Sigma 50-500 non OS compared to Pentax 150-450 on K-1

**Craigbob** · 01-23-2019, 10:36 AM - **2 Likes**

A while ago I picked up a well maintained used Sigma Non OS 50-500 for my K-1 and I liked it a lot, used it at airshows, and all around use including some astroimaging. A bit more recently I came across a sale on KEH and they had a Pentax 150-450 for about $1100 and I grabbed it up. That was to me an amazing steal.

Last Sunday during the lunar eclipse, I decided to try them both out as a direct comparison at the long end. I'm aware of the better range on the Sigma especially at the low end 50mm vs 150 is a big jump. not as much 450-500. and the Pentax being a little bit of a faster lens.

I was much more interested in IQ at the long end so while I was settled at the top of a hill overlooking L.A. waiting for the eclipse, I decided to compare the two. My target was the downtwn Los Angeles skyline. With the K-1 set up on the tripod and both lenses at hand I shot some pics. Both under the same conditions. Manual focus with LV focus peaking, ISO 100 Aperture (Sigma f/6.7, Pentax f/6.3) SS (Sigma 1/80, Pentax 1/125)

Both were processed with LR and the settings were the same (cropped a bit different)

Here's the results. to me the Pentax is a lot sharper and crisper than the Sigma.

A

B

Let me know what you think. I'm not revealing which is which yet I want to hear your opinions.

**jpzk** · 01-23-2019, 10:46 AM

Well, photo "b" sure looks sharper and "clearer" to me .
Seems like photo "a" has a lot of hazing whereas the second shot does not.
All in all, I vote for the "b" shot ... Pentax 150-450.

Mike.P® · 01-23-2019, 11:22 AM

I had the non OS 50-500mm years ago and really liked the lens so when the newer OS version came out I upgraded. The 2 lenses are like chalk and cheese, the newer OS version being much sharper. Then Pentax bought out the 150-450mm so I sold the Sigma to buy the Pentax and found that there was not that much difference when it came to IQ and infact the Sigma was a little better in that it has in body OS, 50-150mm more and much closer focus ability.

About 9 months ago I found a mint 50-500mm OS for sale online and bought it .... was like having an old friend back and I have used it quite a bit since then but today I sold it because recently I sold my K-3II and am slowly trimming my Pentax gear back to the K-1 and 4 lenses so that I have the best of Pentax for full frame and I will go to another brand for action photography.

The old 50-500mm is old in the tooth now and it would be hard to recommend unless the buyer has a small budget and needs 500mm, the OS is a special lens imo.

rr1736 · 01-23-2019, 11:34 AM

Originally posted by Mike.P®

I had the non OS 50-500mm years ago and really liked the lens so when the newer OS version came out I upgraded. The 2 lenses are like chalk and cheese, the newer OS version being much sharper. Then Pentax bought out the 150-450mm so I sold the Sigma to buy the Pentax and found that there was not that much difference when it came to IQ and infact the Sigma was a little better in that it has in body OS, 50-150mm more and much closer focus ability.

About 9 months ago I found a mint 50-500mm OS for sale online and bought it .... was like having an old friend back and I have used it quite a bit since then but today I sold it because recently I sold my K-3II and am slowly trimming my Pentax gear back to the K-1 and 4 lenses so that I have the best of Pentax for full frame and I will go to another brand for action photography.

The old 50-500mm is old in the tooth now and it would be hard to recommend unless the buyer has a small budget and needs 500mm, the OS is a special lens imo.

Photo B sure looks better

normhead · 01-23-2019, 11:39 AM

I now have no Sigma long lenses because of similar results with the Sigma 120-400. So, I'm not at all surprised. As for the OS thing, shots like this should be tripod images, no? Thanks for providing the images. People don't seem to get it, but when they offer an opinion I have no idea what it means. When I look at comparison images, I have something to evaluate. Sometimes, someone will put up a viewpoint (like the Sigma 30 1.4 being better than the pentax 31) where they say the 30 1.4 is better, but I look at the images, and can find a good four or 5 reasons why the 31 is better. Because I'm looking at the things that are important to me.

So, it's nice to have something I can trust (my own eyes.) As much as I may appreciate the contributions of Mike.P and others, I won't consider hearsay into consideration unless as a last resort. I have no idea if the person looks for the same things I do in a lens until I see images.

