Originally posted by BigMackCam Incoming from eBay UK... a K-mount Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro with original end-caps, hood and case; boxed and allegedly in "as new", little used condition.
I'd been eyeing up the Pentax D FA50/2.8 Macro for a while, but with other recent purchases and expenses I couldn't bring myself to buy one. Here in the UK it retails for almost GBP £350 new, with used examples fetching over GBP £250; and, whilst I'm sure it's worth every penny, I simply couldn't justify it right now...
... and then, whilst looking at alternative macros in the same focal length, I came across an auction for this Sigma. The many reviews and bench-test results were very promising - much better than I'd expected, frankly. Plus, from the photos I
think it's the very last version of the lens before production ended; the one with a non-textured body. The hood wasn't shown in the auction photo and would cost around £25 to replace, so I sent the seller an enquiry and in minutes he confirmed the hood was indeed present.
Buy It Now price was less than half the cost of a used D FA50/2.8 Macro, and with four days left for the auction to run there were six watchers already. If any of them were fellow members here, please accept my apologies - I couldn't resist
It should arrive late this week. Seller's pic below (funky rug not included)...
I have only one Sigma, a 150-500 I bought a number of years ago, as I wanted a longer telephoto, at a reasonable price. I've been quite happy with it's performance , good build quality and the images it produces.
For the longest time, from the early '70's till about 2012, when I bought the Sigma, I had stayed away from buying aftermarket lenses, choosing to purchase only the manufacturer of the camera body's lenses. Reason was, previous experience.
I had bought a couple of unsatisfactory , aftermarket lenses, back in the '70's, whose performance and then purchase I've regretted since then.
Although I had some anxiety about breaking my lens purchasing policy, once I received the Sigma and had used it, I've had absolutely no regrets at all, and would certainly purchase other Sigma products, without any hesitation. I also have my 24-70 F 2.8 Pentax/Tamron lens, which has been very good.
In fact I'm open to considering purchases of other lens makers, such as Sigma and Tamron. However of course, nowadays, most lens makers no longer make new Pentax mount lenses. The used market is an option.
I think you'll enjoy your 50 F 2.8 macro Sigma. Another lens I've thought about over the years is the Sigma 180 Macro. I've seen some pix from fellow members using this lens and have been impressed.
But at this point, I have more than enough Macros, my older 50mm Pentax F 4, a Pentax 50 mm F 2.8 and my 100mm Macro Pentax F 2.8 WR. Great lenses all.