p.1 #1 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
Of course, the standard caveats about how lens sharpness doesn't make you a better photographer, etc apply, but if we're only considering sharpness, it would seem that the Sigma 70mm f/2.8 Macro is actually the sharpest autofocus SLR lens in existence.
Of course, the Sigma won't autofocus as fast or as nice mechanically, but it's amazing that Sigma can outdo Canon/Nikon/Sony/etc in making a lens that is very close to optically perfect.
SLRGear tested both on the Canon 5D I:
Sigma 70mm (sharpness @ f/2.8):
Canon 100L (sharpness @ f2.8):
It seems that Photozone's tests (done on a 5D II) back up the SLRGear results:
So, is the Sigma the sharpest AF SLR lens, or is there something else out there that is even better?
p.1 #2 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
not even close Look at the #'s for the 200 f2 VR on FX at f2.8...if ya wanna talk sharpness
I can think of several more that come to mind, and Sigma's not in the conversation. Gotta say "WTF" here.
p.1 #5 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
trenchmonkey wrote: not even close Look at the #'s for the 200 f2 VR on FX at f2.8...if ya wanna talk sharpness
I can think of several more that come to mind, and Sigma's not in the conversation. Gotta say "WTF" here.
I'm talking about sharpness at all apertures, not just stopped down.
The Sigma shows almost no difference from wide open to f/8. Even lenses like the Canon or Nikon 200mm f/2 can't claim that, especially in terms of corner sharpness.
p.1 #6 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
I've been shooting Nikon since the 60's, and have never had a single Nikon lens fail me, not one. I purchased one Sigma in 2006 (50-500), it was and is POC. I know Canon shooters that feel the same way.
p.1 #7 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
lukeb wrote:
I've been shooting Nikon since the 60's, and have never had a single Nikon lens fail me, not one. I purchased one Sigma in 2006 (50-500), it was and is POC. I know Canon shooters that feel the same way.
Not disagreeing with you there.
I don't think Sigma's QC is quite up to the same level as Canon/Nikon based on my experiences with a few of the midrange and higher-end Sigma lenses in the past.
But in terms of sharpness, both the SLRGear review and the Photozone one have this Sigma 70mm as being very close to optical perfection, and I can't find a Canon or Nikon lens that tests as being sharper. I think that's pretty amazing for a third party lens.
p.1 #9 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
Wouldn't be surprised in some respects, Sigma makes some insanely sharp glass. I laugh at the prices of that voigtlander 125mm macro when the sigma 150 OS exists.
p.1 #10 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
trenchmonkey wrote: not even close Look at the #'s for the 200 f2 VR on FX at f2.8...if ya wanna talk sharpness
I can think of several more that come to mind, and Sigma's not in the conversation. Gotta say "WTF" here.
The hood for the 200 costs more than the Sigma lens. If money is no object, then I suggest looking at what the Hubble telescope does, with exposures running for weeks.
p.1 #11 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
runamuck wrote:
The hood for the 200 costs more than the Sigma lens. If money is no object, then I suggest looking at what the Hubble telescope does, with exposures running for weeks.
p.1 #12 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
Macro/Micro lenses tend to be very sharp pieces of glass. They are usually not met with the complex design parameters something like an f/1.4 prime or a fast zoom lens would have to meet, so they tend to be very sharp. They usually aren't the fastest of focusing lenses out there, but they sure are sharp. Sigma's macro lenses tend to perform very well. Many people believe the Sigma 150/2.8 is one of the best lenses ever made. Like... ever... Their 50, 70, and 105 and 180 macros are no slouches either.
p.1 #15 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
I own the Sigma 70mm and find it impressively sharp when used for landscape, which is what I bought it for. Good contrast, too. And very low distortion. A notable bargain.
On the other side, the manual focus is poorly damped and kind of sudden. Not like using a Zeiss for live view. And if you care to take a look at the Photozone tests, they score the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 II at 70mm to be comparably sharp, with the Canon at most apertures enjoying an edge in the center, and the Sigma in the corners, but pretty close all around. Of course the Canon doesn't do macro, and the Sigma autofocus is nothing like being as fast as the Canon.
p.1 #17 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
irish-george wrote:
What are the first two unlabeled plots attempting to show? I find unlabeled plots (and 1-12 w/o any units doesn't cut it either) meaningless.
The lower the number in the first plot, the sharper the lens. A perfect lens would have the entire rectangle in purple/pink (corresponding to 0), meaning perfectly sharp corner to corner. A very bad lens would have the entire rectangle in red.
p.1 #18 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
996gt2 wrote:
The lower the number in the first plot, the sharper the lens. A perfect lens would have the entire rectangle in purple/pink (corresponding to 0), meaning perfectly sharp corner to corner. A very bad lens would have the entire rectangle in red.
So, is it a 3D MTF graph or something of that sort, showing performance at different focal lengths in one axis and different apertures in another axis? Units would make it understandable/useful...
p.1 #19 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
The Monkey is right. The Sigma only beats the Nikon 200 f2 at FNOTHING. The rest is firmly won by the 200. If only my wife understood the value and meaning of these charts, the lens could be mine!
p.1 #20 · The sharpest autofocus SLR lens ever is a Sigma?
I better not leave out the 14-24, a lens that is as sharp or sharper than the Sigma at multiple focal lengths. Not even Jesus Christ himself could produce a lens so amazing and so sharp.
not even close 
Look at the #'s for the 200 f2 VR on FX at f2.8...if ya wanna talk sharpness 
