K-7 and Sigma 50-150/2.8 anyone tried it yet?

[Jan Rinze]

Just for those who wondered..
I got one and must say it is tack sharp! even at 2.8.

Really happy with this combo. The range is a tad better than the Pentax 50-135 and the price a lot better
To make me feel even better I got an extra battery for the K-7 too.
I am all setup now. Only thing lacking here is good weather.

--
Jan Rinze
http://picasaweb.google.com/janrinze

 

[Russell Evans]

Only thing lacking here is good weather.

If you had of gone with the 50-135mm, weather wouldn't matter. ;-)

Thank you
Russell

--
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/do_i_know_you/

 

[Charlie Self]

A friend, he with a Canon 50D and i with the k20/50-135 combo met a formal garden a week ago. Got there and there was a light rain going on. we were loathe to just quit as it had taken some preps to get there. we walked around together with tripods, he with an umbrella for his equipment and i with a cotton cloth to keep loose water off my equipment. I just wrap the cloth around the barrel of the lens and wring it out once in a while.

The hood on the 50-135 was excellent, i did not have one case of water droplets on the lens which really messes up photos in my experience. After 45 minutes, the weather cleared off and we had a very striking partially cloudy day for photography. I was very happy with the quality of my photos compared with his, my live view wasn't up to the speed of his, but IQ was as good as or better. he was using a Canon zoom, not sure of the pedigree. DA 50-135 performed flawlessly.

It was nice not to be worried about the lens in my often winter rainy environment. I probably wouldn't have risked my equipment with any other lens. And I would have missed the better weather when it rolled out in an hour.

A few years ago, I bought Op/Tech's Rainsleeve. I carry it with me. It takes under 10 seconds to slip on camera and lens.

I'm using the K20D.

I had the 50-135 for a few months, and liked it fairly well, but the focus mechanism made me uneasy, so I sold it. I don't really remember why it made me uneasy, but there was no point in living with it. I bought the Sigma, and have been happy with that. Yes, color rendition was better, a shade more natural, with skin on the Pentax, but otherwise, the Sigma is tied at the least. Sharpness is a real toss-up. Speed of focus goes to the Sigma, but not by a whole lot. Neither lens needed adjustment for sharp focus.

Next up, the Sigma 100-300mm. I shoot a lot of vehicle events, motorcycle and car races on occasion, especially if I can get my left knee to working again, so the skin colors are less of a factor than they would be for someone doing family shots and portraits. Sigma's very slightly colder skin tones are fine, especially as they're easily correctable when shooting DNG.

--
Charlie Self



http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Charlie Self]

Only thing lacking here is good weather.

If you had of gone with the 50-135mm, weather wouldn't matter. ;-)

Yeah, it would. You'll go through several microfiber cloths drying filter, lens front element and barrel and the rest of the camera. That's why I will always prefer something like the Rainsleeve. Dry the filter or front element and forgo the rest. Shake the 'sleeve out and hang it on the shower rod for a couple hours.

--
Charlie Self



http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Charlie Self]

I have a K7/70-200 combo, which is similar. Great combination, and the focus is fast and sure.

Great build quality on Sigmas in this price range.

The 70-200 f2.8 was one of my options too but then i realized it would be too heavy for handheld shooting.

You're kidding, right? It's a touch heavy for handholding at 1/60 or 1/125, but from about 1/180 up, it ain't all that bad.

I was using one when I had just turned 70 and was in fairly rotten shape, but managed to crank out a couple of baseball games in dim light with it. As the game ended, I did wish I'd brought a monopod, but one of the things that comes with old age is a rotten memory, so...

--
Charlie Self



http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[Charlie Self]

I have a K7/70-200 combo, which is similar. Great combination, and the focus is fast and sure.

Great build quality on Sigmas in this price range.

The 70-200 f2.8 was one of my options too but then i realized it would be too heavy for handheld shooting.

Jan,

FWIW I presently have in hand a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 coupled to my K200d with Grip, and was doing a fair bit of handheld (getting ready for a concert tomorrow) and I find that for me it is not too heavy to handhold at all. I'm 5'10" 180 and in decent shape (Have to be I am a Physical Therapist) and though I wouldn't want it around my neck ALL day it is just fine to handhold, and I find the weight seems to make it more steady.