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-23-2019, 12:37 PM

The difference is stunning.

Mike.P® · 01-23-2019, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by rr1736

Photo B sure looks better

Yes it does, what I was (probably rambling)

on about was that

A) The original (non OS) 50-500mm is ok if you are light on budget and need 500mm (the one used here)

B) The newer OS version is far better than the original 50-500mm

C) The 150-450mm is better than both optically but the OS Sigma (B) has 50-150mm, closer focus ability and lens OS in it's favour.

Personally I kept the 150-450mm.

SSGGeezer · 01-23-2019, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by Mike.P®

Yes it does, what I was (probably rambling)

on about was that

A) The original (non OS) 50-500mm is ok if you are light on budget and need 500mm (the one used here)

B) The newer OS version is far better than the original 50-500mm

C) The 150-450mm is better than both optically but the OS Sigma (B) has 50-150mm, closer focus ability and lens OS in it's favour.

Personally I kept the 150-450mm.

With the newer Pentax bodies, all the in lens OS seems to do is drain the battery faster, especially when it is cold out. I own a KP and live in Maine so both of these factors come into play.
Just as an aside, I am not one of the folks who whines about the KP's battery capacity, even before I bought the grip!

Mike.P® · 01-23-2019, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by SSGGeezer

With the newer Pentax bodies, all the in lens OS seems to do is drain the battery faster, especially when it is cold out. I own a KP and live in Maine so both of these factors come into play.
Just as an aside, I am not one of the folks who whines about the KP's battery capacity, even before I bought the grip!

It always has, there is very little difference between the two in practice but I prefer the stabilized image through the viewfinder.
I also always use a grip so battery performance is not normally an issue.

**simple1** · 01-23-2019, 01:19 PM

B looks significantly better to me.

Are those two spots on the far right side about middle from the sensor? Sorry if it's a dumb question, I'm not well versed in this stuff.

**Craigbob** · 01-23-2019, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by normhead

I now have no Sigma long lenses because of similar results with the Sigma 120-400. So, I'm not at all surprised. As for the OS thing, shots like this should be tripod images, no? Thanks for providing the images. People don't seem to get it, but when they offer an opinion I have no idea what it means. When I look at comparison images, I have something to evaluate. Sometimes, someone will put up a viewpoint (like the Sigma 30 1.4 being better than the pentax 31) where they say the 30 1.4 is better, but I look at the images, and can find a good four or 5 reasons why the 31 is better. Because I'm looking at the things that are important to me.

So, it's nice to have something I can trust (my own eyes.) As much as I may appreciate the contributions of Mike.P and others, I won't consider hearsay into consideration unless asa last resort. I have no idea if the person looks for the same things I do in a lens until I see images.

Yes this was a tripod mounted shot. but I've shot the 50-500 handheld, and while I thought it was a beast, the 150-450 is much larger and heavier.

One reason I got the non OS version (aside from cost, and the fact none were available at the time) is the K-1 has IBIS so it's not a big deal to have a non IS lens.

C_Jones · 01-23-2019, 01:47 PM

Image B seems to be the higher quality image. I have the Sigma 150-500 DG OS. I use it with the lens OS off and the Pentax camera body SR (shake reduction) on. I have gotten some really outstanding images with it. The Pentax 150-450 being the newer and updated lens technology is something that I would consider being nice things to have in a lens, also it is Pentax, so it is geared for use with the newer Pentax camera types. If there had been a Pentax 150-450 lens at the time I was looking for a super telephoto zoom I would most likely have opted for the Pentax lens.

blind-bat · 01-23-2019, 02:20 PM

I'm trying to figure why the red/white /blue disc in the center of photo 1 is different in photo 2.

Any idea?

normhead · 01-23-2019, 02:24 PM

A digital sign like the ones at sports events that change all the time.

dagoban · 01-23-2019, 03:27 PM

And what about bokeh?. I have the sigma 50-500 OS and its bokeh is astonishing. How does it compare against pentax 150-450 bokeh?

