Product Description
Marketing description is not available.
Customer Reviews:
Great alternative to Canon EFS 17-55 f.2.8 .......2007-12-12
I purchased this lens after some considerable thought and comparative research against the Canon EFS 17-55 F2.8. While the Canon is a great lens, I couldn't justify the huge difference in price for what seemed to be a very comparative lens in terms of quality and features. Sure, it doesn't have the image stabilization, but in most cases, my problem is not lens shake but rather subject movement (little kids for the most part) and IS doesn't do any good for that. Here is where the 2.8 fixed aperture is great.
I use this as my main lens with a Canon 40D and find it works great as an every day lens. This lense absolutely blows away the Canon EFS 17-85 kit lens that is often paired with the 40D. That lens, although more versatile in terms of focal length, did not seem nearly as high quality and with the much slower speed of the lense (4-5.6), I found myself always having to use the flash.
Overall build-quality is excellent. The lens has a good solid feel to it, but isn't too heavy.
Great lens and a fantastic price.
Be wary of quality control.......2007-12-01
I went through two copies of this lens. The first copy had a front-focus problem approaching 20mm. I sent sample shots to Sigma, and they directed me to simply return the lens to Amazon rather than have it serviced. So, I exchanged it (big points to Amazon for making that so easy!), and the second copy front-focussed by approximately 8mm. That's not nearly as bad, of course, but for close-up photography, it meant few keepers. (I bought this lens for the macro capabilities, as I intended to use it in restaurants, taking pictures of my plate without moving away from the table.) The focus problem was in both my Canon XTi and my Canon 40D. None of my Canon lenses have any focus problems whatsoever; this issue was limited to the Sigma lens.
I sent the lens to Sigma for service, and three weeks later, received my lens back in even worse condition than it started. It still front-focusses by 8mm, and now, even what is "in focus" is much softer than before. I contacted Sigma repeatedly to ask them what I should do, and they ignored my emails.
I have seen many good shots from this lens from people who had good copies. When I shot at f/5.6 or above, I would catch my intended focus point (since the depth of field was increased), but that made shots in lower-light too blurry due to the slower shutter speeds.
This lens can be very good -- if you get a good copy from the start. If you read comments on the photography forums, you'll see story after story of quality control problems from Sigma, and the need for repeated service attempts before a lens will be correctly calibrated. (Several people even report having to send the lens WITH their camera body so the lens could be matched -- even though their camera was correctly calibrated to Canon spec -- being without their camera entirely for several weeks.) If you luck out with a good copy (which is not as likely as it should be), you'll enjoy the lens. If you don't, return it immediately rather than dealing with Sigma service.
The price is low, but the risk is high.
Awesome lens.......2007-11-10
This is an awesome lens. I've had the 1st edition (non-macro) version and even that was nice. This is nicer where the lens is sharper and delivers more vivid color. The macro function is nice and even sharp as well. At 2.8 it's not that sharp, but bump it up a bit to 4, you'll get an amazing result. It also gives you a nice bokeh between 2.8 to 4 for close up photography. Barrel distortion is not that noticeable at the wide end. I just got this lens last Friday and already make a print result of this lens on 40D, 20D and XTI. The close up result is awesome, nice and sharp came out from all 3 cameras. Very nice you can see it at least in 5x7 size. I did notice a loud motor sound when it focuses. I wouldn't care too much if this is just your walk around lens. There is HSM version on this but only available for Nikon at this time.
This will become my walk around lens. I also have Canon EF 24-105 F/4 L for my main wedding lens. Although this is not L quality, I say it's a very nice lens and really close to the L result. I'm not that L junkie anyway. I let go EF 24-70 F2.8 for this lens so I can take it anywhere. I do wedding ocassionaly and I almost lose my neck for holding that beast. That lens is a beast, but very nice though, sharp all the way around. If you have the money, of coarse you'll get the canon 17-55 2.8 IS but I'd rather have a nice weekend vacation with my wife and get this nice, sweet and lite lens. Funny how much I spent on the UV for this with B+W UV MRC, about 1/3 the cost of the lens. But this lens deserves a nice UV.
So guys, if you get this lens enjoy your extra money you've saved for the canon lens. Best bang for your buck......
value is great, quality is not.......2007-08-28
I've bot this lens and was soon disappointed. With all the great value (good zoom range, image quality and 2.8 aperture over the whole range for the price) the lens suffered from terrible front focus on my Digital Rebel XT.
Interestingly enough, my friend's Canon EOS 30D didn't have the problem.
Also I bought the lens through a third-party vendor (47th street photo) on Amazon and hence had troubles reaching them for a return or refund.
