Anyone using K1 with Sigma 4.5/500?

zapp · 05-07-2017, 08:25 AM

Couple reviews are available about Sigma 4.5/500 with Pentax APS-C cameras. Is anyone using this lens with fullframe K1? Nikon/Canon version reviews are based on lens stabilized lenses and different camera systems. How does the lens perform with TCs on fullframe? The next Pentax APS-C will probably become my TC.

Not sure whether it makes sense to pump out that much money for a third party lens that is basically discontinued and offered for a system that has no decent long glass available itself, but I like to use a single camera/system and have outgrown my A 5.6/600. Manual focusing on screen is not easy with K1 and screen exchange and shimming is not an option. For APS-C I always got shim kits and adjusted Kazeye screens. Size, weight, length, aperture, AF ... appear perfect for the Sigma.

**luftfluss** · 05-07-2017, 08:41 AM

I believe @Kameko uses a K-1 + Sigma 500/4.5.

alpheios · 05-07-2017, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by zapp

... and offered for a system that has no decent long glass available itself

The D-FA 150-450 is a pretty decent lens if you can live with 50mm less focal length and a half stop slower aperture at the long end.

**clackers** · 05-07-2017, 04:59 PM

I think Ken Goh is another user, if you look at his birding pics.

zapp · 05-08-2017, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by alpheios

The D-FA 150-450 is a pretty decent lens if you can live with 50mm less focal length and a half stop slower aperture at the long end.

D-FA 150-450 is a nice zoom for its class. It is definetely another lens to try before making up my mind. As well as Nikon 200-500 which is not weather sealed just like the Sigma. So far I am not convinced that it can replace DA 300 and a A 600 at the same time. When bitching about long Pentax glass, I was thinking about the 5.6/560 mm and the total lack of FF TCs or any 2x TC. Not mentioning the lack of any other large aperture tele lens. I don´t see this as a priority in Pentax land, but the "new" 560 is just missing the point. It scares little birds and is difficult to take on air planes...

zapp · 05-09-2017, 08:45 AM

Found the PentaxUser post: Pentax 150-450 F4.5-5.6 vs Sigma 500 F4.5 vs Pentax 560 F5.6
Need to look at beanbag issue with the Sigma and need to consider 150-450 more seriously while keeping the A*600.

derekkite · 05-09-2017, 07:49 PM - **1 Like**

I use it on the K1. It makes for a heavy kit.

What do I think? The focus is good, better than the K3 slightly. I have trouble hand holding the thing, so use a tripod almost always. I got the K1 last fall and have only started shooting in earnest the last few weeks and am still finding what works and what doesn't.

I switch between full frame and crop mode often, gaining a faster frame rate when desired.

I have used quite often the electronic shutter. I find that I can get shots at a distance that are remarkably good. I crop and get good results. I found with the K3 that iso1200 was about the maximum I would go on a cropped shot, I go to 3000 on the K1.

The grip helps balance the thing.

Here are some samples. Many of these are in suboptimal conditions. I like the combination.

yurko_yr · 05-17-2017, 02:00 AM

Hello,
I am also using Sigma 500/4.5 on K-1. It is a good combo. A bit on heavy side.
The only my complain is that the central focusing point of K1 is a bit too large and thus when focusing on a bird in a forest - camera tends to focus on leaves or branches rather than bird. So, I have to switch to one of the side focusing points next to the central one.
Yuriy

cleaverx · 05-22-2017, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by zapp

When bitching about long Pentax glass, I was thinking about the 5.6/560 mm and the total lack of FF TCs or any 2x TC. Not mentioning the lack of any other large aperture tele lens. I don´t see this as a priority in Pentax land, but the "new" 560 is just missing the point. It scares little birds and is difficult to take on air planes...

zapp, I went thru the same problem. Lack of modern long prime super sharp lenses. Sigma dropped Pentax in new 500mm f/4, Tamron is even worse for Pentax mounts. Pentax doesn't even make anything longer than 300mm in prime lenses for FF. I can understand why, Ricoh is simply focusing on landscape and portrait photography. That is were it is superb.

