Sigma 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Large Aperture Medium Telephoto Prime Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I've always been hesitant to try sigma lenses because I hear a lot of problems that people have with the focusing on them. I passed up on the widely regarded 50mm f1.4 and 30mm f1.4 even though they got stellar reviews for the most part. When Sigma came out with the 85mm f1.4 for less than half the price of Canon's 85mm f1.2 L II, I had to see if it would save me a bundle in my search for a great 85mm.
I took some time to compare this one to the 85mm f1.8 and the 85mm f1.2 L II by renting all three before making any decisions, and I have to say that this lens really impresses!
The Sigma lens is much lighter than the Canon f1.2 and therefore, much easier to handle. The first thing that comes to mind when putting the canon f1.2 on my camera is how awkward everything feels - it's weight and "top-heaviness" really throw the balance off (I'm using a 7D) and makes the whole set-up feel wrong. With the sigma, I don't get this feel.... it feels right. It feels like almost a rubbery-plastic, and while the canon f1.2 feels more solid, the Sigma feels more modernized to me. The Canon f1.8 is no slouch, but feels lacking compared to the other two in build quality. The Sigma comes with a unique 2-part lens hood to help avoid hood vignetting on full-frame cameras. There is a middle section that you leave off if you are using a full-frame camera, but then add back on if you have a crop camera.
As for image quality, I'm not going to go too much into detail here because other reviews across the web have conducted much more scientific tests than me and provide images to compare. I will just summarize my experiences though: in my opinion, the Canon f1.2 has the sharpest photos, especially in the center of the image. The Sigma bests the other 2 in corner sharpness though. The f1.8 has the fastest autofocus, with the f1.2 far behind and Sigma trailing only slightly behind. For bokeh quality, I actually prefer the Sigma to the f1.2. Color and contrast is a tie between the Sigma and f1.2... the Sigma offers slightly warmer photos. The Sigma handles flares better than the f1.8, but not as well as the f1.2. All three seemed to handle chromatic abrasion well in my tests. Just as an overall picture, I really found that I enjoyed the f1.2 pictures the best, but did I enjoy them $1000 more? Probably not. The Sigma really wasn't far behind the f1.2 in image quality.
If I were a professional photographer, I would probably go with the canon f1.2 over the Sigma just because that slight edge in image quality and extra light from the f1.2 would probably pay for itself over time. As a hobbyist though, I can't see myself paying over twice as much for the only slightly better lens. The Sigma really provides an excellent option for a midpoint between the Canon f1.8 and f1.2. In addition, it opens up a new way for indoor sports photographers to capture fast action. Because of its slower autofocus, I constantly found that the f1.2 had less keepers when I did indoor fast action photography. The Sigma and f1.8 handled these situations fine. I shoot a lot of indoor dog shows and competitions, so the Sigma is now going to be my go-to lens for those. The f1.8 would have been a great option and still is probably one of the best quality/value ratios out there in my opinion, but the better image quality of the Sigma is apparent. Plus, the extra light from the wider aperture really does help in many situations. I also like the bokeh quality much better than the f1.8.

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Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)It's a great time to be buying a 10 megapixel SLR, as all the top manufacturer's have new, 5-star models. So let's examine: What do we want most? Great photos, a well made camera, and features that will let us achieve our photographic goals. The K10D delivers.
All the top contenders will deliver excellent results that can be made into poster size prints with great color and detail. Although we can point so some shortcomings (like the poor performance of the Sony Alpha 100 at ISO 1600), image quality is something that is still in the eye of the beholder.
However, features are features, and the K10D has loads. The first thing you'll notice is the solid feel in your hands. It feels robust, and the shutter has been tested to 100,000 shots (same as Canon's bigger brother 30D). But to this, we add something else not found in any other camera in the class: weather-proofing. The body contains 72 seals to help keep dust, dirt and moisture on the outside (the optional grip has 38 seals).
When you put on the optional grip, it really does feel like a part of the camera, not a wiggly thing that might come off.
To get those great photos, the K10D has all the standard feature set, plus a few new ones (like "sensitivity" mode), which will come in hand for some people, but of more partical use to many will be the ability to define what "Auto ISO" range the camera can use. Want the camera to be able to use 1600? Done. Pentax's metering systems have always been well thought of, but you'll get center-weighted and spot metering as options, too. Their "digital preview" can be very handy in setting up the proper white balance.
The viewfinder is the largest in it's class (although the D80 is the smallest fraction behind). When viewing through it, you'll see the 11-point autofocus. What you don't see is that the nine central segments are "cross basis" points, meaning they focus on both vertical and horizontal lines. The other competitors simply have one, the center segment, that is cross-basis. This may not help it focus faster, but it should improve accuracy. Additionally, the focusing mode is easy to change. A switch up front allows you to select manual, single or continuous autofocusing, while a dial on back allows you to change from spot focus (only the center zone), wide (allows the camera to select) or free-floating (you select any of the eleven zones, and can change it quickly with the key-pad on the back of the camera).
The choice of the SD/SDHC cards is great. This small cards avoid the dreaded "bent pin" issue of the compact flash cards, and the SD are compatible with a hugh number of compact cameras as well. Another nice touch is the optional remote control. It can trigger the camera from the front AND from BEHIND the camera, and can store inside the optional grip. I also love the fact they included the .dng standard for RAW images, as this is an open standard developed by Adobe.
And there is one feature that Pentax now leads: Shake Reduction (or VR, or IS, or SteadyShot). First, like the Sony, the SR is built into the camera. So for a modest cost up front, ALL your lenses get some stabalization...even older manual focus lenses! And as a side benefit, you get a slight benefit in keeping the sensor clean. But what most people don't understand about Pentax SR system is that it is a THREE AXIS anti-shake system, something that no other maker offers. In-lens, or the Sony rail system, compensate for you shaking left/right & up/done. By combine these two, it compensates for diagonally, too. What they do not compentate is for "rotational" shake. Imagine a line running through the camera lens to the subject, rotating the camera around this axis. The Pentax SR system uses magnets and bearings to allow the sensor to free float compared to the body. Tremendous technology.
Pentax has been a bit light on their lens selection, but keep in mind that this uses every Pentax 35mm lens ever made, and 3 exciting new lenses that they recently announced (16-50 f2.8; 50-135 f2.8; and 60-250 f4.0, all weather sealed with ultrasonic motors) make them very competitive. For a first lens, the 18-55 is hard to beat. It's well made, featuring a metal lens mount, and the internal focusing allows for easier use of filters and a more efficient, included, lens hood.
Buy the Canon XTi, Nikon D80 or Sony Alpha 100, and you'll get a terrific camera. But for my money (yes, I did buy one), the Pentax K10D is the best.

