New Sigma Lenses...Excited?

[Steve U]

Umm...No

I can't imagine you would be to excited about it either Steve. The Zeiss 35mm just not doing it for you anymore?? If not let me know I will give it a try.

Still happy with the Zeiss Rick, might even consider expanding the stable in the future. Just have to save a little harder. But their 15mm looks incredible and the new 55mm and 135mm will be probably the best at those lengths. Not a lot of competition at 55mm, I suppose.

It will be very interesting to see the charts for the new 120-300 and how it compares and if the 300/2.8L justifies triple the price. Might be a high IQ, cheaper alternative for a lot of sporting guys.

[HDNitehawk]

Dr. Of course. I think the comparison between the 70-200mm L and the Sigma will be the one to make.

[ddt0725]

If I had the $, I would be all over these Sigma lenses when they are released!

I've owned (and sold) alot of glass including many "L" lenses and I have to say, the two lenses I miss the most is the Sigma 85mm and the Sigma 150mm OS macro. Once I did a correct MA on the 150mm, it was fantastic! I look at photos that I took with the Canon 100mm IS L macro next to my photos taken with the Sigma 105mm OS macro, the Sigma 150mm OS macro and the Sigma 70mm macro, and I don't see that the Sigma shots are inferior. The Sigma 70mm was probably the sharpest lens I ever owned next to the Canon TS-E 90mm which was very sharp, I just did not like the slowness of the 70mm. I've compared my shots taken with my Canon 50mm 1.4, Canon 50mm 1.8 II and the Sigma 50mm 1.4 and again do not find the Sigma shots inferior. I am also very satisfied with the Sigma lenses I own now. Call me crazy but I am happier with my Sigma 50-150mm OS than I was with either of the two copies I had of the Canon 70-200mm f/4 IS. My Canon 17-55mm IS vs. my Tamron 17-50mm vs. my Sigma 17-50mm OS, I'm just as happy with my Siggy as I was with my Canon. I suppose if you pixel peep my shots, maybe the Canon shots come out on top but for normal viewing, I'm happy with my photos taken with my Sigma's. Any discontent would be in my skill rather than the glass. IMO - Sigma has come a long way and is still living down a past reputation of being godawful.

Yep, I have had to return a Sigma to get a better copy but I also have had to return "L" glass to get a better copy. Would I rather return a Sigma and save $$$$, you betcha! Weather-sealing? Nice to have but I don't necessarily need it for the price you pay for it. Dust and moisture resistance will be icing on the cake.

So for what it's worth, my opinion is that the new Siggy's are definitely worth taking a closer look at.

[AndrewIC]

The major selling point, to me, is the USB dock:

• Being able to change AF parameters on the lens is great, especially if used with bodies without AFMA. This seems to ideally suit the target market of the 17-70. For the pricier lenses or better bodies, heck, depending how they've done it, it might even be better than the in-body AFMA: e.g. 1Dx style rather than 7D.
• Self-upgradable lens firmware. Anyone investing $$$$ in a 120-300 f/2.8 can have some confidence that if there is an issue with future bodies, the lens can be upgraded to suit.

Of course, it helps that they look the part, too. If they do an update of the 70-200 f/2.8 in the new style, with USB, I'd be sorely tempted.