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01-07-2019, 11:45 AM - 1 Like   #46
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
Sadly yes; the 70-200 F2.8 is way out of my price range. That range of 70 to 200 would be ideal for me.
I actually like the 50-200 more than most but can't justify it with my other lenses. I see 70-200/2.8's selling for <$500 here and elsewhere. It might be worth it to be patient and look for one. My Tamron has been excellent and I have never had any issue with it at all other than its size.

01-07-2019, 11:49 AM   #47
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That pricing sounds very worthwhile to wait for a 70-200 F2.8!
01-07-2019, 11:50 AM - 2 Likes   #48
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I'm pretty sure I've had my 60-250 for about 8 years now. My first recored image was taken Feb. 19, 2011. It's always been one of my most used lenses. There has never been any hint of an SDM failure. Just saying. My DA 55-300 is damaged and unusable, my Sigma 70-300. our Sigma 18-250 became decentered, was unrepairable and unusable for our purposesjust broke and I gave it away. My DA* 60-250 has had to be repaired twice because of drops and is still chugging away. If you're going to complain about the reliability of the 60-250, there isn't a lens out there you can buy. It's been simply rock solid for 8 years and it's been through hell. My DA* 60-250 is probably the most long lived, most solid performer, with the possible exception of my DA 18-135.

I dropped it 5 times in various circumstances before it needed repair, and even then it was just the rings that water seal the lens that needed replacing.
01-07-2019, 11:55 AM - 2 Likes   #49
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QuoteOriginally posted by normhead Quote
I'm pretty sure I've had my 60-250 for about 8 years now. My first recored image was taken Feb. 19, 2011. It's always been one of my most used lenses. There has never been any hint of an SDM failure. Just saying. My DA 55-300 is damaged and unusable, my Sigma 70-300 just broke and I gave it away. My DA* 60-250 has had to be repaired twice because of drops and is still chugging away. If you're going to complain about the reliability of the 60-250, there isn't a lenes out there you can buy. My DA* 60250 is probably the most long lived, most solid performer, with the possible exception of my DA 18-135.
As I said earlier I've only been asked twice to repair the 60-250... So it seems much more reliable than most. But the fud around SDM is thick.

01-07-2019, 12:16 PM   #50
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
That pricing sounds very worthwhile to wait for a 70-200 F2.8!
There's a Tamron 70-200mm on ebay in your price range from a Japanese seller. I think it's a fairly normal price, so no real rush. I wanted one for years, but have ended up buying other things instead. I still eye it up from time to time, great image quality and excellent close focusing ability...
01-07-2019, 12:33 PM   #51
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Thanks Brian, I'd really prefer buying here, rather than overseas. I'm sure one will come up on Marketplace.
01-07-2019, 01:09 PM - 1 Like   #52
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
That pricing sounds very worthwhile to wait for a 70-200 F2.8!
The last one in that price range here sold for $425 at the beginning of December.
Tamron 70-200 F2.8 - PentaxForums.com

01-07-2019, 01:46 PM - 1 Like   #53
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QuoteOriginally posted by Docrwm Quote
The last one in that price range here sold for $425 at the beginning of December.
Tamron 70-200 F2.8 - PentaxForums.com
And that lens is really well liked. One site did a video comparison of it, and it held it's own against top of the line Canon and Nikon models, except for build quality.
01-07-2019, 04:26 PM - 1 Like   #54
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
Been reading the reviews on this one as well!
It is marvelous. Wonderful image quality and build. If there's concern about the old SDM (mine has been fine for 10 years!), then this lens can be converted easily to screw-driven with an increase in AF speed. Similar to a 70-200mm f/2.8 on a FF body, but MUCH more compact, and MUCH lighter. Less than 1/2 the weight. With its IF design, it does not change its relatively compact size at all during AF or during zooming. Nothing moves!

I also have the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC which makes a very good pairing with it. A very nice, fine-performing and well-made lens.

If you google the lens name, one site to check into is Imaging Resource, which in some cases presents a full test report, including a visual test shot of a still life scene, the same for all lenses. I tend to disregard expert opinions, even of the testers themselves, and just examine the visual results for myself. They provide both wide open and mid-aperture examples for you to select from. You can then pick a central area of the scene, which is the basket edge, and you will get a huge blowup of that one area- then you can move around to other areas from there. Check detail in the figures on both the Hellas and the Fiddler's Elbow bottles, as well as writing on the Samuel Smith bottle. For edges, which are not usually quite as good as the central area, just move over to the far brush and circular numerical scale.

Like virtually all zoom lenses, this Sigma lens it is not quite as good at its longest end, but in this case still quite good, and I found just a click to f/3.2 brings quality to an even better range, very good indeed, even in the excellent range. It has very little field curvature, which is surprising for a zoom lens, according to Optical Limits testing. Its main competitor, the Tamron, has not the build quality or quiet AF, users reported underexposure wide open, reporting it as actually being an f/3.2 lens to get proper exposure, and has a reportedly higher than average field curvature, according to Optical Limits.

Last edited by mikesbike; 01-07-2019 at 05:22 PM.
01-10-2019, 08:14 AM - 2 Likes   #55
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Just wanted all of you that were so helpful, taking your time with your posts; I've decided this:

Just bought a Sigma 17-50 F2.8 EX DC HSM from a fellow member on Marketplace!

Next will add a 70-200 F2.8 (Sigma or Tamron, can't afford Pentax)

Will also be adding in time; 21 ltd, 35 F2.8 Macro, 70 ltd.


I think this will give me a pretty nice lineup!
01-10-2019, 08:58 AM - 1 Like   #56
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
Just wanted all of you that were so helpful, taking your time with your posts; I've decided this:

Just bought a Sigma 17-50 F2.8 EX DC HSM from a fellow member on Marketplace!

Next will add a 70-200 F2.8 (Sigma or Tamron, can't afford Pentax)

Will also be adding in time; 21 ltd, 35 F2.8 Macro, 70 ltd.


I think this will give me a pretty nice lineup!
Congratulations. Sounds like a great start.
01-13-2019, 08:32 AM - 3 Likes   #57
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Found an excellent 70-200 F2.8 Macro Tamron here on Marketplace! So that will complete my lineup for a couple of months, before I start looking for the Limited's!
01-13-2019, 09:51 AM   #58
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I don't understand why you didn't like the 55-300mm? Was it the WR version?
01-13-2019, 10:32 AM - 1 Like   #59
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QuoteOriginally posted by csa Quote
Found an excellent 70-200 F2.8 Macro Tamron here on Marketplace! So that will complete my lineup for a couple of months, before I start looking for the Limited's!
Congratulations. I knew there would be one along at a descent price. Hope you enjoy it!
01-13-2019, 12:32 PM   #60
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QuoteOriginally posted by photolady95 Quote
I don't understand why you didn't like the 55-300mm? Was it the WR version?
Yes, it was the WR version. I didn't say I didn't like it; just said that I had one in the past! I just wanted to get into something a little better (hopefully)

Last edited by csa; 01-13-2019 at 02:31 PM.
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