| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2021 Posts: 196 | | Review Date: June 3, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | cheap, versatile, ideal for a summer holiday on a sunny day | | Cons: | AF | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K5
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: Used
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I was looking for a travel lens and chose this based on the feedbacks.I found my copy on the well-known merchant site. I got it in perfect condition from the outside.
My opinion is very uncertain.I have a hard time knowing myself on it.I feel the white balance setting is unpredictable. Both outdoors and indoors. Sometimes the automatic setting is perfectly good, sometimes the result is not lifelike.In the same way, autofocus was a problem. Even after trying the fine adjustment, I didn’t feel sharp enough for a long time. In fact, not even now, even though I spent a lot of time with him.So overall, I’m disappointed with my copy.
I have to review myself.I got an advice to reset the camera. Interesting, but it mattered a lot.
After that I went through the fine tuning procedure again and now it makes better images definitely.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2020 Location: Lincolnshire Posts: 7 | | Review Date: April 18, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Compact travel lens | | Cons: | Jack of all trades master of none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-M K3
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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I picked this lens up as I'd missed opportunities for shots due to not having a camera and suitable lens combination with me when travelling with work. I was surprised with how good the image quality was on my K3 after reading the other comments about this lens not performing well on high resolution sensors. The lens does suffer with chromatic aberrations, but it can be controlled in post editing software.
The lens is a Jack of all trades good in all aspects but does not exceed in any areas. But I'd rather have the picture than miss out not having the ability to take the shot.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2019 Location: Oxford Posts: 8 | | Review Date: July 28, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Compact and versatile | | Cons: | Sharpness doesn't hold up well on hi-res sensors | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-10D, KP
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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Having lost many good shots over the years while in the act of changing lenses, the appeal of an "all-in-one" super zoom is not lost on me. So when this Sigma appeared on a well known internet auction site at a very reasonable price, I couldn't resist making an offer.
I took it out for a fairly relaxed walk by the river mounted on my K10D, with an FA 50 f1.4 as a reference lens to make some side-by-side tests. At first I was a little disappointed that the lens seemed to lack contrast, but once I removed the UV filter that it came with the situation improved dramatically, it was like looking through a different optic.
I set the ISO to 100 (the K10D's sweet spot), so mostly I was shooting wide open or 1-2 stops closed down. Sharpness and contrast are not in the same league as the FA50 as to be expected, but it has perfectly acceptable resolving power on the K10D's 10MP sensor. Transferred to the much higher resolution KP (24MP) a further round of testing showed that the lens does show its limitations when viewing files at 100%. This is not a lens to use if you are planning on making big enlargements. (To get the best results on a hi-res APS-C camera my advice would be to set aperture priority mode at f8-11 or dial in a moderately high range ISO 400-800 and set the program line to prioritise depth of field.)
Having said that in other respects this is optically very impressive. CA is very well controlled and only very faintly noticeable. Distortion is well controlled and vignetting is not a big problem either. In any case the lens has a profile in Lightroom which can quickly correct these aberrations.
The best thing about it is the relative freedom it gives the photographer, you can see a shot, frame it and shoot it without having to hunt in your bag for the right lens. It makes for a great walk around companion.
Very little chromatic aberration on the borders between the swan's neck and the dark water behind.
Punts moored at the Cherwell Boathouse. Acceptable but not stellar sharpness at 75mm f8
Black and white study of log pile. Shot at 18mm f6.7. There is enough center sharpness and contrast to work with in Lightroom
The Victoria Arms pub. Taken at the long end (200 mm) wide open. Sharpness in the center is pretty good, but falls off at the edges.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: December, 2017 Posts: 469 | | Review Date: June 1, 2020 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Weight and range | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K10d
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: Used
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Never thought I would see the day that I realy like a zoom lens and even one with this large focal range.
I am positively surprised with this Sigma lens. Handling is great, the range more than I thought was possible with excellent IQ.
I can't give an indication of the price I paid for it. The lens came as a bonus with the K10d body I was after.
