Sigma Long Lens Thoughts

kentster · 09-20-2015, 04:10 PM

I recently purchased:
170-500
135-400
400mm F5.6

They are all getting shipped to me this week. Starting to stress I wasted money on these lenses. Am I overthinking it? Any of these work with Kenko T/C?

They will set in front of my K3.

osv · 09-20-2015, 04:34 PM

which sigma lens? this is the one to get, if you can find it in k-mount: Sigma AF 400mm f/5.6 HSM APO macro - Review / Test Report - Analysis

i think that one of 'em was up for sale here on pf? $700?? twice what it goes for in canikon mounts.

kentster · 09-20-2015, 09:55 PM

Mine is then older APO manual focus

reeftool · 09-21-2015, 12:23 PM

You bought all 3? Probably not a waste of money if the price was right as you can resell them if you don't like them but they are all very similar in focal length and I doubt you would ever want to carry more than one of them at a time.

kentster · 09-21-2015, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by reeftool

You bought all 3? Probably not a waste of money if the price was right as you can resell them if you don't like them but they are all very similar in focal length and I doubt you would ever want to carry more than one of them at a time.

I did... not so much with the goal to keep all three...but to find one that would produce acceptable birding results. One just showed up today and I'm not happy with the results for my needs. So I'll look at selling it. I'm thinking I may end up selling all three and my Tammy 70-200 F2.8 and get a Bigma

reeftool · 09-21-2015, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by kentster

I did... not so much with the goal to keep all three...but to find one that would produce acceptable birding results. One just showed up today and I'm not happy with the results for my needs. So I'll look at selling it. I'm thinking I may end up selling all three and my Tammy 70-200 F2.8 and get a Bigma

If you haven't used a long telephoto very much, first results are always a bit disappointing. Manual focus is tricky if the lens is the MF one you mentioned and for me, I NEED a tripod. The 2 zooms are going to have to be stopped down for best results. I've found the older, film era Sigmas I have used are best at f/11 in strong light. Hand holding my 150-500 (at least for me) isn't going to end up with good, crisp shots, regardless of the camera SR of the Sigma in lens OS.
The Bigma is your best bet although the new Pentax DFA 150-450 looks good if you're willing to spend the extra $$$, With the Sigma 150-500 discontinued, the 50-500 Bigma is going to be the best long solution for the price although the new Pentax is said to play well with the Pentax 1.4 TC.

09-20-2015, 04:10 PM	#1
kentster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 287	Sigma Long Lens Thoughts I recently purchased: 170-500 135-400 400mm F5.6 They are all getting shipped to me this week. Starting to stress I wasted money on these lenses. Am I overthinking it? Any of these work with Kenko T/C? They will set in front of my K3.

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09-20-2015, 04:34 PM	#2
osv Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: So Cal Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,080	which sigma lens? this is the one to get, if you can find it in k-mount: Sigma AF 400mm f/5.6 HSM APO macro - Review / Test Report - Analysis i think that one of 'em was up for sale here on pf? $700?? twice what it goes for in canikon mounts.

09-20-2015, 09:55 PM	#3
kentster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 287 Original Poster	Mine is then older APO manual focus

09-21-2015, 12:23 PM	#4
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	You bought all 3? Probably not a waste of money if the price was right as you can resell them if you don't like them but they are all very similar in focal length and I doubt you would ever want to carry more than one of them at a time.

09-21-2015, 12:34 PM	#5
kentster Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Bremerton, Washington Posts: 287 Original Poster	Originally posted by reeftool You bought all 3? Probably not a waste of money if the price was right as you can resell them if you don't like them but they are all very similar in focal length and I doubt you would ever want to carry more than one of them at a time. I did... not so much with the goal to keep all three...but to find one that would produce acceptable birding results. One just showed up today and I'm not happy with the results for my needs. So I'll look at selling it. I'm thinking I may end up selling all three and my Tammy 70-200 F2.8 and get a Bigma

09-21-2015, 02:03 PM	#6
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Originally posted by kentster I did... not so much with the goal to keep all three...but to find one that would produce acceptable birding results. One just showed up today and I'm not happy with the results for my needs. So I'll look at selling it. I'm thinking I may end up selling all three and my Tammy 70-200 F2.8 and get a Bigma If you haven't used a long telephoto very much, first results are always a bit disappointing. Manual focus is tricky if the lens is the MF one you mentioned and for me, I NEED a tripod. The 2 zooms are going to have to be stopped down for best results. I've found the older, film era Sigmas I have used are best at f/11 in strong light. Hand holding my 150-500 (at least for me) isn't going to end up with good, crisp shots, regardless of the camera SR of the Sigma in lens OS. The Bigma is your best bet although the new Pentax DFA 150-450 looks good if you're willing to spend the extra $$$, With the Sigma 150-500 discontinued, the 50-500 Bigma is going to be the best long solution for the price although the new Pentax is said to play well with the Pentax 1.4 TC.