Advice needed; Tamron versus Sigma

siric · 07-09-2008, 10:19 AM

Hi,

Just discussed in another thread that my old 70-210 F may be dead and I am looking to purchase a 70 - 300.

Am looking at the Tamron and the Sigma as they are both in my price range ($130 on Amazon). Am just getting started with photography again, and don't have a super budget.

Can anyone give me some guidance?

Entropy · 07-09-2008, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by siric

Hi,

Just discussed in another thread that my old 70-210 F may be dead and I am looking to purchase a 70 - 300.

Am looking at the Tamron and the Sigma as they are both in my price range ($130 on Amazon). Am just getting started with photography again, and don't have a super budget.

Can anyone give me some guidance?

Try searching a bit. MANY discussions on this subject.

General consensus:
Tamron is sharp at all ranges but prone to PF in certain situations
Sigma APO is a bit soft past 200 but no PF, it's much more expensive ($200ish range)
Not many people have the Sigma non-APO (the one in your price range), but I would say that it potentially gives up the main advantage of the Sigma over the Tamron (improvement in PF)

Most people go for the Tamron - The PF of the Tamron is avoidable, but with the Sigma soft is soft and you can't avoid it.

I have a Tamron and love it.

siric · 07-09-2008, 12:30 PM

Thanks,

Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up.

Sorry, by the way - what does PF stand for?

Blue · 07-09-2008, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by siric

Thanks,

Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up.

Sorry, by the way - what does PF stand for?

PF = purple fringe
CA = chromatic aberration
bokeh = fuzzy

siric · 07-09-2008, 01:45 PM

Much thanx

audiobomber · 07-09-2008, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by siric

Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up.

Are you sure about that? I think you're probably looking at the wrong Sigma. The more expensive APO version is sometimes recommended over the Tamron (not as often as vice-versa?). I haven't read very many recommendations of the non-APO Sigma over the Tamron Di.

SpecialK · 07-09-2008, 07:30 PM

For what it's worth, when I was shopping for a budget zoom 18 months ago, the Sigma APO was reviewed (I forget which site, now) as the only "budget" zoom worth getting. Mine is decent, though you have to increase the contrast for the image to "pop".

I have seen good shots with the Tamron, though.

Either one is under $200 so it is not like the end of the world if you sell it later for something else, which happens frequenlty as we play the LBA game.

Since I got the Pentax 55-300 recently, I have a Pentax 50-200 and Sigma 70-300 sitting on the closet shelf now. I may hang onto them for the day when I get a second body, but if someone has to have one of them, PM me.

jamesm007 · 07-09-2008, 07:51 PM

You cant really go wrong with the Tamron for the price, CA/PF can be removed many times in PP (post processing). There are two Sigma 70-300mm versions, one is an APO version and sells for about $50-$70 more it has special glass to decrease CA/PF, the other about the same price as the Tamron is the one you dont want to get because for the money the Tamron 70-300mm DI is sharper. So its the Tamron 70-300mm Di ($150) , or Sigma 70-300mm APO ($220). With the Tamron delivering the best sharpness for the money.

NicholasN · 07-09-2008, 08:18 PM

I own the Tamton 18-200 Di II and it is very sharp. I have also owned the Sigma 70-300 non-APO version and it served me very well.

Here are some pictures from my website all taken with the non-APO Sigma 70-300.

Swirl » Page 7 of 15

There are 5 pages of aviation pictures there all of which are good examples of the Sigma.

cosmicheretic · 07-11-2008, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by NicholasN

I own the Tamton 18-200 Di II and it is very sharp. I have also owned the Sigma 70-300 non-APO version and it served me very well.

Here are some pictures from my website all taken with the non-APO Sigma 70-300.

Swirl » Page 7 of 15

There are 5 pages of aviation pictures there all of which are good examples of the Sigma.

Does anyone know if this older (non DG?) version of the Sigma 70-300mm will fit and auto focus on my K10D? It has a Serial Number: 1147778

Jodokast96 · 07-11-2008, 09:09 AM

Originally posted by cosmicheretic

Does anyone know if this older (non DG?) version of the Sigma 70-300mm will fit and auto focus on my K10D? It has a Serial Number: 1147778

Yes, it will be just fine.

simonkit · 07-11-2008, 09:21 AM

If you can stretch your budget a little then the new Pentax 55-300 really is worth the extra cash - it combines the strengths of the Tamron & Sigma into 1 lens, without any of the disadvantages.

Having said that if that's not possible you have a compromise to make...

Tamron is sharper an pretty decent at 300m - my own copy did suffer awful "purple" though, so much I couldn't remove it all in PP..

I then swapped to the Sigma 70-300 APO & whilst it suffered no CA & had very nice colour/contrast rendition ( better than the Tamron in my experience) it was definitely softer at longer focal lengths, from around 240mm +

So, as others have said, it's a choice of better sharpeness with CA & not as good colour/contrast (Tamron) or a little less sharpness with little/no CA & nice colour/contrast....

or... stretch to the Pentax & have nice colour/contrast, good sharpness at 300mm & little/no CA, your pocket will have less left in it though !!

simon

Jodokast96 · 07-11-2008, 09:50 AM

Originally posted by simonkit

it combines the strengths of the Tamron & Sigma into 1 lens, without any of the disadvantages.

Just don't try to use it FF.

Entropy · 07-17-2008, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by Jodokast96

Just don't try to use it FF.

Based on its size and weight specs I wouldn't be surprised if it is FF-capable past 70mm at least. Another "mislabeled" DA which is going to kill Pentax if they ever go FF - they're improperly marking a lot of FF-capable lenses as being for APS-C only.

