[thepurplehornet]

Hey there, I was wondering if any of you have tried to replace the SMC Pentax DA 60-250 F4 with the Sigma DC 18-250 F3.5-5.6. I like the 60-250, but it's so big. Have any of you gotten results similar to this Pentax lens with the sigma? Am I being delusional for thinking it's possible? I'm pretty new to photography so I'm still bumping into walls, if you know what I mean. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[sergysergy]

I have never used the Sigma but I highly doubt you will get the same image quality in most cases.

[pres589]

All indications point to "no".

Per the User Reviews database, the 60-250 pulls a 9.60 overall score, which basically means 'really great lens'.
The Sigma that is in the Current Zooms category in the User Reviews database gets an 8.26. That's not awful, but it doesn't point to great things.

What problems are you having with the 60-250? Do you have sample pictures you could share with us? Is it just the size of the lens that has you annoyed?
The Pentax 55-300's are pretty well respected around here (never used one, so just repeating) but the 60-250 is usually seen as the next step up in lens quality.

[PJ1]

I don't have the Pentax 60-250 but I have Sigma zooms (although not the 18-250). Check out the lens reviews on the database and you will get a rough idea of how lenses compare. Most users think that the Pentax 60-250 is very good. The Sigma 18-250 is good but probably not great in the same way that most users consider the 60-250 to be. Any zoom lens will have some compromises, and those compromises tend to become greater as the zoom range increases. The zoom range of the 60-250 is about 4x; for the 18-250 it is about 14x. So one would expect the Sigma 18-250 to be "not quite as good" as the Pentax 60-250. The drop off with super zoom lenses is generally at the long end. But that is not to say that they are not good enough for every day photography. Many (myself included) find that they do the job very well.


The Pentax costs about 3 times what the Sigma does, so we should expect it to be better. But is it 3 times better? Only the user can say that. If you don't need to make big prints of shots taken at long telephoto lengths, it may not matter to you.


On the other hand, the Pentax 60-250 is a constant f4 which is well ahead of the Sigma 18-250 f3.5-6.3 in light gathering power. A full 1.5 stops more light at the long end might be the decider for you if, for example, you spend a lot of time photographing wild life in low light. So it really depends on what you need - or what you will use.


If the slower speed is not a problem, the (relatively) new HD Pentax DA 55-300mm f4.5-6.3 ED PLM WR RE may be worth a look. It is well rated and also costs about a third of what the 60-250 does. It may be about the best of the consumer lenses with that zoom range.


Others will have opinions to add. Weigh it all up and - most importantly - make your choice and post some pics.

[jatrax]

Am I being delusional for thinking it's possible?

Yes.
But, it depends on your standards for image quality and what you value in a lens. The 18-250 will be cheaper, lighter and have a much longer focal range. The 60-250 will be much more expensive, heavier and is a constant F/4.

If you shoot both at 100mm, f/8, outdoors, on a well lit day can you tell the difference in images from them? Maybe, maybe not. Most lenses will do a decent job in the sweet spot. It is once you get away from that the difference will start to show.

But honestly, you are comparing a top of the line pro level f/4 lens with a consumer level 'all in one' zoom. Not in the same league.

[Adam]

Hey there, I was wondering if any of you have tried to replace the SMC Pentax DA 60-250 F4 with the Sigma DC 18-250 F3.5-5.6. I like the 60-250, but it's so big. Have any of you gotten results similar to this Pentax lens with the sigma? Am I being delusional for thinking it's possible? I'm pretty new to photography so I'm still bumping into walls, if you know what I mean. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

A superzoom won't even come close, but if you find the 60-250mm too heavy, a consumer-grade telephoto zoom like the 55-300mm (HD PLM or HD versions) might be worth considering. You'll sacrifice a little image quality and speed for less weight.

[WPRESTO]

I have both a SIgma 18~250mm and a Pentax 60~250mm. The latter wins on IQ - no contest, but the sigma is a great walk-around lens. At f6.3~8 the results are very good, and it has decent close-focus ability (1/3 life size). As a travel/walkabout lens, the Sigma very good, even hard to beat. I much prefer it to the Pentax 18~135mm that it replaced..

