Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
06-09-2009, 11:10 AM   #1
Veteran Member
LensScribe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 316
SIGMA 70-210mm f2.8 APO

I might have the chance to buy a SIGMA 70-210mm f2.8 APO for a very reasonable price, but am having a hard time finding anything about it online.

Clearly it's a mid-90s lens (if not earlier), so no one seems to have any info on it. I've gathered from one forum discussion I found that it is AF, obviously not HSM or anything like that, but as I tend to MF anyway, I'm still interested even if it is only MF.

Basically, if anyone has/had one of these I'd greatly appreciate any info. IQ, CA, performance wide open, that sort of thing... any info welcome.

06-09-2009, 12:31 PM   #2
Senior Member




Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bay area, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 194
i think you mean this one...

PentaxForums.com Third-Party Pentax Lens Review Database - 70-200mm f/2.8
06-09-2009, 01:14 PM   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Lowell Goudge's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,869
if it is the same as mine, it is late 1990's early 2000's

I bought mine in late 2003 to go with my *istD

Still use it on my K10D with 2x Sigma APO ex DG teleconverter

06-09-2009, 02:18 PM   #4
Veteran Member
Mike.P®'s Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,154
QuoteOriginally posted by truonganh Quote
Nope, think hes on about this one

70-210mm f2.8



06-10-2009, 12:34 AM   #5
Veteran Member
LensScribe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 316
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike.P® Quote
Nope, think hes on about this one 70-210mm f2.8
Yip, that's the one I'm on about Mike.P or Lowell Goudge (or anyone else who spots this and can tell me), does it AF? What do you think of the IQ? How's the performance wide open?

I don't care if it is MF, I'm just curious. Similarly, I expect there to be a little CA, and I don't expect it to be amazing until it's stopped down a bit. Nevertheless, any info is greatly appreciated before I take the plunge.

Last edited by LensScribe; 06-11-2009 at 01:22 AM.
06-11-2009, 01:43 AM   #6
Veteran Member
LensScribe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 316
Original Poster
Ah, and of course, any more sample pics (or links to them) would also be appreciated.
06-11-2009, 05:06 AM   #7
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Lowell Goudge's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,869
QuoteOriginally posted by LensScribe Quote
Yip, that's the one I'm on about Mike.P or Lowell Goudge (or anyone else who spots this and can tell me), does it AF? What do you think of the IQ? How's the performance wide open?

I don't care if it is MF, I'm just curious. Similarly, I expect there to be a little CA, and I don't expect it to be amazing until it's stopped down a bit. Nevertheless, any info is greatly appreciated before I take the plunge.
I don't know the lens, but it might have been either AF or MF depending on mount ordered. A shot of the mount would tell for sure.

it appears there are at least 4 sigma 70-200F2.8 Zooms

this one

Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8

and 3 newer models

Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG Macro
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG II Macro HSM

Did I miss any?

I own the Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX

06-11-2009, 05:08 AM   #8
Veteran Member
Mike.P®'s Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,154
QuoteOriginally posted by Lowell Goudge Quote

it appears there are at least 4 sigma 70-200F2.8 Zooms

this one

Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8

and 3 newer models

Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG Macro
Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG II Macro HSM

Did I miss any?
Dont think so but its the 70-210mm he is asking about

Personally I would take a punt on it if its cheap enough, I have the 70-200mm APO EX and it continues to suprise me.
I was going to get rid of it as I bought the DA* 60-250mm f4 but have decided not to incase I needed something a bit faster.
06-11-2009, 05:27 AM   #9
Veteran Member
LensScribe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 316
Original Poster
Thanks for the info folks.

Yeah, I think you're right, if I get it for a good price I'll go ahead regardless. I've attached the pics of the actual lens for sale below. In one pic it says MF on the side of the box, but the only other pics I've found of the lens online have all had contacts on the mount that suggest it might AF. (I don't really mind either way as my staple is an A lens so I tend to MF anyway).

Anyway, clearly it's not a common one as it pre-dates the digital boom. Now it's just a matter of seeing if the price is right



06-11-2009, 07:38 AM   #10
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Lowell Goudge's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,869
QuoteOriginally posted by Mike.P® Quote
Dont think so but its the 70-210mm he is asking about

Personally I would take a punt on it if its cheap enough, I have the 70-200mm APO EX and it continues to suprise me.
I was going to get rid of it as I bought the DA* 60-250mm f4 but have decided not to incase I needed something a bit faster.
my bad, guess I can't read.

as for the APO 70-200 EX, I agree. I have been so pleased with my lens that I don't see any reason to go for a newer version.

I know it doesn't do macro, but so what, I have a 100mm Macro for that, and also my tamron XR Di 28-75 F2.8 which can do macro.
06-11-2009, 10:27 AM   #11
Junior Member




Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 41
Definitely a manual focus lens. The AF versions say "AF Zoom APO" on the labeling. From what I've read, this is a very sharp lens and it did very well in comparisions.
06-11-2009, 08:45 PM   #12
Senior Member




Join Date: May 2007
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 167
I am also pretty sure that it is manual focus. It also is "2 touch" meaning that you have the focusing and zoom ring separately. That would be the deal-breaker for me.
06-12-2009, 01:27 AM   #13
Veteran Member
LensScribe's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 316
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by billx2 Quote
Definitely a manual focus lens. The AF versions say "AF Zoom APO" on the labeling. From what I've read, this is a very sharp lens and it did very well in comparisions.
Thanks billx2. Any idea where you read that? I've been trawling the interweb and coming up with very little as far as actual reviews or specs go. There's the odd reference to it, but an actual review would be great.

QuoteOriginally posted by chse Quote
I am also pretty sure that it is manual focus. It also is "2 touch" meaning that you have the focusing and zoom ring separately. That would be the deal-breaker for me.
No different from the way the kit lens MF works, and it hasn't stopped me using it to MF. Zoom first, then tweak focus, and often changing zoom thereafter only requires a tiny further focus adjustment, if any at all. Is that really a deal-breaker?
06-12-2009, 04:11 AM   #14
F16
Senior Member




Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: U.S.
Posts: 104
Some people like one-touch, some like two-touch. I used to like the separate zoom and focus rings much more, but the one-touch design is growing on me with some of my manual focus lenses. Either way works for me though.
06-12-2009, 05:39 AM   #15
Veteran Member
Mike.P®'s Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New Milton, Hampshire, UK
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,154
QuoteOriginally posted by LensScribe Quote

No different from the way the kit lens MF works, and it hasn't stopped me using it to MF. Zoom first, then tweak focus, and often changing zoom thereafter only requires a tiny further focus adjustment, if any at all. Is that really a deal-breaker?
Of course not, especially if you are getting it for a decent price.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
70-210mm, apo, f2.8, info, k-mount, mf, pentax lens, sigma, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Voigtländer APO Zoomar AF 28-210mm f4.2-6.5 ??? Darius4522 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 12-10-2009 01:25 AM
Sigma 135-400 APO and APO DG NaClH2O Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 14 07-29-2009 04:50 AM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 70-200mm EX APO and Sigma 2x TC APO palmor Sold Items 9 02-21-2009 07:56 AM
For Sale - Sold: Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO DG + 2x APO EX converter Sila Sold Items 12 09-19-2008 05:10 AM
Sigma 70-300mm DG APO vs non-APO (or, did I make a bad choice?) aerodave Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 28 09-01-2007 01:51 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:49 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top