Originally posted by harrisonww No offense guys but the image quality between the sigma and the tamron is not even close. I dont want to sound super picky but Pentax needs to come out with something similar to canons 70-200 2.8 is II USM or nikons Nikkor 70-200mm VR II lens. Its 2015, can we not get a lens that has built in focus, image stabilization (for sports), weather sealing, 9 blades, silent motor.... I read other photo forums all the time and everytime somebody asks what is everyones favorite lens.. its a 70-200mm either nikon on canon. For portraits, music, sports, weddings. Pentax SDM lens were a joke, insanely slow and they broke faster than pentax could repair them. We need to go in the direction of a superior lineup of lenses. What good is a decent camera if you have crappy glass, pentax has some well built lenses however it has nothing to come close to rivaling canikons 70-200mm's. ;(
The basic design parameters of the DA 50-135 are brilliant, IMO. On a crop camera, it gives the same enlargement as a 70-200 on a FF camera. I bought mine in 2009 and its still working fine today, about 6 years later, Used it in several rain storms and taken it on 3 snow shoeing trips. I use it frequently, but once when i hadn't used it for a few months, it took awhile to "warm" up. Optics are great and i've sold several pictures from it. If it broke, i'd get it repaired - no doubt. I looked up the weights on 70-200's and they are:
50-135 f2.8 1.5lbs
Tamron 70-200 f2.8 2.5lbs
Canon 70-200 f2.8 3.5 lbs
I use my 50-135 in a indoor playhouse and some outdoor plays, its perfect for that range for close - up shots and also for some portraits. My friend had just bought a 70-200 for his Canon, and he eventually stopped shooting it for one play while i continued with the 50-135, he missed the 50-70 range.
I know there is a difference in equivalencies but my point is that the 50-135 is a very useful range, esp. in this day of large MP. Its also a lot easier carrying it around than a large 70-200. My understanding was that the mechanical issue with the SDM was fixed sometime in 2012. According to one rental company, they repair 30% of all 70-200, can't find the statistics right away. I'd like to see a re-issue of the 50-135 with a faster motor. But the optics are grand - corner to corner sharpness. And i thought Pentax had said something to that effect.
Different horses for courses - be sure you've thought about it before buying. Wildlife and sports is one thing, Around town and indoors is something else.