[Shanti]

Hi I know this has been a topic recently as well.. need to get something between 50-200 F2.8 Pentax Da 50-135 I know SDM issues but the new model should be better, Sigma 50-150 many around now after the Sigma sale..seems good IQ,but risky to get it sent from US or outside of EU (possible damage going through customs , and then theres the SIgma 70-200 and the Tamron 70-200.As i have no way of even seeing these lenses here must rely on reviews etc....
need it for animals,nature landscape,concerts. Have the DA300 which I love,and will get a wide angle as well soon,but that's easier to choose from..
Anyone with all these lenses and comments will be helpful. Must be 2.8 as light here is not always so good.. Tamron has macro which I need as well. Have a 50mm 1.7 and a 135 3.5 manual lenses which are OK fro some subjects(not moving) and a AF 1.7 TC. I know Sigma & TC are no go.Probably buy new as warranty is nice and I don't pay tax as a business...
The DA 60-250 also fits but priced above my budget just now and close to 300,so redundant I think.
Any good suggestions from those who know

[Gilzuma]

What is your primary use for this lens? I bought a 50-150 used here in Japan and I really like it. It's light and small, fast focus, perfect for my purpose. I keep a 55-300 for those times where I need the extra reach outdoors. Great lens... Wish they still made it.

[Ash]

Tamron 70-200 is a fine lens. Bigger and heavier than the 50-135, but it has decent AF speed on the K-5 and the closer focusing does come in handy. All are considered sharp lenses. Choose the focal length range you need for your photography. The rest is hardly anything to split hairs over.

[Shanti]

What is your primary use for this lens? I bought a 50-150 used here in Japan and I really like it. It's light and small, fast focus, perfect for my purpose. I keep a 55-300 for those times where I need the extra reach outdoors. Great lens... Wish they still made it.

Hi mostly nature,animals,and some concerts..have you had any problems with your lens? as I know Sigma is hit or miss sometimes with zooms and $$$ service here if repair is needed

[MBT74]

I had a Sigma 70-200 and currently have a used 50-150. The 70-200 was big and heavy but fast to focus and accurate. But the weight and size was too much for concerts and 70mm is too long at the short end of the range for most gig work.

The 50-150 is a superb lens. Fast, accurate focus and sharp photos. It's lighter and easier to handle. If I need 200mm I'll take the DA*200 prime but for most of my concert shooting the 50-150 has been long enough. And 50mm is a better short end.

[ChooseAName]

Be aware that even though the Tamron is labeled as "Macro," I don't believe it's a true macro lens, that is, it doesn't produce the magnification that a real macro lens does. It apparently focuses pretty close though. The Tamron also has the advantage of coming with a 6 year warranty, although I must admit I have no idea if this is US only.

[slip]

I have the *50 -135mm f2.8 and the Sigma 70 - 200mm f2.8 EX APO non SMC.
The amazing thing I like about the *lens is how accurate it produces skin tones with my k5iis. It is perfect for concerts as long as your seat is not too far away.
If you are shooting animals that are likely a fair distance away or moving, then it would be hard to beat the Sigma 70 - 200mm f2.8.
The Sigma 50 - 150mm F2.8 sounds like a good compromise but might be too short for some animals.
So if I had to pick one for a compromise, it would be the Sigma 50 - 150mm F2.8.
If the autofocus is as good as the 70 -200mm f2.8 you are going to be very happy

Good luck with your decision

Randy

[Ash]

The Tamron 70-200 is indeed not a true macro (zooms generally aren't) but does focus quite closely. It's MFD is 95cm, which at 200mm produces about 1:3 magnification.

[ChatMechant]

I think having 50mm on the short end is more useful than having 200 on the long end. Especially since you have the 300. And the 50-135 is nice and compact for indoor event type stuff.

[Rondec]

I think either the Sigma 50-150 or the Pentax 50-135 are great lenses. HSM in the Sigma will be faster at focusing than the SDM in the Pentax and should be more reliable as well. I have thought about flipping my Pentax for a Sigma, but I like the Pentax too well -- great colors. Sharp wide open and not too big compared to the 70-200 zooms that are out there.

[Lowell Goudge]

i think there are really a couple of issues here that need to be addressed, not just how to get to 500mm or how many zooms you think you need.

I shoot a lot of wildlife, and have multiple long lens options, but the one that I always come back to is the following

Sigma APO 70-200/2.8 EX (Non DG, Non Macro) plus either 1.4x or 2x Sigma APO teleconverters.

My zoom lens is the original 70-200. it does not have Digital coatings on the rear element (but i have never had an issue with reflections off the sensor) . Unltil perhaps the latest OS-HSM II lens from sigma it is the sharpest both wide open and at 200 mm of all the lenses. The macro versions all got soft at maximum focal length and maximum aperture.

with this lens plus TCs I have the best of all worlds. F2.8 between 70 and 200mm, and have options with the TCs over ultimate length and speed. Heavy, perhaps about 1.7 kilos for the lens alone, but well worth it. I would hazard to say sharper at 400 (using the 2x TC) than any of the sigma 500mm zooms.

the down side, you need to buy on the used market to get the lens, since newer HSM lenses do not work with the older sigma TC and sigma does not yet have (to my knowledge) a 2x TC which supports HSM

the other options in the 300Plus are all primes. the lightest and lowest cost prime lens method to get to 500mm is the DA300/4 and the SMC-F 1.7x AF converter. this is a TC with its own focusing elements, which when used with a long lens gives AF in a range selected by the lens manual focus collar .

I use this TC with the K300/4 as well and it can produce results but the older lenses suffer from some CA.

the real point is, do you want just a long 400-500mm lens, or a zoom, which covers several ranges?

[Gilzuma]

Hi mostly nature,animals,and some concerts..have you had any problems with your lens? as I know Sigma is hit or miss sometimes with zooms and $$$ service here if repair is needed

I haven't had any problems with the lens. It's focus fast and accurate in good lighting (I think that's more a limitation of the K5 in low light then the lens). It's sharp but at 50 and 150 it is a little softer, this is noticeable at 2.8. For indoor work its great, perfect for quiet environments. For outdoor, medium distance work it's nice too because you can get that nice bokeh and isolate the subject. I've had no problems with my second hand lens, I love it... I'm considering moving to a standard zoom from Sigma because of their beautiful and silent HSM!

[Driline]

I just received the Pentax DA* 50-135 yesterday via an Ebay purchase. This lens is 4 years old and looks like it just came out of the box brand new. I'm very impressed with the image quality of this lens. Here's a picture with low light I just took of the dog using a K-5 ISO 3200 F3.5. Amazing detail even in these poor light conditions. Imagine the IQ taken outside with good light.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Edgar_in_Indy]

The dog looks to be extremely impressed by the new lens. Kind of reminds me of the look I get from my wife whenever I talk about needing a new lens.

[Driline]

The dog looks to be extremely impressed by the new lens. Kind of reminds me of the look I get from my wife whenever I talk about needing a new lens.

Or a new Harley Davidson Motorcycle. Pretty sure I'm gonna win that one