Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon AF

ziggy53 · July 8, 2005

Does anyone have this lens? The reviews look pretty promising. The application would be Wedding and Event photography, with some landscape and scenic as well. The lens would be used with a dRebel XT and basically replace the "kit" lens.

Thanks,

ziggy53

hollynla · July 12, 2005

I'm eyeing the same lens as you for my 20D. The reviews looks excellent and the price is great too. I'd also like to hear of anyone who uses this lens.

ziggy53 · July 12, 2005

Lens links
Reviews:
http://www.shuttertalk.com/articles/sigma1850ex/index.php
http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=342
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=232&sort=7&cat=37&page=2

Samples:
http://www.pbase.com/cameras/sigma/18-50_28_ex_dc
http://www.pbase.com/joemama/sigma_1850__28
http://www.pbase.com/miljenko/image/37156215
http://www.pbase.com/kazfujieda/lenstest&page=3
http://www.pbase.com/miljenko/ccrm_bokeh_tests

ScottMcLeod · July 12, 2005

This lens quirked my interest when I saw it in the Amplis Photo (sigma supplier) book the other day.

Perhaps I should get this instead of the Tamron 28-75 XR Di...

Maybe later though, i'm short on cash, and found a deal on FredMiranda for one.

ziggy53 · July 13, 2005

I ordered the lens today. I'll post some results of tests when I get it.

ziggy53

ziggy53 · July 20, 2005

It's here!
I received the lens. Tests and samples are forthcoming.

First impressions: This is a well made, great feeling lens. Actions are smooth and focus lock is quick. There is some sound while focussing, but not objectionable to me. The f 2.8 through the zoom range is great and seems accurate.

This lens replaces both the "kit" lens and a fixed 28mm, so my back is happy, but this is a substantial lens by itself.

I will comment on image-related issues after testing.

ziggy53

Patrick · July 22, 2005

I would be interested in your results of the new Sigma too. I am the proud new owner of a used 20D (only used for 10 shots!!) and it of course came with the EFS 18-55mm kit lens. I am more than a little disapointed with this lens and it kind of takes away the excitement of the new camera.

Sigma also make an 18-85mm zoom, can't recall speed. I like this range
more. Any comments on advantages or disadvantages to this lens over
the Sigma you have choosen?

How "bad" is the 20D kit lens anyway?

Patrick

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Test results for Sigma 18-50mm, f2.8 DC EX
Procedure and equipment:

Canon dRebel XT, 100 ISO, Aperture Priority, tripod for most of the "brick wall" shots. Parameter 2, Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation and Color Tone zeroed.
Sigma 18-50mm, f2.8 DC EX lens

Original shots scaled to 640 x 480, crops are 100%, no software manipulation beyond scaling or cropping.

First shot: File:IMG_0715.JPG
Scaled for WEB
18mm
ExposureTime - 1/250 seconds
FNumber - 2.80
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 100

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Center crop, 100%

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Crop Lower Left

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f4, scaled for WEB

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f4, center crop 100%

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f4, Crop Lower Left

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f8, scaled for WEB

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f8, center crop

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f8, crop Lower Left

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

50mm, f2.8, scaled for WEB

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

50mm, f2.8, center

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

50mm, f2.8, crop Lower Left

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

This test checks focus accuracy. I used a single center spot for focus and focussed on the slightly taller post central in the image. 50mm, f2.8

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Center crop of above focus test. 50mm

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

focus accuracy test, 18mm, f2.8

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

18mm, f2.8, center crop

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Those tests were from July 21, 2005, and the clouds kept moving in and out, varying the exposure. I realized later that I had a UV filter on the lens during the tests. I tested again just at 18mm and just wide open to determine the effects of the filter.

This is with the filter attached:

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

100% Crop Lower Left, filter attached:

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

This time without the filter:

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

100% Crop Lower Left, without filter:

ziggy53 · July 22, 2005

Summary and comments
All of the following are very much IMHO and only represent my brief tests with this single lens. YMMV

This is a great lens! At f2.8 and 18mm it is a little soft, especially in the corners. I do think USM or better sharpening would be effective and convincing. At f4 everything sharpens nicely and I would be proud of the results right out of the camera.