So my recommendation is: if buying this lens, make sure to test it right away, keeping all the packaging stuff in case you'll have to return it. I've made some research afterwards and apparently it's quite often to have such problems as I did.
GREAT LENS.......2007-08-27
Have used lens for about a month now , great pictures at night and low light conditions ... great value
Product Description
To maintain high optical performance from infinity to close-up 1: 1 (life-size) macro photos without accessories, the new Sigma 50mm f2.8 EX incorporates a "floating" element focusing system. Designed as a quick-focusing macro lens the AF speed of 50mm, f2.8 EX Macro is 1.4 times faster than previous 50mm f2.8 macros. It features a non-rotating front lens group, which makes it easier to work with polarizing filters and has a focus limiter. The Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX Macro lens also features the new deluxe EX external finish. A handy screw type metal sunshade makes it easier to rotate a polarizing filter.
Customer Reviews:
Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 EX DC.......2007-05-30
Great price for a great walk around lens.
Light weight
Great macro shots
Easy zoom from a wide angel to 50mm for a portrait shots.
Sharp pictures.
Great lens.......2007-01-27
I currently own this lens and the Canon 50mm f/1.8. The 1.8 is clearly better in lower light conditions, but if I had to pick a good all-around indoor lens this would be it. The 18mm range is great for when a prime lens is too close, and the 50mm max length is also very sharp. I'm also satisfied with the build quality.
Product description QUITE WRONG, and lens has been REPLACED with a better one - don't buy it!.......2007-01-12
This is a terrific lens, but Sigma has now re-released it as an 18-50mm F/2.8 EX DC Lens with MACRO capability (can focus down to 8", and 1:3 magnification), for very little additional cost, making this version of the lens essentially obsolete.
Furthermore, the other reviewer is correct that Cameta's (or Amazon's) description is quite misleading. This is NOT the Macro version of this lens. It will NOT give you 1:1 magnification (nor will the Macro version, for that matter, so I'm at a loss as to how such an unrealistic claim found its way into the ad copy!)
To locate the NEW, improved version of this lens, search on:
Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 MACRO CANON (one is also made for Nikons)
Pretty good lens.......2006-09-19
I bought this lens with my Canon Rebel XTi. The default lens that came with the camera was very bad (EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6). I don't recommend it to anyone, it is really a waste of the camera's capabilities, and the pictures you get may not be as good as that from a point and shoot camera.
I am very happy with the Sigma lens. I love the f2.8 feature as it makes indoor pictures (w/o flash) much better. The pictures are pretty sharp in general (especially around the focus point). Beware that taking pictures at f2.8 can be tricky, i.e. while the image center is in focus, the edges and other more distant points may be not be (try increasing the f number if there is sufficient light).
There are three lenses in the market with comparable price & performance: Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC, Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di II LD and Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. Sigma is the cheapest and the other two are a bit more expensive.
I've just compared my Sigma with a friend's Canon today. The picture qualities were almost identical. Canon was a bit sharper due to Image Stabilization, but f2.8 in Sigma compansates for that. Overall, the picture qualities were very very similar. Canon has a slightly wider range of zoom, but I don't know if it worthy of $150 price delta. The barrel distortion at 18mm is noticeable with both cameras.
The reviews I read online indicate that Tamron and Sigma lenses are pretty similar, although the reviews for Tamron are a bit better. I haven't tested the Tamron yet.
I haven't had any focusing issues with the Sigma. It takes a while to get used to auto-focus function in Rebel cameras and perfect focusing is not 100% guaranteed. But that's true for any lens. You just need to learn how to do it.
I am aware of only one lens which is considerably better than the Sigma: Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. That lens really rocks. Its colors are more saturated and it is sharper due to IS. However, it is _very_ expensive. If you cannot afford it, one of the three lenses above can be your choice. Sigma offers the best value among three, and it has pretty good performance.
Great lens with minor problems.......2006-01-02
I am very happy with my purchase of this lens. I bought it to replace my Rebel XT's 18-55mm kit lens, and it compliments the camera very well. The greatest strength of this lens is its remarkable sharpness. Even 100% crops retain their quality. Shots are even acceptable at f2.8 (better than or equal to the kit lens at f8+), and past f8 the lens is stunningly sharp. I uploaded some shots and 100% crops to amazon in order to illustrate my point. The sharpness of this lens is easily comparable to Canon's 17-40, which says quite a lot.
The corners are not as sharp as the center, especially in wide angles. Outside of the center, the 18-50 is also prone to chromatic abberations/fringing but not worse than almost any other lense. Barrel distortion is present at 18mm but much better than the competition (ie, the 17-40L and 17-85 IS).
Color saturation is good- not as impressive as the Canon 17-40 but still perfectly adequate and very good with a slight software sharpening boost.