[thepurplehornet]

Thanks for all the great responses everybody. I was sort of "wishing into the wind" with my question and you brought some solid perspective. 🙂 I do like the feel of the Sigma, but based on the other responses, I might pick up the 55-300 since I prefer street and portrait over landscape and architecture.

I will definitely post comparison examples when I get it. 🙂

[gm4life]

Thanks for all the great responses everybody. I was sort of "wishing into the wind" with my question and you brought some solid perspective. 🙂 I do like the feel of the Sigma, but based on the other responses, I might pick up the 55-300 since I prefer street and portrait over landscape and architecture.

I will definitely post comparison examples when I get it. 🙂

The 55-300 in PLM or even screw drive HD is a nice lens for easy carrying.

[tibbitts]

I briefly owned the Sigma and now own the 60-250. Performance is not comparable at any focal length, although as in every case using medium focal lengths within the range and modest apertures are likely to produce less difference in the results. I only have 16mp with an AA filter, but the Pentax does seem to lose a little over 200mm - but it's still good and really good just a half stop or a stop down from wide open. That's something about that 60-250 - you don't have to stop it down to get good results like with many lenses. I have the 55-300 too and, well, it's not the 60-250. But as with all lenses, sometimes the copy you get matters more than the design. Also my 60-250 was +10 off on AF when I got it, so almost outside the range of my body adjustment, but then Pentax fixed it.

On the other hand, one thing I've learned from the 60-250 is that weight doesn't seem to be my friend when it comes to hand-holding, as it's often said to be. I've also learned that I need an AF body with animal eye recognition.

[normhead]

Your lucky day...
Lens comparison- which is which - PentaxForums.com

Those pictures with pretty corse wolf hair, that doesn't tax the 18-250's resolution. The 60-250 does have smoother bokeh.

On some shots they are pretty comparable, however, with the HD DA 1.4 TC the 60-250 is a 350mm ƒ5.6 telephoto with resolution to spare.



The DA*60-250 with the TC is faster than the 18-250 on it's own. S0 it's much better low light performer at full reach. Often on hikes or canoe trips we just took the 18-250 and left the 60-250 home. However it became decenntered after 3 or 4 year and came back from Sigma about the same as it was when we sent it in. Sigma 18-250 images here.
http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Norm_Head/slideshow/Pentax_forum/Sample_by...e/Sigma-18-250

DA* 60-250 images here.
http://s1132.photobucket.com/user/Norm_Head/slideshow/Pentax_forum/Sample_by...name/DA-60-250

I wouldn't buy the 18-250 instead of the DA*60-250, but I'd keep it in my cupboard for times when it was appropriate. It has been sent off the daughter-in-law, who just loves it on our old passed down K-x. IF it hadn't become decentered we'd still be using it from time to time. I've replaced it withe 55-300 PLM.

[bdery]

Hey there, I was wondering if any of you have tried to replace the SMC Pentax DA 60-250 F4 with the Sigma DC 18-250 F3.5-5.6. I like the 60-250, but it's so big. Have any of you gotten results similar to this Pentax lens with the sigma? Am I being delusional for thinking it's possible? I'm pretty new to photography so I'm still bumping into walls, if you know what I mean. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

The Sigma can't hold a candle to the 60-250 in terms of rendering, subject isolation, bokeh, distortion.

I agree with Adam: get a 55-300 if the 60-250 is too heavy. Or learn to live with the 60-250 and keep enjoying one of my personal favourites

[Weevil]

Hi all, I was searching a thread where to post the photo I took on the spring day last week...

Robins love the Staghorn Sumac trees [Rhus typhina] at this time of the year.
Photo taken from inside the house, thru a double window... at about 25-30 feet, cropped and added some circular filter to lighten the disturbing background... Not bad isn't?
===============
Pentax K-3ii + SMC Pentax-DA* 60-250mm F4 ED [IF] SDM @ 250mm
1/1250 sec at ƒ/4, ISO 1250 (note: ƒ/4 = wide-open)


Merle d'Amérique / American Robin [Turdus migratorius]

Ifn case it can help make your mind about the 60-250...