An inexpensive Sigma 400/5.6 lens.

brandrx · Dec 25, 2013

Hi folks,

I spotted an inexpensive ($275) Condition EX Sigma 400/5.6 (72mm filter threads) autofocusing lens for Pentax at KEH.com. This is not the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-macro that has the 77mm filter threads.

I don't know anything about this lens but surely it must be as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 that usually sells for at least $100 more than this one.

The great thing about KEH.com is that you can return a purchase within 14 days with no questions asked. So, this Sigma 400/5.6 just might be worth a look see.

Autofocusing 400mm f5.6 lenses in Pentax mount are hard to find.

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

JeffAHayes · Dec 25, 2013

brandrx said:
Hi folks,

I spotted an inexpensive ($275) Condition EX Sigma 400/5.6 (72mm filter threads) autofocusing lens for Pentax at KEH.com. This is not the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-macro that has the 77mm filter threads.

I don't know anything about this lens but surely it must be as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 that usually sells for at least $100 more than this one.

The great thing about KEH.com is that you can return a purchase within 14 days with no questions asked. So, this Sigma 400/5.6 just might be worth a look see.

Autofocusing 400mm f5.6 lenses in Pentax mount are hard to find.

Ron

brandrx · Dec 25, 2013

JeffAHayes said:
brandrx said:

Hi folks,

I spotted an inexpensive ($275) Condition EX Sigma 400/5.6 (72mm filter threads) autofocusing lens for Pentax at KEH.com. This is not the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-macro that has the 77mm filter threads.

I don't know anything about this lens but surely it must be as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 that usually sells for at least $100 more than this one.

The great thing about KEH.com is that you can return a purchase within 14 days with no questions asked. So, this Sigma 400/5.6 just might be worth a look see.

Autofocusing 400mm f5.6 lenses in Pentax mount are hard to find.

Click to expand...

It's not for sale any more, Ron, and thanks for the heads up! :-D

Hi Jeff,

I hope I didn't steer you wrong. I have been searching most of the night for this post made by forum mamber awaldram that you might be interested in reading.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35465083

JeffAHayes said:
Even with the lack of a photo, with you saying that's a great deal

I believe I wrote that it is an inexpensive lens. Not necessarily that it is a great deal.

I guess you will find out when you get it.

JeffAHayes said:
on a lens at that level (and me not having one, and it being relatively inexpensive, such as less than HALF the price of, say, a DA* 55 F1.4 or less than 1/4 the current price of the DA* 300 F4... WELL, how could I say NO???

My scheduled delivery date in Dec. 31. Would have been REALLY NICE were it a 400mm F4, but then I don't think a lens of THAT caliber would have been anywhere NEAR that sort of price -- at least not in WORKING ORDER, lol.

LOL

I have a Tamron SP 400mm f4 Adaptall 2 that I would part with if you are interested. PM me.

BTW: I think you will be hard pressed to find a better deal right now than the K-5 IIs at Amazon.com - $743, Sold by Electronics Basket and Fulfilled by Amazon. I really cannot see it going much lower than that before the stocks run out.

Cheers.

Ron

awaldram · Dec 25, 2013

It's a nice lens

have a close look at the front cluster as they suffer lens separation.

If its clean then you've got a solid performing lens at a very nice price.

Weak areas

1 flare

2 CA

and even saying this is no worse than a modern day Kit zoom.

miles green · Dec 25, 2013

I have the MF version.

I'm fond of it because of its reach and size. It resolves very well but it has CA, not-so-good contrast.. My birding buddy has a Canon 7D + 100-400L. The 400 APO at least matches it regarding resolution, but falls behind in every other respect (save size, weight & cost). Both are recoverable to a big extent in PP. The AF vesion comes up a on ebay every now and then: it's no rarity, but you have to keep an eye open for it. Not surprisingly, the Canon verion is almost always available for sale...

I did write about it a few times when i got it last year, look for the threads i started.

It even works pretty well with the Sigma 2x TC, but you'll be shooting at f/14 with live view.