01-23-2019, 10:36 AM - 2 Likes	#1
Craigbob Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: San Antonio, TX Photos: Albums Posts: 521	Sigma 50-500 non OS compared to Pentax 150-450 on K-1 A while ago I picked up a well maintained used Sigma Non OS 50-500 for my K-1 and I liked it a lot, used it at airshows, and all around use including some astroimaging. A bit more recently I came across a sale on KEH and they had a Pentax 150-450 for about $1100 and I grabbed it up. That was to me an amazing steal. Last Sunday during the lunar eclipse, I decided to try them both out as a direct comparison at the long end. I'm aware of the better range on the Sigma especially at the low end 50mm vs 150 is a big jump. not as much 450-500. and the Pentax being a little bit of a faster lens. I was much more interested in IQ at the long end so while I was settled at the top of a hill overlooking L.A. waiting for the eclipse, I decided to compare the two. My target was the downtwn Los Angeles skyline. With the K-1 set up on the tripod and both lenses at hand I shot some pics. Both under the same conditions. Manual focus with LV focus peaking, ISO 100 Aperture (Sigma f/6.7, Pentax f/6.3) SS (Sigma 1/80, Pentax 1/125) Both were processed with LR and the settings were the same (cropped a bit different) Here's the results. to me the Pentax is a lot sharper and crisper than the Sigma. A B Let me know what you think. I'm not revealing which is which yet I want to hear your opinions.

01-23-2019, 11:39 AM	#5
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	I now have no Sigma long lenses because of similar results with the Sigma 120-400. So, I'm not at all surprised. As for the OS thing, shots like this should be tripod images, no? Thanks for providing the images. People don't seem to get it, but when they offer an opinion I have no idea what it means. When I look at comparison images, I have something to evaluate. Sometimes, someone will put up a viewpoint (like the Sigma 30 1.4 being better than the pentax 31) where they say the 30 1.4 is better, but I look at the images, and can find a good four or 5 reasons why the 31 is better. Because I'm looking at the things that are important to me. So, it's nice to have something I can trust (my own eyes.) As much as I may appreciate the contributions of Mike.P and others, I won't consider hearsay into consideration unless as a last resort. I have no idea if the person looks for the same things I do in a lens until I see images. Last edited by normhead; 01-30-2019 at 09:48 AM.

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01-23-2019, 10:46 AM	#2
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Well, photo "b" sure looks sharper and "clearer" to me . Seems like photo "a" has a lot of hazing whereas the second shot does not. All in all, I vote for the "b" shot ... Pentax 150-450.

01-23-2019, 11:22 AM	#3
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	I had the non OS 50-500mm years ago and really liked the lens so when the newer OS version came out I upgraded. The 2 lenses are like chalk and cheese, the newer OS version being much sharper. Then Pentax bought out the 150-450mm so I sold the Sigma to buy the Pentax and found that there was not that much difference when it came to IQ and infact the Sigma was a little better in that it has in body OS, 50-150mm more and much closer focus ability. About 9 months ago I found a mint 50-500mm OS for sale online and bought it .... was like having an old friend back and I have used it quite a bit since then but today I sold it because recently I sold my K-3II and am slowly trimming my Pentax gear back to the K-1 and 4 lenses so that I have the best of Pentax for full frame and I will go to another brand for action photography. The old 50-500mm is old in the tooth now and it would be hard to recommend unless the buyer has a small budget and needs 500mm, the OS is a special lens imo.

01-23-2019, 11:34 AM	#4
rr1736 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicago Illinois Photos: Albums Posts: 203	Originally posted by Mike.P® I had the non OS 50-500mm years ago and really liked the lens so when the newer OS version came out I upgraded. The 2 lenses are like chalk and cheese, the newer OS version being much sharper. Then Pentax bought out the 150-450mm so I sold the Sigma to buy the Pentax and found that there was not that much difference when it came to IQ and infact the Sigma was a little better in that it has in body OS, 50-150mm more and much closer focus ability. About 9 months ago I found a mint 50-500mm OS for sale online and bought it .... was like having an old friend back and I have used it quite a bit since then but today I sold it because recently I sold my K-3II and am slowly trimming my Pentax gear back to the K-1 and 4 lenses so that I have the best of Pentax for full frame and I will go to another brand for action photography. The old 50-500mm is old in the tooth now and it would be hard to recommend unless the buyer has a small budget and needs 500mm, the OS is a special lens imo. Photo B sure looks better

01-23-2019, 12:37 PM	#6
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,291	The difference is stunning.

