Tamron 70-300mm vs Sigma

dekao · 05-21-2019, 03:49 AM

Hello guys,
I am willing to get a 70-300mm lens and have to decide between Tamron and Sigma
Tamron AF 70-300mm 4-5,6
Sigma 70-300 mm F4,0-5,6

Any experience/remarks?

Paul the Sunman · 05-21-2019, 04:11 AM - **1 Like**

Is it for use on a FF or APS-C camera? If for APS-C, any of the Pentax DA 55-300 lenses would be a big step up in quality from the Sigma and Tamron. Neither get much love in the PF user reviews.

dekao · 05-21-2019, 04:12 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

Is it for use on a FF or APS-C camera? If for APS-C, any of the Pentax DA 55-300 lenses would be a big step up in quality from the Sigma and Tamron. Neither get much love in the PF user reviews.

thank you for poiting out.
I have a K-5 and yes I am considering the DAL 55-300mm as well because it seems to be lighter-

Paul the Sunman · 05-21-2019, 04:24 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by dekao

thank you for poiting out.
I have a K-5 and yes I am considering the DAL 55-300mm as well because it seems to be lighter-

The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5.

dekao · 05-21-2019, 04:38 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5.

Thank you. I will get a SMC DA 55-300mm.

Paul the Sunman · 05-21-2019, 04:48 AM

Originally posted by dekao

Thank you. I will get a SMC DA 55-300mm.

I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good.

**pepperberry farm** · 05-21-2019, 04:53 AM - **2 Likes**

I had a Sigma 70-300 and sold it because I could not get past the clunky build quality...

I now have a DA L 55-300 and am much happier with both the photos and the build quality

dekao · 05-21-2019, 05:27 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good.

Yeah I thought of getting a the WR version since its a K-5.. but I rarely shoot in wet conditions. But we never know when the rain comes right

photocles · 05-21-2019, 05:48 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good.

I second this. I can't tell any difference between the two. Both are very good.

Just for the record, I did "audition" the APO version of Sigma's 70-300 before I bought the original DA 55-300 and it wasn't nearly as consistent across the range.

Plus, you get a wider FOV at the wide end (obviously) with the Pentax zooms. It really adds to the versatility of the lens.

normhead · 05-21-2019, 06:10 AM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5.

Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell.

steve_k · 05-21-2019, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell.

I have to give it a try on my K-5. I just assumed it wouldn't work because I was told it wouldn't.

Paul the Sunman · 05-21-2019, 07:27 AM

Originally posted by normhead

Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell.

According to the PF compatibility guide:

Aperture cannot be set;always wide-open

Is she shooting wide-open all the time?

**Billy Joe** · 05-21-2019, 12:43 PM - **1 Like**

I have the Tammy 70-300... pretty sharp lens but it does suffer from Purple Fringing in higher contrast scenes.

dagoban · 05-21-2019, 05:14 PM - **1 Like**

For pentax k5, the best option is the pentax 55-300, better than sigma and tamron 70-300 lenses. In contrast, for k1 in FF mode, the pentax 55-300 is not the best choice.

SSGGeezer · 07-03-2019, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

According to the PF compatibility guide:

Aperture cannot be set;always wide-open

Is she shooting wide-open all the time?

i have had it mounted on my K-5IIs and it seems to work just fine and based on the sharpness of my initial test images, seems to stop down. i say this because all the DA 55-300s are pretty soft wide open at longer focal lengths and set at F/9, look similar to when I had my K-50, if not as good as my KP with the same lens. If I am extremely concerned about sharpness at 300mm, I mount my DA* 300.

05-21-2019, 03:49 AM	#1
dekao Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kraków - Poland Posts: 42	Tamron 70-300mm vs Sigma Hello guys, I am willing to get a 70-300mm lens and have to decide between Tamron and Sigma Tamron AF 70-300mm 4-5,6 Sigma 70-300 mm F4,0-5,6 Any experience/remarks?

