sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 aps-c lens

[Kayaker72]

Seems like Sigma has 3 good lenses out recently (35 f/1.4, 18-35 f/1.8, and now the 120-300 f/2.8). That is very encouraging. If they get one of their xxx-500 mm lenses to be as good, I'll definitely be taking a long hard look. The 120-300 f/2.8 seems like a great lens. But for the money and weight, I'll go with the 70-200 f/2.8II plus the 1.4x extender and lose a stop. These seems like it is really for those that want a less expensive way to get to f/2.8 at 300 mm.

[conropl]

Pat,

I'm probably just complaining without having that good of a reason...

The 6D is a good camera and it isn't that I don't like it. Just speaking for myself here, but frankly it is a lot of cost and it doesn't stop at the body if you want to get the most out of it. I'm not willing to put the amount of money into lenses that would be needed to realize all of the performance gains.

Something as simple as going to a baseball game and you realize a 70-200 lens is way too short. The images can still turn out nice, but a decent amount of cropping is required.

I think your lens kit will transition well if you choose to go full frame. The 24-105L can now do wider things now, the 100mm macro is maybe even a bit better of a portrait lens and your 100-400 should still be long enough for wild life and sports use. Plus, you are a very high grade photographer. I'm quite confident you'd excel with a FF kit.

Dave

Dave:

Thanks for your thoughts. I have been trying to make sure my lenses are compatible with FF except for the 10-20mm.

I like long exposures, and low light shooting. That is the reason I want to get to FF... i.e., to get better low light performance (higher ISO/less noise). I also like the idea of my lenses getting wider, but the converse worries me. When I use my 100-400mm (which is a far amount), it is usually at 400mm (640mm equivalant). The FF is not going to afford me that kind of reach, and I do not see a solution to that beyond spending a lot of money.

I will be upgrading next spring... so at that point the 7DII should be out. If the 7DII has high ISO capability equivalent to FF, then I have a decision to make. But I doubt the crop sensor will live up to the FF low light abilities... we'll see.

Pat

[DavidEccleston]

When I use my 100-400mm (which is a far amount), it is usually at 400mm (640mm equivalant). The FF is not going to afford me that kind of reach, and I do not see a solution to that beyond spending a lot of money.

Keep your 7D handy, or if the 7D sale is funding the full-frame, buy a 1.4X extender. Distant wildlife, and the occasional agility movie are the only uses my 7D sees these days, and I've got an ancient FF camera.

[conropl]

Keep your 7D handy, or if the 7D sale is funding the full-frame, buy a 1.4X extender. Distant wildlife, and the occasional agility movie are the only uses my 7D sees these days, and I've got an ancient FF camera.

I do have a 1.4X, and I did forget that the 5D III does allow AF at f/8 since the firmware update in April... so that is an option. That was always reserved for 1D series bodies in the past.

Brant - Have you tried your 100-400mm with a Canon 1.4X on your 5D III?

Pat

[Kayaker72]

Brant - Have you tried your 100-400mm with a Canon 1.4X on your 5D III?

Pat

The short answer is not yet with AF. In February, I sent the 1.4x TC I bought back to shave a little off the investment I was making at the time and because I was getting similar IQ results with cropping on the 5DIII without the 1.4 TC as with it in the tests I did. Those tests were with the 100-400L, tripod mount, and manual focused in live view. As the 100-400L has a pretty short focus throw, I am probably due to give it another chance now that I can try it with AF. I'll definitely do so before you are ready to buy, but that sounds like it is next spring. Let me know.

But I have shot a number of birds with just the 100-400L and 5DIII and haven't really missed the reach. I do notice it on far away subjects, but, for example, this shot was at 44 meters and for some reason @ 365 mm:

small-5032-2 by kayaker72, on Flickr

It isn't yet a 100% crop, but it is getting close.

[Dave Throgmartin]

Bryan's outstanding ISO crops now make it 4 different web sites that have shown the Sigma to have remarkable image quality.

DXOMark, Lenstip,and SLRGear all previously gave it very high marks, and now Bryan's post confirms it.

Bryan's ISO crops:
Canon 17-55 on 60D vs Sigma 18-35: Sigma even at f/1.8 beats the Canon at f/2.8 at every focal length except 35, and at 35 beats it by f/2.
17 TS on 60D vs 18-35 Sigma at 18: Sigma wins at f/1.8 vs TS at f/4
24 f/1.4 L II on 60D vs 18-35 Sigma at 24: Sigma wins at f/2 vs f/2 at each location in the frame
28 f/2.8 IS was not tested on 60D and there are no other worthy competitors at that focal length
35 f/1.4 L on 60D vs 18-35 Sigma at 35: Sigma wins at f/2 vs f/2 at each location in the frame

Despite all of that I'm not seeing much of a buzz anywhere about the 18-35. I'm curious why? Has anyone who would have bought this lens already gone full frame?

Performance seems off the charts and I haven't seen any objectionable bokeh,etc... posted.

I've seen posts that the 18-35 at 35mm even works on full frame without too bad vignetting. I'm curious if the same is true at 28mm or if the vignetting is a big problem here.

Dave

[trav.cunningham]

I too have not considered buying other than Canon, but the reviews on the new Sigma's are making me question that. I am a photo enthusiast on a budget so I like to get a lot out of one lens. The one that has caught my eye is the updated 17-70mm F2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM. If the IQ is good, at $500 this could be my upgrade from my kit lens.

[ogrec]

dont buy sigma 17-70mm, i've shot with it and you're much better off getting canon 15-85mm or 17-50/17-55mm f/2.8 lens. 17-70 is not very sharp, not as fast as constant f/2.8 and doesnt have a range to compete with 15-85. only good thing about it is the low price tag.
edit: i didnt realize new version was released, disregard my comment

on topic: i remember the time when people were buying primes because they were faster and sharper then zooms... for anyone on aps-c this is like having 35 and 50mm prime constantly on their camera

[trav.cunningham]

After reading Bryan's review. This lens is definitely on my wish list.