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beaumont · 03-20-2008, 11:25 AM

Newby here. Currently have the stock 18-45(?) on my Digital Pentax and am looking for a little more zoom. Am currently considering both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 50-200. While I know that it is not an apples-to-apples comparison as the range differs, I'm wondering if there is a difference in quality? I use the camera primarily for the kids photos (ie soccer etc). Also thought it would be a good time to upgrade prior to a trip to Disneyland. Any thoughts would be appreciated...thx in advance.

drabina · 03-20-2008, 11:50 AM

I do not own the 50-200mm lens but I do own 70-300mm Sigma and use it to chase my 1.5 year old at the playground. The lens is fine. The AF is not very fast but the image quality is great. And that's not the APO version of the lens. It is actually 105-450mm when you consider the 1.5x factor. This means that sometimes I need to stand far away from the subject. It OK most of the time but sometimes I wish the lens would start at 50mm. It is a trade of though because I think I use the 300mm end more than I would use 50mm. So I would definitely recommend it, but again, I did not compare both lenses.

Geekybiker · 03-20-2008, 12:04 PM

Originally posted by drabina

I do not own the 50-200mm lens but I do own 70-300mm Sigma and use it to chase my 1.5 year old at the playground. The lens is fine. The AF is not very fast but the image quality is great. And that's not the APO version of the lens. It is actually 105-450mm when you consider the 1.5x factor. This means that sometimes I need to stand far away from the subject. It OK most of the time but sometimes I wish the lens would start at 50mm. It is a trade of though because I think I use the 300mm end more than I would use 50mm. So I would definitely recommend it, but again, I did not compare both lenses.

Thats more or less my experience with it. Its "fine". If you get critical with it there are alot of things to pick apart, but it works okay to take pics. Just avoid high contrast lighting situations while shooting on the long end. (Purple fringe has been the only real objectional thing about the lens going in with adjusted expectations)

The 50-200 is probably a better lens than the 70-300 DL. Is It better than the 70-300 APO or the tamron equivilant? Not sure. I just knew for a cheap lens that I couldn't use a TC the 70-300 was a better bet for the pics I wanted to take.

Jodokast96 · 03-20-2008, 12:28 PM

My kids soccer games is the #1 use of my Sigma. Can't remember when I wished it were shorter, but I do find myself wishing it were longer a lot. So I just picked up a 1.4x AF TC to go with it. So much better! For a $200 lens, I couldn't ask for more. I have the APO version and have yet to see any CA with it. Here are a few unedited examples of it at 300mm Re: [Lens] Which lens for K100d S - dslreports.com.

jshurak · 03-20-2008, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by beaumont

Newby here. Currently have the stock 18-45(?) on my Digital Pentax and am looking for a little more zoom. Am currently considering both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 50-200. While I know that it is not an apples-to-apples comparison as the range differs, I'm wondering if there is a difference in quality? I use the camera primarily for the kids photos (ie soccer etc). Also thought it would be a good time to upgrade prior to a trip to Disneyland. Any thoughts would be appreciated...thx in advance.

Would you consider the Pentax 18-250. I think that might be the best suited for Disneyland. I feel you might find yourself backing up quite a bit with the other two.....it is, of course, a little more money.

beaumont · 03-20-2008, 01:19 PM

Thanks muchly for all of the feedback (especially considering that I believe I posted this under the wrong category). Sounds like it's more a question of the range that an issue quality. Decision making time. Thanks again. (And great photos of the robin etc!)

Geekybiker · 03-20-2008, 01:47 PM

This is a sigma 70-300 dl

potd031608 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031508 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031408 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The photos aren't anything special, just the examples I have up. Just got it recently.

Last edited by Geekybiker; 03-20-2008 at 03:09 PM.

beaumont · 03-20-2008, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by Geekybiker

This is a sigma 70-300 dl

potd031608 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031508 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031408 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
potd031008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

The photos aren't any special, just the examples I have up. Just got it recently.