At 50mm, it seems to do better in the center and the edges, even wide open.

F8 seems to be the sweet spot for this lens and it is sweet indeed! Very sharp edge to edge.

Focus accuracy appears very good with slight hunting some of the time. Very slight. Not a concern. Time will tell what happens under difficult conditions of low contrast or low light.

The filter had some impact wide open and wide-angle, but not enough to make me take it off, ever. The protection benefits are just too great and the image degradation is too small and mostly limited to the corners.

I love this lens and I think this copy is a keeper.

ziggy53

ExposeTheMoment · July 27, 2005

ziggy53 wrote:

All of the following are very much IMHO and only represent my brief tests with this single lens. YMMV

This is a great lens! At f2.8 and 18mm it is a little soft, especially in the corners. I do think USM or better sharpening would be effective and convincing. At f4 everything sharpens nicely and I would be proud of the results right out of the camera.

At 50mm, it seems to do better in the center and the edges, even wide open.

F8 seems to be the sweet spot for this lens and it is sweet indeed! Very sharp edge to edge.

Focus accuracy appears very good with slight hunting some of the time. Very slight. Not a concern. Time will tell what happens under difficult conditions of low contrast or low light.

The filter had some impact wide open and wide-angle, but not enough to make me take it off, ever. The protection benefits are just too great and the image degradation is too small and mostly limited to the corners.

I love this lens and I think this copy is a keeper.

ziggy53

I prefer to use my Canon 16-35 F2.8 L Lens for weddings, only the best if making a profit on someones special day.

ziggy53 · July 27, 2005

Thanks Gary,

I noticed at the Corbally Wedding it looks like you teamed that lens (Canon 16-35 F2.8 L) with the Canon 20D. It also looks like you prefer f4 and you shoot often at the 35mm length.
Do you find the lens much sharper at f4 or do you prefer the little extra DOF, or both?
Do you ever wish you had a little longer zoom?

Thanks,

ziggy53

ExposeTheMoment · July 27, 2005

ziggy53 wrote:

Thanks Gary,

I noticed at the Corbally Wedding it looks like you teamed that lens (Canon 16-35 F2.8 L) with the Canon 20D. It also looks like you prefer f4 and you shoot often at the 35mm length.
Do you find the lens much sharper at f4 or do you prefer the little extra DOF, or both?
Do you ever wish you had a little longer zoom?

Thanks,

ziggy53

Well first off, my normal setup is the following.

Canon 20D
Canon 16-35 2.8 L
Canon 550ex Flash
Gary Fongs LSII

I like having DOF, but I do have and use a Sigma 70-200 2.8

From this point forward, I will be using a two camera setup at my weddings.

So I'll end up with.

Camera One

Canon 20D
Canon 17-35 2.8 L
Canon 550ex Flash
Gary Fongs LSII

Camera Two

Canon 10
Sigma 70-200 2.8D
Canon 550ex Flash
Gary Fongs LSII

My list of gear is pretty large.
Canon 20D & BG-E2 Grip, Canon 10D & BG-ED3 Grip, Canon 16-35 2.8 L
Sigma 20mm 1.8, 17-35mm f/2.8-4.0, Canon 17-55 (20D) Sigma 70-200 2.8
Canon 580EX Flash, Canon 550EX Flash, (2) LightSphere II
Lumiquest Pocket Bounce, Vosonic 2160 (20GB) Hand-Held Photo Storage
(1) 4GB Sandisk Flash Card (1) 1GB Compact Flash Card
(3) 1GB Sandisk Ultra II (2) 512mb Compact Flash Cards
(1) 256mb Compact Flash Card
(9) Sets of 4 MAHA PowerEx 2500 AA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
and PowerEx MH-C777 PLUS-II Charger

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon AF

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