Sigma 100-300mm f4 lens.

Someone got a good deal in my opinion.

Earlier today there was a Condition E Sigma 100-300mm f4 EX DG at Adorama.com for US $699. I pointed it out to a certain person in this forum but I don't know if he bought it.

Did anyone in this forum buy it? Just wondering.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Certainly a good deal!

This year a will see if Pentax come-up with a zoom lens that goes up to 400mm....or will take a serious look at the Sony 70-400mm G series to go with my NEX-3 using the new AF adapter!
--
Leopold
Pentax forever
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Hi Ron
Is this lens still there, I was away yesterday and have rust logged on.

I'm tracking a couple of BINs on Ebay, admittedly for Canon versions but they are both listed under $700, one at $679 and the other at $649. Since the one I have is a non-DG model it means if I ever run into a new camera it does not work with I am screwed, although it works fine on my 60D.

So that price seems to be around what they are going for at this time. In the Canon world it doesn't have IS so that is a mark against it. Even though the lens is better than the Canon 100-400/4-5.6L IS at all three major setting and not far behind the Canon with a 1.4x compared to it at 400mm.
Kent Gittings

surve said:

Hi Ron
Is this lens still there, I was away yesterday and have rust logged on.

Click to expand...

No, it is gone now. I saw it a 9AM but at 2PM it was gone. Sorry.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

KentG said:

I'm tracking a couple of BINs on Ebay, admittedly for Canon versions but they are both listed under $700, one at $679 and the other at $649. Since the one I have is a non-DG model it means if I ever run into a new camera it does not work with I am screwed, although it works fine on my 60D.

So that price seems to be around what they are going for at this time. In the Canon world it doesn't have IS so that is a mark against it. Even though the lens is better than the Canon 100-400/4-5.6L IS at all three major setting and not far behind the Canon with a 1.4x compared to it at 400mm.

Click to expand...

Because the Pentax version is hard to find it usually goes for a hgher price than the Canon and Nikon version. That is why I said this Pentax version, alluded to in the OP, was a good deal.

Cheers.

Ron

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

brandrx said:

KentG said:

I'm tracking a couple of BINs on Ebay, admittedly for Canon versions but they are both listed under $700, one at $679 and the other at $649. Since the one I have is a non-DG model it means if I ever run into a new camera it does not work with I am screwed, although it works fine on my 60D.

So that price seems to be around what they are going for at this time. In the Canon world it doesn't have IS so that is a mark against it. Even though the lens is better than the Canon 100-400/4-5.6L IS at all three major setting and not far behind the Canon with a 1.4x compared to it at 400mm.

Click to expand...

Because the Pentax version is hard to find it usually goes for a hgher price than the Canon and Nikon version. That is why I said this Pentax version, alluded to in the OP, was a good deal.

Cheers.

Ron

Click to expand...

This is certainly the case. I actually happen to have a copy of the 100-300/4 DG in both Nikon and Pentax mounts, and also keep an eye of prices, and there's no question that the Pentax one is a lot harder to come by (and as a result more expensive). $600-700 sounds about right for the newest version in Nikon mount (and I assume Canon as well), while $900-1100 is closer to the going rate for a Pentax mount version in excellent condition. For the non-DG Pentax, take off about $100, give or take.

I think you also have to consider that in addition to the Pentax version being more rare, there are also fewer options for people who want a lens like that in a Pentax mount. While both Canon and Nikon offer zooms in and around that focal length range, the options are a bit more limited for Pentax. The DA*60-250 comes the closest, but doesn't quite have the same reach (although I have that lens too, and it's an outstanding lens on its own). Also, something like a 70-200/2.8 + 1.4X TC is a more more viable option for someone shooting Nikon/Canon as that combination is almost flawless in terms of IQ, AF, retention of IS/VR and proper adjustment of the aperture. As far as I understand, using a TC with a 70-200/2.8 (or 80-200/2.8) on Pentax is somewhat more of a compromise. I'm certainly not suggesting you can't get good IQ with certain combinations, but it's not as effectively in terms of turning a 70-200/2.8 into a 100-300/4 by using a 1.4x like it is for Canon/Nikon.

What a coincidence, that's exactly what I was thinking of doing to use with the K5 since it is almost impossible to find a Sigma 100-300. Now I will do more investigation before buying.

Earl

Guys, sorry for the kind of advertising attempt, but I'll be selling soon the Sigma 100-300/4 EX (non DG) (freshly serviced at KEH Repair) and Sigma APO 1.4x EX DG (open box condition). It did not work out for me.

They're as rare as hens teeth especially in the UK - I stalked fleaBay for months before one finally came up. Paid about £800 for it, IIRC... which is the Pentax premium + (alas) the UK premium. Phenomenal piece of glass, though.

What went wrong with the lens that it needed repair?

thanks,

Nic

Greyser said:

Guys, sorry for the kind of advertising attempt, but I'll be selling soon the Sigma 100-300/4 EX (non DG) (freshly serviced at KEH Repair) and Sigma APO 1.4x EX DG (open box condition). It did not work out for me.

Click to expand...

--
At any given moment, there is a sort of all pervading orthodoxy, a general tacit
agreement not to discuss large and uncomfortable facts… Anyone who
challenges the prevailing orthodoxy finds himself silenced with surprising
effectiveness. - George Orwell

There are the links and some history (as usual replace DOT with "."):

http://www .\DOTpentaxforumsDOTcom/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/164595-faulty-sigma-apo-100-300-4-ex.html
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=39756362

The lens doesn't have even a single scratch. The seller was a professional photographer who switched to Canon FF a few years ago; very honorable guy, actually. The KEH repair fixed the faulty A-ring switch and cleaned and calibrated the lens.

For some reason I'm still unable to squeeze from it better quality than my FA*300/4.5+1.4X Tamron Pz-AF combo delivers. At the shorter end my DA*60-250/4 serves me just fine. And taking into account the reasons above, it's bulkier than I want.
I will pot some samples, if needed.

Hi:

Just a quick question: Did you find your 60-250 + TC outperformed the 100-300 + TC?

And how did the 60-250 compare to the 100-300 without any TC's?

Thanks,
Earl

PS: Happy New year from Madrid

I don't use TC with DA*60-250/4 and I did not compare it to Sigma 100-300/4, sorry. I was looking for more versatile solution with similar or better output than my FA*300/4.5+1.4X TC. Prime is prime, especially THE FA*300/4.5 prime. And the FA* is more compact. That's a deal breaker for me.