 Ahmed H. Rashed |
SIGMA lenses Hello all, i'd love to say that this is a wonderful place as i'm new here and this is my first post, all i'm still new to the SLR world and plan to buy the new CANON XT 350D and I came across a 10x SIGMA lens, I just want to ask about how good are those SIGMA lenses since I never used them b4.
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Peter K. Burian |
Ahmed: Well, the pro level Sigma lenses are incredible: superb image quality and very rugged. As with any brand, the cheap lenses are not as rugged, but image quality is quite good. Which specific lens are you considering? Peter www.peterkburian.com
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Karma Wilson |
Depends on the lens. With some lens it even depends on the specific copy of the lens--meaning one lens might be good and another copy of the exact same lens might be dreadful. My two best lenses are Sigmas--and my two worst lenses are Sigma! My two best lenses are my Sigma 105 EX macro and my 70-200 EX Sigma zoom. Notice something--both lenses have "EX" in the name. Sigma EX lenses that I've used are great. And I really cannnot stress how in love I am with my macro lens. I use it all the time for portraits, macro work, etc... It's delightful. The 70-200 is also good, but as with any really good lens it is BIG! Karma
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Peter K. Burian |
Karma: Yes, the EX lenses are the Sigma pro line. And APO means they are very well corrected for optical aberrations. I love my Sigma EX APO 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM. Peter www.peterkburian.com
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Karma Wilson |
Peter, the fact that you love a lens I own is very reassuring! :-) I love my 70-200 too. It's fast, sharp and contrasty. Karma
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Peter K. Burian |
Well, Karma, the images in your Gallery are excellent, so you're obviously putting those lenses to good use. Peter
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Karma Wilson |
Okay, that statement just totally made my day! :-) Karma
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
I've been looking into upgrading to the dSLR world... thinking Canon EOS 350D/Rebel XT. I've seen a few "packages" that put that camera with two or three lenses... usually a Canon lens (mostly the 18-55 one that comes with it, if you were to buy at say, Circuit City) but then 2 or 3 Sigmas... How pricey are those EX Sigmas? These packages seem to be well-priced as a kit, which leads me to assume the Sigmas included aren't EX... but the online info merely says, for instance, "Sigma 28-70 f/2.8-4.0 High Speed Zoom Professional" Some of the packages I've seen include 3 different Canon lenses... Any compelling reason to go with (or not) such a kit (over the Sigma kits) just because the lenses are from the camera maker?
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Christopher A. Vedros |
Chris, Just about any of the lenses that are typically bundled with cameras in these packages will be low-end lenses. Don't rely on a sales description that says it's a professional lens. Sigma has a good WEBSITE where you can see details about all of their current lenses. You can find good prices at B&H Photo's WEBSITE for just about any Sigma lens. After much research, I just ordered the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for $399 and the Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO for $789. I also ordered the Sigma 2x teleconverter for $179, so I'll also have the option of a 140-400mm f/5.6 zoom. In all, I'd say this is not a bad deal for about the price of one Canon L lens. I placed the order yesterday, and can't wait to get my hands on them. I'll get back to you next week with my thoughts on the lenses once I get a chance to use them. Chris
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Thanks, Chris... So I see the "28-70 f/2.8-4.0 DG" listed on Sigma's website... and right above that entry is the "28-70 f/2.8 EX." Guess the Rebel 'kit special' I found online, is likely NOT to be the EX, as you say! (So then, will I be terribly disappointed with the non-EX Sigmas? Are they that inferior to the EX line?) Also, did you have an opinion on a camera kit that was all-Canon, vs. all-Sigma lenses? I assume the same holds true--the kit will be sold with the "lower-end" Canon lenses, vs. their L models. But does a Canon lens on a Canon body have any advantages over the equivalent Sigma lens on the Canon body? Sounds like maybe I should consider accumulating lenses later, and instead focus on getting just a 350D (perhaps with the generic Canon 18-55 for starters) then add individual lenses, shopped elsewhere. Just that there is a very strong appeal, in getting a 1-box, up-and-running camera outfit, with 3 different lenses! Thanks again... I hope you love your new lenses, and look forward to your review!
