, the have a full line of accessories. I think that they are best know for their Flash stuff.

[trog100]

yes just had a quick google.. looked at their website then came across this..

"Promaster is a private label name for the Ritz Camera chain"..

not sure about the ritz camera thing but they dont make anything just market other makes of photographic gear under the promaster name.. u have a tamron of sorts i think.. quantaray is another name that do this i think..

trog

yes just had a quick google.. looked at their website then came across this..

"Promaster is a private label name for the Ritz Camera chain"..


trog

I can't find that on their website. could you furnish a link to that???

Ed

[Alvin]

Eddy and Trog,

Here's the link I found. It does look like a Tamron. Slight differences here and there.

Promaster

Eddy - nice shot of that spider.

[trog100]

"Promaster is a private label name for the Ritz Camera chain"

it wasnt on their website eddy it was in another forum where someone was asking about the name.. it could be false information.. which is why i said i wasnt sure about it..

the promaster 18 x 200 is definitely a rebadged tamron.. but i think they rebadge other lenses to make their line up.. some quite strange looking ones i dont recognize..

trog