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02-28-2007, 02:14 PM   #1
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Answer This Question, Please.

A little while back, when I went to pick up the battery grip for my K10D, I had questioned an employee of the camera shop about a good, fast lens for my camera. I don't remember the model that he mentioned, but he said that he could order a nice tele by Sigma (I believe he said it was) for $919.00. Now, I don't remember that lens' focal numbers, but I DO remember him saying that it carried a straight f2/8 across its entire focal travel. Is that possible? Or did he give me (as I suspect) very erroneous information? I have not revisited his store, on further discussion of this matter, because (quite frankly) I just don't care for the attitude of the owner.

But what lens might I best outfit my K10D with? I have just the one lens, right now, which is the Tamron 18-200mm, and - to my way of seeing it - that lens is not bad at all. My wife has given me the go-ahead to spend up to $1000 on another lens, and I need to know which would be the fastest lens I could get for my camera. I don't really want to get into a 'fixed' lens design, right now, because of trying to defeat too much 'lens swapping'.

Maybe something to compliment my Tamron tele, but it has to be rather fast (the fastest that I can get, for no more than $1000) to enable great low-light shooting. If I have asked a similar question before, please forgive. I am kind'a in a hurry, right now, and just don't have the time to search through my previous posts. Besides, I am VERY anxious to hear replies on this .

02-28-2007, 03:02 PM   #2
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Since you mentioned Sigma, they have a few that are good that I'm also looking at. You've got the "BIGMA" at 50-500 F4-6.3, the 135-400 F4.5-5.6 and the 100-300 at F4. All are under $1000. Going to a F2.8 will increase the $$$ drastically from what I've seen if buying new. You could search e-bay as well.

Tonika has the 80-400 F4.5-5.6 but I don't know much about it nor the price. I've seen pics of all three above and all are very sharp.

I've also got the Tamron 18-200XR Di as well as the 70-300 Di and I think they are both great entry glass.
02-28-2007, 03:05 PM   #3
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02-28-2007, 03:12 PM   #4
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It depends on what focal range you want. For an f/2.8 telephoto zoom, there is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX. There is also the Sigma 100-300 f/4 EX. These are the only ones I have experience with to recommend, but are both top quality optics. For $1000, these or similar 3rd party offerings might be the only thing you can. I am sure the pentax equivalents are excellent, but cost more and are hard to find, or not even available for purchase yet.

02-28-2007, 03:20 PM   #5
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Hi, Sigma also makes a 70-200 at F2.8 that is priced around $850.00. I believe that a macro version of this model will be coming out in late spring. You may be able to find an order version (DG or Non-DG) cheaper. There is a non-DG version listed on ebay right now.

Also it depends on what focal length you’re looking for. Tamron make a 28-75 F2.8. Sigma also makes a 24-70 F2.8. There is a member selling the Sigma 24-70 F2.8 buy/sell/trade section.

Hope this helps and good luck with your search

Anthony
02-28-2007, 05:22 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by kbrabble Quote
It depends on what focal range you want. For an f/2.8 telephoto zoom, there is the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX. There is also the Sigma 100-300 f/4 EX. These are the only ones I have experience with to recommend, but are both top quality optics. For $1000, these or similar 3rd party offerings might be the only thing you can. I am sure the pentax equivalents are excellent, but cost more and are hard to find, or not even available for purchase yet.
Thanks. And I guess that I was wrong about what that salesman had imparted to me. Since you mentioned that Sigma 70-200mm lens, I seem to be of the mind that this is the very one that he spoke on. I noticed how you mentioned just the f/2.8, and this is where my confusion (when he stated the same) was birthed from. You see, I had thought that all telephoto lens held a minimum - as well as a maximum focal number to be concerned about (Like my Tamron offering an f/3.5 at tight end, and an f/6.3 at its extreme end). It is, largely, by this that I never expected any tele-lens to carry the one numerical value across the whole focal plane.

Thanks again - to you, and everyone
.
02-28-2007, 07:09 PM   #7
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hey nathan,
want to trade wives?? lol
actually zooms do come with fixed f-stops. they tend to be high dollar investments tho. i'll pm you a link to somethings i have but haven't posted yet.

