[jayman_1975]

Sigma 1.4 EX DG APO

[dadipentak]

I just posted some lacrosse photos taken with the Sigma 100-300/4 over in the Sports Photography thread.

[Mike.P®]

[dadipentak]

Ok, Let me get some opinions on a mystery: After his Sigma 70-300 died, my son borrowed my 100-300 to shoot his son's soccer games. He reports that he initially had some difficulty getting the lens cap to stay on but then he found a very thin metal ring which seemed to have fallen off the lens and he had no problems with the lens cap after that.

Although it's nowhere to be found now, he took a photo of the ring




I checked out the front of the lens and it looks ok to me but what do I know? (HINT: "nothing")



Anyone have a clue about what's going on here? Am I in danger of having the front element fall off?

[jayman_1975]

Great shot of the jets! I love it. Makes me miss my 100-300. I should have never sold it.

[Class A]

Am I in danger of having the front element fall off?

You might be.

Difficult to tell because there are at least two versions of this lens and also there still appears to be a retainer ring that may do the job on its own.

I had a look at my copy and it appears to have the ring you lost in addition to what is on your lens. I can definitely see less of the threads and there seem to be two rings in front of the front element.

Perhaps the two rings are meant to be countered, i.e. tightened against each other to provide a secure stop without requiring a lot of pressure on the front element.

I'd say you should have the lens looked at by someone who knows what it should look like when complete.

Possibly the function of the ring that got lost is just a spacer for the lens cap and your front element is still secure but I'd have it checked. Hopefully someone else with more knowledge will chime in.

[wissink]

I have the 100-300F4. Is the EX APO DG 1.4x worth the price in terms of IQ? Would saving for the DA 1.4x AW be noticeably better? Other than this lens, I only have primes. I'd love to switch to the DA* 300, but I can't seem to give up the zoom flexibility for the tele. I have the 15, 35, and 70. I'd lose a lot of range if I switched to the 300. I guess my alternative is the new DFA 150-450. That would be a couple of years of saving though.

[dadipentak]

I have the 100-300F4. Is the EX APO DG 1.4x worth the price in terms of IQ? Would saving for the DA 1.4x AW be noticeably better? Other than this lens, I only have primes. I'd love to switch to the DA* 300, but I can't seem to give up the zoom flexibility for the tele. I have the 15, 35, and 70. I'd lose a lot of range if I switched to the 300. I guess my alternative is the new DFA 150-450. That would be a couple of years of saving though.

I've used the Sigma TC and have been pretty pleased with the results (see below). My own inclination is to match the TC & lens manufacturer so, without assurances, I'd be a bit wary of matching the lens with the new Pentax TC. OTOH, someone has to be the first to try that combination so why not you? :~)

[wissink]

someone has to be the first to try that combination so why not you? :~)

Haha, I wish! There's a couple of shots at the beginning of the DA 1.4x TC photo thread. It seems to be the only ones in the entire thread though..
I just misplaced the thread link.. I'll go find it.

[TenZ.NL]

I have the 100-300F4. Is the EX APO DG 1.4x worth the price in terms of IQ? Would saving for the DA 1.4x AW be noticeably better? Other than this lens, I only have primes. I'd love to switch to the DA* 300, but I can't seem to give up the zoom flexibility for the tele. I have the 15, 35, and 70. I'd lose a lot of range if I switched to the 300. I guess my alternative is the new DFA 150-450. That would be a couple of years of saving though.

I bought the the 100-300F4 together with the sigma 1.4 TC. The minute I got home I did a complete test (on tripod, 2sec delay) with and without TC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tenznl/sets/72157626200136484

No problem at first, IQ with the TC was very good imho but when I started using the combo in the field (handheld) I was really disappointed...most of the time. Mostly the images were somewhat blurry but from time time it did produce very clean and sharp IQ.
So I tried over and over and really started to hate this TC but I wasn`t able to pinpoint the culprit. Finally, and this took me 2 years, it hit me...SR was messing things up. The body doesn`t recognise the TC so it`s compensating for 300mm instead of 420mm. Tested the combo with SR off et voila...a tad softer due too the TC but no more blur.


To make a long story short, the sigma 1.4x TC is a good match but beware of the SR. Don`t know if the Pentax TC is better but it does have the benefit of being recognized by the body. From what I`ve seen it quite good with the DA* 300mm F4 and the sigma is imho in the same league. Just checked the prices and the sigma doubled since I`ve purchased it and the Pentax is even more expensive here in Europe. Not an easy choice if I had to make it now. Best way to go would be testing them both before buying.

[dadipentak]

SR was messing things up.

Interesting--I'll do some experimenting.

[wissink]

Testing is a problem here. No stores in town and the stores that are 50 km away don't carry much other than the budget Pentax gear. Sad I know.


TenZ.NL thanks for sharing the photos and link. I remember seeing those on the review page. Its helpful. Do you find it worth using the TC? Or is cropping the image provide just as much detail in your opinion?

Thanks

[TenZ.NL]

Interesting--I'll do some experimenting.

FWIW: This was my theory for the K5 as that body doesn`t support TC`s but last weekend I forgot to turn SR off on my K-3 and again most shots were blurred. Exif says 300mm instead of 420 so again the SR is working to compensate for a faulty focal length.

Testing is a problem here. No stores in town and the stores that are 50 km away don't carry much other than the budget Pentax gear. Sad I know.


TenZ.NL thanks for sharing the photos and link. I remember seeing those on the review page. Its helpful. Do you find it worth using the TC? Or is cropping the image provide just as much detail in your opinion?

Thanks

First of all, the bare lens has allways better IQ 1 on 1 but 420mm vs 300mm is a significant gain in reach and has often been the difference between the front and the back of the animal or bird
The thing is, when 420mm is too long, you still can zoom out with this combo. Putting on the TC when you`re suddenly in need of extra reach mostly leaves you with nothing.
One thing though, AF lockingspeed is slower and the combo will hunt more with the TC on. I guess working with a TC is allways a compromise.

And for that reason I`m still debating whether to get the new DFA150-450 or the sigma 300 F2.8

[wissink]

maybe my wife will let me sell our car... I can't drive it anyways.. That would fund a nice new lens :P

[therion]

It is outstanding lens, sharp enough wide open, perfect in direct sunlight, here are some samples with Pentax K-3:


Pentax K-3, Sigma 100-300/4 EX, no DG version



300mm at f4 has nice bokeh:




















Beatiful Slovakian Rural Country:




Pentax ME Super and Ilford XP-2:








High Tatras mountains: