Lens sigma or Tamron?

[uberdude]

Hi Chaps, been thinking about this for a while, however Jessops have a great deal on the Tamron 70 - 300mm lens now, offer ends Monday, its £90, but the sigma equivalent is available at £99 from Amazon. I want the extra zoom over my 200mm basically!

So if I was to splash the cash, which would be your choice?

This is for my Pentax K-r.

 

[rjbell]

I'm not sure the old non vc tamron 70-300 is very good. I would do a bit more research.

 

[Cagey75]

I had both for Sony at one stage. They perform about the same, neither great, but if it's just reach you want, both will do the job fair enough. Both suffer from horrible CA/purple fringing at 300mm though - so you'll want to keep between 200 - 280 or thereabouts. The sigma does have a "macro" function [if it's same one I had] between 200-300mm, which can be handy for flying bug shots and general close up, if you have no other means of macro.

 

[spacester]

I just gave away the Tamron 70-300 you speak of. It's so bad, I couldn't face selling it.

 

[uberdude]

may just save the cash then!

 

[BacktotheFuji]

I wouldn't bother with the old Tamron. Get one second hand if you have to, it will be a fair bit cheaper.

 

[Tirpitz]

I just gave away the Tamron 70-300 you speak of. It's so bad, I couldn't face selling it.

i also gave away the APO version of the Sigma

yes they are that bad

 

[Mike.P]

Keep saving and buy a used Pentax DA 55-300mm, you should be able to find one around the £200 mark.

MUCH better lens and still cheap for what you get.

 

[uberdude]

Thanks for the feedback people, much appreciated!

 

[uberdude]

However, just in your experiences too, how does a kenko teleplus 2 x converter stack up against the above lenses?

 

[Mike.P]

However, just in your experiences too, how does a kenko teleplus 2 x converter stack up against the above lenses?

It doesn't, especially if you are thinking about using one on the Pentax 50-200mm kit lens (presuming that is the 200mm in the opening post). The IQ will be average at best.

 

[joker2006]

Just had a look on there. I'm 99% sure that's the lens I had with my d60 in a kit from jessops. It's pants missed focused IQ wasn't good tbh. I would save and get something better if you can.