[Gadget_Guy]

I may have received a bad copy, but the Sigma 18-50 2.8 is useless on my K10D. Not sharp wide open. Most shots are even focused.

Something might be wrong with your copy....

I have it and LOVE it.


(see my sig for all my Sigma that I use on the K10D)

I am super pleased with every one.


D.

[morfic]

I see quite a few votes for Sigmas, most on the longer and or wider end, but i am glad to see i still have the choice between Tamron and Sigma, (loved my 24-70/2.8 and 10-20 on the 30D)
I guess if i get the Sigma 18-50 or the Pentax 16-50 will largely depend on how my sale of old lenses and adapters goes on "FM.com"'s B&S forum.

Tarsus: i am glad i can adjust AF on the K20D, and test if i can adjust my lens to hit focus well on f/2.8 or do you mean you tried to shoot things at an angle and the best yet soft spot was exactly on what you had focused on? In that case i'd take it back, shouldn't be worse than the kit lens

Gadget Guy: How is the eye piece loupe?

[Gadget_Guy]

The loupe is good..... I just started wearing glasses so I needed to do something to help me adjust to no longer being able to put my eye up to the viewfinder.

It was the best $30 ever spent.

D.

[jshurak]

I have the Sigma 24-70. I love it. The only problem with it though is the sheer size of it. Its a beast and uses a large 82mm filter thread.

[713alan]

I use the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 and Sigma 14 f2.8. I did buy the Pentax 50-135 f2.8.

I am happy with the 18-50 but the 14 is big and of limited use with my type shooting (which would apply to the Pentax 14 and is not a Sigma flaw.)

[TourDeForce]

I have the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 on my K20d--it works nicely, very sharp. It underexposes a lot on this camera, but what else is new.

I thought the K20 was capable of storing custom settings for lenses. ???

[spade111]

Hi there,

I was in the same boat a few months ago. I bought a couple k10d's, and was looking for some lenses to go with them.

I ended up buying a 16-45mm f4.0 pentax, the 16-50mm f2.8 DA*, and a Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX Macro from different sources in southern Alberta. I expected to keep maybe 1 or 2 of the best in this range, and sell the others on Ebay or locally. I wanted to get a Tamron for the comparison, but could not find one, save through ebay. I wasn't that sold on the tamron, so I ended up just conducting the tests with the lenses I had.

Initially, I thought each of the lenses were bad, producing blurred results all over the place, but tracked it down to a problem with the AF on the K10's. One (body) was significantly worse than the other.

Long story short, after getting everything resolved and doing side by sides with each piece of glass in similar circumstance, I kept the Sigma. (And I will be likely grabbing another for my girlfriend).

The Da* was good, but not worth the extra money (and was softer wide open than my sigma - which is great edge to edge, macro, feels much better than the da* in hand, exposes more accurately, but focuses slower and louder). In the end, image quality is more important. The double barrel extension of the da* really put me off, and the 16-45 just wasn't in the same league.

The da* is probably ok (with a good copy) but I'm not interested in running around after it.

I would recommend the sigma over each of the others, maybe save a tamron which some seem to like. (remember though the sigma is loud, and somewhat slower focusing than the pentax, - in practice probably 1/3 slower ... but because of pentax's focus, refocus, double check, thumbs up focusing scheme, this may be problematic. for some).

I don't think the sigma's are necessarily as good as limited or older * stuff, (the new star stuff doesn't seem to hold as much weight however I really like their 50-135mm though I may wait for the 70-200mm II sigma... I can't seem to find a 70-200 I for less than 1500 bucks).

I still have the other lenses and can run some comparison shots of why if you like, just for you own info.

[morfic]

Thanks, spade111, that was interesting, i wonder if the 16-50 maybe just neded it's own AF adjustment?
I am more and more tempted to keep the kit lens for now and hunt down 70/2.4 and 21/3.2 (in that order), unless i decide on the Sigma 18-50 last minute (considering how much i enjoyed my Sigma lenses, and how many votes Sigma has gotten here after the initial Tamron "uprising" in this thread, i feel pretty confident in sigmas still).

Since it's all more of a want than a need, it's hard to figure out what i'd get most use out of.

[DJey]

I have the Tamron 17-50mm and use it on K100D Super..
Here's some photos for you to decide!

Click here

[Ash]

Got the Tamron 28-75/2.8 here.
Can't fault this versatile lens. It's a little bulky also, but is sharp at all apertures.
It's my stay on lens. Perfect for shooting people in changing conditions.
I rely on it more than my DA 16-45 to get the job done, but my FA 50/1.4 is still my go to lens for single and couple portraits.

[morfic]

Airmide: Amazon is pretty good about listing the exact version of a lens, especially since they often also sell the older versions for a lower price (see Sigma 18-50/2.8), so i'd wager that you get the original 18-55 kit lens, not the second version (which is not bad considering it's a kit lens)

[morfic]

On that note, does pentaxforums have a place where i could put up my 18-55 AL II for sale?

[Airmide]

Morfic thanks so much! I actually went back and deleted my post you were referring to because when I re-read I realized that I clicked on the wrong thread to reply to and it was totally off topic for this thread.

Someone on the first thread I linked, https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-dslr-discussion/28690-k200d-amazon.html said he ordered directly from amazon and got the AL II so I'm trying to ask if it specifically stated that or not.

If someone wants to delete or move these posts since I'm a bit embarrassed to have thread hijaked, please feel free.

I'm pretty new to the forum myself but I think there is a place for classifieds. I'll browse around and see if I can find it for you.

edited: here you go The Photographer's Marketplace - PentaxForums.com

[morfic]

Thanks Airmide, put up 3 lenses there today. Not sure how i missed the Marketplace when i looked

[morfic]

Interesting, got an email about a reply regarding the Sigma 24-60/2.8 (which i am still considering since i could get it together with the 70/2.4)

How about i throw this in full reverse and ask about the 16-45/4, can it do portraits in a pinch?
When time permits the 70/2.4 would do that duty, the 16-45/4 would only do group shots really.

With my current budget, 17-50/2.8 + 18-50/2.8 not sure, i'd throw all eggs in one basket, and could not add on a nice Pentax optic for portraits.
16-50/2.8 all eggs in one basket as well (a bigger basket even ($$$)) but get SDM + sealing, and hopefully superb quality "if it's a good one" (which it should be after at worst one trip to Pentax service)
24-60/2.8 + 70/2.4, a lens i could use for events plus one for portraits. (would require keeping the kit lens for 18-24)
Then 16-45/4 still nice all around range, /4 on a zoom may work (still a stop faster than kit) + 70/2.4 still squeezable (into budget)

Which option sounds best to who? (The 50/1.4 K was supposed to do portraits, but it seems my subjects are not patient enough for manual focus, add in no fill flash usable, and the lens is out)

Thanks,

Daniel