28-70ish Zooms

hoopsontoast · 08-17-2015, 07:21 AM

I have the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 and quite like its range, certainly I use the extended reach over something like the 16-50mm.

Unless I am missing something, the only other Pentax options are the old Pentax FA* 28-70mm f2.8 (V. Expensive) and the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 HSM, as well as the older EX 28-70mm f2.8 and EX 24-60mm f2.8.

My only real complaint with the Tamron 28-75mm is that its soft wide open, especially on the longer end (where I use it the most), not too bad for general images (I use it for work, to shoot VIP Visits, Events etc) but I would not trust it for anything I would want to print/blow up for exhibitions. Other than that, the Tamron was excellent value.

Of course the Sigma 24-105 f4 Art and Tamron 28-70mm f2.8 VC are not currently available in Pentax mount.

The APS-C options seem to be the Sigma 17-70C and Pentax DA 16-85mm, but I would ideally like something faster on the long end, although the 16-85 does look very sharp wide open.

I have one eye on it being FF compatible (I also shoot film) but this lens will most likely be used for work rather than with the primes on my personal photography. The only other thing would be to hold on and see what the planned 'standard' zoom for the FF will be....

Am I missing anything?

**jatrax** · 08-17-2015, 07:29 AM

Unless you need it now I would wait until October to see what the DFA*24-70 looks like. And costs.

hoopsontoast · 08-17-2015, 07:33 AM

Originally posted by jatrax

Unless you need it now I would wait until October to see what the DFA*24-70 looks like. And costs.

My only concern with that is that I am guessing its going to be expensive sort of £800-£1k+.

VoiceOfReason · 08-17-2015, 08:05 AM

I really like my Sigma 24-70 HSM. Seems fairly sharp across the range wide open, and even better at f/4.

**sholtzma** · 08-17-2015, 08:19 AM

I would expect that prices for used FA* 28-70 lenses will continue to drop, as they have so far. Keep an eye on that. It's an excellent lens, even wide open, and it may fall into your price range. I love mine and doubt I will replace it with the upcoming midrange zoom (probably 24-70), assuming that the new zoom is quite expensive.

iss2012 · 08-17-2015, 08:32 AM

I have bought a sigma 17-70 C several months ago and it has become my everyday lens. It is sharp if you close it a tiny bit, you can find many samples in my flickr. The only concern is naturally its non constant aperture, you may miss it low light conditions.

**jatrax** · 08-17-2015, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by hoopsontoast

My only concern with that is that I am guessing its going to be expensive sort of £800-£1k+.

Most likely correct. Almost certainly will be over $1,000. However, that (potentially) and the older FA*28-70 are probably the only ones that will significantly improve over what you have. I see many people like the Sigma 24-70 but is it enough better to justify switching? I don't know.

I recently got the DA 16-85 and while I am still learning it, so far I am quite pleased with the results. Of course it is not constant aperture and quite slow compared to f/2.8 zooms.

**pepperberry farm** · 08-17-2015, 09:06 AM

autofocus zooms only?

I see several SMC A 35-105mm manual zooms for sale on eBay, and listed in the used sections of other websites.....

mcgregni · 08-17-2015, 09:47 AM

From what I've read the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (yours !) is a hard act to beat, especially if staying near the price point. It's already FF compatible I think.

Lets face it .... The new FF body PLUS new D FA lenses is going to blow most of our budgets to smithereens ... (well, it's all going to be too much money!). So, some compromises somewhere are going to have to be accepted.

When I used a Canon film SLR before switching to Pentax, my standard zoom was a 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 ..a very versatile, effective and good value choice. I really hope Ricoh offer us something similar as a mid-range choice to soften the FF blow a little ...

bassek · 08-17-2015, 09:56 AM

There is also the old Tokina AT-X AF 28-70 F2.8, which is quite hard to find. And the slower Pentax F35-70 of course.