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Pentax K10D 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens

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Pentax *istD 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) Review

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(More customer reviews)The istD is Pentax's first serious entry into the digital market. Pentax are the people who came up with the K-1000, the no-frills manual camera which was so popular among students and artists. When one thinks of a name brand camera, Nikon and Canon are probably the first names to come to mind. Pentax is the underdog in 35mm, now a serious competitor in the digital world.
The CCD (digital film) is identical to that used in the Nikon D100. The istD accepts all manual focus and automatic focus Pentax lenses. Focal lengths are a bit different - so, if you have a 50mm "normal" Pentax lens, now you will have a 75mm lens when connected to this body.
I plugged in a CF card from my E-10 and all the photos I took showed up in the istD. No drivers or special software required for the USB cable - just plug the camera into a Windows OS and a harddrive appears with your photos on it.
If you are familiar with Pentax's Hyper-Program mode, you have it here again. Pentax is wonderful for tweak-ability. In "green" mode, you can set the program line to favor DOF or shutter speed. Hyper-Program mode allows you to tweak either the shutter or aperture. And, a totally manual mode is available.
There are three user-customizable banks of special tweaks, such as taking a picture before the flash full charges (option) or changing the action of a few of the buttons. In addition to a full bank of pre-set WB settings, there are three custom white balance settings which may be set using a greycard or piece of white paper. And, the viewfinder is loaded with indicators and a bar display light meter.
The best feature which made me say "wow" was the autofocus. Not only will the camera autofocus, but it flashes a red dot to show you what it is focusing on. You can manually select the focus point, or just override everything and put the focus dead center. If you don't like the red dot overlay, even that can be tweaked off.
It's fast. I took a few frames in rapid succession and was not left wanting for something faster. Of the most frustrating features of the Olympus E-10 was trying to fire off another frame - so many missed photos. Not the Pentax. When you need that little extra burst of speed, it's pretty quick.
The camera is also surprisingly light and small. The more common settings are off the program dial, such as ISO, image compression, and pixel depth. Other settings, such as sharpness, contrast, and color saturation are quickly accessed though the menu. The camera turns on fast and ready to fire. Matrix metering, center weighted metering, and spot metering all available. PC socket for external flash plus a hot shoe. Manual, automatic, and predictive continuous autofocus.
And, of course, the images are clear and crisp. It accepts up to a 1gig CF card or microdrive. A single connector provides USB and video out. If you want the LCD display on while the video output is used, well - that's a tweakable setting as well.

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Pentax's *ist D is the world's smallest and lightest digital SLR (as of April 2003), measuring just 5.0 by 3.7 by 2.3 inches and weighing 18 ounces. It features a clarity of 6.1 effective megapixels, a 16 segment metering system, an-11 point AF sensor, and a continuous shooting rate of 2.7 frames per second. It's also compatible with K, KA, KAF, and KAF2 mount lenses and 645/67 lenses with an adapter.
Optics and Resolution Employing a high-performance CCD with dimensions of 23.5mm by 15.7mm and embracing Pentax's unique image processing technology, the *ist D offers 6.1-megapixel resolution for the recording of precise, superior-quality images.
Storage and Transfer The *ist D is compatible with CompactFlash Type I/II memory cards, and is also compatible with MicroDrives.
More Features An optical pentaprism viewfinder was developed especially for the *ist D. This makes viewing easy with an ample 95% field of view and 0.95x magnification. There is also a superimposed display function that assists composition by illuminating the AF points in red.
Other features include:
New 16-segment metering system achieves more accurate exposure
New 11-point AF sensor (SAFOX VIII) for enhanced focusing
Fast 1/4,000 second shutter speed and high-speed flash sync at 1/150 seconds
Custom function allows functionality to be tuned to satisfy user preferences
Noise reduction function activates for long exposures
1.8-inch, 118,000-pixel LCD monitor
Choice of JPEG, TIFF, and RAW recording formats
Convenient playback functions, such as nine-image and 12x magnification display

Power and Size The camera is powered by 4 AA batteries; rechargeable NiMH batteries are recommended. It measures 5.0 by 3.7 by 2.3 inches and weighs 18 ounces.
The *ist D and the *ist DS Compared

