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Sigma 24-60mm f2.8 EX DG Lens

24-60mm
Review Date: Mar 11, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Constant f2.8 zoom, Good size, Fairly sharp wide open, 24mm better starting FL than 28mm for walkaround, Good contrast reproduction, EX finish and build.
Cons:
Some copies tend to have front-focus problems, CA fairly evident at or near wide open, 24-60mm range a bit limited, no HSM/FTM.

I highly recommend this lens for a walkaround zoom, although the extra 10mm of the 2470EX is nicer (at the expense of being heavier though). But this is a fine lens in Sigma's EX standard zoom line-up.
 
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC

18-50f28
Review Date: Mar 11, 2006 Recommend? | Price paid: Not Indicated

 
Pros:
Cons:

I don't see an "edit" button for these reviews, so excuse my posting this. In my "pros" and "cons" I got the 1850 and 2460 mixed up. Regardless, both are fine lenses.
 
Sigma 80-400mm F4.5-5.6 EX OS APO

Sigma_80-400_OS
Review Date: Mar 11, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Excellent 5x tele range, OS, EX build, Nice tripod collar included, Fairly sharp wide open at 400mm (better stopped down to f8).
Cons:
Slow AF (no HSM).

Good lens but sorely needs HSM; that would really make it superb. See this test at my site http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/teletest
 
Sigma 50-500mm f4-6.3 EX APO RF HSM

50_500EX_mdl_1_
Review Date: Mar 11, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Canon makes nothing equivalent, 10x range, Fantastic colors, Excellent sharpness, Pleasing bokeh, HSM/FTM, Robust build quality, Nice tripod collar included, Distortions well-controlled as is flare, Price, Just a superb lens.
Cons:
No OS.

I have owned 2 "Bigmas" (non-DG and DG) and they are tremendous quality lenses. While I currently use the 100400IS, the Bigma is in no way inferior vis-a-vis IQ. The build and optics of this lens are very, very good. I highly recommend it. http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/lenstests
 
Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical DF

28_70df_1_
Review Date: Mar 11, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Great focal range on FF (okay on crop body), Very good sharpness wide open, Great EX build, Very good flare resistance, Pleasing bokeh, Good colors and contrast, Little CA, Fairly good edge performance, Excellent price-point.
Cons:
Some copies have front-focus issues.

This is a very good lens. Comparable to the Sigma 24-60 f2.8, Sigma 24-70 f2.8, and Tamron 28-75 f2.8 in IQ. Price is the lowest of them all; has better build as an EX lens than the Di. See my site for more www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/lenstests
 
Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC

18-50f28
Review Date: Mar 10, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Constant f2.8 zoom, Good size, Fairly sharp wide open, 24mm better starting FL than 28mm for walkaround, Good contrast reproduction, EX finish and build.
Cons:
Some copies tend to have front-focus problems, CA fairly evident at or near wide open, 24-60mm range a bit limited, no HSM/FTM.
 
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di Zoom AF

28-75mm
Review Date: Mar 10, 2006 Recommend? no | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: F2.8 constant, Good focal range on a FF body for walkaround, Fairly sharp wide open, Good colors, Edge performance good, Price-point.
Cons:
Not good focal range on crop body, "Plasticky" feel (relative to L and EX glass), QC is an issue, Somewhat slow AF, Hunts in relatively low-light.

I've had two copies, one of which would not focus at 28mm and f2.8 on any subject 10 feet or further. Using the parfocal method helped. The lens is relatively sharp but the overall "build-feel" pales vis-a-vis L and EX glass. Overall a good lens, but the main reason I don't recommend it is because there are better options in this range. See more at www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/lenstests
 
Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX APO IF HSM

05_03_1_
Review Date: Mar 5, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp wide open throughout, F2.8 speed, Superb EX build, HSM/FTM, Takes 1.4xTC well (stopped down), Best lens in its category considering price.
Cons:
Color fringing more than L equivalent (especially with TC).