Here are some pix. There are more in my library, but the more recent ones are with my telescope.

--
-----------------------------------------------
Miles Green
Pentaxian with chronic LBA
Corfu, Greece

JawaT · Dec 25, 2013

Very impressive indeed. Thanks for sharing.

JawaT

KentG · Dec 25, 2013

Sorry Ron that lens was considered somewhat of a piece of crap during the film era. The manual focus version was not too bad but the AF one had lots of optical issues. This is the specific lens I was talking about on Bob Monaghan 3rd party database when I used to say tha a bad lens keeps getting sold till it finds its way into the possesion of someone who can't tell its not bad. Suffers from weak corners till F8, bad CA and PF. The Tokina 400/5.6, which Art Morris specifically mentions as a good BIF lens, is way better although the Sigma 400/5.6 TeleMacro (77mm) is better still. Heck my old Vivitar 400/5.6 TX lens is way better than that Sigma.

Kent Gittings

KentG · Dec 25, 2013

The MF version of this for some unaccountable reason was always at least decent. The AF version is a POS from the half a dozen I tested during the film era. As someone pointed out flare was a problem with that lens also. Now in the digital era I suppose some of its issues can be resolved in PP but don't count on any decent Jpegs right out of the camera. This was a lens I also used to say that I would not sell to a friend. I owned one for all of 3 days before dumping it. Not as good as a decent 70-200 with a 2x TC on it.

Kent Gittings

brandrx · Dec 26, 2013

KentG said:
Sorry Ron that lens was considered somewhat of a piece of crap during the film era. The manual focus version was not too bad but the AF one had lots of optical issues. This is the specific lens I was talking about on Bob Monaghan 3rd party database when I used to say tha a bad lens keeps getting sold till it finds its way into the possesion of someone who can't tell its not bad. Suffers from weak corners till F8, bad CA and PF. The Tokina 400/5.6, which Art Morris specifically mentions as a good BIF lens, is way better although the Sigma 400/5.6 TeleMacro (77mm) is better still. Heck my old Vivitar 400/5.6 TX lens is way better than that Sigma.

Kent,

I've never seen one nor will I ever buy one. I already have the Sigma 400/5.6 APO Tele-macro (77mm) (2 copies), and the Pentax FA*400/5.6 lens.

You are not the first to say that it's a crap lens. There are other equally trustworthy souls that say that it is not too bad. So, I guess it really is in the eye of the beholder.

I wrote in the OP that, surely this lens is as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 lens. I've owned, and gave away, three copies of the Tokina 400/5.6 lens. IMO, a coke bottle with a 3X teleconverter is as good as a Tokina 400/5.6 lens. So, I do disagree with Art Morris that you cite above. Eye of the beholder. That eye of the beholder was proved to me via some images that were posted in this forum by certain individuals using the Tokina 400/5.6 lens that were absulutely great. However, I still think of that lens as a peice of crap.

Many folks told me that the Sigma 50-500mm sucked wide open at 500mm. I believed them until I bought and tried one for myself. My eye beholds that it does not suck.

Many folks used to tell me that using any teleconverter sucked. Then one day I decided to try one for myself. I now own many teleconverters. Eye of the beholder.

Anyway, I guess Jeff will soon find out for himself whether or not it is a keeper. He will have 14 days that he can return the lens with no questions asked if he decides it is not up to snuff.

Ron

alberto_b · Dec 26, 2013

My 6yrs old post here:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/26829235

miles green · Dec 26, 2013

brandrx said:
KentG said:

Sorry Ron that lens was considered somewhat of a piece of crap during the film era. The manual focus version was not too bad but the AF one had lots of optical issues. This is the specific lens I was talking about on Bob Monaghan 3rd party database when I used to say tha a bad lens keeps getting sold till it finds its way into the possesion of someone who can't tell its not bad. Suffers from weak corners till F8, bad CA and PF. The Tokina 400/5.6, which Art Morris specifically mentions as a good BIF lens, is way better although the Sigma 400/5.6 TeleMacro (77mm) is better still. Heck my old Vivitar 400/5.6 TX lens is way better than that Sigma.