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Pentax *ist DS 6.1MP Digital Camera with Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL Digital SLR Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction
As an advanced hobby photographer, I often compete in galleries in my area. I normally shoot with 35mm and medium format, and I scan the negatives and edit them in Photoshop CS. I hesitantly took the plunge into the world of digital SLRs several months ago, and the *ist ds exceeded my expectations. Like any camera, you will need to learn how to get good photographs out of it; it won't take them on its own. I print everything on the i9900 Canon large format printer. The following review should help decide if this camera is for you:
Size and Weight
The most noticeable advantage of the Pentax is its size and weight. I don't have small hands, but the competition makes them too bulky and heavy (some may disagree), sometimes with buttons out of reach. You can program the buttons on digital SLRs to do different things, but only the ds has the buttons within reach to be useful when shooting. For instance, the "ok" button can be pressed to temporarily switch to manual focus. Many people with other digital SLRs buy a separate smaller digital camera to use normally, which in my opinion, defeats the purpose of buying the SLR, since you'll end up almost never using it. But the Pentax is small and light enough to carry around normally, such as to a party or on vacation, especially now that they created the super slim 40mm lens that weighs next to nothing.
Outdoor Picture Quality and RAW format
For artistic shots, I always use the RAW format, which Adobe recently updated for the RAW plugin. Blowing up these shots to 13x19, I have found them to be quite sharp and clear. Keep in mind that I have read several books in Photoshop, and like in the darkroom, it takes skill to get quality prints out of any media.
I mostly shoot outdoors, and have been impressed at how balanced shots come out in harsh lighting. Even if the sky is partially blasted out, the highlight/shadow option in Photoshop brings them right back in, with virtually no loss in detail in the clouds. Realize that this is not the case with the 8-bit JPEG format, which doesn't blow up nearly as well. For quality prints, you'll need to use the RAW mode, which maintains the sharpness and color detail.
The biggest picture difference in other SLR's and the DS is that Pentax calibrated the camera to interpret with a more neutral color balance. Some may feel disappointed by this, but from an advanced editing perspective, this is a blessing. It allows me to have total control over the photo. If the camera has oversaturated an area from the beginning, and you need to do an adjustment, there may be a lack of detail in that area afterward. The Pentax appears much more natural looking, and with minimal adjustments from the Adobe RAW plugin, you can easily make the photos look exactly how you want. With my Canon i9900 printer, which tends to print vivid photos, the combination produces realistic, vivid photos, not oversaturated and cartooning images.
Even objects far away and in deep shadow areas have been quite clear and detailed, and overall, I have been extremely satisfied with the picture quality. When blowing up photos to 13x19, make sure to use "bicubic smoother" when increasing the resolution size. I have found that this completely eliminates any type of stairstepping that may occur. I had the opportunity to compare with a friend 8mp Canon SLR, and found no difference in sharpness of the image. I also found there was less noise in my camera (we both took them side by side of the same landscape).
Indoor Photography
I have only done this in personal situations combined with the 360 FGZ flash, which is a fantastic unit. The bounce flash works perfect automatically, with uniform and realistic lighting. Red eye has also not been a problem. The built in flash, like with most SLRs, is just a backup, and works O.K.
Unlike the *ist d, the *ist ds doesn't connect directly to the wireless flash units. If you have a wireless flash unit like the 360 FGZ, however, it will connect to other wireless flash units. I have not had the chance to test this out myself.
Portrait Photography
Flesh tones are realistic and pleasing, and hair maintains detail when enlarged. This of course, depends on the lens used, but most results have been surprising pleasing, especially compared with 35mm color and medium format color film. I still, however, prefer B+W film for portraits, but when I shoot in color, I have come to prefer the digital. Against harshly lit backgrounds, shots have come out surprising evenly lit and vibrant.
Night Photography
Long exposures, also during the day, come out quite sharp, especially after the new firmware update that corrects some issues with night shots. The camera is well programmed to handle night photography, and it usually is close to the correct exposure. The camera also has the ability to lock up the mirror 2 seconds before the exposure to minimize camera shake.
Focusing
The actual rotating speed is slower than my 35mm SLR, but this camera is more deliberate and actually gets to the correct focusing spot faster. Red dots inside blink to show where the lens is focused. The 16 segment metering is impressive, and I have found myself rarely using the manual focus option. Even when shooting birds in trees, the focusing system doesn't get distracted by the braches.
In action mode, the camera switches to a continuous focusing system, which has been very reliable for action shots, such as sports or when people are walking toward you. This feature only works in action mode, however.
Custom Settings and Ease of Use
You can program the buttons to do extra functions while in shooting mode. For instance, the OK button can be used to temporary switch off the autofocus or to use center metering. Make sure to go through the easy to read manual and the custom settings menu, since you will find some important features, such as changing the color to Adobe RGB instead of sRGB.
Nothing is "hidden" on the camera, and everything is easy to use and quick to locate. The well written manual is worth reading front to back, and gives useful information. The custom features require some knowledge of how you like your camera to operate, and others require light technical knowledge. Both beginners and advanced users will be satisfied with features and ease of use.The SD Chip and Camera Performance
Make sure to buy a 60x chip, like the ATP which I have, or the SanDisk Ultra II. I have tested the cheaper media, and they slow down the camera so that when the buffer runs out, instead taking 1.5 frames (I'm guessing) per second, its taking about 1 every 3 seconds. The 60x chips really aren't that much more. The SD chips aren't made quite as large and are more expensive than CP, but it contributes to making the camera smaller.
The buffer is comparable to the competition, with almost 3 frames per second until it reaches about 8 or 9 and then slows down about half way. In RAW mode, it will start slowing down at about 5 or 6 frames. I have never had a problem where it didn't take the picture when I wanted it to.
The Optional Included Lens
For another $100, it is a useful lens, especially for personal shots in small rooms, where you'll need a wide angle zoom lens (and when you don't want to risk damaging a really expensive lens). Its fairly light and compact.
There is also a slim 40mm lens coming out soon, make sure to check it out on amazon. Maybe you'll want to get this one instead, since other people will feel more at ease taking a picture for you.
Batteries
The camera used four AAs or two CR-V3. I prefer this over a propriety battery, since when the battery dies, you can't just pop by Wal-Mart and buy more. Also, with newer NiMH rechargeable AA's, you can buy batteries just as good, and use the same batteries as in your hotshoe flash. With lithium AAs and CR-V3s, you can take over 400 pictures before the batteries die out, making it nearly impossible to have dead batteries on vacation. And if you did, you can just pop by anywhere and get more. I have not yet had a situation where my 2500mah rechargeables died on me. I have heard that CR-V3 batteries fit rather tight into the compartment, but have not had this problem myself.
Summary
Overall, I've found the *ist ds quite impressive. Even if you don't already have a collection of Pentax lenses, you'll find this camera to be a good alternative to the competition, with excellent build quality, easy of use, light weight, and compactness. A large line of Pentax lenses will also impress you, but that is another discussion. Although this hasn't replaced my other cameras, it has replaced my use of 35mm color film, since it's far sharper, with better color and detail.
Like any other camera, it will take some time to learn how to get the best pictures possible out of it. However, even beginners will find that quality results are easily possible. Good luck camera hunting!


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2/8/200615-19-32...

