[Edgar_in_Indy]

The 50-150 II is indeed superb, Edgar. As one of the few that obtained a reconditioned(really a new one) from Sigma a while back the silent operation, quick precise focus, and near macro sharpness are a joy. As a side note, I sent a K-5 to Sigma to adjust focus before they shipped the lens which they did gratis and turned around in less than a week. Excellent customer service and communication. Hint, hint, hint.

Yeah, when Sigma was emptying their stock, they really increased the supply of K-mount 50-150's on the 2nd-hand market. It used to be an extremely hard lens to find and could set you back close to $800, but these days you can usually pick one up in the $600-$700 range if you're a little bit patient. It's a smoking deal for a lens that just seems to do everything right, and is an extremely useful focal range and convenient size.

I've always had a similarly great experience with Sigma USA's customer support and their free lens-to-body custom calibration service.

Here's a couple pics from my 50-150mm that I posted in another thread yesterday where the OP was asking if 3rd-party f2.8 zoom lenses are always soft at f2.8. (Click on the pictures for the full-size image)

[ak_kiwi]

What is the Pentax offering for a 70-200mm f/2.8?

Exactly my point.

Compared to all the other 70-200mm lenses on the market, it was/is average. There are no bad 70-200mm lenses currently in production. The oldest is the Tamron 70-200 which is still screw drive and just as good as the Sigma.

Hey I'm not disagreeing with you that the Sigma couldn't be improved as indeed the Tamron could with update to more modern/quieter focus method.

Hopefully we see an excellent Pentax version of the 70-200 next month.

Here's hoping! Very interested to see what that lens will be.

[ElJamoquio]

No IS but that's not such a problem for a lens on a Pentax body.

Exactly. The Tamron is great on a Pentax body. It even focuses fast. I tried one on a Nikon body and the combo was abhor-able.

[thibs]

Exactly. The Tamron is great on a Pentax body. It even focuses fast. I tried one on a Nikon body and the combo was abhor-able.

Yep old type in lens motors (read... SDM type).