|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-15-2018, 10:14 PM
|
| |
I've had many lenses over the years, invariably by the original manufacture of the camera bodies.
In the early '70's, I decided to save a few bucks and bought a new 35mm wide angle and a zoom telephoto...not made by Pentax, but by an after market company who shall remain nameless and to the best of my knowledge are no longer making lenses for cameras.
They were lousy lenses.
I recall I had bought the 35mm F 3.5 X lens new for $ 60 back then. A Takumar 35 mm F 3.5 would of set me back around $ 95,,,new. Every time I used the X lens I regretted not spending the extra $ 35 on a Tak 35/ F 3.5. After that I decided in the future, I would only buy a lens made by the same company that made the body. So it was and in the ensuing years it was only... Takumar, Pentax, Canon, Leitz, Mamiya-Sekor (medium format) , etc...for my wide variety of different makes. I was always happy buying original manufacturer lenses and always received good performance for the money. My experience confirmed my original opinion, buy the make's stuff or don't buy at all.
The old saying...fool me once ...shame on you...fool me twice...shame on me...:D...seemed appropriate. :D
But then around 2010 I started taking photos of wild birds, wildlife and drag racing cars running down the track at high speed. I had my K10D and Km bodies and although my 55-300mm Pentax lens was pretty good ...like Oliver Twist I wanted.."...more..." :D
At this point Pentax had the 300mm prime..great lens by all accounts,...but I wanted something significantly bigger and without adding an extender...which I have...think it's a Pentax 2X. Pentax was rumoured to be bringing out a super telephoto...but months dragged on and I started reading fairly good reviews of the Sigma 150-500.
I wrestled on and off about purchasing an after market lens. Finally, going against my decade long personal policy of only buying lenses made by the body manufacturer, I figured...I'll give it a shot.
I ordered one from Sigma, through a local dealer who just happened to be having a Sigma lens sale at the time. Think that was about 5 years or so ago. I've been very happy with it..build quality, image quality, AF...everything except the weight, but then I anticipated that any lens the size of a howitzer would be a weighty beast. No big deal there..pardon my pun. :)
So yeah there has been a marked increase in quality with after market lenses and I've thought since getting my Sigma ...I wished I had checked after market products out more closely. But you live and learn.
There was that Vivitar 285HV that I had bought years ago...it is after market...and it has been an excellent product.
What's your take ?
|