Seb

mcgregni · 08-17-2015, 10:00 AM

I didn't mention the f35-70, as I thought the OP really wanted to stick to F2.8 .... But yes, you're right, a great option. Mines a definite keeper and may well be the first lens that goes on my first Pentax FF!

hoopsontoast · 08-17-2015, 10:09 AM

Yes it needs to be AF, and ideally a DC/HSM motor, I did find it a bit distracting with the K3II/Tamron combo as its quite noisy, and noticable when taking photos of people.

pathdoc · 08-17-2015, 11:00 AM

Originally posted by hoopsontoast

I am guessing its going to be expensive

Since when was a * lens ever cheap?

Originally posted by mcgregni

Lets face it .... The new FF body PLUS new D FA lenses is going to blow most of our budgets to smithereens

This is the only sure thing about the full-frame, I think. I'm not sure what's going to be more interesting - the used market for the full-frame (mostly film) lenses that already exist or that for the DA's.

mcgregni · 08-17-2015, 11:15 AM

I'm surprised that the market for the 'FF ready' lenses has not really taken off more. It's as if people don't actually believe Ricoh will do it ! Or are most contenders for the new body really going to be buying all the new glass As well ....?

Surely it spells a great time for aps-c stayers though ....

pathdoc · 08-17-2015, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by mcgregni

Surely it spells a great time for aps-c stayers though ....

Yes and no. It all depends on how the FF handles DA lenses. I can see people selling off their APS-C bodies to help finance the full-frame and whatever lens it comes bundled with, but holding on to at least some of the lenses to see how they work (especially if they recently paid big money for them). The used gear buyers who are really going to benefit from this are the ones looking for bodies rather than lenses, I think. And yes, I think there probably are a few people who are going to take out a loan if they have to in order to get the FF body and a trio of zoom lenses to cover from 24 to 200 or 450mm plus the teleconverter - get it all done in one shot and not have to upgrade again until they've finished paying for it.

I'm not intending to buy this thing for a while yet, but if I do, I've got an FA prime setup (28/50/100 macro/135) and an FA zoom to see me through, plus my Takumars. I won't have to spend a cent on lenses for it for quite some time.

08-17-2015, 07:21 AM	#1
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861	28-70ish Zooms I have the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 and quite like its range, certainly I use the extended reach over something like the 16-50mm. Unless I am missing something, the only other Pentax options are the old Pentax FA* 28-70mm f2.8 (V. Expensive) and the Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 HSM, as well as the older EX 28-70mm f2.8 and EX 24-60mm f2.8. My only real complaint with the Tamron 28-75mm is that its soft wide open, especially on the longer end (where I use it the most), not too bad for general images (I use it for work, to shoot VIP Visits, Events etc) but I would not trust it for anything I would want to print/blow up for exhibitions. Other than that, the Tamron was excellent value. Of course the Sigma 24-105 f4 Art and Tamron 28-70mm f2.8 VC are not currently available in Pentax mount. The APS-C options seem to be the Sigma 17-70C and Pentax DA 16-85mm, but I would ideally like something faster on the long end, although the 16-85 does look very sharp wide open. I have one eye on it being FF compatible (I also shoot film) but this lens will most likely be used for work rather than with the primes on my personal photography. The only other thing would be to hold on and see what the planned 'standard' zoom for the FF will be.... Am I missing anything?

08-17-2015, 09:47 AM	#9
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	From what I've read the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 (yours !) is a hard act to beat, especially if staying near the price point. It's already FF compatible I think. Lets face it .... The new FF body PLUS new D FA lenses is going to blow most of our budgets to smithereens ... (well, it's all going to be too much money!). So, some compromises somewhere are going to have to be accepted. When I used a Canon film SLR before switching to Pentax, my standard zoom was a 24-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 ..a very versatile, effective and good value choice. I really hope Ricoh offer us something similar as a mid-range choice to soften the FF blow a little ... Last edited by mcgregni; 08-17-2015 at 09:56 AM.

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08-17-2015, 07:29 AM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Unless you need it now I would wait until October to see what the DFA*24-70 looks like. And costs.

08-17-2015, 07:33 AM	#3
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861 Original Poster	Originally posted by jatrax Unless you need it now I would wait until October to see what the DFA*24-70 looks like. And costs. My only concern with that is that I am guessing its going to be expensive sort of £800-£1k+.

