On 17/12/03, [EMAIL PROTECTED] disgorged: >I am thinking of buying Sigma Zoom Telephoto 70-200mm >f/2.8 EX APO IF. > >I have read this lens is better than Tokina & Tamron. >I would like to hear from the users of this lens. > > >Buying Pentax is ruled out because of the hefty price.
I used to have this lens in PKAF and now in EOS. I find it a fairly well- built lens with a very useful max aperture of f/2.8. The size and weight are not objectionable (at this focal range and aperture, these lenses are not flyweights!) and hand-holding is comfortable. The tripod collar is completely removable, but I find it better to keep it on, even when hand-holding. A tightening nut on the collar allows lens rotation while on a tripod. Optically it is not bad, read the tests for the lens elsewhere online. I have found it a good performer even wide open. Let's face it - why buy a fast zoom if you're never going to use it wide open? It's a good sport lens in low light. Stops down to f/32. Front element does not rotate, and lens stays the same shape and length at any focus/focal length. The zoom ring grip is okay. Personally I prefer the PK or Canon or Tokina rubber grips, but it's fine on the Sigma. Nice wide area to turn, even with gloves on. The focus ring is even bigger and the manual focus overrides the AF, so it's easy to let AF get you in the ballpark, then tweak in manual if desired. Very good system for this. The hood is a so-called 'perfect hood', shaped like a petal, is a bayonet fit and you'll look a real pro with that lot drooping off the end of your MZ-50 ;-) The hood is reversible so you can carry it on the lens the wrong way around if you like. Comes with a nice quality fabric lens case. All in all, for the money it's a good piece of glass and used with the matched 1.4X and 2X converters gives much flexibility with telephoto coverage in your kit. On a less-than-full-frame DSLR, gives a very useful 'effective' 300mm plus at f/2.8 and that's a real bonus. On a 35mm film camera, is a good lens to have for anything from portraiture to landscape to wildlife and beyond. Of course I would rather have a 70-200 2.8 USM IS, or the Pentax if I still used Pentax, but until I devote more than a grand to that cause, the Sigma is a pretty good buy. Best, Cheers, Cotty ___/\__ || (O) | People, Places, Pastiche ||=====| www.macads.co.uk/snaps _____________________________ Free UK Mac Ads www.macads.co.uk
