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Positive differences with the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5

Started Aug 14, 2015 | User reviews thread
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hanhait Senior Member • Posts: 1,296
Positive differences with the Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5
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I have been a happy user of the Sigma 17-70 / 2.8-4.5 for many years. However I was always annoyed about the unsharp edges at 17 mm. So ignoring the saying 'the better is the enemy of the good' I purchased the Pentax. My findings in comparison to the Sigma on a K-5:

- edge to edge sharpness at 16 mm is a great new experience. The Sigma was hardly useable at 17 mm / 2.8 so that part of the spec difference was already solved.

- much smoother, quieter and faster autofocus

- the focus confirmation fails rather often at 16 mm, although it focusses well, slightly annoying.

- the focus-shift is a big relief compared to switching to manual focus.

- the maximum aperture difference is about half a stop or less throughout the range

- It does not focus as close as the Sigma, but still reasonable close. At the closest focus with the Sigma the object about touched about the glass, so also here no big disadvantage. Also at 85 mm you can stay a bit further away from the subject than at 70 mm.

- The weather-sealing makes me far less nervous when it starts raining, wish I had had that earlier.

- just a bit more reach at both sides; especially the wider angle is welcomed.

 hanhait's gear list:hanhait's gear list
Pentax K100D Pentax K-5 Tamron SP AF 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Pentax smc D-FA 100mm F2.8 Macro WR Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro +9 more
HD Pentax DA 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 ED DC WR
Zoom lens • Pentax KAF3 • 21387
Announced: Oct 29, 2014
hanhait's score
4.0
Average community score
4.2
Pentax 16-85mm F3.5-5.6 WR Pentax K-5
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