Interesting note on the different versions of the Sigma lens. I assume I
have an older version - bought it in 2002 and it has very poor close
focus features. So hopefully it is one of the good ones!
It does have one quirk - in very cold temperatures the aperture opens up
and won't close. I posted on this many, many moons ago - I was shooting
a lighthouse in single digit (Fahrenheit) temps and only the first 10
frames or so out of the 3 rolls I shot came out. All of the other slides
were totally clear. Trying to diagnose the problem, I put the Sigma
lens in my deep freeze at home and found that the cold temps made the
aperture open up and not close. Obviously, if the lens can't stop down
everything is over exposed.
I spent about an hour standing on an ice dune in a stiff breeze taking
useless photos - when I got back to my car I dropped my keys and
discovered that my fingers were too stiff to pick them up! I finally
managed to get in the car and went to have coffee with some other nutter
who was also out photographing the scene.
It's a nice lens other than that quirk - I should try to use it but
can't remember the last time I did.
Here's one of the first 10 photos from that morning:
http://www.markcassino.com/newsite/portfolios/lighthouses/pages/030301.htm
- MCC
On 8/23/2011 1:36 PM, Joseph Tainter wrote:
I haven't posted here in a while, but this questions looked like a
good opportunity.
As someone posted, Pentax's FA* 80-200 F2.8 is just excellent. It is
also expensive and hard to find.
Some versions of the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 are also quite good.
Unfortunately Sigma messed around with the optical formula, and some
recent versions weren't as good. At one point they added "macro"
capability, which caused images at 200 mm to be softer. If you can
find an older version of it, that is a very good lens, though not as
good as the Pentax.
I don't have the DA* 60-250 F4, but as also posted here, it is reputed
to be excellent optically. I just don't trust SDM.
Joe
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