| Review statistics for Alan Clogwyn | | | Lenses Added | 1 (View Lenses Added) | | Reviews Posted | 8 (View Reviews) | | User's Lens View Count | 21,468 | | Latest Lens Addition | 
Cosina Cosinon Auto MC ( vivitar ) 40mm F2.5 | | Latest Review Posted | Sigma DC Macro 17-70mm F2.8-4.5
(Note this is the original DC version, not HSM or OS)
As a walkabout lens this is incredibly tough to beat. Really useful zoom range and the pseudo macro focusing is a bonus (at the long end you can touch stuff with the front element and still focus on them!)
Sharpness is excellent really, not up to the best of the best but for it's price you're unlikely to find better - suffice to say you won't complain about it being soft anyway.
It's very good in backlighting, it does flare but it has a nice cinematic feel to it rather than being intrusive. Contrast doesn't suffer too much either, just enough to notice but not enough to ruin a shot by any stretch.
The only real weakness I've found is it's fringing, but although I say weakness you need an incredibly bright light to cause it to happen.
Handling is good, it's smooth and solid feeling despite it's plastic exterior. It's front heavy so may be a bit uncomfortable around the neck depending on body.
AF is accurate, not especially fast or quiet but a lot of that is down to my body.
Mine is actually in use on a Fuji S3 (Nikon F mount, DX sized sensor same as Pentax) but the Pentax version is no different.
Samples (taken on the S3)
Mid day sun, 70mm f4.5:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7237/7287939636_31bde4307d_t.jpg
Olympic Torch Relay by R. Alan Jones, on Flickr
Incredibly harsh sun showing worst case fringing:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7086/7294019494_8cb410fae0_t.jpg
Olympic relay train in action by R. Alan Jon... | |
