| Author: | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 15 | | Review Date: October 11, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive polycarbonate 70-210 zoom | | Cons: | Inexpensive polycarbonate 70-210 zoom | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: P3 and M4/3
New Or Used: New
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As other posters have stated - the images on the listing of this lens is wrong as this all refers to the Manual Sigma UC 70-210 lens, not the AF version. Here is a photograph to be sure:
also - don't confuse the Sigma UC 70-210 with the "mark 2 version" - the Sigma UC ii 70-210 which is a two-touch zoom - available in AF and MF versions - and which has a separate secion in the database on this website
This is a typical mid-range, mid-price zoom from the late film-camera era at the end of the 20th century.
- The advantage of this lens is that polycarbonate is used to reduce weight.
- The lens hood reverses over the body of the lens, protecting it in your camera bag.
- Make sure you get the hood if buying secondhand !
- It got OK to Good reviews at the time - but wasn't up with the huge, heavy but optically excellent Nikon 70-210mm lens used by the professionals - which was probably the benchmark for useability.
For album sized prints and 10x8 photos, this is a good zoom lens. Distortion is moderate as you expect - barrel at wide and pincushion at tele - but not intrusive.
- The big problem is the focussing at the far end, near 210.
- The F5.6 aperture, and low light transmission means that the split image focus aid often "blacks out" so focus can be a slow affair even in good light.
- This is true on my PK version with the usually bright focus screen of my P30's and in OM mount on my OM2 - with the bright screen in place.
My conclusion - as a holiday travel lens it is a good buy. If you have an AF camera - get an AF version!!! If you want to work fast or in difficult light - get a F2.8 or F3.5 telephoto prime.
Do other users have the same issue as I do?
How does it fare on a digital SLR with focus assisting tech?
On M4/3 it is a 140-420mm equivalent lens; those cameras have auto-gain on the EVF and a zoom function to magnify the image centre to aid focus - in that set up, stopped down by 1 stop, it is a good landscape lens but often needs a high ISO setting to deliver safe shutter speeds and even then a mono-pod or tripod is a good idea as even in-body stabilisation struggles at >300mm equivalent.
In consequence - I have got to prefer a less flexible set up using a Pentax SMC M 135mm F3.5 which is small, light, faster to use and good for IQ even at F3.5, and so is good for handholding at 1/250th of a second or faster.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 83 | | Review Date: November 13, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | light and very sharp | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: k3
New Or Used: Used
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The photo of the lens above is a auto focus lens not a manual lens like it has in the description. The manual lens doesn't have the window on the bottom and it doesn't say auto focus above the window it doesn't have. The other photo above with the front view look correct . If this page is if for the manual lens then someone should remove the auto focus photo and make a different page for that lens . Maybe just list what this page is for the auto focus version or the manual version . Here are some photos of the manual version . https://flic.kr/p/2hKb74W , https://flic.kr/p/2hK7kyq , https://flic.kr/p/2hK7kFz , https://flic.kr/p/2hK9XBw. I don't know about the auto lens sharpness but the manual one I have is really close to the sigma 70-200mm 2.8 . I put the k3 on a tripod and set a 12 sec timer . I put both lens on 4.5 and iso on 100 and put the exposure in the middle . I was about 25 feet from the steamer I focused on . I cropped both so you can really see the pressure dial and the words . If you ask me they are pretty close to the same sharpness . .The imgp6773 file is the 70-210 mm https://flic.kr/p/2hK7kho , and the imgp6769 files are the 70-200mm 2.8 https://flic.kr/p/2hK7kq4 , Cropped https://flic.kr/p/2hKbmU7 ,, https://flic.kr/p/2hKadi5. This little lens Is tiny compared to the huge and heavy 70-200 2.8 . I think I'll leave the big lens at the house and take the smaller one for traveling on the plane . I would like to see a photo of the front of the auto focus version of the lens this page has post above to see how its marked .