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Pentax MZ-S Auto Focus SLR Body Review

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(More customer reviews)After trying out a Canon EOS1 and a Nikon F100, I bought a Pentax MZ-S because it feels more like a camera rather than a computer. Yes, this is an all-electronic camera but the controls are similar to the analog/mechanical cameras -- to change the shutter speed you rotate the shutter speed dial, to change the aperture you turn the aperture ring. This is also the smallest and the lightest professional SLR I have seen. The all-metal body is comfortable to hold and there is a grip protrusion even on the left side. This is also one of the few pro SLRs with a built-in flash which comes in handy when you want to travel light and need a fill-flash. The depth-of-field preview lever is conveniently located as a ring around the shutter button. There is no manual mirror lockup option but you can use the 2 second timer which locks the mirror then opens the shutter 2 seconds later. The exposure data imprint is a nice option which prints the speed and f stop on the film outside the frame. The slanted top panel isn't exactly a life-changing innovation but it is a nice touch.
The only drawbacks might be the slow flash synch (1/160), slow frame advance (2.5 per sec) and the difficult to reach auto focus control switches. However, none of these are problems for me because I don't shoot action or sports. Oh, another con is that it is a little overpriced.
I have been using this for over a year now and have no complaints yet. It is a great camera to travel with because of its small size and weight.

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Heralded as the new flagship model of its popular MZ-series lineup, the MZ-S features a wide range of the innovative features required for advanced photography, including a user-friendly "Hyper Operation" system, a new six-point AF system, a top shutter speed of 1/6000 second, an on-the-film data recording function, and a functional body design. When combined with the high-quality SMC Pentax lenses, the MZ-S produces top results, with beautiful, true-to-life images of almost any type of photographic situation.

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Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG IF Aspherical Super Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
Center Sharpness
Flare Resistance
Chromatic Aberration (CA) Control
Aperture Ring
Quality
Cons:
Some distortion from 17-20mm, (noticeable on architecture)
Slightly soft corners (still very usable)
Size (it is huge)
Who should buy this lens? Anyone looking for a great deal in a wide angle lens. Just be aware there are two versions, this current version and an older version. The one I bought through Cameta is the new version. Be careful buying used copies because the older version is no good. The picture shows the older lens, the new lens does not have the AF-MF switch, and it adds an aperture ring. It also no longer has the clear window for the focus numbers, they are just printed on the barrel.
The build quality is excellent considering the plastic construction. The first thing you see when you open the box is a high quality nylon web bag with a high quality zipper on it (and a belt loop). You open the bag and there is high density foam backing to protect the mount side of the lens. However, I noticed how large this thing is. It is a monster, easily 4 times the volume of a 21mm Ltd pancake. Many of you will like the built in aperture ring.
I was actually surprised at how well the sigma performed. It had excellent center sharpness, but slightly soft at the extreme corners (still very usable though). It provides excellent chromatic aberration (CA) control and flare resistance. At the wide end of 17mm it was also surprisingly good, but had a little distortion, but significantly less than the Pentax kit lens (version 1). By 21mm the distortion was mostly gone. The bokeh can be a little hectic, sometimes providing a double or ghosted image of the out of focus object.
The Sigma is a great value, and if you are on a tight budget it would make an excellent lens. I would have liked to compare it to the kit lens at 21mm, which I no longer have to see if it is worth the upgrade. My guess is that it is better than the kit lens in the focal lengths it covers, but I can't say that with much certainty. The lens has a nice sharp image, and excellent control of CA. Great value.
UPDATE: The difference between version 1 and version 2 for the Pentax mount is actually the model designation, EX is the first version and EX DG is the second version. You want to get the EX DG lens. It comes in a black case and also says EX DG on the lens, the older version says EX only and comes in a green case.

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A super wide-angle zoom lens with a 104 degrees angle of view, and large aperture. This lens is ideal for Digital SLR Cameras. Includes 4 Year Service Plan (1 year international warranty plus 3 years extended warranty). Item Specifications: Product Description: Sigma EX wide-angle zoom lens - 17 mm - 35 mm Lens System: Wide-angle zoom lens Mounting Type: Pentax K Lens Aperture: F/2.8-4.0 Focal Length: 17 mm - 35 mm Min Focus Range: 10.6 in Focus Adjustment: Automatic, manual Lens Construction: 13 group(s) / 16 element(s) Special Functions: Wide angle, zoom Filter Size: 77 mm Length: 3 in Weight: 19.8 oz

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Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)This is what it is, which is why I gave it 4 stars. It's not a professional lens, but it works perfect for everyday amateur use. Nice focal range 28-80 (equivalent 42-120). Reasonable for anything indoors or fairly close, works as a portrait lens and does well with landscapes and architecture. Great general usage lens and compact as well. The price is really remarkable. I have 8 lenses and this one gets the most use. I have it mounted to a Pentax K20D

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The Tamron AF28-80mm f3.5-f5.6 is a standard zoom lens with a wide to medium telephoto range of 28-80mm, providing great range for nature and landscape photography or snapshots and home photography. By using aspherical elements in the front optical group, Tamron reduced the total number of elements required. They also used strong, engineered plastic for the barrel, making the total lens body only 8.4 ounces. These features make this lens extremely versatile and lightweight. This model is dedicated to Pentax AF SLR cameras.

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Pentax Optio S5i 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a remarkable camera. I've tried bulky full-functioned cameras and miniature no-frills cameras. But the Optio S5i combines the best of both worlds. The designers have managed to squeeze a wide array of desirable features (such as optical zoom, multiple focus modes, video, and many useful program modes) into a tiny, palm-size package. It is in fact the smallest full-functioned camera I found in an exhaustive search.
I went into many electronics stores and hefted all the popular ultracompact cameras, including the Sony Cybershot DSC-T1. But none could match the Optio S5i for sheer compactness and lightness. (Although only the earlier S4i was in stores at the time, I knew its weight and dimensions were the same as the S5i's).
Inevitably, there have been compromises: Shooting at full resolution, you have to wait a few seconds between shots while the S5i records data. The life of a battery charge is below average (you'll need to keep an extra battery handy). Noise (speckles and dots) creeps into images taken at the most sensitive ISO settings (200 and 400), a common problem among cameras that capture light with ultra-tiny CCDs.
But with patience and practice, I've managed to take some very high-quality photos (technically, I mean--I don't claim to be Ansel Adams). Right now I'm looking at a full-bleed 8 1/2 x 11-inch color print of a whale-watching boat, taken on a sunny day with the zoom at 3X. The focus is razor-sharp, the color is well saturated, and the resolution is extremely high--I can make out individual leaves on trees half a mile away. (I can also vouch for the Canon i560 photo printer, which is no longer made but still available for around $70.)
What I like best about the S5i is the convenience. I love to take photos, but always hated carrying a piece of artillery around my neck--I could never participate fully in the events I was photographing. The S5i fits neatly into a shirt pocket. I carry mine around in a little leather pouch attached to my belt. It's no more trouble than wearing a very thin cell-phone pouch. When I need it, I just slide it out of the pouch, power it on, and am ready to shoot in three or four seconds. (By the way, even though I have big hands, I've had no difficulty operating the tiny controls.) The Optio S5i provides something I've never before experienced with a full-featured camera: freedom!


