| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2016 Location: Prague Posts: 123 | | Review Date: January 13, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $260.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharpness at 70-135mm, colours, macro ability, weight, build | | Cons: | General sharpness at 300mm, wierd macro switch, slow AF | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-x, K-70
Autofocus: 6
New Or Used: New
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I own this lens for 15 years, took a lot of pictures in different situations (animals - especially birds and insects, action, planes, nature etc.). I bought it as a new lens for 260 USD and was using it with the K-x and then with K-70.
I love the versatility of the lens, you can use 70mm on landscape photography and switch it in one second to wildlife lens and use 300mm. Another great advantage is the macro ability (1:2 ratio).
The sharpness is excellent from 70mm to 135mm, very good to 200mm and good in the center area at 300mm, all at f8 - f11 (corners are weak at 300mm). The colors and contrast are excellent. The main disadvantage of the lens is the autofocus. It is very slow and loud so you need to have a lot of patience when taking photos of fast subjects, however this is not a problem for the non-moving subjects.
After 15 years of usage the zoom ring is very stiff and non-accurate (the repair would be more expensive than the lens itself), but the focus ring is OK (mostly for macro). Therefore I decided to buy the Pentax 55-300mm PLM as a replacement, hope I will be happy with it the same way as I was with this lens.
Recommended for the beginners or people who do not need to take photos of the moving subjects as flying birds. This is a very good lens for the price!
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2023 Posts: 22 | | Review Date: June 16, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light,very cheap and sharp lens | | Cons: | Lack of stabilization | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K1
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: Used
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For the price of 90$,you can't beat this lens...70-300 range,very compact and sharp with good colors !I use it on K1,the images that deliver and crisp and with very nice contrast,i love it !
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: August 18, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very sharp lens - very well corrected | | Cons: | nothing besides AF function in macro mode | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: pentax k-5 k-x k200 k-s1 Fuji x-t100 x-e1
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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I've got the gold ring version , not the red ring version 
+++ the correction of CAs between 70 and 135 mm is perfect - no purple fringing visible between f 8-13
++/+ between 200 and 300 mm some very few CAs in the corners
+++ excellent sharpness between 70 and 135 mm 
++ very good sharpness between 200 and 300 mm
++ neutral color rendition and high contrast
*********************** EXCELLENT MACRO MODE **************************
++ even between 200 and 300 mm with f 11 - f 22 very sharp macro photos of butterflies possible
this lens is much more better corrected than the Sigma 3.5-4.5/70-210 APO MACRO with unfortunately some visible CAs
9.5 points totally because of perfect correction between 70 and 135 mm (3 or 4 points would be an underrating of this precious lens - excepted damaged examplaries)
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: December, 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 2,437
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 10, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Good IQ, relatively compact and light, low CA, great value for money | | Cons: | Not so good build quality | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: Used
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This is a very useful lens for the money. Relatively compact and light and so often carry it.
IQ is pretty good. Center sharpness is good and usable wide open. Borders and corners is Ok but really needs to be stopped down a stop before they get sharp.
The main downside is build - on my copy the zoom is sticky at times. But overall well worth having - and incredible value for what I paid.
Samples:
1. 170mm f8
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwi_jono/48627300528
2. 300mm f6.7
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwi_jono/48663530632
3. 108mm f4
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kiwi_jono/48610357948 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 126
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 20, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Light, Good zoom range, Macro/close focus, matte finish | | Cons: | Average build quality, soft wide open, Sunny day lens | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-7, K-5, & K-3
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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This Sigma lens replaces a Tamron 28-300mm lens that met a tragic end. This was a budget purchase used for $100 CAD ($80 USD). This is a very useful lens with a nice reach (450mm equivalent) when attached to an APS-C body like the K-5/K-3. The 70-300mm is a light weight lens with a nice matte finish. The macro/close focus option is only available in the 200-300mm range and is activate by a switch on the lens body that can be temperamental at times (read "sticky / finicky").