Jodokast96 · 07-17-2008, 09:57 AM

Not really. If they go FF, they will have to follow the Nikon method and allow a crop mode. If the FF sensor is 20-28mp as thought, won't that mean a crop mode that will still allow 10-14mp?

07-09-2008, 10:19 AM	#1
siric New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 24	Advice needed; Tamron versus Sigma Hi, Just discussed in another thread that my old 70-210 F may be dead and I am looking to purchase a 70 - 300. Am looking at the Tamron and the Sigma as they are both in my price range ($130 on Amazon). Am just getting started with photography again, and don't have a super budget. Can anyone give me some guidance?

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07-09-2008, 11:41 AM	#2
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Originally posted by siric Hi, Just discussed in another thread that my old 70-210 F may be dead and I am looking to purchase a 70 - 300. Am looking at the Tamron and the Sigma as they are both in my price range ($130 on Amazon). Am just getting started with photography again, and don't have a super budget. Can anyone give me some guidance? Try searching a bit. MANY discussions on this subject. General consensus: Tamron is sharp at all ranges but prone to PF in certain situations Sigma APO is a bit soft past 200 but no PF, it's much more expensive ($200ish range) Not many people have the Sigma non-APO (the one in your price range), but I would say that it potentially gives up the main advantage of the Sigma over the Tamron (improvement in PF) Most people go for the Tamron - The PF of the Tamron is avoidable, but with the Sigma soft is soft and you can't avoid it. I have a Tamron and love it.

07-09-2008, 12:30 PM	#3
siric New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 24 Original Poster	Thanks, Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up. Sorry, by the way - what does PF stand for?

07-09-2008, 01:37 PM	#4
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by siric Thanks, Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up. Sorry, by the way - what does PF stand for? PF = purple fringe CA = chromatic aberration bokeh = fuzzy

07-09-2008, 01:45 PM	#5
siric New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barbados Photos: Gallery Posts: 24 Original Poster	Much thanx

07-09-2008, 02:08 PM	#6
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by siric Did some more searching in the meantime and most of the results give the Sigma the thumbs up. Are you sure about that? I think you're probably looking at the wrong Sigma. The more expensive APO version is sometimes recommended over the Tamron (not as often as vice-versa?). I haven't read very many recommendations of the non-APO Sigma over the Tamron Di.

07-09-2008, 07:30 PM	#7
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,480	For what it's worth, when I was shopping for a budget zoom 18 months ago, the Sigma APO was reviewed (I forget which site, now) as the only "budget" zoom worth getting. Mine is decent, though you have to increase the contrast for the image to "pop". I have seen good shots with the Tamron, though. Either one is under $200 so it is not like the end of the world if you sell it later for something else, which happens frequenlty as we play the LBA game. Since I got the Pentax 55-300 recently, I have a Pentax 50-200 and Sigma 70-300 sitting on the closet shelf now. I may hang onto them for the day when I get a second body, but if someone has to have one of them, PM me.

07-09-2008, 07:51 PM	#8
jamesm007 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Detroit MI, USA Posts: 508	You cant really go wrong with the Tamron for the price, CA/PF can be removed many times in PP (post processing). There are two Sigma 70-300mm versions, one is an APO version and sells for about $50-$70 more it has special glass to decrease CA/PF, the other about the same price as the Tamron is the one you dont want to get because for the money the Tamron 70-300mm DI is sharper. So its the Tamron 70-300mm Di ($150) , or Sigma 70-300mm APO ($220). With the Tamron delivering the best sharpness for the money.

07-09-2008, 08:18 PM	#9
NicholasN Inactive Account Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 301	I own the Tamton 18-200 Di II and it is very sharp. I have also owned the Sigma 70-300 non-APO version and it served me very well. Here are some pictures from my website all taken with the non-APO Sigma 70-300. Swirl » Page 7 of 15 There are 5 pages of aviation pictures there all of which are good examples of the Sigma.

07-11-2008, 09:09 AM	#11
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by cosmicheretic Does anyone know if this older (non DG?) version of the Sigma 70-300mm will fit and auto focus on my K10D? It has a Serial Number: 1147778 Yes, it will be just fine.

07-11-2008, 09:21 AM	#12
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	If you can stretch your budget a little then the new Pentax 55-300 really is worth the extra cash - it combines the strengths of the Tamron & Sigma into 1 lens, without any of the disadvantages. Having said that if that's not possible you have a compromise to make... Tamron is sharper an pretty decent at 300m - my own copy did suffer awful "purple" though, so much I couldn't remove it all in PP.. I then swapped to the Sigma 70-300 APO & whilst it suffered no CA & had very nice colour/contrast rendition ( better than the Tamron in my experience) it was definitely softer at longer focal lengths, from around 240mm + So, as others have said, it's a choice of better sharpeness with CA & not as good colour/contrast (Tamron) or a little less sharpness with little/no CA & nice colour/contrast.... or... stretch to the Pentax & have nice colour/contrast, good sharpness at 300mm & little/no CA, your pocket will have less left in it though !! simon

07-11-2008, 09:50 AM	#13
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by simonkit it combines the strengths of the Tamron & Sigma into 1 lens, without any of the disadvantages. Just don't try to use it FF.

07-17-2008, 08:35 AM	#14
Entropy Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 976	Originally posted by Jodokast96 Just don't try to use it FF. Based on its size and weight specs I wouldn't be surprised if it is FF-capable past 70mm at least. Another "mislabeled" DA which is going to kill Pentax if they ever go FF - they're improperly marking a lot of FF-capable lenses as being for APS-C only.

07-17-2008, 09:57 AM	#15
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Not really. If they go FF, they will have to follow the Nikon method and allow a crop mode. If the FF sensor is 20-28mp as thought, won't that mean a crop mode that will still allow 10-14mp?