Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR § 03 Head to head
Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR vs Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS
Pentax 70–210mm f/4 has a brighter maximum aperture. Sigma 70–300mm f/4-5.6 has a longer reach.
The Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR is a 70–210mm f/4 zoom, and the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS is a 70–300mm f/4-5.6 zoom. On paper the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS comes out ahead, 5 advantages to 3, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.
Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR 
Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS 01
Key differences
Why is the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR better than the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS?
- Brighter maximum aperture (f/4 vs f/4-5.6)
- Focuses 55 cm closer (0.95 m vs 1.5 m)
- Newer design (2020 vs 2009)
Why is the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS better than the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR?
- Longer reach (300mm vs 210mm)
- 209 g lighter (610 g vs 819 g)
- 49 mm shorter (126.5 mm vs 175 mm long)
- Has optical image stabilization
- Smaller filter thread (62 mm vs 67 mm)
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Which should you buy?
- portrait For portrait photography, the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR has the edge: its f/4 aperture gathers more light than f/4-5.6.
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Specification
| Specification | Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR | Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS |
|---|---|---|
| Focal length | 70–210mm | 70–300mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/4 ◆ | f/4-5.6 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/22 |
| Lens type | Telephoto zoom lens | Zoom lens |
| Format | Full Frame | Full frame |
| Weight | 819 g | 610 g (21.52 oz) ◆ |
| Dimensions | 78.5 x 175 mm | 76.5 x 126.5 mm |
| Minimum focusing distance | 0.95 m ◆ | 1.5 m (59.06 inches) |
| Maximum magnification | 0.32x | — |
| Image stabilization | No | Yes ◆ |
| Weather sealing | Yes | — |
| Aperture ring | No | No |
| Aperture blades | 9 | 9 |
| Optical construction | 20 elements / 14 groups | 16 elements / 11 groups |
| Filter size | 67 mm | 62 mm ◆ |
| Lens mount | Pentax K | Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Sigma SA, Pentax K |
| Released | 2020 | 2009 |
| Price | $1,099.95 list price | — |
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Size
- A · Pentax
- B · Sigma
- 175 × 78.5 mm
- 126.5 × 76.5 mm
The Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR is 49 mm longer and 209 g heavier than the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS.
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Sample frames
Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR
Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS
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Video reviews
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Questions
- Which lens has the brighter aperture, the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR or the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS?
- The Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR opens to f/4, against f/4-5.6 on the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS.
- Which is lighter, the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR or the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS?
- The Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS weighs 610 g, 209 g less than the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR (819 g).
- Which focuses closer, the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR or the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS?
- The Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR focuses down to 0.95 m, against 1.5 m for the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS.
- Do the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR and the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS have image stabilization?
- Only the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS has optical image stabilization.
- Is the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR or the Sigma 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 DG OS better for portrait photography?
- For portrait photography, the Pentax HD FA 70-210 mm f/4 ED SDM WR has the edge: its f/4 aperture gathers more light than f/4-5.6.
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