[gkopeliadis]

I am so glad you commented on the noise level of the lens! I am also considering which of these three lenses to buy for wedding photography, and having a lens that is quite during the ceremony is very important to me.

Where are these weddings going to take place? At a football stadium?

[volosong]

Re: the acronyms...each of them actually means something, but for the most part, you can consider it "marketing hype". As to 70-200 f/2.8 lenses...does anyone make a bad one? They are all good and excellent performers. I have an old, old Sigma EX 70-200/2.8 lens. It's the version sold before the DG version (digital specific glass coating) became available. Doubt I'd ever part with it. My keeper ratio with this lens is among the highest of any lens I own, and that includes Limiteds. The DA*50-130 is one fantastic lens too. You can't go wrong with whatever choice you make in a f/2.8 telephoto zoom.

[danielchtong]

Here they are:

Tamron AF 70-200 f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro ($669 USD)

Sigma APO 70-200 f/2.8 EX DG HSM ($779)

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG HSM II ($669)

The other wildcard is the DA*200 - does this blow the others out of the way in terms of sharpness wide open?

My main uses are indoor, lowlight sports.

cheers,
adam

DA200mm is certainly a wildcard. It is restrictive and a lot less convenient than the heavy and bulky zooms

It is sharp wide open and its full blown sharpness is at around F5.6 yet still with a creamy bokeh


F2.8....









F3.2







F3.2










F3.2


















F3.5









F4.5









Full sharpness F5.6









There will be endless list of pros and cons of using prime lens. I had FA135mm - another lens that you need to tone down its sharpness by F4 for portrait - within this important range of 70-200mm.

[danielchtong]

I did not get the other zoom mainly because I had FA135mm earlier. I ordered from Amazon in Feb 08 the zoom and it did not come until Sept. Meanwhile I got myself the DA*200mm .

FA135mm is extremely tiny and light - a pocketable lens I would say






FA135mm at F3.2 almost wide open taken last weekend





















FA135mm at F4. For portrait of older subject I really have to blur it up























Daniel

[rburgoss]

Are you saying Sigma has begun moving away from the powder coated finish? I just pulled up the B&H listing for the 70-200 and the pic shows that same old gritty, looks and feels like it's gonna flake off any minute powder coat.

I've seen A LOT of Sigma lenses "powder coat" finish, which in time start to "peel off". Peeling starts where the lens is usually grabbed and believe me, it looks very bad

[Allison]

Where are these weddings going to take place? At a football stadium?

No, not a football stadium (although being in Pittsburgh I have seen that done before), but some of the churches around here have pretty strict rules about how close you can get to the alter and the bride and groom. This just hurts in two shots - one of them looking at each other and the kiss.

What I would really like to do is try the 50-135, so I could see if it would give me enough reach, but there are no stores around me that carry Pentax. My only option is to buy and then return if I don't like.

[HermanLee]

Hey all,

I am trying to decide on which lens in the 70-200/2.8 range. I originally was thinking DA*50-135 but I feel it is too short, and the weather sealing is not that big of a turn on for me.

Having said that, I am slightly confused regarding the differences in certain lenses in this area. I don't fully understand all of the Di LD, EX DG, etc acronyms, and am hoping someone can give me a laymen comparison of these three lenses, and perhaps an opinion on if the additional $ is worth it. My main considerations are IQ and focusing speed/accuracy. Price is a factor, but I won't buy the cheapest lens a more costly one can be justified.

Here they are:

Tamron AF 70-200 f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro ($669 USD)

Sigma APO 70-200 f/2.8 EX DG HSM ($779)

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG HSM II ($669)

The other wildcard is the DA*200 - does this blow the others out of the way in terms of sharpness wide open?

My main uses are indoor, lowlight sports.

cheers,
adam

Hi Adam,

If you can afford it and find one,
try Pentax FA* 80-200mm/2.8.
I'm pretty sure you won't want another ..unless you have LBA of course

Cheers,