29.06.05, 02:17
Post 1 of 20
In looking for a multi-purpose wide angle/telephoto lens for my Pentax *istDS I see where both Sigma and Tamron have recently come out with an 18-200mm zoom lens made for digital cameras. From my perspective this is the kind of single lens, multi-purpose unit I am looking for but have no experience with either companies lenses - what could the members recommend between the two brands, and equally so what to look out for?
Also any words of caution on getting this type of one lens, does all things product?
Also any words of caution on getting this type of one lens, does all things product?
I think between Sigma and Tamron there may not be much difference in quality, i myself use a sigma 80-300mm zoom which i am very satisfied with.
I suggest to have a look at dpreview.com to look for a test report.
I suggest to have a look at dpreview.com to look for a test report.
29.06.05, 16:43
Post 3 of 20
I have seen a widely advertised Tamron digital zoom lense advertised ... the AF 28 - 300F/3.5 - 6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro .... it seems great for approx. £250 BUT the review is dreadful and I have steered well clear ... the sigma lenses have overall had reasonable reviews and my 18 - 50mm sigma is well built, sharp and seems a reasonable lense for 5 pence short of £100 - albeit not the one you are looking for ... hope this helps but www.fredmiranda.com/reviews is a good place to get good reviews and advice on many things ...
A very superb lens is the Tamron 28-75 F2.8
In the end I agree w/ Ruud, there´s not a big difference between Sigma and Tamron....
(btw. I have 4 Sigma and a lot of trouble w/ them.
They often went to service and this takes a long time at Sigma)
If you like to have the best lenses buy from your
Camera brand... Nikon, Canon, Minolta, what ever.
In the end I agree w/ Ruud, there´s not a big difference between Sigma and Tamron....
(btw. I have 4 Sigma and a lot of trouble w/ them.
They often went to service and this takes a long time at Sigma)
If you like to have the best lenses buy from your
Camera brand... Nikon, Canon, Minolta, what ever.
30.06.05, 15:26
Post 5 of 20
I know what you mean about buying from the camera's manufacturer but in this case Pentax does not make any serious selection of lenses specifically for their digital *istDS camera. I have an 18-55mm that I got with the camera and they don't make any zoom lens with a nice wide angle and greater zoom range for it (the photographers dream - one lens which does all). Yes there are any number of Pentax lenses for 35mm cameras (and I have those already) but I have found that for digital SLR camera's "digital" lenses work best. For spontaneous photography carrying a selection of lenses along just does not work (but it makes for great business for lens manufacturers).
My first choice would be to buy a "digital" lens from Pentax, but they are silent on that front when it comes to the 18-200mm family (with Macro capability - now that is my ideal spontaneous photography multi-function lens).
My first choice would be to buy a "digital" lens from Pentax, but they are silent on that front when it comes to the 18-200mm family (with Macro capability - now that is my ideal spontaneous photography multi-function lens).
I am sorry but I dint like lenses like 18-200 mm...most of them are terrible.
First of all we should know wich kind of photo do you like to take.
for example:
If you would do portraits a 50 mm fixed lens is the best you can get.
Think about the lens I told one thread before, the Tamron is also available for Pentax, I think and its really a superb lens.
First of all we should know wich kind of photo do you like to take.
for example:
If you would do portraits a 50 mm fixed lens is the best you can get.
Think about the lens I told one thread before, the Tamron is also available for Pentax, I think and its really a superb lens.
30.06.05, 18:16
Post 7 of 20
I have Canon basic lenses - they are just plastic rubbish with soft results - see my images ;0) If I didn't have USM I would be stuffed !! In the UK there are several reviews that put the 'other' brands above the Canon - obviously not all or even most but certainly some (L series Canon an exception as they are pro-quality at a pro-price)... I guess we all agree that you should go to a review site ...
No no, maybe he didnt have to go to a review site.
Ask Paul, he helps you to fit Canon rubbish lenses to Pentax.
There is a universal tool that helps makes them fit - a hammer.
hehe :-))))
Ask Paul, he helps you to fit Canon rubbish lenses to Pentax.
There is a universal tool that helps makes them fit - a hammer.
hehe :-))))
I've owned 3 Tamron lenses over the last 20 years and loved each one of them. I still have 2 of them and use them everyday (the 3rd one was dropped and damaged). One of my lenses is the one mentioned above (28-75mm) and the other is a 70-300mm. With these 2 lenses I can do just about anything.
There is a problem with the "ultimate" lens, it's the f-stops. The lenses that your looking at wont collect very much light. This will force you to use higher ISO's (causing a grainy quality) or you'll find yourself dragging around a tripod because you have to use slower shutter speeds.
I understand the issues of portability and price, but you'll make a sacrifice somewhere. Either in money or quality, or in convenience. I hope the above info is of help.
p.s. I have friends that use Sigma and no complaints.
Post Edited (23:43h)
There is a problem with the "ultimate" lens, it's the f-stops. The lenses that your looking at wont collect very much light. This will force you to use higher ISO's (causing a grainy quality) or you'll find yourself dragging around a tripod because you have to use slower shutter speeds.
I understand the issues of portability and price, but you'll make a sacrifice somewhere. Either in money or quality, or in convenience. I hope the above info is of help.
p.s. I have friends that use Sigma and no complaints.
Post Edited (23:43h)
13.07.05, 00:07
Post 10 of 20
After reading all the feedback and checking my pennies I settled on Sigma because I could get that at a better price than Tamron's.