Thanks for posting these. Is your lens the APO version?

Geekybiker · 03-20-2008, 03:05 PM

Originally posted by beaumont

Thanks for posting these. Is your lens the APO version?

Non-apo. Got it used on ebay.

drabina · 03-20-2008, 06:26 PM

BTW: Anybody knows the difference between APO, DG and DL versions? Actually I know that APO is better quality than DG but have really no idea where DL stands in this comparison.

Thanks.

SpecialK · 03-20-2008, 07:15 PM

My previous contribution.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/4768-lens-comp...-70-300-a.html

jshurak · 03-21-2008, 08:56 AM

Here's a set of shots shot entirely with an older (2000ish) version of the sigma 70-300. Here's one of the shots, full res (as much as flickr will allow!) for detail

beaumont · 03-21-2008, 08:31 PM

Thank you all for the feedback, and the examples. Sounds like a person can't go wrong with either as there seem to be no significant knocks on either lens. Hopefully this newby will return some knowledge back to the forum some day...

OniFactor · 03-21-2008, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by beaumont

Thank you all for the feedback, and the examples. Sounds like a person can't go wrong with either as there seem to be no significant knocks on either lens. Hopefully this newby will return some knowledge back to the forum some day...

personally, i recommend going with one brand or the other for your beginner kits. if you've got the Pentax 18-55, get the Pentax 50-200. if you've got the sig, get the sig.. if you've got a tam, get a tam..

simple reasoning behind this is that you get a unified look, seeing as how each optic formula produces different looking results from the other brand, and companies tend to have most of their stuff look the same. oh, and color cast from glass isn't as noticeable if you have all the same brand

03-21-2008, 08:56 AM	#12
jshurak Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 626	Here's a set of shots shot entirely with an older (2000ish) version of the sigma 70-300. Here's one of the shots, full res (as much as flickr will allow!) for detail Last edited by jshurak; 03-21-2008 at 09:01 AM.

03-21-2008, 08:31 PM	#13
beaumont Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 505 Original Poster	Both sound ok... Thank you all for the feedback, and the examples. Sounds like a person can't go wrong with either as there seem to be no significant knocks on either lens. Hopefully this newby will return some knowledge back to the forum some day...

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03-20-2008, 11:25 AM	#1
beaumont Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 505	Sigma 70-300 or Pentax 50-200? Newby here. Currently have the stock 18-45(?) on my Digital Pentax and am looking for a little more zoom. Am currently considering both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 50-200. While I know that it is not an apples-to-apples comparison as the range differs, I'm wondering if there is a difference in quality? I use the camera primarily for the kids photos (ie soccer etc). Also thought it would be a good time to upgrade prior to a trip to Disneyland. Any thoughts would be appreciated...thx in advance.

03-20-2008, 11:50 AM	#2
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	I do not own the 50-200mm lens but I do own 70-300mm Sigma and use it to chase my 1.5 year old at the playground. The lens is fine. The AF is not very fast but the image quality is great. And that's not the APO version of the lens. It is actually 105-450mm when you consider the 1.5x factor. This means that sometimes I need to stand far away from the subject. It OK most of the time but sometimes I wish the lens would start at 50mm. It is a trade of though because I think I use the 300mm end more than I would use 50mm. So I would definitely recommend it, but again, I did not compare both lenses.