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05-21-2019, 04:11 AM - 1 Like	#2
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Is it for use on a FF or APS-C camera? If for APS-C, any of the Pentax DA 55-300 lenses would be a big step up in quality from the Sigma and Tamron. Neither get much love in the PF user reviews.

05-21-2019, 04:12 AM	#3
dekao Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kraków - Poland Posts: 42 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman Is it for use on a FF or APS-C camera? If for APS-C, any of the Pentax DA 55-300 lenses would be a big step up in quality from the Sigma and Tamron. Neither get much love in the PF user reviews. thank you for poiting out. I have a K-5 and yes I am considering the DAL 55-300mm as well because it seems to be lighter-

05-21-2019, 04:24 AM - 1 Like	#4
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Originally posted by dekao thank you for poiting out. I have a K-5 and yes I am considering the DAL 55-300mm as well because it seems to be lighter- The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5.

05-21-2019, 04:38 AM	#5
dekao Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kraków - Poland Posts: 42 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5. Thank you. I will get a SMC DA 55-300mm.

05-21-2019, 04:48 AM	#6
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Originally posted by dekao Thank you. I will get a SMC DA 55-300mm. I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good.

05-21-2019, 04:53 AM - 2 Likes	#7
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,676	I had a Sigma 70-300 and sold it because I could not get past the clunky build quality... I now have a DA L 55-300 and am much happier with both the photos and the build quality

05-21-2019, 05:27 AM	#8
dekao Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kraków - Poland Posts: 42 Original Poster	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good. Yeah I thought of getting a the WR version since its a K-5.. but I rarely shoot in wet conditions. But we never know when the rain comes right

05-21-2019, 05:48 AM - 2 Likes	#9
photocles Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Connacht, Ireland Photos: Gallery Posts: 458	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman I have both the SMC and the HD WR versions, and I can't tell the difference optically. They are both very good. I second this. I can't tell any difference between the two. Both are very good. Just for the record, I did "audition" the APO version of Sigma's 70-300 before I bought the original DA 55-300 and it wasn't nearly as consistent across the range. Plus, you get a wider FOV at the wide end (obviously) with the Pentax zooms. It really adds to the versatility of the lens.

05-21-2019, 06:10 AM - 3 Likes	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,451	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman The DA or DAL versions are optically identical, but the DAL lacks quick-shift and has a plastic bayonet. Do not buy the DA 55-300 PLM, as it won't work on the K5. Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell.

05-21-2019, 07:11 AM	#11
steve_k Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Shelton, CT Photos: Albums Posts: 708	Originally posted by normhead Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell. I have to give it a try on my K-5. I just assumed it wouldn't work because I was told it wouldn't.

05-21-2019, 07:27 AM	#12
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,843	Originally posted by normhead Tess uses the DA 55-300 PLM on her K-5. I keep telling her it doesn't work. She just keeps taking it and shooting good pictures with it. I haven't done any testing but according to the exifs, it works just fine. Tess just got back from a birthday part with her grand nieces. She shot pretty much the whole thing with the 55-300 PLM. if it's not working, it's hard to tell. According to the PF compatibility guide: Aperture cannot be set;always wide-open Is she shooting wide-open all the time?

05-21-2019, 12:43 PM - 1 Like	#13
Billy Joe Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 374	I have the Tammy 70-300... pretty sharp lens but it does suffer from Purple Fringing in higher contrast scenes.

05-21-2019, 05:14 PM - 1 Like	#14
dagoban Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 308	For pentax k5, the best option is the pentax 55-300, better than sigma and tamron 70-300 lenses. In contrast, for k1 in FF mode, the pentax 55-300 is not the best choice.

07-03-2019, 08:09 AM	#15
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman According to the PF compatibility guide: Aperture cannot be set;always wide-open Is she shooting wide-open all the time? i have had it mounted on my K-5IIs and it seems to work just fine and based on the sharpness of my initial test images, seems to stop down. i say this because all the DA 55-300s are pretty soft wide open at longer focal lengths and set at F/9, look similar to when I had my K-50, if not as good as my KP with the same lens. If I am extremely concerned about sharpness at 300mm, I mount my DA* 300.