| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Posts: 17,295 | | Review Date: November 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Decent sharpness for zoom, quick autofocus | | Cons: | macro button only works if camera on | |
I bought this lens on Ebay for $20, and it turned out to be a steal. The lens is pretty sharp and auto focus is quick. It's pretty small and seems to be built well. It's not as heavy as a Sigma 28-70 epsilon, but it's significantly heavier than the Pentax FA of the same focal length. The only problem is the macro switch tends to be a little difficult to switch sometimes. The macro feature does work well.
I have had a similar lens in Pentax, Promaster, and the other Sigma (this is the II, the other has no designation but I'll call it the I for this review) I took some test shots of some target images with the two Sigmas using a tripod and aperture priority. I shot images with each lens at 28mm, 50mm, and 80mm, at f14, f11, f8, and wide open. The following observations were true across the range. The focus target in these images is the Morton Salt girl. The II has a little better color and has better contrast. While the I and II are very similar in sharpness near the focus area, it drops off in the I as you move away from center. This was a surprise.
Here's a few of the test shots:
Sigma 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 Macro 28mm f14.0:
Sigma 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 II Macro 28mm f14.0:
Sigma 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 Macro 53mm f8.0:
Sigma 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 II Macro 50mm f8.0:
 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2009 Location: Łódź, Poland and Riverside, California, U.S.A Posts: 488 | | Review Date: November 29, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Good zoom range, light weight, cheap! | | Cons: | average build quiality, rotating front lens (not a neg. for me but can be for those that use filters other than UV) | |
I bought this lens to fill the mid range zoom in my kit. I run a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, a Pentax SMC-M 50 f/1.4, and the kit lens Pentax SMC DA 18-55 f/3.5-5.6. With nothing above 50mm, I decided to give this lens a whirl. I was pleasantly surprised at the image quality. It's very sharp, focuses fairly quickly, and has a Macro function which is an added bonus. I have found that the camera needs to be on to switch out of macro focusing, or else the button is stuck. The lens focuses by rotating the front part of the lens, which can be a problem for those that use circular polarizers or other filters. In comparison of build quality, it is on par with the kit lens. It does have a tighter focus ring than the kit lens. If you need a decent midrange zoom that doesn't break the bank, this is the obvious choice. It's light, with a good reach, and it's cheap! For the price, it's the biggest bang for the buck.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: February, 2010 Location: cali Posts: 22 | | Review Date: February 18, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap Macro - Fast Focus | | Cons: | | |
Here are my first 2 shots out of the box ... sure I'll get better when I get the feel of it more.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: Waldorf, MD Posts: 1,861 | | Review Date: March 1, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, lightweight, 1:2 Macro, Inexpensive | | Cons: | A little cheaply built | |
This lens is a solid buy. Mine has a metal mount, as I've heard some use a plastic lens mount, but mine does not. Brand new for $40, it's a good, sharp 28-80 zoom. Focus travel is small, so it focuses quickly, even in Macro at 80mm. It's very light, so it's not a burden to carry around, though it does feel as though it'd break if you dropped it.
A really really good lens, especially for the price.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: California Posts: 1,602 | | Review Date: May 19, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | $, good IQ (sharp), macro | | Cons: | cheaply built | |
As I do with all of my reviews, I take into account how much I paid for the lens. This lens will not compete with the Pentax 17-70 or and similar lens but it is a very good lens. Pictures are very sharp when stopped down to 8. Stopping down to 8 also corrects the CA. Pretty much this lens is very good at 8 and above.
Good lens to bring on a hike or vacation. If it breaks, who cares, it was $30.
Well worth $30.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2008 Location: Makawao, HI Posts: 195 | | Review Date: January 10, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Cheap, sharp | | Cons: | Cheap? | |
This lens was free when I bought my K10D second-hand. I've seen them on ebay for $10....worth at least 2-3x that. 
Sometimes finicky to move the lever out of macro. In bright, mid-day sun, it can get goofy with exposure (maybe the K10's got a prob w/ the lens?)
I'm sure there're better offerings around, but it does put out some really good, sharp photos at a very useful range.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Brisbane Posts: 3,561 | | Review Date: February 14, 2011 | Not Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 2 |
| Pros: | cheap | | Cons: | Very poorly built. | |
I got this lens brand new in 2002 as a kit with a Pentax film body, optically it was fine as a "kit lens" but i rarely used it.
Last year i pulled it out to use, and after a couple of weeks the lens fell apart in my hands and it was still like new. Very poor construction.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223 | | Review Date: February 24, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | My carry around lens - small, fits well and has incredible IQ | | Cons: | None so far | |
This lens has become my only kit lens that I take anywhere. I bought it after looking at the reviews in this forum and after seeing the photograph of the airplane landing above this comment. The macro is just formidable. I use it more often that any. It is a portrait lens too. All the good things said above. I do not understand the comments about the cheap built. This lens looks and feels sturdy. It is the II version. All automatic. The macro botton is just fine, you have to read the manual to understand how to use it the first time after that is just fine.
The first picture is out of focus, it is my fault. I have a focussed image in Flicker. I will post it here later on.
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2009 Location: EU Posts: 32 | | Review Date: March 1, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | macro abilities, useful zoom range, fast AF, light | | Cons: | plastic built, prone to flare and CA | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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As for macro I would rate it 9/10, apart from this my rate would be 7/10 so I put 8 
I use it especially to shoot macro but generally this is not my favorite lens.