03-20-2008, 12:04 PM	#3
Geekybiker Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 337	Originally posted by drabina I do not own the 50-200mm lens but I do own 70-300mm Sigma and use it to chase my 1.5 year old at the playground. The lens is fine. The AF is not very fast but the image quality is great. And that's not the APO version of the lens. It is actually 105-450mm when you consider the 1.5x factor. This means that sometimes I need to stand far away from the subject. It OK most of the time but sometimes I wish the lens would start at 50mm. It is a trade of though because I think I use the 300mm end more than I would use 50mm. So I would definitely recommend it, but again, I did not compare both lenses. Thats more or less my experience with it. Its "fine". If you get critical with it there are alot of things to pick apart, but it works okay to take pics. Just avoid high contrast lighting situations while shooting on the long end. (Purple fringe has been the only real objectional thing about the lens going in with adjusted expectations) The 50-200 is probably a better lens than the 70-300 DL. Is It better than the 70-300 APO or the tamron equivilant? Not sure. I just knew for a cheap lens that I couldn't use a TC the 70-300 was a better bet for the pics I wanted to take.

03-20-2008, 12:28 PM	#4
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	My kids soccer games is the #1 use of my Sigma. Can't remember when I wished it were shorter, but I do find myself wishing it were longer a lot. So I just picked up a 1.4x AF TC to go with it. So much better! For a $200 lens, I couldn't ask for more. I have the APO version and have yet to see any CA with it. Here are a few unedited examples of it at 300mm Re: [Lens] Which lens for K100d S - dslreports.com.

03-20-2008, 12:54 PM	#5
jshurak Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: philadelphia Posts: 626	Originally posted by beaumont Newby here. Currently have the stock 18-45(?) on my Digital Pentax and am looking for a little more zoom. Am currently considering both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 50-200. While I know that it is not an apples-to-apples comparison as the range differs, I'm wondering if there is a difference in quality? I use the camera primarily for the kids photos (ie soccer etc). Also thought it would be a good time to upgrade prior to a trip to Disneyland. Any thoughts would be appreciated...thx in advance. Would you consider the Pentax 18-250. I think that might be the best suited for Disneyland. I feel you might find yourself backing up quite a bit with the other two.....it is, of course, a little more money.

03-20-2008, 01:19 PM	#6
beaumont Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 505 Original Poster	Thanks muchly for all of the feedback (especially considering that I believe I posted this under the wrong category). Sounds like it's more a question of the range that an issue quality. Decision making time. Thanks again. (And great photos of the robin etc!)

03-20-2008, 01:47 PM	#7
Geekybiker Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 337	This is a sigma 70-300 dl potd031608 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031508 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031408 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! The photos aren't anything special, just the examples I have up. Just got it recently. Last edited by Geekybiker; 03-20-2008 at 03:09 PM.

03-20-2008, 03:03 PM	#8
beaumont Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 505 Original Poster	Originally posted by Geekybiker This is a sigma 70-300 dl potd031608 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031508 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031408 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! potd031008 on Flickr - Photo Sharing! The photos aren't any special, just the examples I have up. Just got it recently. Thanks for posting these. Is your lens the APO version?

03-20-2008, 03:05 PM	#9
Geekybiker Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 337	Originally posted by beaumont Thanks for posting these. Is your lens the APO version? Non-apo. Got it used on ebay.

03-20-2008, 06:26 PM	#10
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	BTW: Anybody knows the difference between APO, DG and DL versions? Actually I know that APO is better quality than DG but have really no idea where DL stands in this comparison. Thanks.

03-20-2008, 07:15 PM	#11
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,482	My previous contribution. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/4768-lens-comp...-70-300-a.html

03-21-2008, 09:01 PM	#14
OniFactor Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Binghamton, NY, USA Posts: 643	Originally posted by beaumont Thank you all for the feedback, and the examples. Sounds like a person can't go wrong with either as there seem to be no significant knocks on either lens. Hopefully this newby will return some knowledge back to the forum some day... personally, i recommend going with one brand or the other for your beginner kits. if you've got the Pentax 18-55, get the Pentax 50-200. if you've got the sig, get the sig.. if you've got a tam, get a tam.. simple reasoning behind this is that you get a unified look, seeing as how each optic formula produces different looking results from the other brand, and companies tend to have most of their stuff look the same. oh, and color cast from glass isn't as noticeable if you have all the same brand

Sigma 70-300 or Pentax 50-200?

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!