Click to expand...

Kent,

I've never seen one nor will I ever buy one. I already have the Sigma 400/5.6 APO Tele-macro (77mm) (2 copies), and the Pentax FA*400/5.6 lens.

You are not the first to say that it's a crap lens. There are other equally trustworthy souls that say that it is not too bad. So, I guess it really is in the eye of the beholder.

Just to make sure there are no misunderstandings: It's good for the price, as its optical shortcomings are surprisingly fixable in post. Plus it weighs about a kilo and is much smaller than a 70-200/2.8.

brandrx said:
I wrote in the OP that, surely this lens is as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 lens. I've owned, and gave away, three copies of the Tokina 400/5.6 lens. IMO, a coke bottle with a 3X teleconverter is as good as a Tokina 400/5.6 lens. So, I do disagree with Art Morris that you cite above. Eye of the beholder. That eye of the beholder was proved to me via some images that were posted in this forum by certain individuals using the Tokina 400/5.6 lens that were absulutely great. However, I still think of that lens as a peice of crap.

Many folks told me that the Sigma 50-500mm sucked wide open at 500mm. I believed them until I bought and tried one for myself. My eye beholds that it does not suck.

Many folks used to tell me that using any teleconverter sucked. Then one day I decided to try one for myself. I now own many teleconverters. Eye of the beholder.

Anyway, I guess Jeff will soon find out for himself whether or not it is a keeper. He will have 14 days that he can return the lens with no questions asked if he decides it is not up to snuff.

And a lifetime to sell it again on fleabay!

brandrx said:
Ron

miles green · Dec 26, 2013

KentG said:
The MF version of this for some unaccountable reason was always at least decent. The AF version is a POS from the half a dozen I tested during the film era.

Thanks for pointing that out - i had assumed it was the same lens, as the focusing ring on mine is so incredibly light, for one finger focusing.

KentG said:
As someone pointed out flare was a problem with that lens also. Now in the digital era I suppose some of its issues can be resolved in PP but don't count on any decent Jpegs right out of the camera.

That's for sure!

KentG said:
This was a lens I also used to say that I would not sell to a friend. I owned one for all of 3 days before dumping it. Not as good as a decent 70-200 with a 2x TC on it.

Kent Gittings

JawaT · Dec 26, 2013

It may not be just the eye of the beholder factor. There could be significant variation in the manufacturing process, such that it yields a wide range of performance characteristics.

Thanks.

JeffAHayes · Dec 26, 2013

brandrx said:
JeffAHayes said:

brandrx said:

Hi folks,

I spotted an inexpensive ($275) Condition EX Sigma 400/5.6 (72mm filter threads) autofocusing lens for Pentax at KEH.com. This is not the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-macro that has the 77mm filter threads.

I don't know anything about this lens but surely it must be as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 that usually sells for at least $100 more than this one.

The great thing about KEH.com is that you can return a purchase within 14 days with no questions asked. So, this Sigma 400/5.6 just might be worth a look see.

Autofocusing 400mm f5.6 lenses in Pentax mount are hard to find.

Click to expand...

It's not for sale any more, Ron, and thanks for the heads up! :-D

Click to expand...

Hi Jeff,

I hope I didn't steer you wrong. I have been searching most of the night for this post made by forum mamber awaldram that you might be interested in reading.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35465083

brandrx said:

Even with the lack of a photo, with you saying that's a great deal

Click to expand...

I believe I wrote that it is an inexpensive lens. Not necessarily that it is a great deal. I guess you will find out when you get it.

brandrx said:

on a lens at that level (and me not having one, and it being relatively inexpensive, such as less than HALF the price of, say, a DA* 55 F1.4 or less than 1/4 the current price of the DA* 300 F4... WELL, how could I say NO???

My scheduled delivery date in Dec. 31. Would have been REALLY NICE were it a 400mm F4, but then I don't think a lens of THAT caliber would have been anywhere NEAR that sort of price -- at least not in WORKING ORDER, lol.

