What 3 Sigma lenses would you choose?

Skipper74 · 01-14-2013, 03:03 AM

Hi everyone I have posted a few threads here recently but just having a hard time trying to make a few decisions on a few lenses. Wide angle a must for landscape and something with a good f2.8 zoom lens. I have a Pentax 18-135 and a 15mm which I am trying to sell and considering a Pentax f2.8 16-50mm and a Pentax F2.8 50-135mm. But I am also considering getting 2-3 Sigma lenses. I want something for wide angle so maybe a 10-20mm and maybe a nice 50-200 or 70-200 f2.8 that I could get some nice blurred background with. As a amateur any advice helps.

voyager13 · 01-14-2013, 03:08 AM

I am having a blast with the Sigma Ex 10-20/4-5.6 (or the Sigma 10-20 f3.5 if you can afford)
Have a look at the awesome photos in the lenses section that people have taken with this lens, blew my mind!!!

saladin · 01-14-2013, 03:13 AM

no idea on what your budget is or specific uses, but how about a 10-20, 24-60/2.8 and 70-200 hsm macro II ? The latter two are superceded and so are cheaper options.

I have three sigma lenses, but instead of the uwa zoom I am at the other end with a 150-500. Just because it suits my uses. I really like all three lenses. But be aware that you will likely need the focus adjustment afforded by the k5, and some sigma lenses can need calibrating to the specific camera body. I haven't done it, but I am often battling with front focus on the 24-60 under certain lighting.

**kiwi_jono** · 01-14-2013, 03:14 AM

I have a Sigma 10-20 f3.5 and I love it. Now I find I am trying new perspectives. I also find the HSM focus is very quite and on the K-5 it makes a nice quite combo for candid photography.

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**Digitalis** · 01-14-2013, 03:28 AM

the DA15mm f/4 Limited is very small compared the toe Sigma wide angle zooms - it really is surprising how much fun that little lens is. the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 would also be a good choice - but as I understand it they recently discontinued that lens for pentax K mount. so your best bet would be the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG

But If I was so inclined to buy 3 lenses from sigma the ones I would really want would be : Sigma 800mm f/5.6 APO EX, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS, Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 ASPH .

Skipper74 · 01-14-2013, 03:29 AM

Thanks again everyone but for some of you my camera is a K5.

Medium FormatPro · 01-14-2013, 04:19 AM

By far one of Sigma best lens' would be the Sigma 24-70 (constant aperature) f2.8

One of the best optically, and it also helps to have that constant aperature throughout the entire zoom range. The focusing is one of the fastest of any PK lens' ever made. The Sigma titled version of the hsm is also considerably more reliable than anything Pentax offers in sdm. Out of the many, many dozens of Sigma lens; that I own I've only had very minor issues with one - outside of warranty - and yet Sigma made good on complete repair of it.

Just how good is the Sigma 24-70? Almost as good as a Zeiss - it's that good. Might you also consider the yet unreleased Sigma fixed lens as well; the Sigma 35mm f1.4 or the existing marketed Sigma 85mm f1.4...

When Pentax lens' dream they always dream of being better Sigma lens'. Might I also clearly point out; for all of the Pentax FF dreamers - IF it ever does come out - most all of the existing Sigma lens' are FF

voyager13 · 01-14-2013, 04:22 AM

Originally posted by Medium FormatPro

Just how good is the Sigma 24-70? Almost as good as a Zeiss - it's that good. Might you also consider the yet unreleased Sigma fixed lens as well; the Sigma 35mm f1.4 or the existing marketed Sigma 85mm f1.4...

Drool

jpyykonen · 01-14-2013, 04:34 AM

Are you really sure what you want or need? I'll suggest you to take a look of photos what you have taken in a last year and look what there is you want to improve / what is not right. Is that gear or photographer related? What focal lengths you have used most? Take a look of photos taken with similar or "worse" equipment about similar subjects you photograph. There are lots of web sites to look at where you can find even full size samples (for example pixel-peeper.com). Ask yourself that are you buying because you need or because you think you need. Now the scale seems to be so wide that you try to cover everything and nothing seems to really fit. What others think doesn't matter in the end. What you like and what you get good results with matters. Ask yourself what there is in my current equipment that I don't like. If you like your lenses don't sell them just to get "better" ones. You may not like them. Best lens is the one you like to use.

That said, I still suggest you to buy Sigma 30/1.4. I regret not buying it some time ago when I saw a good deal because I read some reviews that said it is a bad lens. Then I looked full size samples of similar photos I like to take and it changed my mind. It is more than enough for me. Even corners when stopped down. There are people that say it is a bad lens but in my purposes it is more than enough. I'm after one at the moment. IMO 15mm limited, 30/1.4 sigma and DA 18-135WR would cover quite a lot of ground.