This lens is simply a ringer: built like a tank and optically superb in all respects. For the $, it can't be beat. The only reason I now use the Canon L version is for the IS; that's the ONLY reason for the change. Sigma's EX telezooms are GEMS (viz., 70200, 100300, 50500, 120300, 300800).

See http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/70200exl and http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/3telezooms
 
Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 EX Aspherical DG DF

24_70EX_med_1_
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: About as sharp wide open as a standard zoom gets at f2.8, Superb by f4.5, Very good color and contrast, Nice bokeh for a standard zoom, Good focal range (starting at 24mm), Only slight CA, Good flare resistance, Robust EX build, FF compatibility, Very fast AF on 20D and 1DMKII, Steal at its price.
Cons:
No HSM, Noisy AF, DF clutch mechanism takes getting used to, Some copies need flexboard update (especially on 20D).

I've used a lot of standard zooms, and this is one stands out, all things considered. See http://www.pbase.com/fstopjojo/2470
 
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

ef100_400l_1_
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very good image quality, Excellent resolving power and stunning contrast, "IS" is a tremendous boon, USM/FTM makes AF fast and silent, Solid "L" build, Takes 1.4xTC very well.
Cons:
Not a fast aperture lens, Push-pull zoom takes getting used to, "Dust Trombone" nickname isn't reassuring, Could use the next generation IS unit, Pricy.
 
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

ef70-200_28lisu_1_
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Excellent image quality, Sharp wide open (especially at 200mm), "IS" is a tremendous boon, USM/FTM makes AF fast and silent, Solid "L" build, Large focus ring, "Very Good" image quality with 1.4xTC when stopped down.
Cons:
Slight CA wide open, Pricy.
 
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

70-300_isusm
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: IQ comparable to "L"-glass, Produces rich colors, "UD" glass really minimizes CA, 3rd generation "IS" a tremendous boon, Micro USM makes AF fairly swift and silent, Zoom "lock" switch at 70mm handy, Grippy zoom ring, Nice size and weight, IQ "good" even with 1.4xTC (better than the DO version).
Cons:
300mm "portrait orientation" issue (copy-to-copy), Build is average, Zoom tension lacks refined dampening, Ring USM would be better (along with FTM), Zoom barrel extends fairly far, HOOD NOT INCLUDED (my gripe with Canon).
 
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM

EF17-85
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Actually 16mm on the wide end, "Almost but not quite" L-Like optics, sharp wide open especially from 40mm-85mm, 3rd generation IS (good for at least 3 stops), Ring USM and FTM, Fast AF and excellent in low light, Relatively small size and weight, GREAT focal range for walk-around, Good build, Nice overall feel and handling.
Cons:
Some vignetting at 17mm wide open, Barrel distortion at 17mm could be better, Not a fast lens, Not FF compatible, A bit over-priced, HOOD NOT INCLUDED (my gripe with Canon).
 
Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM

111_small
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: 10mm w-i-d-e, Very good contrast reproduction, CA well controlled, Great 9" MFD, HSM is swift and silent, FTM, Focus ring is THE BEST dampened (buttery smooth) I've EVER used on an EX lens, Excellent hand-holdability due to wide FL, Lens is amazingly small in size, Can use filters, Lovely EX build and finish.
Cons:
Barrel distortion and vignetting at 10mm wide open (not unexpected), Slight pin-cushioning at 20mm, Flare resistance could be better, Not FF compatible.
 
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

ef85mmf_18usm_1_
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Very good sharpness wide open and excellent by f2.2, Beautiful bokeh, Nice build, Ring USM and FTM, AF quiet and fast, Colors and saturation very good.
Cons:
CA wide open, HOOD NOT INCLUDED (my gripe with Canon).
 
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

ef50mmf_14usm_1_
Review Date: Feb 27, 2006 Recommend? yes | Price paid: Not Indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Fast f1.4 aperture, Fairly small and lightweight, USM (albeit micro and not ring), FTM, Good sharpness wide open, Very good by f2, Excellent by f2.8.
Cons:
Construction could be better, Ring USM would be nice, Closer than 18" MFD is better, HOOD NOT INCLUDED (my gripe with Canon).
 

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