Click to expand...

LOL

I have a Tamron SP 400mm f4 Adaptall 2 that I would part with if you are interested. PM me.

BTW: I think you will be hard pressed to find a better deal right now than the K-5 IIs at Amazon.com - $743, Sold by Electronics Basket and Fulfilled by Amazon. I really cannot see it going much lower than that before the stocks run out.

Cheers.

Ron

brandrx · Dec 26, 2013

JeffAHayes said:
brandrx said:

JeffAHayes said:

brandrx said:

Hi folks,

I spotted an inexpensive ($275) Condition EX Sigma 400/5.6 (72mm filter threads) autofocusing lens for Pentax at KEH.com. This is not the Sigma 400/5.6 Tele-macro that has the 77mm filter threads.

I don't know anything about this lens but surely it must be as good as the Tokina 400/5.6 that usually sells for at least $100 more than this one.

The great thing about KEH.com is that you can return a purchase within 14 days with no questions asked. So, this Sigma 400/5.6 just might be worth a look see.

Autofocusing 400mm f5.6 lenses in Pentax mount are hard to find.

Click to expand...

It's not for sale any more, Ron, and thanks for the heads up! :-D

Click to expand...

Hi Jeff,

I hope I didn't steer you wrong. I have been searching most of the night for this post made by forum mamber awaldram that you might be interested in reading.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/35465083

JeffAHayes said:

Even with the lack of a photo, with you saying that's a great deal

Click to expand...

I believe I wrote that it is an inexpensive lens. Not necessarily that it is a great deal. I guess you will find out when you get it.

JeffAHayes said:

on a lens at that level (and me not having one, and it being relatively inexpensive, such as less than HALF the price of, say, a DA* 55 F1.4 or less than 1/4 the current price of the DA* 300 F4... WELL, how could I say NO???

My scheduled delivery date in Dec. 31. Would have been REALLY NICE were it a 400mm F4, but then I don't think a lens of THAT caliber would have been anywhere NEAR that sort of price -- at least not in WORKING ORDER, lol.

Click to expand...

LOL

I have a Tamron SP 400mm f4 Adaptall 2 that I would part with if you are interested. PM me.

BTW: I think you will be hard pressed to find a better deal right now than the K-5 IIs at Amazon.com - $743, Sold by Electronics Basket and Fulfilled by Amazon. I really cannot see it going much lower than that before the stocks run out.

Click to expand...

Your post from Andrew's June 2010 thread you linked me to, Ron...

"FWIW: I had an Olive MF Pentax mount. I bought it from KEH. It was listed as White but came to me as Olive. I gave it to my nephew's wife.

I concur that the 72mm ones are not very good.

I also concur that the Sigma 400mm f5.6 APO Tele-Macro is one heluva fine lens. I had been looking for one for over two years when I spotted a listing on ebay at a decent price. I bought it just 3 minutes after it was listed. The very best lens I have ever bought except for the Pentax DA*300mm f4.

Cheers.
Ron"

**********************************

It doesn't appear KEH has shipped the lens yet. Do you think I should try to cancel the order and thus save on the $11 shipping and insurance fee, plus the likely similar fee when I ship it back?

You will have to decide that for yourself Jeff.

JeffAHayes said:
It had been 3.5 years since you posted to that thread, so I'm certain you weren't trying to lead anyone astray,

In that thread we were talking about the manual focus 400/5.6 (72mm). We were also talking about the very best autofocusing 400/5.6 Tele-macro (77mm). In this thread we are talking about the autofocusing 400/5.6 (72mm) lens.

JeffAHayes said:
and it's also possible I could get this lens and find it's better than expected (as you mention below, you were repeatedly told the Sigma 50-500 was junk until you tried one, yourself, and discovered it wasn't).

I just HATE sending things back, if I don't have to... Then again, I don't want to feel infinite buyer's remorse about a lens I'm never happy with.