It cured me from my aversion of zoom lenses. I use the lens quite often. It is glued to the K10d it came with. That says how well I like this little giant.
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2016 Posts: 557
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 20, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | relatively light, sharp, great walkaround lens | | Cons: | The zoom ring works opposite of most zoom lenses | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 6
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-50
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
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I really like this lens because of the zoom range. So far it has performed very well and is quite sharp especially on a tripod
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2017 Location: Plymouth, Devon. UK Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 2, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Feels well built and is a light weight replacement for several lenses | | Cons: | | |
I am an out and out amateur lens reviewer. Most of my pictures end up on the lap top and do I not have Photoshop.
I was getting a bit fed up carrying a bag of lenses and a spare body so I have got rid of all my lenses bar a 50mm F1.8 DA and have replaced the spare body with a LumixTZ55 compact fitted with a 24-480 zoom. The compact is on my belt all the time and has begun to prove very useful.
However I have also purchased a Sigma 18-200 DC recently for 60 dollars and have found that this lens covers all my DSLR needs particularly for special times like air and motor shows. It is not bad at portraits as well but the 50mm is the best out of the two for that. The Sigma really is an excellent walk around lens although I understand there have been two further versions since the original.
If you are looking for a budget do-it-all lens then this might well be the one to look out for. It is the one with the red stripe.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2016 Location: Euless Texas Posts: 267
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 13, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Light, Focal Range, Sharp in most situations, Good AF | | Cons: | Contrast can be a bit lacking | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-S2
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: 9
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I was looking for a budget lens that had a longer reach than my 18-50mm Kit lens and would be as sharp if not sharper. Based on the reviews here I decided to give it a try. So far I am very pleased as this lens and it has earned the role of default lens that stays on my camera when I am shooting family events or not using one of my specialized lens.
Sharpness - Stopped down to F8 this lens produces very sharp images. I gave it an 8 but really it is more of an 8.5.
Handling - It is just the right weight and the autofocus is reasonably fast on my K-S2.
Color - Not as vibrant as some of my older Pentax glass but by no means washed out.
Contrast - My largest complaint is I sometimes need to boost the contrast in post processing.
Bokeh - Not nearly as good as some of my manual 50mm primes but palatable.
Aberrations - I only CA and fringing I have seen is in a couple of high contrast tree shots at 200mm
Overall - I have taken some really nice shots of my granddaughter which was one of my main uses for this lens. I give this lens an overall score of 8.5.
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 258
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 21, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $120.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | wide focal range, sharpness, contrast | | Cons: | some distortion at the very wide end | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5 IIs
Autofocus: 9
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I bought this lens for a week's vacation on the Rhine last summer. I was planning on traveling light, so I took it and a Sigma 10-20. It turned out I didn't need the 10-20, with which I made four interior shots that I could have covered with the short end of the 18-200. This lens is light, sharp, and low in abberration, and its AF compares well with most Pentax screw-drive AF lenses I've used. I highly recommend it as a travel lens when the aim is to get the most punch into the smallest package.
Samples from the wide and long ends of the lens:
 Skylight by Noel Parsons, on Flickr
 Stolzenfels Castle by Noel Parsons, on Flickr
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2011 Location: Slovenia Posts: 73 | | Review Date: February 21, 2014 | Not Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Range, colours | | Cons: | Slow AF, soft, distortion | | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K200D
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Sometimes the allure of a all-in-one lens is just too strong, but in the end you regret nothing when selling the lens. The range is very good and the colours are rich and saturated, but the main reasons for selling were the lack of sharpness even when stopped down and very heavy distortion and weird, almost swirling bokeh like abberation at 200mm and near the minimal focus distance. Maybe my copy was defective, didn't bother to try another one.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 54
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 14, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $420.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Range, Sharpness, Bokeh | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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This lens is underrated. For 8x10 prints and smaller this lens is perfectly fine.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Nice all around, compact, built quality, IQ | | Cons: | Slow | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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This is my second favourite zoom lens (following it's brother the 17-70). If it is nice outdoor, this lens is on one of my cameras.
