Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
02-08-2015, 07:40 PM   #31
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
jatrax's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Washington Cascades
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,991

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.


QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
$2000! I thought one advantage of having a camera with in body stabilization was supposed to be you don´t need to spend so much to squeeze a stabilization system into the lens
That is a common opinion. It does not really seem to hold true in the real world. Hard to make one to one comparisons up to now, but the announced DFA 70-200 is right in the ball park with Nikon and Canon 70-200's. Most other lenses in production have been priced very close to the competition.

After all, Canon and Nikon are not selling their bodies cheaper than Pentax because they don't have IS built in are they?

02-08-2015, 07:46 PM   #32
Site Supporter
VoiceOfReason's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mishawaka IN area
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,124
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
....and all that stuff....

do you mean IF (so the nose don´t stick out when you zoom) and HSM (faster & quieter AF)?
IF simply means that the front element doesn't turn when it focuses. It still extends when it zooms. Here's the link to the lens on Sigma's site, though it shows Pentax is discontinued it is in their current lineup as a current lens. It is HSM so is silent focusing an fast too, EX, so their better stuff, and I have one but the lens hood sucks for APSC, but it is a good lens.

24-70mm F2.8 IF EX DG HSM - Standard Zoom Lenses - SigmaPhoto.com
02-08-2015, 08:01 PM   #33
Veteran Member
JimmyDranox's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Ploiesti, Romania
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,632
There was at least one Sigma 24-70 without HSM. Also EX DG, so, for FF, but no continue manual focus over auto. I didn't know more, unless that this older version can be find at a more affordable price on Ebay, than his HSM brother.
02-08-2015, 08:26 PM   #34
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
Original Poster
Voice, do you reckon the HSM is good value for the extra money it costs compared to the non-HSM siblings?

02-08-2015, 08:43 PM   #35
Site Supporter
VoiceOfReason's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mishawaka IN area
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,124
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
Voice, do you reckon the HSM is good value for the extra money it costs compared to the non-HSM siblings?
Yes, since it is the latest version, with the most upgrades in it, is silent and fast focusing, and from what I understand holds its sharpness better than the other versions and the Tamron too throughout the zoom range. If you're going to get a modern one I would definitely go for it.
02-08-2015, 11:32 PM   #36
Des
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Des's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Victoria Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,410
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
Des if you are toying seriously with the same idea then maybe this is for you?
Thanks for the tip @windhorse - I had seen it new for $299 but not $249. Free postage in Aus too. Undoubtedly a bargain.

I'll tell you why I am hesitating, in case any of this is relevant to you or others:
1. Weight - 550g. Doesn't sound a lot (about the same as the DA*16-50) but it's about 100g more than APS-C standard lenses like the Sigma 17-70 C. Even the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is about 100g lighter. A combination of two, maybe three, compact primes (e.g. FA 28, DA 35, DA 40, FA 43, DA 50 and DA 70) would also weigh less.
2. Range - I have a 12-24, so 24-60 (or 24-70 or 28-75 or 24-90) would be complementary. But on APS-C some overlap would be useful: more width would mean fewer lens changes (especially when we are talking about two fairly bulky lenses). That's why 24-60 and the like are not so popular these days as 16-xx, 17-xx or 18-xx lenses for APS-C.
3. FF advantage? All else being equal, having a FF compatible zoom would be some advantage. But is it really a compelling reason? Even if I do ultimately get a FF camera, it wouldn't be until the price settles down - ie at least two years from now. If I did, shelling out for a high quality wide-normal lens might well be part of the deal. (Might be a decent kit lens sold with it, who knows?) I would be inclined to prepare for FF by concentrating instead on snaring the odd prime (especially at useful FF lengths such as 24 or 28, 135, 200). To put it another way, which do you think would be worth more in 2017: a Sigma 24-60 (or 24-70 or Tamron 28-75) or say a Pentax F 135 (which can now be had for about $300)?
4. Speed - Constant f2.8 would be useful, but not essential for me, especially as much of my shooting is outdoors and I have 35, 43, 50, 77 and 100 primes that are f2.8 or faster. A lens that was a little slower (e.g. the Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 or even the new Pentax 16-85, once the price comes down) would be OK if the IQ was in the same park. If it isn't, there's always the Tamron 17-50 f2.8, which does seem to be in the same park.
5. Gap - I don't have a wide-normal zoom, except my Tamron superzoom (and actually it's not half bad at the wide-normal end, especially when stopped down). But I'm using primes more often now and as mentioned I have good coverage with primes from 35-100 (maybe too good - hard to justify keeping both 43 and 50). I wouldn't use a DA 15 or 21 much with the 12-24 (which I like very much). If there is a gap, what is missing most is a good wide prime (or prime-standard zoom) between my (near-prime-quality) 12-24 and DA 35. FA 31 and DA 20-40 Ltd are too expensive at present, Sigma 30 doesn't appeal, so that leaves 24 and 28. Still thinking about the FA 28, but as many have said the absence of a current prime between 21 and 31 is an obvious deficiency in the Pentax lineup. There has to be a DFA prime (or premium zoom, assuming the DA 20-40 is not FF compatible?) coming in that range. Maybe the wide zoom shown on the roadmap might be a FF compatible top shelf 12-28 or 15-30 or something like that, which might provide a partial answer? Or maybe 25-34mm isn't really a gap worth worrying about?
6. PP support - The Sigma 24-60 is not supported by my PP program, DxO Optics Pro (Sigma 24-70 and Tamron 28-75 are supported, as are Tamron 17-50 and Pentax 20-40). Makes for more manual processing, and I don't want to switch programs. Might seem a trivial consideration to others, but not to me.
7. Trying to rationalise my kit. I told myself I would have no more lenses by the end of the year than at the start. I'm one behind already!

