Is this Sigma lens worth the asking price?

[attack_donut]

on eBay (USA) this lens:

Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM AF Lens for Pentax

Is about 970$. Is it really worth that, or are there better lenses in that range (with better f/stop if possible) that can be had?

Thanks

[Tickhiller]

Hi There
I have not bought anything like that from USA but have heard about an extra tax you end up paying when the goods arrive. Is the lens new? This may affect import duty.
I got my 'Bigma' 2nd hand from a UK seller on eBay, I paid £750 for lens, 1.4x teleconverter and tripod gimbal. Pentax fit ones seem to be rare for sale in the UK so I paid possibly more than a Nikon/Canon user.

[PentaxManiac]

I think Mr/Ms Donut is based on the East Coast as in New York or Miami, rather than as in Scarborough, Bridlington or Filey.

[PentaxManiac]

I'd be wary of a lens with such a slow maximum aperture at the long end. At F6.3 your autofocus might struggle, and unless viewfinder technology has come on in recent years you may also lose any focusing aids.

[nspur]

on eBay (USA) this lens:

Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM AF Lens for Pentax. Is about 970$. Is it really worth that?

That's about what we would pay in the UK for a good used example.

I'd doubt the autofocus possibility at the long end. I have a Tamron Adaptall II 500mm mirror lens and if you find one of these it should not cost more than $95 but it's manual focus. You could be better off looking for a nice Sigma 100-400mm.

[frank1]

The lens is a good one it's also quite weighty. Mine's a non dg so if you can find one of these then it may be cheaper. I think these in Britain sell for between £550 to £700. I have to remind you it is a weighty beasty

[Tickhiller]

I think Mr/Ms Donut is based on the East Coast as in New York or Miami, rather than as in Scarborough, Bridlington or Filey.

Ooops, never thought of that

[Dave_Cox]

I use the 'bigma' a lot for wildlife and airshow photography on both the K10 and K20 cameras. It's a good lens, heavy but still useable. I have no problem with autofocus even on subjects with low contrast. The 150-500 is lighter and cheaper, but loses quite a chunk of useable zoom range.
I paid the full price a year or so ago and haven't regretted a penny of it!

[attack_donut]

Yeah, East Coast USA. I gotta update that.

I thought the 6.3 was pretty lame, what I'm after is something long, say 400-500mm where I can still have 2.8

I've already got a mirror lens but it's fixed at f/8 and being manual focus, it's sometimes difficult to determine proper focusing with it.

[MarkCook]

Woah expensive bit of glass for f2.8 at 400 or 500mm.

I have a Tamron AF70-200 f2.8 (approx 1.6kg in weight and £560) but it's awesome. I carry a 2x teleconverter with me which effectively makes it a 400mm f5.6 lens.

I'd love something faster at 400mm but can't afford to pay silly money for it !

[Monobod]

Have you considered the Sigma F/4 100-300, used with a 1.4x converter it still gives F/5.6 throughout the range, so autofocus works. At full stretch it is 630mm (equivalent).

Heavy and pricey, but a good performer.

[AlexMonro]

Sigma do a 200-500mm f/2.8. I think it's a bit on the pricey side, also not very portable, and you probably don't want to be seen with it near an airport!

Also, sadly, it doesn't yet appear to be available in Pentax mount.

web page

[attack_donut]

I'm open to suggestions, here's what's what:

My longest autofocus lens is a 70-300mm (I think 5.6 at full extension) and the sharpness absolutely blows, but the versatility of that range is great.

So I guess I was hoping to find a 50-400 that's sharp and fast. I am willing to spend 1000.00 dollar US (which is what? these days in UK or euros? 37 cents?)

[AlexMonro]

Seriously, I think you'll be hard pressed to find anything faster than f/5.6 at that kind of focal length within your budget. Even the Sigma 500mm prime is only f/4.5, and over 3 grand (UKP).

Your best bet is probably the Sigma 120-400 f/4.5-5.6, at around 600 UKP - so probably within your budget.

You might try looking around to see what you can find second hand...

[Wheelu]

Have you considered the Sigma F/4 100-300, used with a 1.4x converter it still gives F/5.6 throughout the range, so autofocus works. At full stretch it is 630mm (equivalent).

Heavy and pricey, but a good performer.

I have one of these and it is a very good lens (particularly considering the price), but not with the 1.4 converter attached! The contrast drops and it's debatable whether or not a digitally upsized image is preferable.

[Monobod]

Contrast is OK on this one, I think. But you may well be right on other shots.

See HERE