It's a utility lens, it does decent wide shot (18mm) and has a decent zoom range (200mm). Take it down a few stops and this thing is decently sharp and any range.
Aberration/distortion are minimal considering the range. It does tend to fringe a bit at longer range but it can easily be fixed in post.
Bokeh is it's major drawback, it's not ugly but it could be much better.
Handling is great, the lens is solid, zoom ring is nicely weighed (but creeps if held down), built quality is top notch. I wish the focus ring had a bit more travel when focussing manually (like most AF lens).
It's a great all-around lens if you want to travel light and still be able to take decent shots of pretty much anything life throws your way. It's not particularly great at anything but it does a very good job at being versatile.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Near Sydney, NSW Posts: 331
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 8, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $390.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Basically the best superzoom I've come across | | Cons: | Superzooms are always superzooms | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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In the pros I said -BASICALLY the best superzoom I've come across because I have had the pleasure of using the Sigma 50-500mm, which is incredible, but that's a pretty special piece of glass, and costs $1800 or something.
I should note that I have not used the Pentax/Tamron 18-250 or 18-270 - they could well be better but to be honest, I'd be surprised, because this thing is damn impressive.
It's sharp at just about all settings, but more importantly, the results are just quite pleasing. I owned the 17-70 f2.8 - 4.5 as well, and although it's supposedly technically 'better', I just never liked it. This lens just has that X factor... and 11x zoom is never a bad thing to have.
In the end I don't actually need lenses like this because I have pro level stuff (the 50-135 for one), that will of course do a better job - but I'm always sad to sell these lenses that have impressed me in their time with me.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $195.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp and versatile | | Cons: | Focus | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I was surprise with this lens being better than the reviews that it has received, so I think its a highly underrated lens. Its sharp and takes good macro shots too. It handles quite well but I do miss the quick shift features of other Pentax lenses. But for value and performance, its really hard to beat.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586 | | Review Date: June 26, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $255.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | All-Round-ness, Relatively faster AF | | Cons: | No aperture ring, Body paint wears | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I have two versions of 28-300 and they serve me well, but lately I've found myself back to shooting landscapes. 28mm is not that wide. So I get this lens, problem solved. Paired with K20D, I can still crop images to mimic the reach of 300mm. Quality is not that bad, really, I did not expect much from zooms, but this lens seems to better than the 18-55 kit in my eyes. Colors, sharpness, and bokeh is good, I have no complaints. I've seen a site that compared this with the Tamron's version, this Sigma appeared sharper. I'm also under an impression that this lens gives wider than just 18mm, but I could be wrong. For those who wanted an all-rounder, casual-shooting glass, did not want to lost the wider end, still need a lot of reach, yet did not want to invest pretty penny into 18-250, this thing here is the best choice.
Sample photos:
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Posts: 18,076 | | Review Date: August 3, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $225.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Zoom range, zoom lock, convenient | | Cons: | Lack of sharpness, focus hunt, no aperture ring | |
Bonjour,
This is my oldest Sigma, and it's a good overall performer ... doesn't do anything really "bad", nor does it do anything really well either. I purchased it to have more top end as compared to the kit lens (DA 18-55mm AL "I") which came with my K110D. I have also used this lens on my later DSLR's.
The zoom range is convenient as a "walk around" lens with a good weight and feel. The zoom lock is nice and one can make this lens relatively "sharp", but you really have to work with it under the right conditions given how slow this lens is. Focus hunt can happen, but one shouldn't get too picky for an entry-level Sigma lens like this one. Basically, no huge gripes here, but no laurels either ...
What bothers me the most is the lack of overall sharpness, but I have never been convinced that WIDE range zoom of this type can be every good. I have also chatted with my friendly local (French) camera store guy and he stated that if I think that this zoom range is not adequately sharp for my tastes, then definitely do not get an even wider zoom range, like a 18-250mm ... (or maybe a Tamron 18-270mm, even though it is not in a K-mount version). All the same, I would like to try one like this just to compare the results.
Allez, salut et bonne journée, Jean le Frog | | |