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MD) CL) PENTAX OPTIO S5I DIGITAL CAM

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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Auto Focus Lens for Pentax AF Cameras (*Auto Focus only if body supports HSM) - USA Warranty Review

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(More customer reviews)In a world of zooms, many people would find plopping down $500 for a 50mm prime -- from a third party manufacturer, no less -- to be a bit absurd.
However, if you are a "prime person" -- and you know who you are -- you'll love the performance of this lens: super sharp photos, incredibly creamy background bokeh, nice contrast and flare resistance, and operation in low-light without needing super-high ISO or a blast of flash.
Pros:
+ @1.4 it's quite usably sharp
+ @1.8 and beyond, it's very sharp
+ the bokeh (rendition of out-of-focus areas) is really amazingly smooth. More so behind the DOF than in front, though
+ colors, contrast, etc, all excellent
+ great build quality, solid feel, free case and lens hood
Cons:
- weight
- price
- big filters (77mm)
Canon already has three 50mm lenses: the 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2L, so you might wonder why Sigma felt the need to jump into this market. The Canon's are all pretty good, with the 50/1.8 being an great value at $80, the 50/1.4 being a reliable workhorse (though prone to a dreamy look wide open), and the 1.2L, being, well, $1500. This lens is priced between the 1.4 and 1.2L, and judging from photos I've seen, it probably performs in that range as well. So it is filling an niche in the wide gulf between the 1.4 and 1.2L.
On my camera, a 400D, a 50mm is like a short tele, and I use it mostly for relatively close up photos of people. I like that when if upgrade to FF, I'll be able to continue to use this lens (and I'll sell my Sigma 30/1.4) whose place it would take.
The lens has not been out very long, and, to my knowledge, no formal reviews have been published (8/2008), but the general "buzz" is that people are seeing AF problems at distances beyond a few meters subject distance.
I personally have not done exhaustive analysis, but I feel my copy performs quite well. Then again, I don't use this lens for far-off subjects very much, and almost never wide open in that case. So there may indeed be problems with this regime, but I don't feel it affects my photography much. That said, it could be that I'm just not as exacting as some, or my camera's AF is sloppy enough to hide lens variation to begin with. However, I do pixel peep a lot and I get about the same hit/miss rate as I do with other lenses I own.
So far, I'm a happy customer.


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This is a large aperture prime lens with a standard focal length of 50mm, ideal for all digital SLR cameras. This lens has superior peripheral brightness even at the maximum aperture and corrects a possible sagittal coma flare.This lens is perfectly suited for a wide range of subjects enabling outstanding, sharply defined images against a nicely blurred background. The fast, F1.4 aperture makes this lens desirable for use with Digital SLR cameras.This lens effectively becomes an 80mm medium telephoto lens on digital cameras with APS-C size image sensors. The optimum optical design and molded glass aspherical lens element provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations.The super multi-layer lens coating reduces fare and ghosting. Superior optical performance is also ensured throughout the focusing range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7") and has maximum magnification of 1:7.4.It creates a very attractive blur, even when a small aperture is used. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF* as well as full-time manual focus override. Please Note: * If the camera body does not support HSM, auto focus will not be available. (will work on manual)

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Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM ELD SLD Aspherical Super Wide Angle Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)When I bought the Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras 14 months ago, I didn't know what to expect. I never used a 3rd party lens or an ultra wide-angle, but I quickly learned to love the lens and the opportunities it created. Having said goodbye to the lens a week ago (still kicking), I decided to give this new slightly faster model for a spin.
Currently reviews or even sample photos are sparse, and even some details seem elusive, so lets start in the beginning:
* Like the predecessor, this model features HSM, so all Nikon DSLR users can benefit from this lens (D700, D3, and D3x users will only get a cropped view)
* Also like its predecessor, its a hefty well-built lens that's made in Japan
* It's comparable in size and weight to the original, but the 82mm front threads take some getting used to
* While the older model did not extend at 10mm and extended barely at the "long" end, the new one is flush from 16-13mm, and extends slightly at both the wide and the long end.
* the EX finish is a tad more refined, and it now features an AF/MF switch (full time override is available in AF). The focus ring is somewhat stiff, but has a nice movement to it. AF is blazing!
* Sigma seems to have revised the rear element a bit with an added piece of plastic to minimize reflections
* You also get an extra aperture blade for better bokeh and much better sunstars
* Just in case you are wondering, this lens works just like a Nikon lens with full functionality
I'll post photos, but in general its the equal or better to the earlier lens. At the wide end the extra 1/3 stop is barely worth mentioning, but at the wide end, you get 1 1/3 stop more light. The changes do go beyond that, as there now is ELD glass as well as SLD (in the previous version), and there is more aspheric glass. If this doesn't mean anything to you, just know this all helps it be a great lens!
This is a very challenging focal length to design for, especially if cost and size are a concern, so there is no perfect lens in this range. That being said, Sigma seemed to have used their experience with a previous 10-20mm to create a highly refined and very capable lens. If shooting at f/3.5 you will see some softness in the corners, but frankly it's not that limiting. Stopping down to f/5.6 helps a lot with gains in between, and it peeks at f/8-11 (maybe f/13 on a 6mp sensor).
Coming from an 18-## zoom? You'll get a whole new perspective, an opportunity to explore a new world of photography, and get to work with a lens of much better construction than a kit lens.
Coming from another ultra-wide angle? It may not be worth the switch (I sold my other one for a variety of reasons), but you almost get the speed of the Tokina AT-X116PRDXN AT-X PRO DX 11-16mm Ultra-wide Angle Lens for Nikon and you get a faster aperture and more useful zoom range than first gen ultra-wides such as the Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens or Tokina AT-XAF124DXN 12-24mm Wide-Angle Lens for Nikon.