My 2cents!

Ew! Physical therapists. I'll be seeing one of you guys after my knee replacement next year and I am not looking forward to that part.

I am an unfortunate 260 or so pounds, and last year carted a K10D with 70-200 around my neck through a bunch of motorcycle and car road races. Not all day, but two to four hours at a clip. I used to be 6'2", but in the past few years, gravity is the winner, so I probably barely hit 6' now.

If I were younger, I'd just do a whole bunch of neck and shoulder exercises and go from there.

--
Charlie Self



http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[UtahManSir]

Ew! Physical therapists. I'll be seeing one of you guys after my knee replacement next year and I am not looking forward to that part.

I am an unfortunate 260 or so pounds, and last year carted a K10D with 70-200 around my neck through a bunch of motorcycle and car road races. Not all day, but two to four hours at a clip. I used to be 6'2", but in the past few years, gravity is the winner, so I probably barely hit 6' now.

If I were younger, I'd just do a whole bunch of neck and shoulder exercises and go from there.

Hey Charlie! We aren't that bad, we just know what will get you through it with the best outcome! I always tell my patients that "it isn't that I don't CARE that you are in pain, I just don't MIND that you are in pain!"

I have 5 patients on my list that are Total Knee Replacements today, they all pretty much hate me, but because I worked them so hard, most are going to be home for Thanksgiving Dinner a day early! So they will like me when they are gone!

Have a good day, gotta go see them, now that they are picking up the breakfast trays! Happy Thanksgiving!

Lloyd
--

“For every problem there is a solution which is simple, clean and wrong.” Henry Louis Mencken

http://lloydshell.blogspot.com/
http://lloydshell.zenfolio.com/

 

[Charlie Self]

Top shot is a center crop at full length, I'm not sure what percent, but it is far away and at least half the frame is cropped off, maybe 2/3.



The bottom shot is cropped, but just to square the shot. Again, using a 70-200mm handheld. The top shot was at the full 200mm, while, IIRC, the bottom was maybe 115mm.

Both of these were shot at more optimum shutter speeds, at least 1/250.

Oh, yeah. That brilliant color on the Asian lily is natural, or exceptionally close to it.



--
Charlie Self



http://www.charlieselfonline.com

 

[xmeda]

Sigma EX lenses are well build and tight with some dust and moisture seals.. light rain, snow or dust has no chance to do anything to lens. Only weak point might be mount.. but this can be solved out by tape around it.

Of course they are not weatherproof like DA* lenses are in heavy rain, but don't worry about that too much, especially on those lenses, which do not extend.. like sig50-150, sig70-200, sig100-300 etc..

--

 

[Jan Rinze]

Sigma EX lenses are well build and tight with some dust and moisture seals.. light rain, snow or dust has no chance to do anything to lens. Only weak point might be mount.. but this can be solved out by tape around it.

can't find much about sealing on the Sigma site. can you point me to where i could find info on that?

Of course they are not weatherproof like DA* lenses are in heavy rain, but don't worry about that too much, especially on those lenses, which do not extend.. like sig50-150, sig70-200, sig100-300 etc..

Yes. the lens does not have extending parts at all.. the only places where dust or moisture could enter are at the edges of the rotating parts and at the mount. If Sigma would have had the idea of weather sealing this lens it would surely be quite easy.

also Pentax could have done the rubber seal on the mount of the body in stead of the lenses. That way it could be more consistent..

--
Jan Rinze
http://picasaweb.google.com/janrinze

 

[jotor]

I was using one when I had just turned 70 and was in fairly rotten shape, but managed to crank out a couple of baseball games in dim light with it. As the game ended, I did wish I'd brought a monopod, but one of the things that comes with old age is a rotten memory, so...

I've been dithering back and forth between the 50-150mm and 70-200mm for too long. After reading your post, I've decided that, if you can use the bigger one then so can I. I've got three years and 100 lbs. on you so I'll probably be able to hold it with one hand. :^D

Charlie, I always enjoy your posts. We seem to have a lot in common, but I forget what they are right now.

Joe

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jotor/sets/72157603857531887/show/