And to answer the question, I would go either 10-20mm/4-5.6 (older screwdrive version; cheap, light and good quality) + 30mm/1.4 + 50-150mm/2.8 or 17-50mm/2.8 / 17-70mm/2.8-4.5 + 50-150mm/2.8 + 150-500mm/5-6.3 depending what I want (the first being "creative photographers setup" and latter being "sport and wildlife photographer setup"). I may be wrong but I got a feeling that you may be buying just for the sake of buying. It may be the road one have to walk (I have

) but in the end I bet you will regret selling that DA 15 limited

VoiceOfReason · 01-14-2013, 06:57 AM

If I were getting the 16-50 and 50-135, then 3 Sigma lenses I would go for the 8-16 to cover teh wide end, then the 70-200 f/2.8, then either the 150-500 or 50-500. That will give you good coverage.

joe.penn · 01-14-2013, 07:13 AM

Siggy 8~16 FLD
Siggy 17~50 FLD
Siggy 70~200 FLD

**TER-OR** · 01-14-2013, 07:25 AM

I really enjoyed renting the 8-16 for two weeks, it's a lot of fun.

I bought the 28mm Macro f1.8 after renting that - it's my ideal close lens and performs well in low-light.

Beyond that, I'm interested in looking at their prime telephotos, but don't have money now. The DA 55-300 will have to do for me at the long end.

David&karen · 01-16-2013, 07:53 AM

I agree with Joe(I have the 8-16 and 17-50 but use the Tamron 70-200 2.8)but I want to see about the 17-70 'C' lens when it is tested as the bit longer focal length is easier to live with.

David

Pauld · 01-16-2013, 08:27 AM

Like everyone else I would certainly suggest purchasing a 10-20mm. IMO it is the perfect landscape lens. I absolutely love my 30mm lens as well. It's tack sharp, compact and is a great walk around lens. If you want to cover the rest of the range you would certainly be looking at a Bigma 50-500mm. These lenses aren't going to be cheap but the investment is well worth it.

gryphongryph · 01-16-2013, 10:27 AM

I am thinking of getting the Sigma 10-20 3.5 as my next lens, I am a bit short at the wide end, but the brand new Sigma 35 1.4 looks very exiting, especially for a APS-C sensor.

01-14-2013, 03:03 AM	#1
Skipper74 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 34	What 3 Sigma lenses would you choose? Hi everyone I have posted a few threads here recently but just having a hard time trying to make a few decisions on a few lenses. Wide angle a must for landscape and something with a good f2.8 zoom lens. I have a Pentax 18-135 and a 15mm which I am trying to sell and considering a Pentax f2.8 16-50mm and a Pentax F2.8 50-135mm. But I am also considering getting 2-3 Sigma lenses. I want something for wide angle so maybe a 10-20mm and maybe a nice 50-200 or 70-200 f2.8 that I could get some nice blurred background with. As a amateur any advice helps.

01-14-2013, 03:08 AM	#2
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211	I am having a blast with the Sigma Ex 10-20/4-5.6 (or the Sigma 10-20 f3.5 if you can afford) Have a look at the awesome photos in the lenses section that people have taken with this lens, blew my mind!!! Last edited by voyager13; 01-14-2013 at 04:23 AM.

01-14-2013, 03:13 AM	#3
saladin Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: outer eastern melbourne, australia Posts: 427	no idea on what your budget is or specific uses, but how about a 10-20, 24-60/2.8 and 70-200 hsm macro II ? The latter two are superceded and so are cheaper options. I have three sigma lenses, but instead of the uwa zoom I am at the other end with a 150-500. Just because it suits my uses. I really like all three lenses. But be aware that you will likely need the focus adjustment afforded by the k5, and some sigma lenses can need calibrating to the specific camera body. I haven't done it, but I am often battling with front focus on the 24-60 under certain lighting. Last edited by saladin; 01-14-2013 at 03:32 AM.

01-14-2013, 03:28 AM	#5
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	the DA15mm f/4 Limited is very small compared the toe Sigma wide angle zooms - it really is surprising how much fun that little lens is. the Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 would also be a good choice - but as I understand it they recently discontinued that lens for pentax K mount. so your best bet would be the 70-200mm f/2.8 APO EX DG But If I was so inclined to buy 3 lenses from sigma the ones I would really want would be : Sigma 800mm f/5.6 APO EX, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 APO EX DG OS, Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 ASPH . Last edited by Digitalis; 01-14-2013 at 03:35 AM.

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01-14-2013, 03:29 AM	#6
Skipper74 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 34 Original Poster	Thanks again everyone but for some of you my camera is a K5.

