Looking to buy cheap tele zoom.
Either the Pentax SMCP-DA 50-200mm f/4-5.6 ED for about $200
or the Tamron 70-300mm 1:2 F/4-5.6 DI LD Macro for about $140.

Well sigma makes a 55-200 for about $140 as well.

Pentax is short and more expensive
The tarmon exhibits PF above 200mm and has a rotating front element.
Sigma makes a 70-300 but its not as sharp as the tarmon and more expensive.

Not looking for this to be the end all of tele glass by any means, but I can't afford the f/2.8 70-200 I really want and this will tide me over for awhile.

Any opinions?

well, the die hard pentax dudes are pretty meh about the 55-200mm so...MEH
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensrevi...uct=147&cat=43

i'll recommend this guy:
http://www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm...4327029&sr=1-6

Yah, the Tamron vs the sigma ends up mainly being the tarmon is sharper, especially in the corners, but suffers more PF than the sigma 70-300. At least that was the idea I got on DP review about it. Otherwise they are both el cheapo zooms.

Do you have that sigma?

it's going to go back to the "you get what you pay for" but we both obviously understand that. i've used that sigma and was very pleased with it. i had the tamron 70-300mm for my d50 a few years back and totally hated it, it was loud, slow and annoying to use.

that sigma in terms of CHEAP tele's is the best IMHO.

I know. Unfortunately there is a huge gap in term of quality. You have the uber cheap telezooms and then there isn't much in the market unless you want to spend $700+ on a lens. All the moderately priced tele lenses seem to be the 18-200/300 variety. I dont want an all in one (especially since the quality wont be any better I suspect)

*shrug* If there was a $300-500 ish f4 70-300 range lens I'd save a bit more and be all over it.

dang dude, you are right...there's not much in the mid-range is there?

besides this guy: http://www.adorama.com/TM28300XDPXA.html

Originally Posted by b84wm

dang dude, you are right...there's not much in the mid-range is there?

besides this guy: http://www.adorama.com/TM28300XDPXA.html

Yah, still an uber zoom. But I knew this getting into pentax.

I had that sigma for a week or so. I loved it, but it wasn't wide enough for me. So i got a 28-200mm Tamron on ebay. I LOVE the tamron.

shot with the sigma:




shot with the tamron:




both were cheap. the sigma was $170 or so, the tamron was $100 or so (used, but in GREAT condition).

there ya go geeky! thanks CS!

this is the new DA 18-250mm that's supposed to be AWESOME:
http://www.amazon.com/Pentax-18-250m...4341841&sr=8-1

f/6.3= no go for me. I want no more than 5.6 on the long end. Its a spectacular range, but sooooo many compromises.

yeah, true that. f6.3 at 250mm

:shudder:

I've got a really cheap 80-200mm you could have for shipping. i'll warn you. it's a crappy lens. MF only.

Ended up getting a sigma 70-300 APO version with a free zx50 body attached for $76.

haha nice!!

awesome.