It is very light so AF is one of the fastest (similar to FA 28-70). Sometimes suffers from CA and has prone to catch flare. Should be stopped down to be quite sharp, the best is F7,1-11. Plastic bayonet - as for now nothing to worry.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2009 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 784 | | Review Date: April 30, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | decent macro, fast focusing | | Cons: | kit lens quality, macro switch a bit tricky | |
I bought this lens on a Pentax Zx-7 body along with a Tamron 28~200 zoom that was attached to a Zx-30 body.
I originally went in to the pawn shop to just buy the
Tamron and body for $59 they also wanted $49 for the sigma and body, I couldnt talk the guy down on the Tamron set up but he offered me the whole set of cameras and lenses for $90 for everything, so I bought it all.
I originally figured I would just put the Sigma set up for sale and even the other body, but once I tried the sigma out I was pleasantly surprised especially with the macro feature. I am now planning on keeping it just for the macro, I imagine I will use it a lot once I start taking other shots with it.
I would have given it a 10 if the build quality was better, but I do like the metal bayonet mount on it better than the plastic mount on my kit lenses.
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: August, 2011 Location: Glenroy, Melbourne Posts: 3,441 | | Review Date: November 26, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Light, does a good job on most tasks, cheap. | | Cons: | none for the price | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Autofocus: 7
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I got this lens at a local pawn shop as the sigma 18-50m I had started having a few issues, and I wanted a bit of extra reach. I've continually been surprised by the images it produces, Its not outstanding but it never really does a bad job either. Mine has the metal K mount and overall mine has proved to be quite sturdy. This is the lens that's attached when my camera when it first comes out of the bag and does a great job as a walkaround. Below are some images #2 & #4 are 100% crops, these were taken with *istDS(6mp)
5 years on, I've upgraded to better equipment but I still use this lens on my K20D in the workshop were it does an good job taking technical shots of electronics the macro function being quite handy, and I don't have to worry about it being knocked about
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Portugal Posts: 30 | | Review Date: November 29, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | barato, ligero, enfoque rapido, macro 1:2, | | Cons: | poca calidad abierto al maximo, plastico, mucho plastico, | | Sharpness: 4
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 5
Value: 6
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Es una opción muy barata cuando buscamos algo para calzar a nuestra Pentax, el enfoque es rápido y dispone de un interesante macro 1:2. Lo pero es su excasa calidad a plena a pertura y construcción en plastico.
Un objetivo muy basico y barato. Es mejor a partir de f8 y f11, con trípode y sin prisas | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,911 | | Review Date: December 10, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 4 |
| Pros: | Cheap, 1:2 macro capability | | Cons: | Poor IQ (sharpness in particular), average build quality, very poorly designed hood | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 5
Handling: 4
Value: 4
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I had this for a while but didn't use it much. The 1:2 macro is it's redeeming feature, if it has one, as it's better magnification than most pseudo-macro lenses offer. It's only at 80mm though, hence the maximum aperture using macro is f/5.6, so you'll need a LOT of light or a tripod (but then that's true for any real macro work). It's probably the cheapest way to get this kind of macro capability, even more so than reversing rings or extension tubes, and you'll have auto everything too, which you lose with those options.
The IQ in general use is so-so at best. Sharpness is not great and there's a greenish/yellowish colour cast. COntrast is average. It's build reasonably well, quite solidly, but the macro switch does not inspire confidence & the zoom and focus rings to not operate smoothly. The lens hood is not petal-shaped and attached to the main barrel, not the front which moves on focusing, so I doubt it's very effective. In macro mode, the front element is BEYOND the end of the hood, rendering it completely useless.
I've reommended it but with the caveats of price, and only then if you want it for the macro mode, I wouldn't recommend this lens for general use.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: Sydney, Oz ~ just past the phone box Posts: 7 | | Review Date: May 22, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cheap but nowhere near nasty | | Cons: | zoom & focus can feel 'loose' | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 2
Handling: 7
Value: 10
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I've got two of these lenses, and I use the one I bought second ($20) because it's not as 'loose' feeling as the older one I bought first ($40). The newer one also has a tighter fit at the mount, but maybe that's a wear issue.
I think that negative reviews of this lens are unfair, given the price you pay for the pics you will get. For $20, you won't get a Zeiss Distagon!
Pics that I've taken with this lens are very good IMHO, & I'd recommend it to anyone except perhaps pro's or perfectionists.
Mounted on a K5, you'll never find low light a problem, so aperture isn't so important unless you want nice bokeh, which this lens doesn't do well at with a 3.5 minimum aperture.
Positives ~
Focus is sharp 28mm through to 80mm.
Colour rendition is clean, clear and concise.
Lens is light but solid.
Macro is more than 'good'.
Negatives ~
Light flare can limit photo direction options.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2011 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 11,606
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 1, 2012 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | lightweight, fast and quiet focus, a real bargain | | Cons: | none for the price | | Sharpness: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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I have the II version, bought it new for my SF1 film camera.
Don't remember the price, and didn't use it much before going P&S digital.
Kind of forgot about it until recently.
I stuck it on my K-01,and was well pleased with the results.
I'm not a Pro, just a jpeg shooter wanting to take nice snapshots.
I really like the range of 28-80mm, and since I usually shoot longer more often than wider.
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