Sigma af17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro or?

[autumnleaves]

Hello!

I am new to the searching for lenses. After getting some feedback from my first post and also reading the learning lenses information on this site, I have narrowed my search for lenses. I just need a little boost as to which on is the best. I have looked at the testing aspects of some of these lenses, and I have read reviews, so now I need to know what you all think as I highly respect the information and responses given on this forum.

My camera that I purchased is the pentax k100d Super. I did get the kit lens (it was 20 more than the body only), but I of coarse want a better lens.

After reading, I would like to stick with f2.8, and I have narrowed my needs to the following.

*Has to be diverse enough to be capable of performing well in low light

*Wide Angle would be great.

*Telephoto - Some telephoto would be nice, but with the right lens I can crop for now, so it isn't important as my other factors.

*Macro is a must. This is a good option, I believe, to have in any lens for me.

*A lens that performs well in normal daylight.

*A lens that would produce crisp sharp images.

*Price range - no more than around $400USD.

These are the lenses that I think I would like to start with. Please tell me if you think otherwise or prefer something different.

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 ex dc Macro
Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro

:confused: Any suggestions for a Tamron Lens will be appriciated if it is better than the Sigma Lenses that I have mentioned above.

I really appriciate ALL of your input and help greatly.

Thanks for your Time!!

[Rooz]

Hello!

I am new to the searching for lenses. After getting some feedback from my first post and also reading the learning lenses information on this site, I have narrowed my search for lenses. I just need a little boost as to which on is the best. I have looked at the testing aspects of some of these lenses, and I have read reviews, so now I need to know what you all think as I highly respect the information and responses given on this forum.

My camera that I purchased is the pentax k100d Super. I did get the kit lens (it was 20 more than the body only), but I of coarse want a better lens.

After reading, I would like to stick with f2.8, and I have narrowed my needs to the following.

*Has to be diverse enough to be capable of performing well in low light

*Wide Angle would be great.

*Telephoto - Some telephoto would be nice, but with the right lens I can crop for now, so it isn't important as my other factors.

*Macro is a must. This is a good option, I believe, to have in any lens for me.

*A lens that performs well in normal daylight.

*A lens that would produce crisp sharp images.

*Price range - no more than around $400USD.

These are the lenses that I think I would like to start with. Please tell me if you think otherwise or prefer something different.

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 ex dc Macro
Sigma AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro

:confused: Any suggestions for a Tamron Lens will be appriciated if it is better than the Sigma Lenses that I have mentioned above.

I really appriciate ALL of your input and help greatly.

Thanks for your Time!!

the 18-50 sigma is better in low light becasue it has a constant f2.8 aperture throughout its range. the 17-70 is only 2.8 from 17mm-around 20mm. its also a much sharper lens with better contrast. the 1-70 does have a more convenient and flexible range though.

the tamron 17-50mm f2.8 i also a very good alternative.

[autumnleaves]

Hi, thank you for your information.

Of the Tamron 17-50mm and the sigma 18-50mm which is a better lens. (sharper, crisper, etc)?

Thank You again!

[TheWengler]

Of the Tamron 17-50mm and the sigma 18-50mm which is a better lens. (sharper, crisper, etc)?

I don't think the Tamron 17-50mm is available in a Pentax mount. If that's the route you go then I think the Sigma is your only option. You won't get everything you want in one lens. 50mm on a cropped camera is long enough to get some good portrait shots.

[BBPhoto]

The 17-70 is a great lens. I was very happy with it while I owned it. It produced sharp images over the entire focal length with a little softening at 17mm. I would recommend it to anyone considering it. There is a review here if you haven't seen it already. Good luck.

http://www.photozone.de/

[autumnleaves]

There isn't a Tamron for the Pentax in the 17-70mm, but there is a

*Tamron SP Autofocus 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Lens for Pentax SLR Cameras.

I also came across this lens. It was released in 2004, so I am not sure how "out of date" it is, but it is interesting.

*Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG Autofocus Lens for Pentax AF.

I do have a question though, does limiting myself to f/2.8 have any negatives such as limiting my "daylight" or "outdoor" pictures?

Thank You:)

[TheWengler]

I do have a question though, does limiting myself to f/2.8 have any negatives such as limiting my "daylight" or "outdoor" pictures?

The f/2.8 is just a max aperture, the smaller apertures (bigger f-stops) are still available. Also, if you get a lens that starts in the 24-28 range and put it on a cropped SLR you won't really have a wide angle setting. That will definitely limit your landscape photography (if you have any interest in that). Are you looking specifically for a Tamron or do you just want something to compare to the Sigma?

[autumnleaves]

I do want to get into better landscape photography, but for now this lens will be used to replace the "kit" lens.

I tend to like the tamron pictures compared to sigma's better. That is why i steer towards the Tamron. However, I have yet to find picture comparasions for the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8. I wish there were comparision pictures of the two. My only issue with a tamron is the fact that the company seems to be having quality control issues. I would hate to get a lens with a problem. Being a beginner, I wouldn't really know that there IS a problem with the lens and not my photography.

anyways... let me know what you think?

Thank You in Advance! :)

ps. sorry for the slow repsonse, sick kids:cool:

[BBPhoto]

Be sure to purchase from a dealer that has a good return policy and you will be ok. After that, there is the warranty so don't be too concerned about quality control. Another factor there is that people come to Internet forums usually to gripe about things rather than praise them so one can get a pretty negative impression of any given product or company that way. Rest assured that both Sigma and Tamron produce good products.

[fionndruinne]

The 18-50mm is a kit lens replacer, whereas the Tamron you're looking at loses the wide angle. Personally I think the ~20mm is going to be much more useful for you on the wide end than the telephoto end, because with 75mm, you're still going to want more reach a majority of the time. 18mm, though, is quite wide for getting landscapes and such.

f/2.8 at 75mm is good to have, for portraits especially. So if that's a major qualifier for you, then go with that one. But, keeping in mind that 75mm is really weak as far as telephoto is concerned, and you'll probably need to get more of a dedicated telephoto lens anyway, you may be happier with that Sigma as your kit+landscape lens (unless and until you decide to go for a super-wide-angle).

[autumnleaves]

I am going to keep the 18-55mm for landscape until I get more experienced.

I am going to purchase the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 lens for my "all purpose" lens for know. In a few months, I will eventually add either the 18-250mm tamron macro lens, or maybe tamron will make a 70-200(+,-)mm di macro f/2.8 lens by then for the pentax.

I have a nikon with a 28-80mm lens, and I definatly want more reach in both directions, but for know, the 28-75 f/2.8 will be just what I need. I will add on as I go. It hopefully will give me something better than the kit lens to start with.


I would love to hear what you think?