Now far as Pentax 150-450mm with K-1. I used it shortly before I sold all my Pentax gear. Lovely combo. Sigma 500mm f/4.5 is great lens also. The zoom lens can be handy and also 150-450mm is weather sealed.
I would go for Pentax 150-450mm and keep the SMC *A 600mm f/5.6..that is awesome lens for perched shots.

zapp · 05-28-2017, 10:31 AM

I will rent a 150-450 and keep having fun wth the 600 - as well as the tiny DA*300.

angerdan · 01-25-2020, 10:04 AM

Originally posted by cleaverx

zapp, I went thru the same problem. Lack of modern long prime super sharp lenses.
Pentax doesn't even make anything longer than 300mm in prime lenses for FF.

I would go for Pentax 150-450mm and keep the SMC *A 600mm f/5.6..that is awesome lens for perched shots.

If you had the same problem, you would've known about the HD DA 560mm ED AW. It was announced in September 2012, five years before your post. And the DA 560 offers the focus limiter, which the Sigma 500mm 4.5 doesn't.HD PENTAX-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW A super-telephoto lens assuring sharp, well-balanced rendition of distant subjects, designed for exclusive use with K-mount lens-interchangeable digital cameras | RICOH IMAGING

I wouldn't keep an manual ultratele lens, even if it is an star series model.

05-07-2017, 08:25 AM	#1
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Anyone using K1 with Sigma 4.5/500? Couple reviews are available about Sigma 4.5/500 with Pentax APS-C cameras. Is anyone using this lens with fullframe K1? Nikon/Canon version reviews are based on lens stabilized lenses and different camera systems. How does the lens perform with TCs on fullframe? The next Pentax APS-C will probably become my TC. Not sure whether it makes sense to pump out that much money for a third party lens that is basically discontinued and offered for a system that has no decent long glass available itself, but I like to use a single camera/system and have outgrown my A 5.6/600. Manual focusing on screen is not easy with K1 and screen exchange and shimming is not an option. For APS-C I always got shim kits and adjusted Kazeye screens. Size, weight, length, aperture, AF ... appear perfect for the Sigma.

05-17-2017, 02:00 AM	#8
yurko_yr Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Saarbrucken Photos: Gallery Posts: 332	Hello, I am also using Sigma 500/4.5 on K-1. It is a good combo. A bit on heavy side. The only my complain is that the central focusing point of K1 is a bit too large and thus when focusing on a bird in a forest - camera tends to focus on leaves or branches rather than bird. So, I have to switch to one of the side focusing points next to the central one. Yuriy Last edited by yurko_yr; 05-17-2017 at 02:08 AM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
has anyone fired up the sigma bigmos 50-500 with the k1	mrfredsporty	Pentax K-1 & K-1 II	22	01-13-2017 12:45 AM
Anyone using the K1's video functions?	texandrews	Pentax Full Frame	12	12-18-2016 04:37 PM
Anyone using 645 lenses on the K1?	texandrews	Pentax Full Frame	5	11-24-2016 09:58 AM
Anyone using the Sigma 50-500 w/Pen Q ?	SteveNunez	Pentax Q	37	02-08-2015 03:31 AM
Sigma 50-500 vs 150-500 vs 170-500	juanraortiz	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	19	10-30-2009 03:32 PM

05-07-2017, 08:41 AM	#2
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	I believe @Kameko uses a K-1 + Sigma 500/4.5.

05-07-2017, 09:45 AM	#3
alpheios Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Bremen Posts: 410	Originally posted by zapp ... and offered for a system that has no decent long glass available itself The D-FA 150-450 is a pretty decent lens if you can live with 50mm less focal length and a half stop slower aperture at the long end.

05-07-2017, 04:59 PM	#4
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	I think Ken Goh is another user, if you look at his birding pics.

