| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2018 Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 9, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Size, versatile range of focal lengths, reasonably sharp | | Cons: | Chromatic aberrations at wide end | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-70
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
| |
Sometimes you just need to take snapshots. Sure, you could use a mobile phone, but even in 2021, phone cameras can't zoom in very much and if you start cropping, the results are not satisfying. That's where a super-zoom lens comes in handy, and the Sigma 18-200mm Macro OS HSM (Contemporary) fulfills that role well. Image quality is good for a lens with 11x zoom, generally on par with the Pentax 18-135 for most of the focal lengths these lenses have in common, with the Sigma performing somewhat better above 105 mm. It is compact and sturdy; auto-focus is quick and quiet. There are some significant caveats: chromatic aberrations are fairly noticeable at the wide end, distortion is present (particularly at the wide end), and the lens is not weather-resistant. It's not perfect, and I have other lenses that perform better at each focal length covered by this lens, but when you don't know what you might need, this a good lens to have sitting on the camera, ready to go.
Previous reviewers have commented negatively on the bokeh, but I don't find it problematic.
For the images below, Close_up, Hothouse and State_street are unaltered JPEGs. Cityfront_Plaza is lightly cropped but otherwise unedited. All were taken handheld.
Close_up
Hothouse
State_street
Cityfront_Plaza
Rainbow
 | | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 18, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $240.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp, compact, zoom range | | Cons: | performance drops (still good) in the middle of the range | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Sony A6100, A7R2
Autofocus: 8
New Or Used: Used
| |
Very good lens! It is a little weak in the middle of the range from 30 to 80 mm, but very strong at the short and long ends. This lens easily beats DA18-135, and is also better than Sigma's own 18-300.
On A7R2, it resolves the 18 mp APS-C part of the 42 mp sensor well. On A6100, the 24 mp sensor is a little too demanding. I recommend this lens for 14~20 mp APS-C.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 20
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 9, 2019 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | versatile, sharp | | Cons: | Too slow for poor lighting conditions | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: KS-2
Autofocus: 7
New Or Used: New
| |
A great, versatile work-horse that I have taken several thousand pictures with!
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2019 Posts: 19
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 19, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $370.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size, sharpness, versatile | | Cons: | nothing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3II and Ks2
Autofocus: 10
New Or Used: New
| |
The assessment I make of the lens is taking into account the type of lens it is. In my opinion, the best all-in-one lens that can be purchased for pentax,I can only complain that it's not sealed for rain
It is practically the size of a kit lens, but with a magnificent focal range all in one. Just select aperture in f6.3 and you will get all the sharp images in any focal length, but even in f3.5 to 18 mm you get more than acceptable images.
The few chromatic aberrations that can be found in the corners are easily eliminated if you shoot in raw.
This lens always comes with me.
 2019-07-17_10-42-48 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-07-07_08-50-31 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-06-29_07-26-58 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-06-18_07-16-25 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-06-04_01-43-05 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 Dimorphotheca ecklonis by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-02-20_10-02-41 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
 2019-03-29_10-31-35 by Alejandro Mark II, en Flickr
| | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2015 Location: Sunderland Posts: 25
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 3, 2016 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, near silent AF, low CA above wide end, convenient,light,compact | | Cons: | CA at 18mm, poor bokeh | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-S1
Autofocus: 9
New Or Used: New
| |
   Since buying my K-S1 in Nov 15 ive chopped and changed lenses a bit. I had settlend on the Pentax kit 18-55 lens and used a Tamron 18-250mm as a more general walkaround, but the Tamron IQ was a real let down. I decided to let both these lenses 'go' and put them towards the Sigma.
The lens has been a revelation. Its not much bigger or heavier than the 18-55 so tends to live on the camera and just gives great flexibility but with the IQ i craved.
The HSM means its the only lens ive owned that is virtually silent and quick to lock docus. Ive used it at all lengths with no noticeable vignetting. There is quite pronounced CA at the 18mm end but Lightroom copes with this with one click.
Its certainly sharper than the Tamron and Pentax it replaces.
If you want any negatives it would be a lack of bokeh but that's to be expected on any superzoom and I have Pentax 35mm 2.4 and 50mm 1.8 in my bag if that's what im after...plus a faster lens too if needed.
Along with these lenses i also have the Sigma APO 70-300mm. The lengths overlap a bit but this one gives that extra reach and is better for macro.
All in all its been one of my best ever purchases. Highly recommended.
Robin
(Pics to follow soon) for full size images look at https://www.flickr.com/photos/14341429@N05/ | | |