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Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM. This super-wide angle lens has a maximum aperture of F3.5 throughout the entire zoom range. With its wide angle view from 102.4 degrees it can produce striking images with exaggerated perspective. The maximum aperture of F3.5 is ideal for indoor shooting and it enables photographers to emphasize the subject. Two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements and a SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element provide excellent correction of color aberration. Four aspherical lenses provide correction for distortion and allow compact and lightweight construction. The Super Multi-Layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. The incorporation of HSM (Hyper-Sonic Motor) ensures a quiet and high-speed auto focus as well as full-time manual focusing capability. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 9.4 inches (24cm) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:6.6. The lens design incorporates an inner focusing system which eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for using the Petal-type hood and polarizing filter. The Petal-type hood blocks extraneous light and reduces internal reflection.

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Pentax K2000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)The Pentax K-M/K2000 is my very first DSLR camera that I have bought. It is called the K2000 in the US and the K-M in different places of the world.
At first I was worried about limitations and was afraid that the K-M/K2000 would limit my learning ability because it is the most basic DSLR model from Pentax. I soon found out that just because the K2000 is Pentax's most basic DSLR does not mean that the camera itself is basic. The sensor is very advanced and it is the same one used in the more expensive K200D. I was surprised by the amount of things I had to learn from jumping to a DSLR from point-and-shoot, even with the entry-level DSLR from Pentax. The K2000's easy to navigate and use interface is helpful for a newbie like me. I was considering about the K20D and K200D but ultimately decided on the K-M/K2000 to save money as well as it being my first DSLR. Sure the K20D might pack more power but the K-M/K2000 still works like any other DSLR and still requires the same knowledge and technique to work like the K20D.
After playing with my new toy for quite awhile, I realized that there is much more to learn than just the camera itself and any DSLR limits itself based on how you limit your learning. Every DSLR works the same as stated, you'll have to learn F-stops, shutter speed, and ISO. The only true limitation is in the camera body from having less features, but those features have nothing to do with YOU and your knowledge on how to expose and compose the image you want. Every DSLR has the capability to produce a beautiful picture based on your knowledge and your technique. The picture quality also depends heavily on the lenses you use, so it's wise to spend less on a body and invest more on a lens if you're on a budget or if this is your first DSLR. After all, the Pentax K2000 will fit any K-mount lenses. It will fit the same lenses the K20D and K200D will.
The Pentax K-M/K2000 is the lightest Pentax DSLR camera and is non noticeably smaller than the Nikon D40. I was questioning it's size at first because I heard that this is a tiny camera and is smallest in the Pentax line-up. It is small but it's not "tiny", it will fit in my hands fine and I have long fingers. The camera is the lightest from Pentax and is one of the lightest DSLRs out there, but it is slightly heavier than the Rebel XS and the Nikon D60. The body of the K-M/K2000 feels very sturdy. The first time I held this camera I first noticed the quality of this DSLR, it is strong and well made.
The picture quality of the camera is good for a entry-level DSLR, the only problem is the noise levels at higher ISO settings, I never use 3200 because of the noise it produces at that ISO. I have my noise reduction set to weak and shoot only in RAW DNG. I try not to go over 800 ISO but sometimes I will have to go to 1600 ISO to keep the shutter speeds higher at night. 1600 ISO is still acceptable for this camera but I question if they should even add 3200 in the first place.
The kit lens that came with this camera is the Pentax SMC DA L 18-55mm AL. L after DA stands for light because it is light due to the plastic mount. The Pentax K-M/K2000 is the only Pentax DSLR at the moment to come with these "light" kit lenses. Yes it is plastic, but it is better than the original more expensive Pentax SMC DA 18-55mm AL that uses a metal mount. It's better because it uses the same optics as the SMC DA 18-55mm AL II, so it will produce the same image quality as the AL II but without the metal mount. The kit lens also does not come with the lens hood so you would need to buy it if you want some extra glare blocking.
The camera packs a lot of options and has a lot of built-in features so you can post process the image in it, but I never use this so I can't really review it. I use Adobe Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS3 to process my pictures. The auto white balance on this camera works flawlessly and there is no need to adjust them, I just shoot in auto white balance mode for all of my pictures. The auto focus of this camera works fast, faster than the K20D and K200D which is a improvement. The auto focusing in low-light is also improved on this Pentax. The K-M/K2000 has a faster continuous shooting than the K200D, it fires at 3.5 compared to 2.8 in the K200D. Although there is some trade-offs such as 5 auto focus points and non-weather sealed body. The DA WR (weather-sealed) lenses from Pentax are expensive so I would buy the regular DA lenses instead. There's no point of a weather-sealed body if your lenses aren't weather-sealed with it. There is no need for more auto focus points because I found out the best is set to single point center-weighted. Lastly the K2000 has a in-body built in anti-shake so there won't be any need to buy a lens with a image stabilization. Although lenses with image stabilization will work better than the body's anti-shake, it's still good for using older lenses that do not have image stabilization.

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TX1521 1 RED ON CLEAR FOR PT-8000 PT-PC

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Sigma Flash Macro Ring EM-140 DG for Pentax SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been searching the net for a reveiw of this flash. Since I couldn't find one I just went out and purchased one. Yes this flash works iTTL on a D70. I would have given it 5 stars if it had a more robust hot shoe like the SB 600 or DX 50 both Nikon flashes I own. (I have a Nikon SB 21 and it's hot shoe has worn out being the all plastic as well) . Other than this negative this product seems very well built and sturdy. The flash is permanently attached to the control head unlike the Nikon ring flash which was in 2 parts. This makes stowage a litte difficult in your camera bag however it does come supplied with it's own very nice ballastic nylon bag. Unlike the Nikon the cable is spring coiled and always stays neatly out of the way. It is a good sturdy and well reinforced cable. It's controls are fairly simple to figure out. took some pictures today of orchids and the exposures were (mostly) perfect. I put my camera on the full PHD mode (push here dummy) and the EM 140 DG on iTTL and shot away. Most of the shots were perfectly illuminated. I then switched to A mode that the instruction booklet tells you to use when shooting macro distances. In this mode I was able to set the bracket mode to vary the flash and it worked like a charm . In all cases the middle shot was the best . Battery life was good I took over 70 shots today and the recycle time was still very rapid. I am in no means an expert on either the D70 or photography in general. I also tried the manual mode with both flash and camera and was able to experiment to get stunning results. Sometimes you want the background to be blacked out and you need full manual. You can also vary the output independetly of both sides.In manual its easy to shoot and check results in the display. You have to love digital for this alone. I was using this flash on a 70-180mm Macro Nikon and had to get a 58mm to 62mm step up ring. It worked well and did not impede the field of view at all. Sigma supplies a 55mm and 58mm with the unit. This attachment is very well made and also much nicer than the flimsy one that Nikon supplies. You will have to go to the Sigma website to buy other sizes which I think are 62mm 72mm and 77mm. I'm very happy that I got this flash. However like any camera equipment the best test is to go buy one and try it for yourself. Good shooting.