01-23-2019, 01:00 PM	#7
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	Originally posted by rr1736 Photo B sure looks better Yes it does, what I was (probably rambling) on about was that A) The original (non OS) 50-500mm is ok if you are light on budget and need 500mm (the one used here) B) The newer OS version is far better than the original 50-500mm C) The 150-450mm is better than both optically but the OS Sigma (B) has 50-150mm, closer focus ability and lens OS in it's favour. Personally I kept the 150-450mm.

01-23-2019, 01:12 PM	#8
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by Mike.P® Yes it does, what I was (probably rambling) on about was that A) The original (non OS) 50-500mm is ok if you are light on budget and need 500mm (the one used here) B) The newer OS version is far better than the original 50-500mm C) The 150-450mm is better than both optically but the OS Sigma (B) has 50-150mm, closer focus ability and lens OS in it's favour. Personally I kept the 150-450mm. With the newer Pentax bodies, all the in lens OS seems to do is drain the battery faster, especially when it is cold out. I own a KP and live in Maine so both of these factors come into play. Just as an aside, I am not one of the folks who whines about the KP's battery capacity, even before I bought the grip!

01-23-2019, 01:15 PM	#9
Mike.P® Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,154	Originally posted by SSGGeezer With the newer Pentax bodies, all the in lens OS seems to do is drain the battery faster, especially when it is cold out. I own a KP and live in Maine so both of these factors come into play. Just as an aside, I am not one of the folks who whines about the KP's battery capacity, even before I bought the grip! It always has, there is very little difference between the two in practice but I prefer the stabilized image through the viewfinder. I also always use a grip so battery performance is not normally an issue.

01-23-2019, 01:19 PM	#10
simple1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: In the Florida swamps Posts: 761	B looks significantly better to me. Are those two spots on the far right side about middle from the sensor? Sorry if it's a dumb question, I'm not well versed in this stuff.

01-23-2019, 01:22 PM	#11
Craigbob Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: San Antonio, TX Photos: Albums Posts: 521 Original Poster	Originally posted by normhead I now have no Sigma long lenses because of similar results with the Sigma 120-400. So, I'm not at all surprised. As for the OS thing, shots like this should be tripod images, no? Thanks for providing the images. People don't seem to get it, but when they offer an opinion I have no idea what it means. When I look at comparison images, I have something to evaluate. Sometimes, someone will put up a viewpoint (like the Sigma 30 1.4 being better than the pentax 31) where they say the 30 1.4 is better, but I look at the images, and can find a good four or 5 reasons why the 31 is better. Because I'm looking at the things that are important to me. So, it's nice to have something I can trust (my own eyes.) As much as I may appreciate the contributions of Mike.P and others, I won't consider hearsay into consideration unless asa last resort. I have no idea if the person looks for the same things I do in a lens until I see images. Yes this was a tripod mounted shot. but I've shot the 50-500 handheld, and while I thought it was a beast, the 150-450 is much larger and heavier. One reason I got the non OS version (aside from cost, and the fact none were available at the time) is the K-1 has IBIS so it's not a big deal to have a non IS lens.

01-23-2019, 01:47 PM	#12
C_Jones Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,079	Image B seems to be the higher quality image. I have the Sigma 150-500 DG OS. I use it with the lens OS off and the Pentax camera body SR (shake reduction) on. I have gotten some really outstanding images with it. The Pentax 150-450 being the newer and updated lens technology is something that I would consider being nice things to have in a lens, also it is Pentax, so it is geared for use with the newer Pentax camera types. If there had been a Pentax 150-450 lens at the time I was looking for a super telephoto zoom I would most likely have opted for the Pentax lens.

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01-23-2019, 02:20 PM	#13
blind-bat Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 256	I'm trying to figure why the red/white /blue disc in the center of photo 1 is different in photo 2. Any idea?

01-23-2019, 02:24 PM	#14
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	A digital sign like the ones at sports events that change all the time.

01-23-2019, 03:27 PM	#15
dagoban Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 308	And what about bokeh?. I have the sigma 50-500 OS and its bokeh is astonishing. How does it compare against pentax 150-450 bokeh?