05-08-2017, 08:35 AM	#5
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385 Original Poster	Originally posted by alpheios The D-FA 150-450 is a pretty decent lens if you can live with 50mm less focal length and a half stop slower aperture at the long end. D-FA 150-450 is a nice zoom for its class. It is definetely another lens to try before making up my mind. As well as Nikon 200-500 which is not weather sealed just like the Sigma. So far I am not convinced that it can replace DA 300 and a A 600 at the same time. When bitching about long Pentax glass, I was thinking about the 5.6/560 mm and the total lack of FF TCs or any 2x TC. Not mentioning the lack of any other large aperture tele lens. I don´t see this as a priority in Pentax land, but the "new" 560 is just missing the point. It scares little birds and is difficult to take on air planes...

05-09-2017, 08:45 AM	#6
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385 Original Poster	Found the PentaxUser post: Pentax 150-450 F4.5-5.6 vs Sigma 500 F4.5 vs Pentax 560 F5.6 Need to look at beanbag issue with the Sigma and need to consider 150-450 more seriously while keeping the A*600.

05-09-2017, 07:49 PM - 1 Like	#7
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	I use it on the K1. It makes for a heavy kit. What do I think? The focus is good, better than the K3 slightly. I have trouble hand holding the thing, so use a tripod almost always. I got the K1 last fall and have only started shooting in earnest the last few weeks and am still finding what works and what doesn't. I switch between full frame and crop mode often, gaining a faster frame rate when desired. I have used quite often the electronic shutter. I find that I can get shots at a distance that are remarkably good. I crop and get good results. I found with the K3 that iso1200 was about the maximum I would go on a cropped shot, I go to 3000 on the K1. The grip helps balance the thing. Here are some samples. Many of these are in suboptimal conditions. I like the combination.

05-22-2017, 10:38 PM	#9
cleaverx Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 267	Originally posted by zapp When bitching about long Pentax glass, I was thinking about the 5.6/560 mm and the total lack of FF TCs or any 2x TC. Not mentioning the lack of any other large aperture tele lens. I don´t see this as a priority in Pentax land, but the "new" 560 is just missing the point. It scares little birds and is difficult to take on air planes... zapp, I went thru the same problem. Lack of modern long prime super sharp lenses. Sigma dropped Pentax in new 500mm f/4, Tamron is even worse for Pentax mounts. Pentax doesn't even make anything longer than 300mm in prime lenses for FF. I can understand why, Ricoh is simply focusing on landscape and portrait photography. That is were it is superb. Now far as Pentax 150-450mm with K-1. I used it shortly before I sold all my Pentax gear. Lovely combo. Sigma 500mm f/4.5 is great lens also. The zoom lens can be handy and also 150-450mm is weather sealed. I would go for Pentax 150-450mm and keep the SMC *A 600mm f/5.6..that is awesome lens for perched shots.

05-28-2017, 10:31 AM	#10
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385 Original Poster	I will rent a 150-450 and keep having fun wth the 600 - as well as the tiny DA*300.

01-25-2020, 10:04 AM	#11
angerdan Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,639	Originally posted by cleaverx zapp, I went thru the same problem. Lack of modern long prime super sharp lenses. Pentax doesn't even make anything longer than 300mm in prime lenses for FF. I would go for Pentax 150-450mm and keep the SMC *A 600mm f/5.6..that is awesome lens for perched shots. If you had the same problem, you would've known about the HD DA 560mm ED AW. It was announced in September 2012, five years before your post. And the DA 560 offers the focus limiter, which the Sigma 500mm 4.5 doesn't.HD PENTAX-DA 560mm F5.6 ED AW A super-telephoto lens assuring sharp, well-balanced rendition of distant subjects, designed for exclusive use with K-mount lens-interchangeable digital cameras \| RICOH IMAGING I wouldn't keep an manual ultratele lens, even if it is an star series model.