01-14-2013, 04:19 AM	#7
Medium FormatPro Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Charleston & Pittsburgh Photos: Albums Posts: 1,668	By far one of Sigma best lens' would be the Sigma 24-70 (constant aperature) f2.8 One of the best optically, and it also helps to have that constant aperature throughout the entire zoom range. The focusing is one of the fastest of any PK lens' ever made. The Sigma titled version of the hsm is also considerably more reliable than anything Pentax offers in sdm. Out of the many, many dozens of Sigma lens; that I own I've only had very minor issues with one - outside of warranty - and yet Sigma made good on complete repair of it. Just how good is the Sigma 24-70? Almost as good as a Zeiss - it's that good. Might you also consider the yet unreleased Sigma fixed lens as well; the Sigma 35mm f1.4 or the existing marketed Sigma 85mm f1.4... When Pentax lens' dream they always dream of being better Sigma lens'. Might I also clearly point out; for all of the Pentax FF dreamers - IF it ever does come out - most all of the existing Sigma lens' are FF

01-14-2013, 04:22 AM	#8
voyager13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sweden Posts: 211	Originally posted by Medium FormatPro Just how good is the Sigma 24-70? Almost as good as a Zeiss - it's that good. Might you also consider the yet unreleased Sigma fixed lens as well; the Sigma 35mm f1.4 or the existing marketed Sigma 85mm f1.4... Drool

01-14-2013, 04:34 AM	#9
jpyykonen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampere, Finland Posts: 191	Are you really sure what you want or need? I'll suggest you to take a look of photos what you have taken in a last year and look what there is you want to improve / what is not right. Is that gear or photographer related? What focal lengths you have used most? Take a look of photos taken with similar or "worse" equipment about similar subjects you photograph. There are lots of web sites to look at where you can find even full size samples (for example pixel-peeper.com). Ask yourself that are you buying because you need or because you think you need. Now the scale seems to be so wide that you try to cover everything and nothing seems to really fit. What others think doesn't matter in the end. What you like and what you get good results with matters. Ask yourself what there is in my current equipment that I don't like. If you like your lenses don't sell them just to get "better" ones. You may not like them. Best lens is the one you like to use. That said, I still suggest you to buy Sigma 30/1.4. I regret not buying it some time ago when I saw a good deal because I read some reviews that said it is a bad lens. Then I looked full size samples of similar photos I like to take and it changed my mind. It is more than enough for me. Even corners when stopped down. There are people that say it is a bad lens but in my purposes it is more than enough. I'm after one at the moment. IMO 15mm limited, 30/1.4 sigma and DA 18-135WR would cover quite a lot of ground. And to answer the question, I would go either 10-20mm/4-5.6 (older screwdrive version; cheap, light and good quality) + 30mm/1.4 + 50-150mm/2.8 or 17-50mm/2.8 / 17-70mm/2.8-4.5 + 50-150mm/2.8 + 150-500mm/5-6.3 depending what I want (the first being "creative photographers setup" and latter being "sport and wildlife photographer setup"). I may be wrong but I got a feeling that you may be buying just for the sake of buying. It may be the road one have to walk (I have ) but in the end I bet you will regret selling that DA 15 limited

01-14-2013, 06:57 AM	#10
VoiceOfReason Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mishawaka IN area Photos: Albums Posts: 6,124	If I were getting the 16-50 and 50-135, then 3 Sigma lenses I would go for the 8-16 to cover teh wide end, then the 70-200 f/2.8, then either the 150-500 or 50-500. That will give you good coverage.

01-14-2013, 07:13 AM	#11
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Siggy 8~16 FLD Siggy 17~50 FLD Siggy 70~200 FLD

01-14-2013, 07:25 AM	#12
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	I really enjoyed renting the 8-16 for two weeks, it's a lot of fun. I bought the 28mm Macro f1.8 after renting that - it's my ideal close lens and performs well in low-light. Beyond that, I'm interested in looking at their prime telephotos, but don't have money now. The DA 55-300 will have to do for me at the long end.

01-16-2013, 07:53 AM	#13
David&karen Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 327	I agree with Joe(I have the 8-16 and 17-50 but use the Tamron 70-200 2.8)but I want to see about the 17-70 'C' lens when it is tested as the bit longer focal length is easier to live with. David

01-16-2013, 08:27 AM	#14
Pauld Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 507	Like everyone else I would certainly suggest purchasing a 10-20mm. IMO it is the perfect landscape lens. I absolutely love my 30mm lens as well. It's tack sharp, compact and is a great walk around lens. If you want to cover the rest of the range you would certainly be looking at a Bigma 50-500mm. These lenses aren't going to be cheap but the investment is well worth it.

01-16-2013, 10:27 AM	#15
gryphongryph Forum Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Faroes Islands Photos: Gallery Posts: 74	I am thinking of getting the Sigma 10-20 3.5 as my next lens, I am a bit short at the wide end, but the brand new Sigma 35 1.4 looks very exiting, especially for a APS-C sensor.