[EdwardConde]

I wanted to wait a bit to do the review on the Bigma with the Q since I just received it over Christmas, but I took it out today and learned quite a bit about it's tendencies so I am ready to post.

(This is not a review of the lens in it's intended application as I have found the lens to perform better on my K-5 than any Sigma 500mm zoom I have previously tested.)

Wide open the Bigma natively is a little soft and sharpens up at f8-f11, but that puts it into the diffraction zone on the Q.
Nevertheless it can produce decent results if you stop it down one stop on the adapter, where at the long end the lens is running at f8.

For some reason the short 50mm ( 275mm eq) end of the zoom is not very good on the Q, it produces fuzzy results no matter the aperture - you can do better with a native 300mm zoom such as the DA55-300 or even a Tamron 70-300.
Once you zoom in past 100mm, the Bigma produces decent images all the way up to 500mm to give a whopping 2750mm equivalent.

The output is not as sharp when compared to the 'gold standard on the Q' DA*300 but pictures are reasonably detailed and can be cleaned up in post fairly well.
If you need the reach, the Bigma +Q can deliver as long as you have good light and a solid mount.

The samples below were shot at 500mm, ISO 125, 1/500 sec with the Pentax adapter set at position 1 for approx f8 aperture.




Overview shot for distance perspective. Hawk was at the top circle, heron at the bottom circle.

Glad to see you putting the Q at work... Very Cool Larry!

[crewl1]

Hi Eddie good to see you pop in here.
I'm having loads of fun with the Q. Will bring it next time we do a meet up.
Happy New Year!

[crewl1]

I added a section to the index to reference existing info/reviews that may have been posted elsewhere.
If anyone runs into a post that should be added to the index let us know.

[K9-K5]

Hi, I just got mine Q today. And a Chinese EOS->Q-adapter.
Sorry about unsharp fotos. It's dark and old firmware. Couldn't have a decent light today, but I just had to play around.

1st: Tamron 70-200 f2,8 @70mm(385mm) @ f3,5 ISO400
2nd: Same @150mm(825mm) @ f3,5 ISO400
3rd: Tokina 100mm(550mm) f2,8 Macro @ f4 ISO125
4th: Same @f4 ISO125 + flash
5th: Tomioka(Ricoh) 55mm(302mm) f1,4 @ f1,4 ISO125 + flash

---

Last edited by K9-K5; 01-09-2013 at 12:08 PM.

[GibbyTheMole]

I did some tests with the Q & Fotodiox adapter on a number of lenses, and was wondering since there are 16 images, if this would be the thread to post them or start a new one, or not worry about it. The test shots are all straight out of the camera, 100% crop, of the same subject from the same spot on a tripod, all at f:5.6, since that seems to be the sweet spot for most lenses on a Q. The one exception is the Tair 3M-5CA 500mm mirror lens, since it's fixed at f:8.

Lenses tested were:

Pentax DA 18-55 (bleh...)
Pentax DA-L 55-300 (good)
Pentax-A 35-105 (good)
Pentax-A 50 / 1.7 (good)
Pentax-M 50 / 1.4 (good)
Promaster 100 / 3.5 macro (good)
Tair 3M-5CA 500mm mirror lens (not great at 100%, but some potential when not cropped)
and one shot from the Q 02 zoom at 9mm (roughly 50mm equiv.) for comparison

So whaddya think.. here, a new thread, or nowhere? I could also hotlink the images rather than embed them if that would be better.

Cheers,
Bobbo :-)

[crewl1]

The best thing would be to create one post in this thread for each lens, with the sample pictures in the same post. (Makes it easier to index)

"Information that I think each review should have: description of your results, recommendations for best use, specific adapter brand or source that was used, and a sample image so a user might see what to expect.

To make this thread easy to search it will be important to put the lens name in the reply title (use the advanced reply,) that way a user wondering how their lens might work on the Q can do a search on title only and quickly get to the lens they are interested in."

[post_eos]

Thanks for the review post_eos the lens looks like a winner. Can you tell us what aperture you used for your shots and which adapter you are running?
Thanks!

Edited original post to include info so that it's all in one place.

[mgbirder]

Edited original post to include info so that it's all in one place.

Ditto here, i added some reference photos into my Tamron 70-200 thread

[GibbyTheMole]

Here's the Pentax DA 18-55 on the Q. (100-308mm equivalent on the Q)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.





Summary: This lens is too soft on the Q. I wouldn't recommend it.

[GibbyTheMole]

Pentax-A 35-105 on the Q. (196-588mm equivalent on the Q.)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.





Summary: This is one the best performers on the Q that I own. Some fringing, but sharp and contrasty. Also very compact for a 200-600mm equivalent zoom.

[crewl1]

Good review Gibby the Mole, thanks. I added it to the index.
Edit: ooh more are appearing - I'll wait till you are done.

[GibbyTheMole]

Pentax DA-L 55-300 on the Q (308-1680mm equivalent on the Q.)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.






Summary: Another excellent performer with less CA than the Pentax-A 35-105, this is a very convenient & lightweight ultra-tele option. I think I'm gonna be using this one a lot. :-)

[GibbyTheMole]

Pentax-A 50mm / 1.7 on the Q (280mm equivalent on the Q.)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.



Summary: Decently sharp with minor CA. It does the job well enough, but since I have the albeit more fringy, but as sharp and more flexible Pentax-A 35-105, I doubt I'll use it much.

[GibbyTheMole]

Pentax-M 50mm / 1.4 on the Q (280mm equivalent on the Q.)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.



Summary: This one looks slightly better than the Pentax-A 50mm / 1.7... Wish I had an 280mm / f:1.4 tele for my APS-C DSLRs! :-)

[GibbyTheMole]

Promaster 100mm / f:3.5 macro lens (Manual focus version) on the Q. (560mm equivalent on the Q)

NOTES:

Tripod mounted with Fotodiox adapter with aperture ring.
Camera triggered via 12 second self timer.
All taken at f:5.6 / ISO 125.
Focus peaking enabled
Focused wide open for best focusing accuracy, then stopped down for photo.
All are 100% crops, to show each lens' deficiencies.
No post processing, JPGs straight from the camera.



Summary: Sharp with relatively minor PF. Very lightweight, affordable and high quality equivalent 560mm option. It's also capable of crazy levels of magnification.