08-17-2015, 08:05 AM	#4
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	I really like my Sigma 24-70 HSM. Seems fairly sharp across the range wide open, and even better at f/4.

08-17-2015, 08:19 AM	#5
sholtzma Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Salisbury, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,043	I would expect that prices for used FA* 28-70 lenses will continue to drop, as they have so far. Keep an eye on that. It's an excellent lens, even wide open, and it may fall into your price range. I love mine and doubt I will replace it with the upcoming midrange zoom (probably 24-70), assuming that the new zoom is quite expensive.

08-17-2015, 08:32 AM	#6
iss2012 Junior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Paris Photos: Albums Posts: 49	I have bought a sigma 17-70 C several months ago and it has become my everyday lens. It is sharp if you close it a tiny bit, you can find many samples in my flickr. The only concern is naturally its non constant aperture, you may miss it low light conditions.

08-17-2015, 08:49 AM	#7
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by hoopsontoast My only concern with that is that I am guessing its going to be expensive sort of £800-£1k+. Most likely correct. Almost certainly will be over $1,000. However, that (potentially) and the older FA*28-70 are probably the only ones that will significantly improve over what you have. I see many people like the Sigma 24-70 but is it enough better to justify switching? I don't know. I recently got the DA 16-85 and while I am still learning it, so far I am quite pleased with the results. Of course it is not constant aperture and quite slow compared to f/2.8 zooms.

08-17-2015, 09:06 AM	#8
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,678	autofocus zooms only? I see several SMC A 35-105mm manual zooms for sale on eBay, and listed in the used sections of other websites.....

08-17-2015, 09:56 AM	#10
bassek Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 706	There is also the old Tokina AT-X AF 28-70 F2.8, which is quite hard to find. And the slower Pentax F35-70 of course. Seb

08-17-2015, 10:00 AM	#11
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	I didn't mention the f35-70, as I thought the OP really wanted to stick to F2.8 .... But yes, you're right, a great option. Mines a definite keeper and may well be the first lens that goes on my first Pentax FF!

08-17-2015, 10:09 AM	#12
hoopsontoast Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 861 Original Poster	Yes it needs to be AF, and ideally a DC/HSM motor, I did find it a bit distracting with the K3II/Tamron combo as its quite noisy, and noticable when taking photos of people.

08-17-2015, 11:00 AM	#13
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by hoopsontoast I am guessing its going to be expensive Since when was a * lens ever cheap? Originally posted by mcgregni Lets face it .... The new FF body PLUS new D FA lenses is going to blow most of our budgets to smithereens This is the only sure thing about the full-frame, I think. I'm not sure what's going to be more interesting - the used market for the full-frame (mostly film) lenses that already exist or that for the DA's.

08-17-2015, 11:15 AM	#14
mcgregni Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Surrey, England Posts: 2,603	I'm surprised that the market for the 'FF ready' lenses has not really taken off more. It's as if people don't actually believe Ricoh will do it ! Or are most contenders for the new body really going to be buying all the new glass As well ....? Surely it spells a great time for aps-c stayers though ....

08-17-2015, 11:41 AM	#15
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by mcgregni Surely it spells a great time for aps-c stayers though .... Yes and no. It all depends on how the FF handles DA lenses. I can see people selling off their APS-C bodies to help finance the full-frame and whatever lens it comes bundled with, but holding on to at least some of the lenses to see how they work (especially if they recently paid big money for them). The used gear buyers who are really going to benefit from this are the ones looking for bodies rather than lenses, I think. And yes, I think there probably are a few people who are going to take out a loan if they have to in order to get the FF body and a trio of zoom lenses to cover from 24 to 200 or 450mm plus the teleconverter - get it all done in one shot and not have to upgrade again until they've finished paying for it. I'm not intending to buy this thing for a while yet, but if I do, I've got an FA prime setup (28/50/100 macro/135) and an FA zoom to see me through, plus my Takumars. I won't have to spend a cent on lenses for it for quite some time.