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Rodney9 · 08-08-2008, 11:34 PM

Hello,

I have the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG APO and love it up to 200mm, but after that it can be quite disappointing.

So I am trying to decide if the Pentax smc DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED would be worth the $400 to replace the Sigma.

Please, All Opinions Welcome.

Rodney

cupic · 08-08-2008, 11:49 PM

I have the same as while I love the apo version in macro Im finding it hard to get the shots that others have.I suspect that its $400 including delivery. saying that if you have mastered the sigma then the pentax 55-300 will be even better in IQ
Keep the sigi as the macro feature(ah well close to macro)is a standout feature

Anyone else

cheers

reeftool · 08-09-2008, 07:13 PM

I have the Sigma also and have had similar results. I keep it under 220 and crop. The shots I have seen posted of the Pentax look much better. If I had the 400 bucks I would go for it. I probably will down the road. Even better would be the DA 300 but thats even more. I agree with Cupic also about the macro feature, it works quite well although it isn't something I use often.

cputeq · 08-09-2008, 08:26 PM

I was happy with the results I got at 300mm wide open with the 55-300. At F/8 it's even better (on K20D).

Check out my flickr pages, especially the Caldwell Zoo set
Caldwell Zoo - a set on Flickr

And the Animals set (from "Cat on Hood" forward):
Animals - a set on Flickr
(except for the cats playing - that was my DA* 50-135)

as most of these shots are from the DA 55-300. Most were post processed, of course, but the lens holds up pretty darn well and I thought it was worth the cost.

**SpecialK** · 08-10-2008, 04:00 PM

The Pentax 55-300 easily has much better IQ than the Sigma 70-300 APO, or Pentax 50-200. I have all three, though the Sigma died recently (broken blade).

heatherslightbox · 08-10-2008, 04:57 PM

If you get the 55-300, you won't be sorry.

Pentax really knocked themselves out on this one.

It's definitely worth the extra $100 or so.

Heather

Rodney9 · 08-14-2008, 03:36 AM

Originally posted by hwblanks

If you get the 55-300, you won't be sorry.

Pentax really knocked themselves out on this one.

It's definitely worth the extra $100 or so.

Heather

Thanks Everyone , I sure hope it is $450 ( $US 350 / $ AU 419 + $41 delivery from B&H ) worth.

ZaphodB · 08-15-2008, 07:49 AM

I was similarly disappointed with the Sigma APO past 200mm. The Tamron equivalent seemed better in that regard, but suffered from CAs a bit too much for my liking. Like yourself I've just ordered the 55-300mm which will hopefully be the keeper... based on what I've seen here, looks like it should be worth the extra (only £50 more than the Sigma).

pingflood · 08-17-2008, 11:30 AM

I don't have the APO version of the Sigma but rather the cheaper one. It's not perfect, but stopped down a stop or so from wide open it performs pretty decently (and even wide open it isn't terrible):

300mm f/5.6, ISO 2200:

210mm macro, f/6.7:

08-08-2008, 11:34 PM	#1
Rodney9 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 135	Pentax vs Sigma 70-300mm Hello, I have the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 DG APO and love it up to 200mm, but after that it can be quite disappointing. So I am trying to decide if the Pentax smc DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED would be worth the $400 to replace the Sigma. Please, All Opinions Welcome. Rodney

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08-08-2008, 11:49 PM	#2
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,739	I have the same as while I love the apo version in macro Im finding it hard to get the shots that others have.I suspect that its $400 including delivery. saying that if you have mastered the sigma then the pentax 55-300 will be even better in IQ Keep the sigi as the macro feature(ah well close to macro)is a standout feature Anyone else cheers

08-09-2008, 07:13 PM	#3
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,154	I have the Sigma also and have had similar results. I keep it under 220 and crop. The shots I have seen posted of the Pentax look much better. If I had the 400 bucks I would go for it. I probably will down the road. Even better would be the DA 300 but thats even more. I agree with Cupic also about the macro feature, it works quite well although it isn't something I use often.

08-09-2008, 08:26 PM	#4
cputeq Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 464	I was happy with the results I got at 300mm wide open with the 55-300. At F/8 it's even better (on K20D). Check out my flickr pages, especially the Caldwell Zoo set Caldwell Zoo - a set on Flickr And the Animals set (from "Cat on Hood" forward): Animals - a set on Flickr (except for the cats playing - that was my DA* 50-135) as most of these shots are from the DA 55-300. Most were post processed, of course, but the lens holds up pretty darn well and I thought it was worth the cost.

08-10-2008, 04:00 PM	#5
SpecialK Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 14,898	The Pentax 55-300 easily has much better IQ than the Sigma 70-300 APO, or Pentax 50-200. I have all three, though the Sigma died recently (broken blade).

08-10-2008, 04:57 PM	#6
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,595	If you get the 55-300, you won't be sorry. Pentax really knocked themselves out on this one. It's definitely worth the extra $100 or so. Heather

08-14-2008, 03:36 AM	#7
Rodney9 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 135 Original Poster	Originally posted by hwblanks If you get the 55-300, you won't be sorry. Pentax really knocked themselves out on this one. It's definitely worth the extra $100 or so. Heather Thanks Everyone , I sure hope it is $450 ( $US 350 / $ AU 419 + $41 delivery from B&H ) worth.

08-15-2008, 07:49 AM	#8
ZaphodB Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 264	I was similarly disappointed with the Sigma APO past 200mm. The Tamron equivalent seemed better in that regard, but suffered from CAs a bit too much for my liking. Like yourself I've just ordered the 55-300mm which will hopefully be the keeper... based on what I've seen here, looks like it should be worth the extra (only £50 more than the Sigma).

08-17-2008, 11:30 AM	#9
pingflood Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Borås, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,165	I don't have the APO version of the Sigma but rather the cheaper one. It's not perfect, but stopped down a stop or so from wide open it performs pretty decently (and even wide open it isn't terrible): 300mm f/5.6, ISO 2200: 210mm macro, f/6.7:

Pentax vs Sigma 70-300mm

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