Originally posted by thazooo Have you shined a light down thru the lens and looked for any fogging, debris, damage ?
Using a lens hood ?
No filter I assume.
IMHO, the lens has problems. Should not be that foggy.
I did not shine a light through the lens, but thank you for the suggestion. No hood and no filter was used. The hood might improve contrast but I doubt it will improve the sharpness.
---------- Post added 03-19-17 at 02:28 PM ----------
Originally posted by jpzk Having bought several lenses here (Market Place) and sold many as well, I would expect some sort of seller's feedback in terms of :
1. The lens does not have the IQ of what was advertised ? (if that is the case)
2. In spite of the fact that the seller said "No Returns" (you might have agreed with that?), one would expect such a lens to perform as advertised.
3. "Due process" discussion via email/P.M. and to try to resolve the matter.
Again, the Sigma 100-300/4 has great reputation and I certainly would encourage you to find a way to come to terms with the seller if it (lens) doesn't match what was originally assessed in the Marketplace ad.
Hoping you will be able to conclude the matter in a satisfying way.
Cheers!
Yes, I did do all of the above to which the seller's response was that he cannot accept the returns as there is nothing wrong with the lens. He also had the nerve to say that he has spoken with Paypal (on the grounds of seller protection) and will not engage in further communication. I have opened a claim with Paypal as well and the matter is under investigation. I am hoping that this is resolved sensibly.
---------- Post added 03-19-17 at 02:36 PM ----------
Originally posted by nomadkng I own/have owned 3 different copies of the Sigma 100-300 f4 for nearly 10 years.
I also own the Sigma 300 f2.8 and Sigma 500 f4.5. I have owned a Sigma 150-500, 50-500, Pentax 55-300 and 150-450 and Tokina 80-200 and 400 f5.6.
I wish I had experience with the DA* so I have 100% clarity, but I feel my experience with long zooms gives me a pretty good feel for what to expect.
In my experience the 100-300 outperforms every lens I have owned save the Sigma 500 f4.5 and Sigma 300 f2.8.
I would expect images from a 100-300 to be similar to the DA* 300.
Here are several other things to consider;
Sigma lenses are notorious for NOT playing well with Pentax CDAF. Any focusing testing should be done via manually focusing. Calibration is also tricky because of this, but it just takes a extra time little time.
The Sigma 100-300 comes in TWO different versions, version 1 has square dimple like grip, version 2 has a vertical ribbed grip. If you have version 1 it is a well documented fact that some copies of this lens have irreconcilable back focusing issues at f4. I owned two copies of version 1 and suffered through this frustration for years before selling and eventually acquiring a version 2.
here is my marketplace ad for my most recent sale (my first version 1 was stolen and replaced with another version 1 before I "knew" better:
Sigma 100-300 F4 - Great Price - As is - Read Description Carefully - PentaxForums.com
note the discussion in the ad as well as a link to another thread as well:
Sigma 100-300 autofocus problem - PentaxForums.com
if you have version 1, you may be suffering from this lens idiosyncrasy.
In terms of returns, I can only speak from my perspective: based on lens performance in pictures, I would ask to return the lens. From a seller perspective, I would ensure you have covered all calibration and focusing methods, even walking you through the steps. If in the end, your camera and this lens just do not play well together, you would ship the lens to me at your expense (fully insured) and upon receipt of the lens, I would refund you your purchase price less incurred original shipping.
Thank you, this helps. The lens is indeed Version 1. If it did not perform great at F4, the seller should have mentioned that in his listing, instead of saying "incredibly sharp wide open". I offered him to return the lens and he could deduct his shipping costs, an offer that was turned down outright. If I had known that the lens had focus issues wide open, I definitely would not have purchased this lens.
From the thread you mentioned above: "
There are two batches of the 100-300 Sigma. At least some lenses of the older batch are known to have a "focus jump" at f6.3. It means that the lens will show severe backfocus from f4-f5.6. From f6.3 onwards the lens will focus correctly. They fixed that issue in the newer batch of lenses. You can distinguish the two batches by the look of the rubber on the focus- and zoomrings.".This seems to be the issue with this lens as well.