Sharpness is better at the short end of the range 70-150mm. If there is enough light to keep the aperture in the f8 - f11 range, then images are relatively sharp (for the price of the lens). They do not compare to my Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 but that lens is in a whole different category.
There is almost no lens creep on this lens - unlike the Tamron 28-300 which actually has a lens lock to prevent the guaranteed occurrence of lens creep if the lens is tilted below horizontal. The lens hood has sufficient depth to nicely shade the front glass and improve contrast and minimize flare.
With a nice light lens body, it makes for a great companion on an all day hike, or a day at the rodeo when you have the camera to your eye for most of the time.
Is it the "perfect" lens - No, but definitely great value for the money and when you keep in its "sweet spot" it will produce very acceptable images that you can be proud of.
Couple of samples:
https//flic.kr/p/29VYXiw
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2010 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 893
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 6, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good range, compact, reasonably sharp, fast focus. | | Cons: | Sticky zoom ring | |
This lens is really good considering it's cost. It is acceptably sharp well past 200mm, and still quite good all the way to 300.
It is great for bright days outdoors where you can keep it around f8-11. I would not recommend it for an indoor hockey game. That requires glass that costs and weighs much more.
Focus with the K-1 is scary fast. The zoom ring on mine is sticky but that might just be mine.
For what I paid, it can't be beat.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 146
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 4, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: N/A |
| Pros: | Sharp wide open (compared to da 55-300), good CA resistance, Close focus ability | | Cons: | Noisy AF, lens hood, loss of contrast with backlight | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 5
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-70
Autofocus: 6
New Or Used: Used
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I've owned two copies of this lens (slightly different versions), one recent, one older. My recent copy is significantly sharper.
For £50-£100 it is an amazing value lens. Better sharpness, bokeh and af performance than the two da 55-300 I previously owned.
Most photo samples cropped a bit:
 Mandarin Duck by Tiago Cardoso, on Flickr
 Mouse by Tiago Cardoso, on Flickr
 Lagartixa-da-Madeira (Lacerta dugesii) by Tiago Cardoso, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 390
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 1, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image quality exceeds the price you pay, Useful Macro, Bargain! | | Cons: | Macro is only at 200-300 and switch is fiddly to flick | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
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This was a fairly recent replacement to the non-APO version I had for many years. Mainly to do with a theft, and the nearest like for like in stock (thank you WEX)
I was not expecting much from it, as I used the older one mainly with my Film Cameras, due to the A ring and FF capable. My 55-300 was the better replacement for the K-5/K-3 etc etc.
But, of course I bought the K-1, and the earlier version came back into being due to the sensor. But then got nicked!
Now this APO version on the K-1. Well...................................
You would think that a cheap third party lens would struggle to cope with the demands with 36MP? In this instance it is the opposite, the lens more than copes with a high resolution K-1.
Contrast is good, as is colour rendition,sharpness and resolution. Maybe a tad soft wide open, but it is more than useable.
Downsides? It is a little noisy AF, but it is very fast to focus on the K-1, very snappy indeed.
The Macro is useful, but can be fiddly to switch it to that mode.
The lens rotates on focusing, meaning PL filters can be a pain.
But, overall, this is a bargain of a lens, especially for the K-1! Surprised? I am!
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 5, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $95.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | heavy, built | | Cons: | a bit stcky feeling zooming in and out | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: kr, k3
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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my work horse....
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2014 Posts: 119
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 27, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | really sharp at F8 great color rendition especially blues PRICE! sub 200 for great IQ | | Cons: | none really especially for the price | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
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Proud K-3 owner: with that said
when i was a Nikon owner i had read in a tip somewhere about a great little lens that could do wonders and that was really really Inexpensive-sharp at F8 -macro abilities- good AF speed- and great colors at the beach-spot on tip  so when i changed camera manufacturers back to Pentax (started on a k1000) i wondered if they made this lens in a K mount?