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Will Turner |
Of course, all 'good' image quality ratings depend to a great extent on what each individual considers 'good'. Which is why sites that use objective lens tests of acutance, contrast and other criteria are very helpful. I have often been amazed at the difference between perceived subjective quality and how a lens actually tests out over its entire range. As a general rule, most macro lenses are fairly good to excellent regardless of brand. Some lenses are designed to perform better at certain points of their aperture range. Others are designed to do everything fairly well over most of their focal length or aperture range - in preference to being truly superb at one end or another. Consumer-level lenses sometimes have to make the choice between internal build quality and higher optical quality - as there isn't enough margin for both. It's true that there is sample-to-sample variation to some extent in all lens brands. It's also true that less-expensive, high-volume lenses tend to have a lot more variance in quality between samples. This is because part of what you pay in price for more expensive lenses is used for more intensive testing and quality control.
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Robyn Gwilt |
:) Chris I see you're weakening!! I have the 18-200 DG (which is made for Digital), so I have the benefit of the true wide angle and a nice zoom. I also have the 28-300 with is not for Digital, but this converts to a 480 zoom when on my 350D. Unfortunately both are max 3.5. I'm also looking at the macro, so Karma I'm pleased to see your comments and will head off to your gallery. I didn't know you could use it for portraits - I guess you get great depth of field? Whats you maximum distance you'd stand from someone when shooting with it? Is it a 2.8? Which are you 2 worst Sigma lenses? Chris, now that you're weakening... I agree, buy the camera, Body Only - and buy a decent lens to start with (as much as you can afford) I can't afford those lovely White Canon lenses (need to sell another kidney!!!) Don't waste too much time with the 'bundled' stuff. Sigma have some great lenses, don't underestimate them. I've not taken my new lens off (except for when I really needed the extra zoom, and then I didn't have a tripod with me and had shake!)
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Yes, Robyn, you've prompted me to ramp up some research on getting into the wonderful world of dSLR. Curse you for disrupting my financial boredom and stuffiness!! Anyway... I know this thread started Sigma, 7 months ago, so I'll be happy to launch a new one, if anyone says so... Questions on going SLR: 1. What are the "EF-S" lenses, compared to just "EF" lenses I see, in various Canon kits for sale? 2. How much drool is too much, over those spiffy "L" lenses?? ;) 3. If I'm going to take the SLR plunge, am I better served getting a 20D now (with a kit lens: 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 USM) for only $500 more than a Rebel XT/350D kit (with the same exact lens?) ie, if I got the Rebel, I'd likely get at least 1 more lens, sometime sooner rather than later... if I got the 20D, I'd probably need to wait awhile to get another lens... but will the 20D "serve" me longer, better, whatever, over the years, as a platform for whatever lenses I end up collecting, down the road? I guess it is a question of when you might, if ever, "outgrow" the Rebel, and be looking at yet ANOTHER camera upgrade... Since my Sony is not even 6 mos old, and I'm already talking upgrade, I'm sensitive to repeating that "too-little-camera mistake" again.
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Ahmed H. Rashed |
Dear all, thanx for replying first of all, I just read all the replies today!! as I didnt recieve any notofications by email about ur responds until today, how ironic :) I already bought the 350D last may, I got the body only as I didnt like the standard (not japanese) lens that came with it, I got the Sigma 18-200 new lens designed for digital, its nice, good for almost all occasions, has anyone tried it here???? ahmad.
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chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny Contact Chris Budny Chris Budny's Gallery |
Hi Ahmed... If you sign in to BP, and go to "My Discussions/Q&A", you can control which *existing* chat threads you wish to receive email noticifications for. Then if you go to "My Member Info" you can set default setting for whether you always want email notifications, on any *new* thread you start, or any thread you reply to.
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Robyn Gwilt |
Hi Ahmed, read my comment further back : "I have the 18-200 DG (which is made for Digital), so I have the benefit of the true wide angle and a nice zoom." I'm very very happy with my lens, and surprised that not more people use it, as it really does cover all ends of the spectrum.
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TJ Joesph |
Thanks, TJ
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TJ Joesph |
(or another Canon compatible) 24-70 macro in the $250-$300 range. thanks, TJ
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