[Peter Zack]

You won't see much difference at all from 135mm to 150mm, but the SDM, weather sealed barrel, SMC coating, Quick Shift, and being a Pentax would put the DA*50-135 way ahead of the Sigma 50-150. I don't see any reason at all to choose the Sigma between these two.

If compared w/ the Tamron/Sigma 70-200/2.8, that's another story. Some might choose the latter because its longer reach and FF compatibility. For me, I'd go w/ the 50-135 first, and change to a longer one when Pentax does have a FF dSLR camera

Exactly what he said.

To add, while you're waiting, think of all the lost opportunities!

[Cedar]

*Sigh* Another 30 minutes to wait...

I notice 3 "votes" for the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8, but no replies advocating it that I can tell.

I've made up my mind but would be interested in hearing anyone who wants to speak in favor of the Sigma 50-150?

Thanks again.

[Buddha Jones]

With all the great lenses that Pentax has out and coming down the pike, I cant see myself buying a 3rd party lens for a long while. The ONLY lens that kind of peaks my interest is the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, but it doesnt come in Pentax mount, so that is just a pipe dream. If Pentax made a DA* version of that lens and an eventual DA*300 f/2.8 I'd be in heaven.

[gkopeliadis]

... I've made up my mind but would be interested in hearing anyone who wants to speak in favor of the Sigma 50-150? ...

Ahemm!! I vote for the SIGMA in a way …
I Tested the DA* 50-135. Grate lens in –almost- every aspect but flare control.
See https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/219350-post23.html
Bad pictures but revealing…
Chromatic aberrations @ 100-135mm f2,8-4 are also visible to A4 printing.
So I decided to wait till May for a test to Sigma 50-150.

Photographs withPentax K10D

---

Last edited by gkopeliadis; 04-14-2008 at 06:30 AM.

[egordon99]

Folks - Assuming the HSM on the Pentax-mount Sigma 50-150mm is like all their other HSM lenses (currently for Canikon), it WILL have Quick-Shift (although they don't call it quick shift) and it will also be extremely fast, arguably faster than Pentax's SDM as SDM currently uses a micro-motor USM implementation, whereas HSM uses ring-USM technology.

With that said, I would totally go for the DA* 50-135mm as (1)It's available NOW, and (2)it's a great piece of glass.

[Cedar]

Update: I had the Flickr permissions were set wrong. You should now be able to access/download the 100% crops. Sorry!

Well... the "brand new" in-store 50-135mm didn't have a warranty card, so I spent the extra $9 and bough it from Amazon (gold box).

It arrived late today, and it was too dark to take any photos today. Or so I thought. Foreshadowing.

My first images with the 50-135mm come about because my wife asked me about all the strange butterflies outside on the honey suckle were.

Naturally I grabbed my camera and ran out into the dark to photograph whatever it was for identification.

They're "White-lined sphinx moths" (Hyles lineata) aka "Hummingbird Moths", and like their namesakes, they were never once still.

They hover, and dive, hover and dive.

Even hovering - not sitting - as they visit each flower.

A real challenge for the AF (with that awful on-board "flicker flash"), which performed far better than I would have expected.

Very impromptu. On-board flash (my flash is out on loan and it was dark!). ISO 1600. No PP, except cropping & flickr's auto-resizing for posting (link to full size 100% crops below), auto-metered, contrast/saturation/sharpness all at 0. Jpegs straight from the camera. Best 3 of ~10 shown.

I've never shot this type of scene before, and so don't know how the lens really compares to my others, but from this limited test set, I'm happy with the lens.

• The AF was smooth and quick, surprising considering.
• MF is a bit odd as the focus ring rotates 'past' both range ends (um... is this normal?).
• It zooms nicely and firmly, holding with no creep evident.
• Inverted petal hood blocks AF/MF switch when it really didn't need to.
• I already wish the zoom and focus rings were reversed.

My youngest child is sick; perhaps the doctor's office will provide a more diverse test set tomorrow.

100% crops can be had from my "lens test set" on flicker: Lens Check, Lens Check, 123 - a set on Flickr





100% crops can be had from my "lens test set" on flicker: Lens Check, Lens Check, 123 - a set on Flickr

Constructive (photographic) suggestions and comments are always welcome.

[Oggy]

Hi Cedar - sorry to hear your youngster is not well.

For the record, I reckon you made the right choice. I think the 50-135 is one of Pentax finest. Those pictures look razor sharp. Nice work.

To my mind, the only other option would have been the DA*60-250.

[EricT]

*Sigh* Another 30 minutes to wait...
I notice 3 "votes" for the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8, but no replies advocating it that I can tell.
I've made up my mind but would be interested in hearing anyone who wants to speak in favor of the Sigma 50-150?
Thanks again.

As you will be using the lens for shooting kids parties and sports, focusing speed is very important. That is an area where the Sigma will most likely beat the Pentax.
Nice coatings and maybe slightly better IQ doesn't help if the subject isn't in focus.

Weather/dust-sealing is the deal-breaker for me, though, as I often use my camera in less-than-ideal conditions.

By the way, is it only in the US the Sigma isn't available? I found a European web page which claims it has the Sigma. It's going for about $1000, while the Pentax is almost $1600

[little laker]

Hi Cedar - sorry to hear your youngster is not well.
For the record, I reckon you made the right choice. I think the 50-135 is one of Pentax finest. Those pictures look razor sharp. Nice work.
To my mind, the only other option would have been the DA*60-250.

I hate to say this Oggy, but you bumped up a thread over a year old.
I at least hope that Cedar's youngster is doing better now.

Although I don't think that anyone will argue about the 50 - 135mm's image quality it isn't proving to be very reliable.
On the other hand, it doesn't appear that Sigma has released the 50 - 150 to the Pentax shooters yet. So it would have been a long wait.

[egordon99]

It doesn't appear that Sigma has released the 50 - 150 to the Pentax shooters yet. So it would have been a long wait.

It came out earlier this year...Currently IN STOCK at B&H.

Sigma | 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM Lens for Pentax | 691-109