[slip]

Would you sell a Sigma 70 -200mm f2.8 EX APO NON HSM and a *50-135mm f2.8 for a *60-250 f4?
My biggest fear is the jump from 2.8 to f4 would just be too much difference.
Sports and portraits would be the uses. Is the Sigma in a class of it's own when it comes to autofocus speed?

Any and all opinions welcome!

Thanks

Randy

[Anvh]

Never used the Sigma but own the 50-135 and have had the 60-250 enough times in my hands.

Many that had both do sell the 50-135 and i can see why the 60-250 is more pratical.
However it's not just the aperture but also the handling and the images that are different, i'm probably one of the few that dislike the 60-250.
but in general i dislike most of the Pentax zooms so...

Since you own the 70-200 which i believe is very good for sports and the 50-135 which is good for portraits i do believe it's grazy to sell them for a DA*60-250. The 50mm gain on the long end really isn't that much.

[pearsaab]

Would you sell a Sigma 70 -200mm f2.8 EX APO NON HSM and a *50-135mm f2.8 for a *60-250 f4?
My biggest fear is the jump from 2.8 to f4 would just be too much difference.
Sports and portraits would be the uses. Is the Sigma in a class of it's own when it comes to autofocus speed?

Any and all opinions welcome!

Thanks

Randy

I owned the 70-200 and my husband has the 50-135 and I have the 60-250...unless you need the weather resistance I wouldn't do it...I am very happy with the 60-250 but bought it at 1200?? ...I wouldn't pay 1800 for it or whatever the price is...the 70-200 is an excellent lens and if full frame comes out i'm sure it's value will go up as well

[joe.penn]

Is the Sigma in a class of it's own when it comes to autofocus speed?

I had both the Sigma 70~200 (OS Version) and the 50~135 at the same time - the sigma focused quite a bit faster, almost no comparison. I never had the 60~250 but did have the *300 and the Sigma was also way faster in focusing, my guess would be with the design of the 60~250 the Sigma HSM would topple that one also in AF speed.

[pearsaab]

the non hsm is not as fast as the hsm

[steve1307]

I've had exactly NONE of those lenses before but all did look at the 70-200 HSM II when it was cheap and the DA*60-250 before getting a DA*300.

Both the 70-200 and the 50-135 you have are internal zoom but the 60-250 extends by about 1/2 its length in zooming.
I'm not sure if thats a consideration for you since you might be used to internal zoom, but might be worth noting.
Other users say the 60-250 zoom is pretty tight and creep is not an issue (well it has to be weatherproof after all)

[hoanpham]

Personally, no. 60-250/4 might be too slow and too short.

If sport is concern, AF of *50-135/2.8 is slow when you compare with Sigma HSM.
Again if you try and compare with nikon AF system, Sigma is slower. Nikon AF is the best AF system I have tried.
Canon is some what in between. Both canikon systems are expensive.
Pentax/sigma is cheapest, but also slow and may not suite for indoor sport evens.

[Tonto]

Just some advice to add: do you shoot at F2.8?
A K5iis has ALOT of ISO headroom so if you don't plan on using a TC I would consider it- the 60-250 by most accounts is an exceptional lens.
I would be more loath to sell something like the 50-135 due to its smaller size and gets down to portrait friendly 50mm.
So of course it also boils down to what you use your lenses on.

[hoanpham]

It's not about shooting at f2.8. It's about AF consistency in low light and AF speed.
Pentax AF system is rated as f5.6 under normal condition, but I found that is the low limit and won't trust AF system in this range.

A split screen is a good aid: you can see if focus is not optimal and just grab the focus ring to adjust.
I missed a few important shot earlier. Split screen was installed after that incident - I am now depending on the split screen, even with AF.

[RonHendriks1966]

Well I had some lenses. I have the Sigma OS version, owned DA*50-135 . DA*60-250 and DA*300.

- So the Sigma OS version is just as fast going true it's range in focussing as is the 60-250, only due to faster responce for starting the Sigma will win every shot.
- When AF and consistency is your main issue then remember that your next camera (like K-5 II or next) will have the centre f2.8 AF-point off witch you only take advantage with a fast lens like the Sigma or the DA*200mm. The f4-lenses do take advantage from the new and more consistent AF- module, but not from the fast centre-point.

I liked my DA*60-250mm a lot but sold it since I now use DA*300 for outdoor sports and the sigma for indoor sports.

[bdery]

Would you sell a Sigma 70 -200mm f2.8 EX APO NON HSM and a *50-135mm f2.8 for a *60-250 f4?

Is there a problem with the lenses you own now? Why do you want to replace them?

For me the answer was that the 60-250 is smaller than the 70-200, lighter, has more reach, silent AF, weather sealing. But if I already owned the others, I might not want to replace them.

[Sandy Hancock]

At one time I had the Sigma 70-200 (HSM, non-OS), the DA*50-135 and the DA*60-250. I sold the DA*60-250 and still have the other two.

I didn't like the size the DA*60-250 extended to at 250mm and the extra reach was trivial. The sigma focusses much faster and much closer, and gives better sharpness at equivalent apertures, and I do enough low light shooting that f/2.8 matters.

For IQ, the DA*50-135 knocks the DA*60-250 (and the Sigma to a lesser extent) out of the park, and it doesn't grow like Pinocchio's nose when you zoom in.

[RonHendriks1966]

For IQ, the DA*50-135 knocks the DA*60-250 (and the Sigma to a lesser extent) out of the park, and it doesn't grow like Pinocchio's nose when you zoom in.

Oooooh my 60-250 was better then my 50-135, but both where excellent.