"Rob Brigham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >I am guessing that most people that buy a zoom in this range will value >light weight, and if this is the case you need look no further than the >Sigma. If you are prepared to carry something heavy then a second hand >Pentax 80-200 would be best.
Another thing to consider (depending on your shooting style) is minimum focusing distance. The Pentax focuses almost a foot and a half closer than the Sigma or Tokina. This was a major factor in my decision to go for a second hand FA*80-200/2.8 instead of a new Sigma or Tokina. This past Sunday I want for a nice long hike in the rain and used the 80-200 for all my shooting. Because it was too gloomy for a lot of landscapes, I shot a lot of close up stuff on the trails, much of it at or close to minimum focusing distance for the lens. -- Mark Roberts www.robertstech.com Photography and writing

