Reading the comments in my previous thread regarding my testing of the DA17-70 (which I purchased about 10 days ago), naturally there is a fair bit of interest as to how it compares to the well respected Sigma 17-70.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=28830430

Well, on a whim I purchased a Sigma 17-70 just to give it a try along side the DA17-70. Who knows, if I really like it, I might keep it.

The Sigma has only been in my hands about 30 hours so nothing comprehensive to my thoughts yet (although I have taken approx a couple of dozen pixel peeping test images to make sure it isn't suffering from BF/FF or centreing as I always do with new lenses)

Thoughts so far compared to the DA17-70;

- the Sigma is a *little* smaller than I expected (narrower in the barrel really)

- a quick wall test and measure up in Photoshop indicates to me that distortion at 17mm is very similar for both (see below). DA17-70 just a bit less "mustached"?

- Initial thoughts are that the DA17-70 is a little sharper at the edges at the wide end but I haven't tested thoroughly. I need a lot of back-to-back real world shooting. I can't tell you which has better IQ yet.

- the colour rendering of the DA17-70 is true Pentax 'digital' (see gallery: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=28830509) The Sigma seems a bit off in colour (like I have experienced with some of my Sigma EX lenses) but that's one we could argue over for ever.

- the finish of both lenses is different but it's hard to give the "build quality" award to one over the other; they are just different. The manual focus of the DA17-70 because of SDM has an almost disconnected feel to the ring and the zoom ring is tighter.

I thought the side by side my help some people.

http://www.pbase.com/shreder/image/101394862.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/shreder/image/101394867.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/shreder/image/101394869.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/shreder/image/101394870.jpg


What you are looking at below is the Sigma 17mm shot laid over the DA17-70 also at 17mm (don't worry about the colour, I was just colourising the different images to easily identify) - I have labeled the horizontal wall line so you can see how close the two lenses are.

http://www.pbase.com/shreder/image/101403754/original.jpg

--
Brett
www.pbase.com/shreder
http://www.pbase.com/image/30805961.jpg
The Journey is the Thing