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2016 Location: Euless Texas Posts: 268 | | Review Date: November 1, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Solid Build, Firm Zoom Action, nice IQ | | Cons: | Small testy manual focus ring, AF hunts a bit | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-S2
Autofocus: 8
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I acquired this lens as part of an auction for a SF1 film camera. I Bought it for the Pentax 35-70 lens and was going to sell the Sigma with the camera. However when I went to test the lens I found the shots are sharp, with good color and contrast. I took the photo below from across my yard and when I saw it realized I need to keep the lens.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2012 Posts: 22 | | Review Date: January 2, 2016 | Not Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 3 |
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I have one of these lenses, bought new, which I used on my K1000 for a short period. One day, just out of warranty, it fell apart in my hands. I would be leery of the build quality. I still have all the parts, but it is not worthwhile paying to have it rebuilt. I dug it out of the drawer recently and gave it to my daughter's high school photography teacher who remarked to me that it would be fun to have an old lens to take apart and show the class how a lens was put together.
| | | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 26, 2013 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp | | Cons: | Occasional sticky rubber on barrel | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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For your money this lens is superb . I use this as my default mid zoom range on my Pentax K5 . Surprisingly good in low light . Lovely bokeh . Great for portraits and pet shots . Good colours .
I have 2 of these lenses . I paid only £10/15 for on eBay . In fact I have sold off several of the newer digital sigma lenses in preference for this older lens.
If you can get a calendar one without the decay of the rubber on the barrel you won't regret it.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2012 Posts: 678
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 22, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great images at a great price. | | Cons: | no resistance on manual focus ring | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I paid a whopping $15 for this lens when I got my first Pentax DSLR a little over a year ago to supplement the 18-55mm kit lens that came with it. I really wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew the good reputation of Sigma lenses and I figured that for the price, I had little to lose. As it turned out, I ended up getting much more than my money's worth. I've been very pleased with the images I've captured with this lens.
This lens gets a little bit of a bad rap for having a push-pull zoom mechanism, but that's not a problem for me as the zoom lenses I had for my 35mm SLRs worked exactly the same way. My only real criticism of the lens is there's almost no resistance to the manual focus ring. I'm not sure whether that's typical of this model or a quirk of my particular copy.
UPDATE: It's hard to believe I've had this lens for four years now. It's still one of my favorites. Ever since I got it, I've wanted to find the original hood to go with it and this week, that wish came true when I spotted the identical lens with a Nikon mount, including the shade, on eBay and picked it up for $18, including shipping. I figured the Nikon mount would make it pretty easy to flip and own the shade for little or nothing. And I was right! I sold the lens--sans shade--last night for $24.50, plus shipping. So now I have the lens with its hood for a net cost of about $9. That's a sweet deal in my book. I'm happy to have the proper shade that doesn't cast a shadow around the edges of the frame. I also determined that the lack of tension on the focus ring must be common to that lens as the one on the Nikon mount lens is only slightly tighter than on mine.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2013 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 114
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 1, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $59.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Cheap, sharp, compact, good color | | Cons: | focus ring is short throw can be touchy in manual focus | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 10
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I actually got this to use on my film body MX that was my main shooter. It was cheap, and I didn't have a zoom. I didn't expect much, but when the pic's came back - in this case Fuji Superia 400, negatives scanned at a pro shop, I was really impressed with the look, the sharpness, the color, the generally appealing feel. Here are a few shots of a stopped train near my house at sunset. I believe that these shots were near the more telephoto end of the range. I don't recall the aperture, but I'd guess around 5.6.
It's a good lens, not a slouch and not full of smeary spherical aberrations that I find with so many cheaper lenses. I also don't notice much fringing either. But I need to shoot it more. I just got a K-01, my first real digital camera, so I'll put it thru its paces again and see how it does with a crop sensor compared to my full frame 35mm film.
