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07-12-2014, 05:34 PM   #1
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1st Round Pick: What's your favorite third party?

I just wanted to see if any of you experienced photographers would care to share who is your third party lens manufacturer of choice and maybe some insight as to why. I'm hoping this topic could be of benefit to some of us with little to no experience.

So this is the question: If you could only own Pentax K-mount bodies(sorry, no switching to Canon or Nikon) but no Pentax lenses, who would be the first third party company(old or new) that you would turn to for K-mount lenses? ...and if you don't mind why?

I haven't formed this opinion yet, because I haven't owned any to compare.

07-12-2014, 05:43 PM   #2
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Sigma is really the only third party choice. They have a much more complete lineup than Tamron, and Tamron isn't really making any new Pentax lenses. Even Sigma is cutting Pentax out of some of their new lenses (50mm Art, 24-105 etc).
07-12-2014, 05:48 PM   #3
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Sigma.
07-12-2014, 06:02 PM   #4
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Tamron. My Adaptall-2 collection comprises most of my favorites. Also Vivitar Series 1, especially the earlier ones.

07-12-2014, 06:03 PM   #5
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I buy what I need at the price I can afford for the quality I'm looking for. I have SIGMA and TAMRON lenses, both of which are very good.
Pentax also make good lenses, yet all brands make crap lenses.
07-12-2014, 06:05 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Steve.Ledger Quote
I buy what I need at the price I can afford for the quality I'm looking for. I have SIGMA and TAMRON lenses, both of which are very good.
Pentax also make good lenses, yet all brands make crap lenses.
I donīt think Pentax can afford to make crap lenses... (except for the 50-200 perhaps? But then, it is WR and thatīs nice for itīs price point)

Last edited by carrrlangas; 07-13-2014 at 11:01 AM. Reason: Wrong lens
07-12-2014, 06:17 PM   #7
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In general, Sigma, but my Tamron 70-200 is a piece of beauty. I feel like clapping every time I see the images it makes.

07-12-2014, 06:33 PM   #8
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KMZ...


Steve

(...betcha didn't see that one coming did you?)
07-12-2014, 06:36 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Trudger1272 Quote
If you could only own Pentax K-mount bodies(sorry, no switching to Canon or Nikon) but no Pentax lenses, who would be the first third party company(old or new) that you would turn to for K-mount lenses?
Cosina (as in Cosina-Zeiss and Cosina-Voigtlaender).
QuoteOriginally posted by Trudger1272 Quote
...and if you don't mind why?
They're the best lenses I have
(and apart from one Tamron,
my only third-party K-mount lenses).
07-12-2014, 07:05 PM   #10
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I love Tamron, but Sigma's newer lenses are better, and Tamron has stopped supporting Pentax for new lenses.

Pentax doesn't have much 3rd party support any more, so I'd be surprised if it wasn't near-unanimous. Some people might be fans of Samyang.
07-12-2014, 07:36 PM   #11
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It depends on the particular lens specifications. Sigma is making some good new stuff, but the Tamron 90 macro, 28-75 and 70-200 are excellent. I had and sold the original unimpressive Pentax 50-200, but the copy of the WR version I have seems much better and I frequently take it rather than lugging the larger and heavier Tamron.
07-12-2014, 08:05 PM   #12
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I'm one of those strange people who uses only Pentax branded lenses. Sigma does make some nice lenses, but I cannot stand having lenses with rings that turn opposite to everything else. I had a lens some years ago that zoomed in the opposite fashion to may other lenses. I lost many shots that way.

Recommendation: Search the lens database on these forums to see the user notes on the lenses.
07-12-2014, 08:22 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
KMZ... Steve (...betcha didn't see that one coming did you?)
I actually never heard of KMZ! I'll be reading up on this one.
07-12-2014, 08:22 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by Trudger1272 Quote
What's your favorite third party?
Sigma - is there any other choice?
07-13-2014, 04:47 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by wildman Quote
Sigma - is there any other choice?
Agreed - for current production Sigma is probably the best bet.

However, for legacy lenses Tamron offers some great products. The one which springs to mind for me is the SP 180/2.5. I never owned one but used one for a week and it was an outstanding lens.

Tom G

Last edited by 8540tomg; 07-13-2014 at 04:47 AM. Reason: typo
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