At the same time I recognized what others had said about "one lens does all", and about jitter at high telephoto settings and settled on the 18-125mm lens.
Thanks for all your feedback!
At the same time I recognized what others had said about "one lens does all", and about jitter at high telephoto settings and settled on the 18-125mm lens.
Thanks for all your feedback!
13.07.05, 01:11
Post 11 of 20
Hope you are happy with it Michael. let us know. regards, Paul.
I just read a huge thread on another site. Many dearly loved the Sigma.
20.07.05, 06:41
Post 13 of 20
After a few hundred shots I am fully happy with the Sigma 18-125mm zoom. Performance is as good as the original Pentax 18-55mm and the extra zoom is just what I wanted. The 18-200mm zoom would have been too much and wobble would have been an issue at full telephoto power (already at 125mm I can tell it is there). It is a noticeably heavier and somewhat bigger lens than the original Pentax lens (larger diameter and longer even when fully retracted). I am no pro so I am sure there are many fine points others may notice but they are lost on me. Something I have to get used to is it has the opposite direction of rotation (counter clockwise) than the original Pentax (clockwise). The quality seems top notch with everything operating smooth (it operates smoothly through the full range with no squishyness or slack or sticky spots when zooming). Focus is crisp.
Glad I got it and glad for the advice recieved!! Thanks again.
Glad I got it and glad for the advice recieved!! Thanks again.
Tamron 28-75 2.8, canon/nikon/... 50 1.8 and sigma 70-200 2.8. if you're not on full-frame, replace 28-75 with 17-50
before anything most of each two third party lens differs within the same model, so you should review one optically from a local shop rather than ordering one from bh-like sites because of a the lower price - you might regret it. usually tamron has better optical quality but their autofocus is slow and noisy.
so the main issue is the price. the irishmen have a saying: i'm too poor to buy cheap stuff. now if you're just taking snapshots you'd be better with one lens with a great range like 28-300 but it's either that or good autofocus and image quality. even then i'd recommend a moderate approach like 28-125 rather than 28-300. taking that to extreme, take a look at the super fast prime lenses. they are a bit more expensive even than the zooms but a lifetime investment. and there's not much you can do with an 28-300 with 5.6 aperture at 300. flash won't work so after 6 pm you'll leave it at home. prime lenses (1.4 to 2.8) are the greatest investment in photography one can make.
i chose the sigma because even though at the wide end the autofocus is hard to miss even for the noisy tamron, at the long end (200) i need it fast and quiet. if your subjects will not move (architecture, portrait, landscape) tamron is better (some sites reported it even optically better than the canon correspondent). i for one will buy the sigma because i need silent and reliable autofocus in available light. and remember, if you're not on full frame this turns into 280 2.8. most of the sigma's optical flaws can be corrected by software but some say it suffers from front focusing. that i can avoid by trying in the local shop several copies then fine tuning it if the case directly from the body (my full frame has this option and for my apsc i'll just move closer to the subject). check it out before buying.
with anything below 100 i'd buy a tamron. above that it's optical quality vs autofocus.
i'd suggest buying a 50 prime. i bought the 1.8 used for 50 euros and liked so much that i bought the 1.4 usm afterwards. 50 turns into 80 unless on full frame. and it goes farther than four flash ;)
before anything most of each two third party lens differs within the same model, so you should review one optically from a local shop rather than ordering one from bh-like sites because of a the lower price - you might regret it. usually tamron has better optical quality but their autofocus is slow and noisy.
so the main issue is the price. the irishmen have a saying: i'm too poor to buy cheap stuff. now if you're just taking snapshots you'd be better with one lens with a great range like 28-300 but it's either that or good autofocus and image quality. even then i'd recommend a moderate approach like 28-125 rather than 28-300. taking that to extreme, take a look at the super fast prime lenses. they are a bit more expensive even than the zooms but a lifetime investment. and there's not much you can do with an 28-300 with 5.6 aperture at 300. flash won't work so after 6 pm you'll leave it at home. prime lenses (1.4 to 2.8) are the greatest investment in photography one can make.
i chose the sigma because even though at the wide end the autofocus is hard to miss even for the noisy tamron, at the long end (200) i need it fast and quiet. if your subjects will not move (architecture, portrait, landscape) tamron is better (some sites reported it even optically better than the canon correspondent). i for one will buy the sigma because i need silent and reliable autofocus in available light. and remember, if you're not on full frame this turns into 280 2.8. most of the sigma's optical flaws can be corrected by software but some say it suffers from front focusing. that i can avoid by trying in the local shop several copies then fine tuning it if the case directly from the body (my full frame has this option and for my apsc i'll just move closer to the subject). check it out before buying.
with anything below 100 i'd buy a tamron. above that it's optical quality vs autofocus.
i'd suggest buying a 50 prime. i bought the 1.8 used for 50 euros and liked so much that i bought the 1.4 usm afterwards. 50 turns into 80 unless on full frame. and it goes farther than four flash ;)
Why not TOKINA ?Nowdays Pentax DA lens made by or design by TOKINA. In other hand Samsung GX 10/20 are PK mount too.
Most of Pentax user are like Old Pentax lens or M42 by adoptor too. which various OLD PK lens are good like vivitar, RIOCH but should take out golden pin.
Most of Pentax user are like Old Pentax lens or M42 by adoptor too. which various OLD PK lens are good like vivitar, RIOCH but should take out golden pin.