Yes Sigma did!-i then knew that it would be a nice inexpensive addition to my shabby kit
8mm f3.5
35mm f2.4
50mm f1.8
sigma 17-50 f2.8 (fav walk around lens)
sigma 150-500 for reach
a dedicated water housing for the K-3 and 3 ports
a couple of old manual zooms round out my bag also Gopro Hero 4 black (amazing device)
the Sigma 70-300 fits right in and does the job i need it to do-when the light is good and you can shoot F8 or better @1000sec this lens is a great lens for budding photographers on a budget
http://www.imaging-resource.com/lenses/sigma/70-300mm-f4-5.6-dg-macro-apo/review/ | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 12
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 30, 2015 | Not Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | The IQ between 70mm and150 mm is accepteble | | Cons: | It should be called 70-200 not 70-300 | | Sharpness: 4
Aberrations: 3
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K10D K3
Autofocus: 4
New Or Used: New
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It is usable up to 200mm not more
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 1
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 3, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $185.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, wide range, macro capability, sigma optical quality | | Cons: | front rotating, too long when 300mm macro, hunts in low light | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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I've been using this lens over two years and never needed another zoom. As a zoom lens it is always giving me what I need especially outdoors and daylight conditions. Sigma apo dg is sharp enough between f/6.3 to f/13. Apo coating and low dispersion glass gives this lens a great bonus. It comes with lens hood and a bag which is good for keeping. Sigma quality never disappointed me and left me halfway. It is certainly not a pro lens but I am not a pro photographer, it gives me what I need from a zoom lens. You can always go for another zoom lens if you are ready to pay five to ten times more. Whatever, I like this lens and advice it for limited budgets, it gives over it's wealth. Bye
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2014 Posts: 15
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 1, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $216.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Brilliant Macro capability, No CA, Sharp enough under 200mm | | Cons: | Soft at 300mm/infinity, cheap build and feel | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K50
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: New
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Out of the box, this lens felt a bit dubious in my hands - slightly sticky focus and zoom with a bit of slop/play in the focus mechanism. I guess you get what you pay for and it didn't cost a lot. Lens hood's not exactly 'elegant' and a little fiddly to deal with. Nice zip up pouch. On the camera, the thing that really stands out for me is the macro ability. Absolutely sharp as with no color fringing on the edges of the subject in focus. Brilliant for critters at night where I can stay 4 feet away but still fill the viewfinder with a frog and the flash has enough reach to light it up. At infinity, 300mm seems a bit soft, but at closer range seems very sharp. Unfortunately, it does focus beyond infinity which I always find a little annoying. Very good from 70-200. Cheap build aside, this lens should be capable of some really nice shots and value for money is brilliant for the images it provides.
| | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 23
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 30, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | way better than expectation, sharpness, sold built | | Cons: | huge lens hood, noisy af | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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It's a very good low budget lens, it has apo coating and low dispersion glass. It gives more than you pay for it. Very usefull, gives 1/2 macro. A sharp lens also way sharper than 28-200 or 28-300 series lenses, i used both versions. 55-300 is very popular but this lens gives you macro as a bonus and goes head to head with 55-300 about sharpness. It has a great price advantage, i believe everyone should have one APO DG 70-300 in their bag, no doubt you will need it when walking around. I am not a proffesional photographer, I do not earn money from it, but i love shooting landscapes, butterflies and people so this lens is very handy for me with my favorite Sigma 17-70. I don't need another lens except these two. Thats all from me, hoping to be useful for everyone, cheers...
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2013 Posts: 1,458
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 10, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $225.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | surprising sharpness | | Cons: | could be faster....somehat noisy, albeit accurate and fast auto focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: Used
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This lens has really surprised me...I have been using it for over a year now....and part of my surprise was based on the fact that the lens was not reviewed here very highly....I picked it up originally as an inexpensive long lens, and was fortunate to find one that had been taken care of with great care.....but as time went on with this lens I found it to be much sharper than the more highly rated sigma 17-70 and many supposedly superior lenses in my bag......it has really proven to be a very trusty lens, which I highly recommend.....
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