Do whatever you think is best for you Jeff.

Ron

JeffAHayes · Dec 26, 2013

First, I hold NO ONE accountable for my own actions but myself and I ALWAYS appreciate advice and postings about good deals, even if the deal does turn out to not be as good as it at first appeared, so no aspersions or blame to anyone for "steering me wrong" on that lens purchase, if it does turn out to be a dud.

Second, I just got off the phone with KEH, and although they haven't yet sent me the email stating they've shipped the lens (which they say they will when they ship an item), the person I talked with said, "Yeah, that's already been boxed and is on a truck heading to you."

Well, if they even only pulled it off the shelf, their shipping process has BEGUN, so I don't blame them for not turning it around.

I'll see what I think. If it's soft only in the corners, well, I'm not as concerned with corners as I am the center part of the lens on a telephoto lens, so I'll make my determinations based on what I see. At worst, maybe I can turn it around and sell it again.

Jeff

awaldram · Dec 27, 2013

miles green said:
KentG said:

The MF version of this for some unaccountable reason was always at least decent. The AF version is a POS from the half a dozen I tested during the film era.

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out - i had assumed it was the same lens, as the focusing ring on mine is so incredibly light, for one finger focusing.

All the 400 72mm AF/MF that have come through me have been optically identical so I'm surprised Kent finds the MF decent and the AF a POS.!

Maybe he's confusing the MF Apo variant ?

miles green said:
miles green said:

As someone pointed out flare was a problem with that lens also. Now in the digital era I suppose some of its issues can be resolved in PP but don't count on any decent Jpegs right out of the camera.

Click to expand...

That's for sure!

Untouched showing it's contrast drop due to flare handling

400mm 72mm AF Sigma min PP

of cause the 72mm MF Apo can deliver better.

Think this may have had some PP work though

miles green said:
miles green said:

This was a lens I also used to say that I would not sell to a friend. I owned one for all of 3 days before dumping it. Not as good as a decent 70-200 with a 2x TC on it.

Kent Gittings

Click to expand...

It would seem Amateur Photographers opinion was more in-line with mine than Kents

Loading…

www.sigmauser.co.uk

for an mrp of £220 it delivers , remember the 77mm telemacro mrp was £3500 so a little unfair to pitch it against that beast

miles green said:
--
-----------------------------------------------
Miles Green
Pentaxian with chronic LBA
Corfu, Greece

--
My PPG
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/andrewwaldram
My Photo Stream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/awaldram/
1x.com
http://1x.com/artist/awaldram/wall

JeffAHayes · Dec 28, 2013

Thanks, Andrew.

KEH appears to be in the business of UNDERpromising on delivery dates, thus the 400mm Sigma lens I ordered in the WEE hours of Christmas day actually arrived YESTERDAY, rather than Dec. 31, which was the day they said delivery was scheduled (I have no problem with that -- better to get things sooner than promised, rather than later -- Amazon, on the other hand, GUARANTEED me, a PRIME CUSTOMER -- and from what the news is saying, apparently A FEW MILLION MORE -- delivery by Dec. 24 on some items that were supposed to be Christmas gifts and they didn't come until Dec. 26). UPS (FedEx, too, I'm told) is making EXCUSES that they were overwhelmed by last-minute shoppers.... AHEM, UPS has let me down enough times at this point I'm starting to think those letters stand for Universally Poor Service!

I didn't realize my lens had come until after dark last night, so I just opened it and looked at it. It definitely APPEARS in EX shape -- no discernable scratches or marks, other than one it appears a previous owner made to make it easier to tell where the F-stop indicator is. I'll shoot some with it, and with the DA* 300 today, and see how it compares. I certainly DON'T expect it to be in that class, but I'll see how close it comes. I may also compare it against the DA 55-300 and the Sigma 50-500.

When I get some pics uploaded, I'll share some here for C&C. Perhaps I got lucky and got a good one. One thing it didn't come with that I've really gotten used to most lenses coming with these days is a hood. If that becomes an issue, maybe I can find an aftermarket hood for it, if the lens is otherwise good enough.

