Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Price and performance according to price. Cheaper than Canon 10-22. Hood a lot easier to store than the Canon 10-22 one. The extras it comes with in the price.
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Cons:
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Tad lower quality the EFS 10-22 I had. Can't get to lens cap with lens hood on.
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I had a Canon EF-S 10-22 for 1 year or 2 but realised I was not using it enough to justify keeping it esp. after I added a 5D to my kit. Low on behold a few months after I sold it, and for other reasons sold the 5D, I found myself sometimes needing an ultra wide, but not enough to justify the price of a Canon 10-22.
1st copy was soft and had focus issues Exchanged for second copy and that was much better.
The colour rendition and sharpness is only little below that of a Canon 10-22 but I am more than happy with this lens for price I paid and the amount I use it.
I use it for internal architectural work and also for more dramatic/scenic wedding photography.
I sometimes feel that Sigma lenses and their QC are bashed more than necessary. Yes I had one bad copy but with minimum of fuss it was sorted. This is my second Sigma lens for Canon I would happily buy another.
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Sigma 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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f1.4 at such a great price!!! Great focal range for crop sensors.
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Cons:
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The Sigma yellow colour cast but I shoot RAW so don't care considering the price compared to a 35L. Can't get to lens cap with lens hood on.
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Had this lens since they were first release and used on a 20D and 30D. This lens is immersed in fear - I have ever ever had any focusing/calibration issues. The Sigma 30 f1.4 has work flawlessly for me.
I can't say how much I love this lens. In low light, music/arts, wedding situations it never lets me down. Great walkaround, travel lens too. My Canon EF-S 17-55 is my workhorse lens i.e. it gets used the most for work week in, week out. This 30EX is the lens I use most for both work and pleasure.
Draw backs are minor - the Sigma yellow cast on photos may be a problem for those shooting in formats other than RAW. Also with my big fingers I find it difficult to take off/put on the lens cap with hood attached.
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Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Price, weight, focal range, useful as macro and general lens
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Cons:
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focus hunts sometimes in non-macro situations
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It was a toss up between the Sigma 50 macro or this Canon EF-S 60. For a marginal amount of money more, I went for the Canon mainly because of the lens not extending. I find this lens very flexible in that it a a great macro lens but also a fantastic general use lens. Photos are sharp, colour reproduction is great. The lens is relatively small and easy to always carry around.
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Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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It's not a white lens (doesn't attract attention), superb optics, relatively light
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Cons:
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none
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Had this lens of about 3 years and absolutely adore this lens for quality of optics and what I consider to be value for money for L glass. I have used this for candid wedding photography and outdoor portraits/candids. Also used this as a macro lens with extension tubes. Lens has solid build. Colour in photos is amazing. I hardly do any post production on photos from this lens.
I have used it on both full frame and crop 1.6x sensors preferring it on the latter - I have more use of it on a crop sensor camera as a portrait lens and also a semi-telephoto for candids etc. On full frame I always found myself wanting more reach with this lens.
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Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Lightweight, fast in all aspects, compact, price
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Cons:
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It not the 85L!
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Absolutely superb prime lens which I have had for several years. At the time of purchase I had the choice of purchasing the 85L f1.2 but after a hands-on, I could not justify the price of the L - mainly let down by the slow focus. The 85 f1.8 is a great lens with fast focusing and helps to produce great quality of photos. I have used this lens for weddings, music and arts performances. No doubt the 85L is in a league of its own but you just can't overlook this lens based on all round performance, quality and price.
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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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All been said before: solid build, picture quality, f2.8, IS, focal range.
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Cons:
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Easy to criticise on price but once you start using it to earn money you are rewarded with quality photos and happy customers.
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Canon EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM
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Review Date: Apr 28, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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'L' glass like picture quality, IS, f2.8
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Cons:
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Price you pay for plasticy build.
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The IS and range on the 1.6x crop sensor led me to sell my 5D and downgrade to a second 30D!!! I do not regret the decision as IS and lower weight that 5D + 24-70L has been a life saver in some low light situations - I frequently work in very poorly lit venues and often need more focal range flexibility than a prime can offer. The lens focuses fast in low light situations unlike the Sigma and Tamron equivalents I tried in this focal range. I also really loved how much lighter the 30D + grip + flash + 17-55 was than the the 5D + 24-70L + grip + flash (a big thing for me if I am carrying two cameras on my shoulders all day).
I haven't had any dust problems in the 9 months or so I have used this lens inside and outside. It has been my workhorse lens.
Only down side for me is that the lens is L quality in all senses apart from the cheap plastic build. But still worth the money I paid for it.
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