Help me decide

Pentax Bob · 04-02-2010, 07:02 PM

I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated.

JeffJS · 04-02-2010, 07:46 PM

Couldn't begin to tell you which one is best but here are some recent shots from my Tamron.. Except in extreme contrast conditions, it does very well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13300089@N08/sets/72157623562506079/detail/

woof · 04-02-2010, 07:51 PM

I tend to trust these reviews

Sigma AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG macro - Review / Test Report

Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Di macro (Pentax K) - Review / Lab Test Report

Hope this helps.

woof

Pentax Bob · 04-02-2010, 08:07 PM

Thanks for this. I had found only the Tamron review. This makes me lean toward the Tamron. I have had good experience with other Tamron lenses. It is somewhat less expensive than the Sigma.

Jewelltrail · 04-02-2010, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Pentax Bob:
Help me decide

I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated.

I was in your shoes, and selected the Tamron, but have since sold it. It was good, serving me well. Here are jpgs out of camera, no PPing. Once you learn how to control PFing, and get over its AF tendency to hunt miserably at times, the lens can produce excellent results.

F 5, 1/125th, ISO 400, 160mm

F 5.6 1/250th, ISO 400, 200mm

SpecialK · 04-02-2010, 08:32 PM

Would have sworn I replied to this before.

The APO version of the Sigma is supposedly much better than the non- APO version (hence the difference in price) and a few years back when I bought it, a photo.do review said it was "the only budget zoom worth buying". I've seen some nice shots from the Tamron, however, many people say it is prone to purple fringe.

My side-by-side shots between the Pentax 50-200 and the Sigma APO were very similar, with the Pentax being minutely sharper and contrastier.

The 55-300 is way better than either, though, so I've been able to retire the 50-200. My Sigma died an aperture-blade death, simultaneously with my thought of selling it...

Marc Sabatella · 04-03-2010, 12:00 PM

Also see the reviews of these lenses in the Lens review section of this site, or any of the d dozens of previous threads on this exact same topic here and in the beginner's forum. Bottom line - most say the tamron is slightly sharper but the sigma has less purple fringing. Either will do for the price, but I prefer the DA50-200, as I'll gladly give up some reach for the reduction in wieght and addition of quick shift.

tokyoso · 04-03-2010, 06:01 PM

Originally posted by Pentax Bob

I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated.

the sigma APO version has very good control over PF according to some test photos on the internet. you're more than likely to make up or compensate for the ever so slight difference between most of these lenses by factors not related to the lens itself, as I have found out the hard way.

04-02-2010, 07:02 PM	#1
Pentax Bob Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Photos: Albums Posts: 119	Help me decide I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated.

04-02-2010, 08:26 PM	#5
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: Pentax Bob: Help me decide I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated. I was in your shoes, and selected the Tamron, but have since sold it. It was good, serving me well. Here are jpgs out of camera, no PPing. Once you learn how to control PFing, and get over its AF tendency to hunt miserably at times, the lens can produce excellent results. F 5, 1/125th, ISO 400, 160mm F 5.6 1/250th, ISO 400, 200mm Attached Images

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04-02-2010, 07:46 PM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Couldn't begin to tell you which one is best but here are some recent shots from my Tamron.. Except in extreme contrast conditions, it does very well. http://www.flickr.com/photos/13300089@N08/sets/72157623562506079/detail/

04-02-2010, 07:51 PM	#3
woof Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: In the present Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,870	I tend to trust these reviews Sigma AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG macro - Review / Test Report Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 LD Di macro (Pentax K) - Review / Lab Test Report Hope this helps. woof

04-02-2010, 08:07 PM	#4
Pentax Bob Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Maryland Photos: Albums Posts: 119 Original Poster	Thanks for this. I had found only the Tamron review. This makes me lean toward the Tamron. I have had good experience with other Tamron lenses. It is somewhat less expensive than the Sigma.

04-02-2010, 08:32 PM	#6
SpecialK Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: So California Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,481	Would have sworn I replied to this before. The APO version of the Sigma is supposedly much better than the non- APO version (hence the difference in price) and a few years back when I bought it, a photo.do review said it was "the only budget zoom worth buying". I've seen some nice shots from the Tamron, however, many people say it is prone to purple fringe. My side-by-side shots between the Pentax 50-200 and the Sigma APO were very similar, with the Pentax being minutely sharper and contrastier. The 55-300 is way better than either, though, so I've been able to retire the 50-200. My Sigma died an aperture-blade death, simultaneously with my thought of selling it...

04-03-2010, 12:00 PM	#7
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Also see the reviews of these lenses in the Lens review section of this site, or any of the d dozens of previous threads on this exact same topic here and in the beginner's forum. Bottom line - most say the tamron is slightly sharper but the sigma has less purple fringing. Either will do for the price, but I prefer the DA50-200, as I'll gladly give up some reach for the reduction in wieght and addition of quick shift.

04-03-2010, 06:01 PM	#8
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723	Originally posted by Pentax Bob I am considering between a sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro or a Tamron AF 70-300 Di- LD macro. I realize these are budget lenses, but I can't affort the Pentax. Anybody tested both lenses and can evaluate which is better? Your help is much appreciated. the sigma APO version has very good control over PF according to some test photos on the internet. you're more than likely to make up or compensate for the ever so slight difference between most of these lenses by factors not related to the lens itself, as I have found out the hard way.