The only true negative I have found is a propensity for light lens flare. Even when the sun is out of frame by 20 degrees, flare can still occur. (note that this flaring is not major, and I have often not even noticed it until the second or third time I come back to a picture) I have also noticed flare from street lamps in 10+ second night shots. The lens comes with a decent hood (as well as a pretty nice soft case) in order to help prevent flares. However, I have noticed flaring in cases where the sun was so indirect I never would have thought to attach the hood. The lens cap also cannot be accessed while the hood is on, which is a frustrating design quirk. While, even in the best lenses, flare is not totally avoidable the 18-50 flares much more frequently than other lenses I have used. I don't know if this is an issue with the internal optics or the coatings used on the lens.
Even considering flare problems, I would buy this lens again without a second thought. Its only direct competitor in quality is the Canon 17-40L, which is more expensive, shorter in range, has a narrower max aperture and worse barrel distortion. I am extremely happy with almost every shot this lens generates, and its moderate price makes the 18-50 f2.8 a great companion for the Rebel XT.
Product Description
Kit includes: 1) Canon Digital Rebel XTi; 2) Sigma 18-50mm Lens; 3) Transcend 2GB CompactFlash (CF) Card; 4) USB Card Reader; 5) Replacement Battery for Canon NB-2LH; 6) Deluxe SLR Gadget Bag; 7) Digital Image Recovery Software; 8) Memory Card Storage Wallet; 9) Cleaning Cloth. ♦ Canon Digital Rebel XTi includes: NB-2LH Rechargeable Battery; Battery Charger; Wide Neck Strap; Lens Cap & Body Cap; Eyecup; USB Cable; Video Cable; Software CD-ROM; Instructions; Canon USA Warranty. ♦ Sigma 18-50mm includes: Lens Hood; Front and Rear Lens Caps; Soft Case; Instructions; Sigma USA Warranty. ♦ Canon's Digital Rebel XTi combines imaging excellence, intuitive ease of use and affordability. Even with such marquee features as 10.1 megapixel resolution, Canon CMOS sensor, large 2.5 inch display screen and the remarkable Integrated Cleaning System, the Digital Rebel XTi SLR remains an incredibly affordable option for photographers. ♦ The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Autofocus Zoom Lens has a large aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11") and a maximum magnification of 1:5. Specially designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras, this lens provides a high level of optical performance. ♦ NOTE ON PACKAGING: The camera body you will receive is All BRAND NEW with a Full Canon USA Warranty and was originally packaged as a kit with the Digital Rebel XTI Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens. You will receive the original Canon manufacturer's kit box with only the 18-55mm lens removed. It includes ALL original camera accessories (the Canon USA Warranty Card, Batteries, Chargers, Cords, Instruction Manuals, etc.). This camera is all BRAND NEW and has NEVER been used.
Product Description
Kit includes: 1) Canon Digital Rebel XTi; 2) Sigma 18-50mm Lens; 3) Transcend 4GB CompactFlash (CF) Card; 4) USB Card Reader; 5) Replacement Battery for Canon NB-2LH; 6) Deluxe SLR Gadget Bag; 7) Digital Image Recovery Software; 8) Memory Card Storage Wallet; 9) Cleaning Cloth. ♦ Canon Digital Rebel XTi includes: NB-2LH Rechargeable Battery; Battery Charger; Wide Neck Strap; Lens Cap & Body Cap; Eyecup; USB Cable; Video Cable; Software CD-ROM; Instructions; Canon USA Warranty. ♦ Sigma 18-50mm includes: Lens Hood; Front and Rear Lens Caps; Soft Case; Instructions; Sigma USA Warranty. ♦ Canon's Digital Rebel XTi combines imaging excellence, intuitive ease of use and affordability. Even with such marquee features as 10.1 megapixel resolution, Canon CMOS sensor, large 2.5 inch display screen and the remarkable Integrated Cleaning System, the Digital Rebel XTi SLR remains an incredibly affordable option for photographers. ♦ The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Autofocus Zoom Lens has a large aperture of f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range, a minimum focusing distance of 28cm (11") and a maximum magnification of 1:5. Specially designed to suit the characteristics of digital SLR cameras, this lens provides a high level of optical performance. ♦ NOTE ON PACKAGING: The camera body you will receive is All BRAND NEW with a Full Canon USA Warranty and was originally packaged as a kit with the Digital Rebel XTI Camera Body & EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens. You will receive the original Canon manufacturer's kit box with only the 18-55mm lens removed. It includes ALL original camera accessories (the Canon USA Warranty Card, Batteries, Chargers, Cords, Instruction Manuals, etc.). This camera is all BRAND NEW and has NEVER been used.
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