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Sigma Electronic Flash Macro EM-140 DG is designed to work with both AF 35mm film and Digital SLR cameras of all-popular manufactures. The EM-140 DG Macro Flash is ideal for photographing subjects in fine detail when the shadowless mode is used, and is extremely effective for scientific and medical applications. Dual flash tubes can fire simultaneously or separately. Using only one flashtube creates modeling, which can give a three-dimensional feeling to the subject. The flash features a guide number of 14 w/ISO 100. The Modeling Flash function makes it possible to check for reflections and shadows before actually taking the flash picture. A wireless flash function is also available, where the EM-140 DG is used as master and the EF-500 DG SUPER as a slave unit for creating fine shadow details. High Speed Synchro and Exposure compensation functions are also available for advanced flash photography.

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Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)The Tamron f/4-5.6 75-300 zoom is a great buy at the price. The zoom is very smooth and auto focus very responsive. Very nice optics. For outdoor work you can, almost, get away with this as the only lens. Results are crisp beautiful photos. Quality is vastly superior to the lenses generally included in a Pentax kit.
Personally I find the low end of the focal length limiting (indoors in particular) and it could be a bit brighter (aperture) but the quality is very good at 300mm. As far as cost goes there is nearly a $100.00 price delta between this and an equivalent 28-200mm lens.
I have personally used this lens for several weddings (paid and voluntary) with great results. Lens is light enough that I have been able to do a lot of shots freehand (no tripod) without noticeable "shake" in the resulting photos. In addition to the weddings I have also had good results with equestrian, other "slow" action photos and in particular landscape shots where I use the zoom to frame the shot with different points of view (POV).
In summary this is a very good lens at a very good price. If you need a long lens in your set this is a very good choice.

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This extended-range zoom offers true telephoto capability ideal for a variety of applications including sports and wildlife shooting. The lens also features the capability to provide beautifully blurred background to high light the main subject in portraiture, or "compression effects" that make the most of the telephoto lens.

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Pentax K110D 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)I did what I always said I'd do when deciding on a DSLR--buy the cheapest thing out there and never worry about new models trumping the old ones. It made sense for me to consider Pentax, since I have several K-mount as well as older screw mount lenses, the latter of which can be used on this body with a $15 adapter. It may come as a jolt to Nikon owners, but Pentax has FAR more reverse compatibility than Nikon. I can meter a 50 year old screw mount lens on my entry-level body. Try that with a D50.
As for features, I can't attest to the accuracy of the multipoint autofocus or the multizone metering, because I don't trust "multi" anything. For me it's single point AF and spot metering (knowing that my primary camera is an Olympus OM3 may help you understand). As for the RAW vs jpeg war, let somebody who cares argue that one. Everything I shoot is jpeg and it looks just fine to me--I never used the zone system, either. And noise/grain? If you've shot GAF 500 or 3M/Ferrania 640T slide film, you can talk to me about this issue. This camera does spectacularly through ISO 800, and even looks impressive at 1600. I've shot several images at 3200 and they look like TMAX 3200 to me. Pentax wisely kept the lid on noise reduction, so things may look noisy or grainy, but they do not lack for detail.
The fifth star? For the bargain price? No, that would be condescending. I discovered, after the fact, that the camera provides some image-tweaking features, such as conversion to monochrome; or to sepia (it does look just a touch too yellow for me--but still quite acceptable). But the fifth star goes to the "soft" setting, which produces a gorgeous Gaussian blur, which could not look better if I'd custom-designed it myself. I know--it's jpeg, and I lose a little info when I use these things--that's my business.
So there you are--400 bucks for a digital SLR body. I skipped the "kit" lens, because at its longest focal length, 55mm, it's only f/5.6--I rarely stop DOWN that far. Besides, I already have a pinhole camera. The body feels tightly constructed, controls are as logical as any digital is likely to be, and it won't break the bank. And if you're worried about "only" 6 Megapixels--please--with such low noise levels it provides anything you'd need short of producing murals.
12-31-06: Some added thoughts. My guess is many of you have been reading about the Leica M8 digital and how sensitive it is to infrared. Evidently this creates issues with color shots, but it opens up a whole other world of creative shooting. I tried my Hoya R72 filter--which transmits NO visible light, only IR--on my K110,
and while the optical viewfinder was like a coal mine, once I made a shot and reviewed it on the LCD, sure enough, I had a pretty decent infrared image...BUT...with a pronounced red cast to it. So I went into the digital filter mode on the camera, converted it to monochrome (B&W) and had my digital IR. Shooting infrared film was always a dicey proposition, so don't expect shooting it digitally to be any different. I found many images benefitted from exposure compensation ranging from +1 to +2. I should also add that since exposure times are rather long, maybe this is where the stabilizer on the K100 would have been worth the extra $$$. To a degree you can bump up the ISO; I know this brings on the noise, but if you ever shot Kodak's HIE infrared, you know that coarse grain is one of its characteristics.
Bottom line--my experience with my bargain-basement D-SLR has been one of complete satisfaction. The more I shoot the more I'm coming to believe that anything over 6MP on this size chip is just the horsepower race all over again--useful for bragging rights only. I hope Pentax can continue to make a go of it, because a market dominated by only one or two players is not healthy in the long run. Maybe Hoya's "merger" will keep them going a bit longer.

