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Macca35 · 05-09-2009, 10:12 AM

I'm currently thinking of buying a better telezoom lens than the Tamron 70-300 f4.5-5.6 Di LD I currently use. My camera's a Samsung GX-10, with firmware version 1.3.

My current carry-round kit's a Sigma 10-20 and a Sigma 18-200, both of which I find satisfy my requirements very well.

I could just do with something a little longer that's better than my £100 Tamron.

My immediate questions are:

Is the Sigma 70-300 f4.5-5.6 APO DG any better a performer than my current lens?

Should I stop thinking aloud and go out and buy the SMC 55-300 that I've heard nothing but good things about?

Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

Last edited by Macca35; 05-09-2009 at 10:14 AM. Reason: Modified text

rfortson · 05-09-2009, 04:43 PM

I've not heard great things about any of the 70-300 lenses. I'd go for the 55-300 from Pentax. That one gets nice reviews.

I also had an older Tamron 28-300 (full frame version) that I really liked. Being full frame, you didn't get the vignetting that some of the other superzooms showed. It was pretty cheap, but they're hard to find now.

Short of stumbling onto a bargain like that, I'd just go ahead and get the 55-300.

Macca35 · 05-09-2009, 11:44 PM

Thanks Russ,

The Tamron I currently have is very much a budget lens, and it shows with all the purple fringing between 200-300mm. I've also had soft, grainy looking images in that focal range too. As one of the guys at my local dealership told me "That lens is an old design that worked well on film, but put it on a K10D or K20D and it will display all of it's flaws."

I saw a Pentax demo shot of a ship taken at 300mm on a 55-300, and it was so sharp you could even see the weld lines in the steel superstructure. There was no border softness or vignetting in evidence whatsoever, in fact I think it was probably the best tele shot I've seen from a lens in this class.

Plus the 55-300 has internal focusing, so I can use a circular polariser properly, always a good point with a tele lens I use to shoot aircraft and ships.

SMC 55-300 it is.

Paul

xjjohnno · 05-10-2009, 04:08 AM

The Sigma lacks sharpness at full length and I have both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 55-300 and I know which I prefer using being the Pentax.

05-09-2009, 10:12 AM	#1
Macca35 New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nelson, Lancashire, UK Posts: 12	Telezoom Thoughts I'm currently thinking of buying a better telezoom lens than the Tamron 70-300 f4.5-5.6 Di LD I currently use. My camera's a Samsung GX-10, with firmware version 1.3. My current carry-round kit's a Sigma 10-20 and a Sigma 18-200, both of which I find satisfy my requirements very well. I could just do with something a little longer that's better than my £100 Tamron. My immediate questions are: Is the Sigma 70-300 f4.5-5.6 APO DG any better a performer than my current lens? Should I stop thinking aloud and go out and buy the SMC 55-300 that I've heard nothing but good things about? Your thoughts would be much appreciated. Thanks Paul Last edited by Macca35; 05-09-2009 at 10:14 AM. Reason: Modified text

05-09-2009, 11:44 PM	#3
Macca35 New Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nelson, Lancashire, UK Posts: 12 Original Poster	Thanks Russ, The Tamron I currently have is very much a budget lens, and it shows with all the purple fringing between 200-300mm. I've also had soft, grainy looking images in that focal range too. As one of the guys at my local dealership told me "That lens is an old design that worked well on film, but put it on a K10D or K20D and it will display all of it's flaws." I saw a Pentax demo shot of a ship taken at 300mm on a 55-300, and it was so sharp you could even see the weld lines in the steel superstructure. There was no border softness or vignetting in evidence whatsoever, in fact I think it was probably the best tele shot I've seen from a lens in this class. Plus the 55-300 has internal focusing, so I can use a circular polariser properly, always a good point with a tele lens I use to shoot aircraft and ships. SMC 55-300 it is. Paul Last edited by Macca35; 05-09-2009 at 11:49 PM.

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05-09-2009, 04:43 PM	#2
rfortson Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Houston TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,129	I've not heard great things about any of the 70-300 lenses. I'd go for the 55-300 from Pentax. That one gets nice reviews. I also had an older Tamron 28-300 (full frame version) that I really liked. Being full frame, you didn't get the vignetting that some of the other superzooms showed. It was pretty cheap, but they're hard to find now. Short of stumbling onto a bargain like that, I'd just go ahead and get the 55-300.

05-10-2009, 04:08 AM	#4
xjjohnno Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Melbourne Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,115	The Sigma lacks sharpness at full length and I have both the Sigma 70-300 and the Pentax 55-300 and I know which I prefer using being the Pentax.

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