For all that, I'm still tempted ..! (LBA might be in remission, but there ain't no cure.)

Last edited by Des; 02-09-2015 at 12:27 AM.
02-09-2015, 12:30 AM   #37
Junior Member




Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Canberra
Posts: 35
QuoteOriginally posted by Des Quote
Moving away from the hypothetical $2000 lenses to affordable (stopgap?) lenses ....

No-one has mentioned the Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX: www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/sigma-24-60mm-f2-8-ex-dg.html
Lighter than the Sigma 24-70 f2.8, highly rated, extra 4mm at the wide end over Tamron 28-75, more common 77mm filters, relatively cheap (they seem to have been cleared out at giveaway prices when the 24-70 came out). The missing mm at the long end aren't so critical if paired with a good 50-xxx, 60-xxx or 70-xxx zoom, or a good prime like the FA 77mm or one of the good 85mm options.
+1 on this. I have this lens and am very fond of it. It is sharp, well built and was cheap, at least in Australia (477AUD in June 2012)

02-09-2015, 12:37 AM   #38
Des
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Des's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Victoria Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,410
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
I´m turning over rocks hoping to find a SMC Pentax 28-70 F2.8 AL but so far they seem to be rarer than chook´s teeth.
www.ebay.com.au/itm/Near-Mint-Pentax-SMC-PENTAX-FA-28-70mm-f-2-8-AL-Lens-From-Japan-/261760265594 - $US980.

Wow. I got my DA 35, FA 43 and FA 77 altogether for less than that (all FF compatible BTW).

QuoteOriginally posted by houseofstyles Quote
+1 on this. I have this lens and am very fond of it. It is sharp, well built and was cheap, at least in Australia (477AUD in June 2012)
If it was cheap at $A447, it's amazing at $A249 (with free postage): https://sigmaphoto.com.au/lenses/24-60mm-28-af-ex-dg (as linked above by OP in post #28)

Incidentally @houseofstyles, I see that as of today you have more likes (24) than posts (21). That's quite a distinction!

Last edited by Des; 02-09-2015 at 12:49 AM.
02-09-2015, 11:16 AM   #39
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Des Quote
www.ebay.com.au/itm/Near-Mint-Pentax-SMC-PENTAX-FA-28-70mm-f-2-8-AL-Lens-From-Japan-/261760265594 - $US980. Wow. I got my DA 35, FA 43 and FA 77 altogether for less than that (all FF compatible BTW).
Yup, this is exactly the chook´s tooth I had in mind when I made that comment.

I am not in a hurry and am looking for a workhorse rather than mint collecter´s item so hope to find one for a more doable price
02-09-2015, 12:50 PM - 1 Like   #40
Pentaxian
mikeSF's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: East Bay Area, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 6,612
i just took my FA*28-70/2.8 out last night for my workshop:

Return to the Painted Ladies
02-09-2015, 12:57 PM   #41
Site Supporter
VoiceOfReason's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Mishawaka IN area
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,124
Mint Sigma AF 24 70mm F 2 8 EX DG HSM for Pentax from Japan | eBay <-- looks like about the best deal for now on it.
02-09-2015, 12:59 PM   #42
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
Original Poster
Crisp as cornflakes Mike, if this is anything to go by everyone should have one
02-09-2015, 04:31 PM   #43
Des
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Des's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Victoria Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,410
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
Yup, this is exactly the chook´s tooth I had in mind when I made that comment.

I am not in a hurry and am looking for a workhorse rather than mint collecter´s item so hope to find one for a more doable price
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/287925-ff-u...ml#post3151936 - someone who has found one for about $US450.
02-09-2015, 04:46 PM   #44
Senior Member




Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 101
Original Poster
Maybe fishing for cameras actually does have something in common with photography after all ie everybody who ever pushes the button often enough lucks out and gets a good shot once in a while... but being able to get the shot you want when you want it is a little harder; same goes I fear for buying a good lens for a decent price and/or chook´s teeth
02-09-2015, 05:29 PM   #45
Des
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Des's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Victoria Australia
Photos: Albums
Posts: 6,410
QuoteOriginally posted by windhorse Quote
Maybe fishing for cameras actually does have something in common with photography after all ie everybody who ever pushes the button often enough lucks out and gets a good shot once in a while... but being able to get the shot you want when you want it is a little harder; same goes I fear for buying a good lens for a decent price and/or chook´s teeth
The difference is that when you miss a photo the chance may never come again. When you miss a lens purchase (unless it is one of only 10 in the world), the chance will almost always come again - the only risk is that you will have to pay more. Even then, generally speaking, if you remain patient time is on your side. (I say this to console myself for missing out on a FA 31 that went for about $A650 last year.)
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
af, f2.8, ff, figure, k-mount, mid-range, non-existent, pentax, pentax lens, post, slr lens, tamron
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mid/Long Range Zoom Swarf Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 15 03-22-2014 03:09 AM
best mid to long range zoom lens sany Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 28 06-08-2011 07:59 AM
Budget mid range zoom ~ 28-105mm tim_kayak Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12 03-20-2011 03:08 PM
Rambling mid-range zoom comments pacerr Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 2 10-17-2010 08:25 PM
mid range tele options which is best? 300xcw Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 02-20-2008 12:17 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:27 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top