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CL) PENT K110D W/PENT 18-55 ZOOM LEN

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Promaster 7500EDF Digital Flash - Pentax Review

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(More customer reviews)Have had for about 6 months now. I use this and the pentax 360 flash. They both have features the other does not. Haven't used wirelessly yet but for the price I paid it has worked wonderfully for me the times I have used it.

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The PROMASTER 7500EDF Digital is a fully dedicated TTL flash designed to work seamlessly with today's high tech digital SLRs as well as traditional SLRs. It includes many advanced features including motorized zoom, multiple and modeling modes, and remote slave function. Along with all of these great features, you get full TTL integration with your digital SLR. The flash has a low profile design, a metal flash foot and features the added benefit of being able to update the firmware which insures that you will get many years of reliable flash photography. One of the handicaps of a camera (film or digital type) is the need to have good light to make a great picture. Many of today's cameras can take pictures indoors without flash or offer a built in electronic flash. However, adding more light in just the right amount can make the difference between a good picture and a remarkable picture. When you see pictures taken by today's contemporary photojournalists, the definition and tonality of the picture can be awesome. Accurate color, sharp detail and balanced illumination are important parts of great photography. And while some people still think film cameras make better pictures than digital, many who are shooting digital know that their pictures easily rival those shot on film. The biggest limitation to a digital camera is the sensitivity of the image sensor. Even though you can adjust the film speed setting on your digital camera, you really are only adjusting the software. Setting the ISO does not really change the ability of the camera's sensor to absorb light. It is more like tuning the color and contrast control on a television. The one tool that will dramatically improve your photographs is the PROMASTER 7500EDF Digital flash.

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Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG HSM II Macro Zoom Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)At this point, almost every lens I own is a Sigma, the only exception being my Tamron 17-50 2.8 (which is a very, very solid lens). I've owned the Sigma 120-300 2.8 for a handful of days (the best lens I've used), and the Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VR. Both were returned due to the cost that I simply couldn't stomach at this point. I had read the professional reviews for this lens, and was worried about purchasing it because they weren't exactly glowing.
Well, I'm here to tell you that from what I've read, the professional reviews for this lens are spot on. That's good and bad, as anyone who's read them will know.
The good is that the autofocus in this lens is stellar. It's very fast, and is at least as fast as the Nikkor. The zoom ring and focusing rings are smooth, and the lens seems to be very well made, like all of my other Sigma lenses. Not only is the autofocus fast, it's quiet. It's really not that heavy, either, and I find it quite comfortable to use (compared to the 120-300, this thing is light as a feather, and it's weighted much better than the Nikkor). I also find the lens to be reasonably sharp through most of the zoom range, especially stopped down (as it is for most lenses, even Nikon). Yes, I did say through most of the zoom range.
The bad rears its ugly head at the long end of the zoom (which is really too bad, considering that's where you're likely to be keeping a lens such as this most of the time). At 200mm, this lens loses a lot of sharpness, and although stopping down does help a lot, it simply shouldn't be this bad. Are the photos unuseable? I wouldn't say that, and Photoshop can almost perform miracles in most cases. But what's worse than the sharpness (or lack thereof) is the chromatic abberation. There's a LOT. I mean, a LOT at 200mm. It's got the worst CA of any lens in my collection, hands down, and the worst of any lens I've used. Perhaps this is in part due to Sigma's valiant attempt to make a macro lens out of this one, and that's really the other fairly bad part about it--the macro isn't that great either.
It also needs to be taken into consideration that I'm using this lens on a Nikon D300s, which is a DX (small) sensor camera. So your results may differ should you use a full frame.
In the end, I'll be keeping this lens for a number of reasons. One is price. At a third of the cost of the Nikkor, this lens makes up some serious ground and can be forgiven quite a bit. The second is the autofocus. Wow it's fast. And accurate. Since I'm going to be using this mainly for sports, that's very important to me. And funny though it may be, the other reason is the macro. Yes, it's not great, but I still love having a lens with this zoom range that has macro capabilities. Apparently there have been major compromises to get it there, but it is what it is. I would have given it 4 stars, simply because of the cost, but in the end I decided on 3, because if Sigma want to play with the big boys, they really need to do a little better than this showing.
So in considering this lens, you need to ask yourself exactly what your needs are as a photographer, and will the advantages of this lens be enough to outweigh the disadvantages. For me, the answer is yes... but you have to make up your own mind.

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This large aperture thelephoto zoom lens has a minimum focusing distance of 100cm (39.4) and maximum magnification of 1:3.5. Two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) and three ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), ensuring a quiet and high speed AF and full-time manual focusing capability. An adjustable and removable tripod collar is included as a standard component.

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Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM IF Lens for Pentax Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I would not give much credence to reviewers who compare lenses they have not actually used, or have only used one of them. We bought both This Sigma and the Tamron 18-270 and used them for a week in Mexico. We have a Nikon D70s and a D300, and exchanged the lenses after a few shots at the same time and place. We shot about 75% RAW and examined severe crops of the images on our 30" Apple Cinema Display before and after correction with Photoshop. Here is our opinion:
The Tamron is noticeably sharper. The Sigma is very soft except at the low-medium zoom range, and it's still softer than the Tamron over its best range. The higher distortion of the Tamron is much less noticeable and easily corrected with software. The CA is about the same for both. Image stabilization was clearly more effective with the Tamron, especially at the long end where you really need it.
The Tamron is noticeably slower in focusing than the Sigma, which is very fast for this class of lens. However, the Tamron often was more accurate and we missed several shots when the Sigma balked and did not focus at all. Over 5% of the shots we took with the Sigma were significantly out of focus, but only a few with the Tamron.
With superzooms, you pick the weaknesses that bother you less. It was a close, but fairly easy decision. Though it was sometimes annoying to use, we got obviously better pictures with the Tamron. We both agreed to return the Sigma.

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The SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM incorporates Sigma's original anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. For the camera have anti-shake function in the camera body, this lens's Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provide not only anti-shake function for the camera body compensation, but also provide the function to compensate the image shaking in the view finder of the camera like anti-shake compensation built in the lens. Incorporating four Special Low Dispersion glass elements and three Aspherical lens elements provides excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7 inches) at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification of 1: 3.4 reproduction ratio, making it ideal for close-up photography. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making it suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and the supplied petal-type hood. Incorporating super multi layer coating reduce the ghost in the backlight photography.

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