02-28-2007, 07:46 PM   #8
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I have the k10d, the sigma 70-200mm f2.8, and the battery grip. This set-up is awesome I have to say.
02-28-2007, 07:47 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by NLAlston Quote
A little while back, when I went to pick up the battery grip for my K10D, I had questioned an employee of the camera shop about a good, fast lens for my camera. I don't remember the model that he mentioned, but he said that he could order a nice tele by Sigma (I believe he said it was) for $919.00. Now, I don't remember that lens' focal numbers, but I DO remember him saying that it carried a straight f2/8 across its entire focal travel. Is that possible? Or did he give me (as I suspect) very erroneous information? I have not revisited his store, on further discussion of this matter, because (quite frankly) I just don't care for the attitude of the owner.

But what lens might I best outfit my K10D with? I have just the one lens, right now, which is the Tamron 18-200mm, and - to my way of seeing it - that lens is not bad at all. My wife has given me the go-ahead to spend up to $1000 on another lens, and I need to know which would be the fastest lens I could get for my camera. I don't really want to get into a 'fixed' lens design, right now, because of trying to defeat too much 'lens swapping'.

Maybe something to compliment my Tamron tele, but it has to be rather fast (the fastest that I can get, for no more than $1000) to enable great low-light shooting. If I have asked a similar question before, please forgive. I am kind'a in a hurry, right now, and just don't have the time to search through my previous posts. Besides, I am VERY anxious to hear replies on this .
I believe this is a 70mm-200mm F2.8. I bought one when I got my *istD and it is a great lens. I use it a lot with the 1.4x teleconverter also.
02-28-2007, 07:48 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by NLAlston Quote
Thanks. And I guess that I was wrong about what that salesman had imparted to me. Since you mentioned that Sigma 70-200mm lens, I seem to be of the mind that this is the very one that he spoke on. I noticed how you mentioned just the f/2.8, and this is where my confusion (when he stated the same) was birthed from. You see, I had thought that all telephoto lens held a minimum - as well as a maximum focal number to be concerned about (Like my Tamron offering an f/3.5 at tight end, and an f/6.3 at its extreme end). It is, largely, by this that I never expected any tele-lens to carry the one numerical value across the whole focal plane.

Thanks again - to you, and everyone
.
Lots of higher priced telezooms have constant apature across the entire focal length, most are in the F2.8 range, but you pay about double the price for them.
02-28-2007, 08:44 PM   #11
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Look here. If you'll notice, the only one in the whole bunch that is around $900 are the 50-500mm f4-6.3 and the 100-300mm f4. Neither are f2.8, and only the 100-300 are constant aperature. The Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 is a constant 2.8, but is $200 cheaper. The only other constant aperature super-tele-zooms that Sigma currently makes is the 120-300 f2.8 and the 300-800 f5.6, but neither are made in the K-Mount, at least not yet. Both are very expensive at around $2100 and $5000-6000 respectively.
02-28-2007, 09:12 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by HawaiianOnline Quote
Look here. If you'll notice, the only one in the whole bunch that is around $900 are the 50-500mm f4-6.3 and the 100-300mm f4. Neither are f2.8, and only the 100-300 are constant aperature. The Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 is a constant 2.8, but is $200 cheaper. The only other constant aperature super-tele-zooms that Sigma currently makes is the 120-300 f2.8 and the 300-800 f5.6, but neither are made in the K-Mount, at least not yet. Both are very expensive at around $2100 and $5000-6000 respectively.
I wouldn't expect any tele to super tele zoom beyond 200 mm at F2.8 would be in the price range of $900.

Once you get to 300 mm f2.8 you are looking at a really expensive, big, heavy and limited series lens. A 300 F2.8 will have somethng like a 110mm diameter front end.
03-01-2007, 10:07 AM   #13
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Thanks again, everyone.

I was looking for the lowest numbered, constant-apertured lens that my monetary limit would afford me. The only one I have seen, thus far, is the Sigma 70-200mm @ f/2.8. The focal travel of that lens is within the scope of what my present Tamron (18-200mm) lens gives me, which means that I would be duplicating, in a sense, what I already have (minus the faster properties of the Sigma). I am not really into macros (not yet, anyway), so I am not putting a great deal of focus on the 'tight' end of the lens. By the same token, I am not looking to define the hairs on the body of a fly, from a distance of 100 yards (an extreme example, I know, but you get the picture ).
03-01-2007, 04:32 PM   #14
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And then later you can buy a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter and extend the reach even further!
03-01-2007, 11:45 PM   #15
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If you get the 70-200, sell the 18-200 and get yourself the Sigma 17-70 DC, it makes a great two lens combination.
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