Derby, I generally agree with your feelings about Sigma and CRK! However, I
found a Sigma 18-35 AF some years ago in the clearance shop at Photo
Continental here in Brisbane for 2/3 the original price, and decided to give
it a go. I find it reasonably sharp, but not brilliant, and fairly woeful
wrt flare. However, the range has let me take shots not otherwise possible,
some of which have been seen on the PUG IIRC.
The only other drawback is that it occasionally causes the *ist-D not to
confirm AF - don't quite know why!
John Coyle
Brisbane, Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Derby Chang" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Pentax Discuss" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 10:04 PM
Subject: Sigma and the Volkswagen effect
I am going to eat my hat. In Australia, because of the distributor
arrangement, when one buys a Pentax camera and kit lens, more likely than
not, it will be a SIgma rather than Pentax. In my naïve yoof, I bought my
first two cameras with Sigma lenses (a DL 75-300mm/4 and a DL-II 35-80/4)
which left me less than impressed, and I never use them.
But my recent experiences with Sigma lenses are making me reconsider. The
28-70/2.8 EX ASP DF is an amazingly good buy and a fraction of the cost of
the other f2.8 zooms.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~derbyc/index4/05_10_spring/index.htm
The 20/1.8 EX ASP DG is sexy. Close focusing, the shallow DOF gives it
some unique creative possibilities. I love fast lenses and ambient light.
http://members.iinet.net.au/~derbyc/index6/06_01_corban/15.htm
My newly acquired 12-24/4.5 DG is in a class of its own. It's actually
full frame (as are the other two, and I must try it on a film camera
soon). Distortion is pretty minimal, and it only vignettes when you use it
on a uniform subject, but otherwise unnoticeable. The strange slip-on
mount for the cap (and Petteri Sulonen missed the point that it can also
be used to mount 82mm filters, although they can clip the corners at the
wide end) is a quirky design feature that I like a lot. Haven't had any
PDML-worthy pics with it yet, but I'm sure they will come soon.
All three lenses feel great in manual focus - not buttery, but very
precise. And I don't want to over-emphasize it, but their prices are hard
to resist.
Nice toys to play with while Nguyen ramps up production for the new Pentax
lens range.
D
--
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://members.iinet.net.au/~derbyc
