[kenyee]

If you have the previous version, it doesn't seem worth the upgrade...

Sigma Lens: Zooms - Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM (Tested) - SLRgear.com!

[phillipb]

I just picked up an old version for a great price and I'm pleased that you've said that. I'm happy with the old version and I can't imagine too much else they could do to it.

[little laker]

It's pretty hard to improve upon an already great lens. If you aren't doing a lot of low light photography, where the extra stabilizing might make a difference then there's a good chance an upgrade is worthless.

[HeavyD]

I just purchased a new Sigma 17-70mm OS HSM and don't really see a big difference in image quality over the kit lens. The OS is great however. It may be that the quality of K-7 sensor is more than I'm use to. My last dslr was an 8mp Canon 30d, prior to that I had a K10d and 16-45mm which had excellent IQ as well but the K-7 bests them both. I keep taking pictures like the one below using both the Sigma and the kit lens. Both pics were taken using P mode, f/8, ISO 200, flash comp -1. The Sigma is a tad sharper, thats it. I'm thinking about returning the Sigma.

Sigma 17-70mm OS HSM





Pentax DA 18-55mm WR

[GeneV]

I remember a review from Lenstips which said the same thing about the DA 17-70, noting that the improvement was not huge (except wide open) and that was not because the DA17-70 isn't excellent, but because the kit lens is so good.

[HeavyD]

I remember a review from Lenstips which said the same thing about the DA 17-70, noting that the improvement was not huge (except wide open) and that was not because the DA17-70 isn't excellent, but because the kit lens is so good.

I read the same review, thats why I went with the new Sigma which got a good rating on that site. I can't see spending $400 just to get lens based OS. I guess I'll return the Sigma and buy a grip and the 50-200mm WR lens.

[GeneV]

I read the same review, thats why I went with the new Sigma which got a good rating on that site. I can't see spending $400 just to get lens based OS. I guess I'll return the Sigma and buy a grip and the 50-200mm WR lens.

I did buy the DA17-70 when it first came out, and it has done well for me. There are times when you don't want to change lenses, and I use 70mm quite a bit. If I had owned the second generation kit lens, I might not have been so quick with that purchase.

[Bramela]

As an owner of the older version, I cant see justification in laying out for the upgraded version.
Yes it may not be the greatest low light lens (F4) but to date I have not been inconvenienced and found it to be a great walkaround lens.

[HeavyD]

I did buy the DA17-70 when it first came out, and it has done well for me. There are times when you don't want to change lenses, and I use 70mm quite a bit. If I had owned the second generation kit lens, I might not have been so quick with that purchase.

I hear what your saying. I didn't know the new kit was so good. The Sigma is nice, I really like the build quality, OS and now that the lens has gotten some use, the stiffness is gone and is AF'ing faster than the kit lens. The extended 2 year warranty for registering the lens with Sigma is nice as well. I'm still on the fence on keeping it though.

[Clinton]

I've been wondering about these Sigma OS lenses coming to Pentax bodies. Is the OS in the lens really that much better an option than the OS in our bodies?

I really cant see any compelling reason to pick up this lens for around $450 At that price point, I'd start looking for a DA* 16-55mm in Amazon warehouse deals.

[HeavyD]

I've been wondering about these Sigma OS lenses coming to Pentax bodies. Is the OS in the lens really that much better an option than the OS in our bodies?

I really cant see any compelling reason to pick up this lens for around $450 At that price point, I'd start looking for a DA* 16-55mm in Amazon warehouse deals.

I think the Sigma OS works better than the in body SR. This was taken in a fairly dark room. The bottle was about two feet from a small 13 watt table lamp.

Kit lens P mode, f/6.7 Tv1/8, ISO 400 SR off



Kit lens P mode f/6.7 Tv 1/10 ISO 400 SR on



Sigma 17-70mm P mode, f/6.7, Tv 1/8 ISO 400 OS on

[HeavyD]

I've been wondering about these Sigma OS lenses coming to Pentax bodies. Is the OS in the lens really that much better an option than the OS in our bodies?

I really cant see any compelling reason to pick up this lens for around $450 At that price point, I'd start looking for a DA* 16-55mm in Amazon warehouse deals.

By the way, I picked it up from Abes for $389 on a one day special promotion they were running. I was on their site ready to buy a Tamron 17-50mm but saw the price and jumped on the Sigma.

[Marc Sabatella]

I read the same review, thats why I went with the new Sigma which got a good rating on that site. I can't see spending $400 just to get lens based OS. I guess I'll return the Sigma and buy a grip and the 50-200mm WR lens.

I'd say the main reason to spend the mney on the Sigma wouldn't be the IQ or the IS, but rather the extended range and the extra stop or so of speed. Although I do suspect that if you did extensive tests of IQ - with a variety of different focal lengths and apertures, shooting the exact same scenes with each and then pixel peepering the centers as well as corners, you'd find places where it beat the kit lens pretty noticeably in ways that might not be obvious in a more haphazard comparison.