Jeff

--
A word is worth 1/1000th of a picture... Maybe that's why I use so many words!

brandrx · Dec 28, 2013

JeffAHayes said:
Thanks, Andrew.

KEH appears to be in the business of UNDERpromising on delivery dates, thus the 400mm Sigma lens I ordered in the WEE hours of Christmas day actually arrived YESTERDAY, rather than Dec. 31, which was the day they said delivery was scheduled (I have no problem with that -- better to get things sooner than promised, rather than later -- Amazon, on the other hand, GUARANTEED me, a PRIME CUSTOMER -- and from what the news is saying, apparently A FEW MILLION MORE -- delivery by Dec. 24 on some items that were supposed to be Christmas gifts and they didn't come until Dec. 26). UPS (FedEx, too, I'm told) is making EXCUSES that they were overwhelmed by last-minute shoppers.... AHEM, UPS has let me down enough times at this point I'm starting to think those letters stand for Universally Poor Service!

I didn't realize my lens had come until after dark last night, so I just opened it and looked at it. It definitely APPEARS in EX shape -- no discernable scratches or marks, other than one it appears a previous owner made to make it easier to tell where the F-stop indicator is. I'll shoot some with it, and with the DA* 300 today, and see how it compares. I certainly DON'T expect it to be in that class, but I'll see how close it comes. I may also compare it against the DA 55-300 and the Sigma 50-500.

Let's hope it ends up being a good one Jeff.

JeffAHayes said:
When I get some pics uploaded, I'll share some here for C&C. Perhaps I got lucky and got a good one. One thing it didn't come with that I've really gotten used to most lenses coming with these days is a hood. If that becomes an issue, maybe I can find an aftermarket hood for it, if the lens is otherwise good enough.

Are you sure that the hood is not already there. Try pulling it out. Maybe you have to unscrew it first. My Sigma 300/4 and 400/5.6 APO Tele-macro lenses just pull out.

Good luck.

Ron

brandrx · Dec 28, 2013

brandrx said:
JeffAHayes said:

Thanks, Andrew.

KEH appears to be in the business of UNDERpromising on delivery dates, thus the 400mm Sigma lens I ordered in the WEE hours of Christmas day actually arrived YESTERDAY, rather than Dec. 31, which was the day they said delivery was scheduled (I have no problem with that -- better to get things sooner than promised, rather than later -- Amazon, on the other hand, GUARANTEED me, a PRIME CUSTOMER -- and from what the news is saying, apparently A FEW MILLION MORE -- delivery by Dec. 24 on some items that were supposed to be Christmas gifts and they didn't come until Dec. 26). UPS (FedEx, too, I'm told) is making EXCUSES that they were overwhelmed by last-minute shoppers.... AHEM, UPS has let me down enough times at this point I'm starting to think those letters stand for Universally Poor Service!

I didn't realize my lens had come until after dark last night, so I just opened it and looked at it. It definitely APPEARS in EX shape -- no discernable scratches or marks, other than one it appears a previous owner made to make it easier to tell where the F-stop indicator is. I'll shoot some with it, and with the DA* 300 today, and see how it compares. I certainly DON'T expect it to be in that class, but I'll see how close it comes. I may also compare it against the DA 55-300 and the Sigma 50-500.

Click to expand...

Let's hope it ends up being a good one Jeff.

brandrx said:

When I get some pics uploaded, I'll share some here for C&C. Perhaps I got lucky and got a good one. One thing it didn't come with that I've really gotten used to most lenses coming with these days is a hood. If that becomes an issue, maybe I can find an aftermarket hood for it, if the lens is otherwise good enough.

Click to expand...

Are you sure that the hood is not already there. Try pulling it out. Maybe you have to unscrew it first. My Sigma 300/4 and 400/5.6 APO Tele-macro lenses just pull out.

Here is the Sonia Metal 72mm lens hood that I would recommend.

Ron

An inexpensive Sigma 400/5.6 lens.

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