Brad
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/post-your-photos/170239d13673...gma-zoom-1.jpg
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/post-your-photos/170240d13673...gma-zoom-2.jpg
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/post-your-photos/170241d13673...gma-zoom-3.jpg
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/post-your-photos/170242d13673...gma-zoom-4.jpg | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Dobrich Posts: 27
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 17, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Push-pull zoom, nice build quality, cheap price | | Cons: | slow focus, hard to find | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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This is really a brilliant lens for what you pay for. I have the Auto focus copy of the lens and it has really nice image quality. Got it a while back just so I would have a lens to cover the focal length because I don't shoot at the long ends so much but got really surprised. Only problem is the long focus throw and therefor the slow AF but still not a bad lens. You could even shoot sports with it when you get to know it's weaknesses.
Offroading 1 by nickodim, on Flickr
Drifting by nickodim, on Flickr
In the dust by nickodim, on Flickr
Does some nice close up work too:
Oily bits by nickodim, on Flickr
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 835 | | Review Date: March 6, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 6 |
| Pros: | push-pull zoom, rubber grips | | Cons: | zoom a bit lose and slides out, lower contrast than Pentad 550-300mm. | |
My copy came with an ME Super camera so I have no idea how much I paid for it, but the camera and lens were £50 or a bit less! Therefore I guess it was $20 or so.
I took some comparative shots closeup with this and my Pentax 55-300mm. Now maybe it was a little unfair as 200 mm is the longest zoom for the Sigma and it doesn't have a lens hood, but the photo clearly has less contrast than the 55-300mm lens, and if I go pixel peeping it also has some purple fringing.
However for the price it's a good buy! I might even lash out and get it a lens hood one of these days.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586 | | Review Date: February 8, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp. Solid. | | Cons: | Push-pull for some people is just a little too yesterday | |
Oh yes, mine is the one that re-badged "Promaster Spectrum 7"
Bought this one on-line, the seller listed it as Pentax, but turns out to be a Nikon mount  . I borrowed a friend's Nikon and give it a few shots. Amazing sharp for a lens with this price tag, good contrast, too. The old-style push-pull zooming needed a little getting used to, but turned to be just fun. Minimal focus distance is about 1m, making it capable of good "macros". If you need a good tele under a limited budget, this one is hard to miss.
Here's a shot (taken with a Nikon):
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2010 Location: Northeast Philadelphia Posts: 1,137 | | Review Date: January 2, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $16.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Compact, light, good value, "A" setting | | Cons: | CA, not very fast, flares easily | |
When I purchased this, I confused it with the very similar UCII version, which I'm guessing has better coatings. At the price I paid, this lens is a great value, particularly because of its A setting for use in program modes. It's light and compact — only about a half-inch longer than the kit 18-55mm lens, though it is a bit wider in diameter.
It looks like it can take a bayonet-type lens hood, and it would benefit from it, since the front element is not recessed much at all and it flares easily.
I have not used it extensively, but I enjoy it each time I do. The "macro" setting shouldn't really be called macro. It's barely even close focus with a 1:4.7 magnification at 1.2 meters. Here are a few shots I've taken with it:
I should mention that the vignetting you see in the above photo was added in Photoshop.
Edit: I just noticed that my copy of this lens has the Ricoh pin. I never noticed it before, and it has caused me no problems with my K-x. When I compare the location of the Ricoh pin to the location of the autofocus screw on my kit lens, they are not near each other. After doing some research online, I found out that some Ricoh pins aren't pins, but are ball bearings, which do not get stuck. That is the case with this lens.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Posts: 6,620 | | Review Date: February 17, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | solid construction, rubber zoom ring grip, good IQ | | Cons: | stiff zoom operation | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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Just a budget midrange zoom from Sigma. Takes surprisingly good pictures and has decent color and contrast. I haven't shot enough with it yet to say more but hope to spend time with it and later post some images. Recommended.
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