[68wSteve]

Howdy All,

Got to spend the tax return somehow. Benefits of being single i guess haha. The DA* series lenses have really caught my eye. But doing a little more research have found the following lenses with the following price differences. What would be the reason for spending the extra money and going with pentax? As read in other post is it basically because of weather sealing and the pentax name? What do yall think. After i posted the "4-5 lense dream setup " thread, the 16-50 and 50-135 seem to be at the top of your list. Also thinking about adding a 1.4x or 1.5x teleconverter to the list.


ok, so comparatively the following lenses
Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 $630.14
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD $399.95
Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD $375.99
Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC $355.28
Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG IF $345.00

Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 $707.51
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DCHSM $679.99
Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 di LD Macro $639.00
Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM $704.00
Might pick up these lenses in the next week. Im gonna do some looking around in korea, see if i can save a little more money with the exchange rate.

also i maybe selling the Pentax 50mm 1.4, tamron 28-80 and sigma 70-300mm in my signature. let me know if you are interested with an offer

thanks

Steve

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Last edited by 68wSteve; 02-13-2009 at 08:45 AM. Reason: cuz i can

[Reportage]

Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC $355.28 works if you think of it more like a F/4 lens. for telephoto, the Pentax 55-300 is actually quite decent.

[68wSteve]

can someone move this to lens discussion please

I did not realize the sigma 50-150 is out in pentax mount... Has there been any shots from it / forum members with it yet?

I want that Da 50-135

You are lucky to be choosing between the good ones.

[Presto]

As I don't have a local store to test lenses at, I cannot comment on the quality of the third party lens option. I do, however have the two DA* zooms, and they are the best zooms that I have ever used. They are all they have cracked up to be. The IQ from a good copy of either rivals some of the primes. In short, they get out of the way when I am shooting. I don't have to think about them, and how they are going to reproduce the image that I see in front of me. I don't know if this helps. It is just my experience with them.

[farfisa]

I did not realize the sigma 50-150 is out in pentax mount... Has there been any shots from it / forum members with it yet?

I want that Da 50-135

You are lucky to be choosing between the good ones.

It is out, and in stock here and there, but I haven't seen any pics from it. Almost exactly the same size as the 50-135, but a bit heavier.

I just thought of something though--this SDM Teleconverter pentax is coming out with: it's not weather-sealed is it? Shouldn't they really be putting the weather sealing on that too, since most of their SDM bodies and lenses are?

[68wSteve]

Amazon.com: Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM II Normal-to-Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras: Electronics

this is where i found the sigma 50-150. thought about this because of the little bit of extra length. but if i add a telecoverter to the mix, i guess it wont make that difference if i have the 50-135

[Marc Sabatella]

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG IF $345.00

Seems if you're considering that one, you shouldn't rule out the Tamron 28-75

[68wSteve]

Anybody else have any thoughts? Also to go with this i have a Kenko 1.5 TC on the way from Buddha, Overall goal is to have 16-200/300 covered with the best lense. I like the options of the DA* 16-50 and DA* 50-135 and with 1.5 tc will still be decent lens on the 50-135. Any more ideas would be greatful. Got the itch and the money to buy something, not sure how much more patiences though. HAHA. ive missed a few deals in the market place, because people wont ship to APO's, so i have some state side address to ship to. I have wanted post for both DA* lenses above in marketplace.

thanks

steve

[Venturi]

Well if I had your money in my pocket to go shopping for this range here's what I would do...

Tamron 17-50/2.8
Pentax DA* 50-135/2.8
Tamron 28-75/2.8

The 28-75 gives you overlap between the other 2 and that can be very handy. The Tammy 17-50 is $230 less than the DA*16-50, is smaller and lighter and is wonderfully sharp. With the $230 savings plus proceeds from selling the Tamron 28-80 you will dang near completely offset the additional cost of the 28-75 and you have a solid f/2.8 kit from 17mm thru 135mm and f/4 from 136mm thru 200mm with the 1.5TC.

[Ben_Edict]

I have used the Sigma 18-50/2.8 for more than two years now (the older, non-macro version) and the Pentax 16-50/2.8 now. I even keep the Sigma, despite having the Pentax, because it has some benefits:
- the Sigma is much smaller and more lightweight - simply convenient
- uses 67mm filters, instead of the vastly more expensive 77mm of the Pentax
- the sharpness and contrast is basically en par with the Pentax
- AF is as fast as with the Pentax
- build quality is very high, though it is not weatherproof

I keep it for those times I need a smaller lens.

The Pentax on the other hand is now my preferred choice, simply because it starts at 16mm, which gives you a considerably wider angle of view. I like that very much.
In favour of the Pentax 16-50/2.8 I count:
- remarkebly wider
- not only high build quality, but superb one
- silent AF with SDM
- quick shift manual focus

As for the other lenses, I find it hard to comment. I personally would not buy a 50-135/2.8, because I vastly prefer the 70-200/2.8. As Pentax does not make one og those I bought a Sigma long ago and am highly satisfied with every aspect of that lens.

Ben

[68wSteve]

Well not long after i posted my last question, got a PM from another forum member, whos gonna sell is DA* 16-50 & DA * 50-135 for a deal i dont think i can beat. With that here is what my setup will look like

Pentax SMC DA 10-17mm 3.5/4.5f Fisheye
Pentax SMC FA 50mm 1.4f
Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
Kenko AF SHQ DG 1.5 TC

I think my next lense might be the DA*200 f2.8, DA 300 F4, or Sigma 100-300mm F4. Hopefully after that, i wont have LBA.

I think im gonna sell these lenses,
Tamron 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6
Sigma 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 APO DG
not sure how much use i will get out of them. Maybe keep the 70-300 untill i get the next lense.

[Ben_Edict]

I think my next lense might be the DA*200 f2.8, DA 300 F4, or Sigma 100-300mm F4. Hopefully after that, i wont have LBA.

You don't expect a cure from buying more lenses?

Ben

[Votesh]

You won't be disappointed. The DA* zooms are great.