3 comments about Sigma 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 DG IF Macro Aspherical Lens for Minolta and Sony SLR Cameras.

1. Great lens. Its metal body feels solid, unlike the ones the come with my camera which is made of plastic & feels like a toy. The pictures I took was clearer than the sony lens. The drawback is that it's on the heavy side & the auto focus mechanism is a little slower the the plastic one. All in all, you not only get your money's worth but you get more for your money.



2. I was very impressed with the quality of the shots from this lens. For this price it's hard to get a metal mount lens. Check DP reviews for a better picture, but it's quite sharp at mid level and doesn't fall off too bad towards the end. Definately a good buy.



3. This lens takes great pictures and I got it for under $100. However, when zooming, the lens "sticks" in the 100mm range. Since I photo mostly baseball with the lens fully extended, it doesn't bother me all that much. However, if I were constantly zooming in and out it would probably bother me more than it does. I am sure this is an anomaly and I was just too lazy to return the lens. I'd still recommend it, however; I can't give it five stars due to the less than smooth operation of the zoom.

5 comments about Sigma 24-60mm f/2.8 EX DG IF Aspherical Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras.

1. I just purchased the Sigma 24-60mm lens.I sent it back to get a nikon lens. I took over 200 test photos with this lens and the kit nikon 18-55mm lens. I was expecting the Sigma to win hands down. Most pictures with the Sigma at F/2.8 where unusable. They where very soft with poor resolution: all pictures taken on tripod with timer release. I was able
   to get some good photos at F/8 and higher. I had my hopes up for the Sigma, since it appeared to be well built and had the macro capability that I was looking for. My advice is test the lens before you put down your hard earned cash.I would think that if you bought a lens for the fast F/2.8 stop: you want good pictures at that F/stop. It is not very feasible to be forced to take pictures at f/8.0 or greater to get good pictures. I also bought a Sigma 50mm Macro and it is sharp through out the F/stop range. I did not have the time or desire to fight with Sigma USA about how unsharp an image is before it becomes worthless. I will in the future hand test any lens, before I buy a non-Nikon lens.



2. I just couldn't bring myself to pay $1,000 or $1,200 for a mid range zoom lens due to my limited photographic skills. I saw this inexpensive f/2.8 lens and thought I would give it a try. I was blown away by the quality of photos this lens produces. I think this lens and my Nikon D300 produce some of the best quality pictures that I have ever taken. This lens,my copy anyway,is sharp at every setting that I have tried.



3. Like some of the other reviews here, my copy was a bad one and I had to return it. Completely useless at 2.8f. Strangely enough, all the problems suddenly goes away and the lens tunrs tack sharp at f4. I bought this lens after I tried one of my friend's copy which had good sharpness at wide open through entire zoom range. I know this particular lens had same wide open sharpness problem during early production and was hence recalled in some counties like Korea and Japan. It makes me wonder whether we are receiving those recalled product or I was just unlucky with my copy.



4. love the product and am very pleased; the lens is one of my favorites. I have an excellent copy of the tamron 28-75 xr and this is just as good IMO. This lens matches my other sigma lenses, anal about that; and the build and function is prefect. A slight bito lens creep but the throw is only about an inch, so no hassle, (focusing great on the D300 and matches well) and a touch of flare in the sun, but nothing I cant handle, especailly considering the price I paid for this, I mean Im feeling forgiving. Sigma has my vote. I just ordered the 150 macro, and I got the 10-20 and the 15 fish, and also a 14 rectal. Oh and I got the 189$ 18-200 DC for the D70; fits nice, small and sharp, great for a beater kit.
   Amazon rocks too! Cameta camera is quick and responsive. Great team.



5. I purchased this lens to replace a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX that was stolen along with my D50 . This is now my main normal zoom and on my D200 about 75% of the time. It sits nicely between my Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX DG and Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX D HSM.
   
   This is probably the sharpest zoom lens I've ever owned. It's sharper than all of the other third-party lenses I've owned in the 24/28-70/75/80mm f/2.8 range. I've owned several others from Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. This is by far the sharpest and is completely usable at f/2.8 throughout the entire zoom range. It is also much more compact and light weight than the other third party options. It's about the same length and weight as the 18-70mm kit lens, but with a 77mm thread size. This makes for a body+lens combo that is very compact and easy to handle while still having the benefit of an f/2.8 aperture.
   
   The one minor negative I've found with this lens is a slightly less-than-smooth bokeh at f/2.8. It's a very minor complaint and would not have come to my attention had it not been for some forum posters who are much more critical of bokeh than I usually am.
   
   All in all, this lens is a bargain. It is noticeably sharper than the other 3rd party options in the range an, at the same time, is more compact and lightweight while maintaining acceptable build quality. 24mm is noticably wider than the other 28-XXmm options and wide enough for everyday use if you have a wide or ultra-wide lens to round out your kit. For anyone looking for a budget f/2.8 normal zoom, this one is tough to beat.

3 comments about Sigma DG 58mm Multi-Coated UV Filter.

1. I've tried many MC UV filters with my two 12x zoom cameras, from Promaster to Hoya to B&W. The Sigma however, was the one which gave me the best results. It cut down haze more than any other UV filter I used and colors were accurate. I definitely recommend this filter and you can not beat the price.



2. The filter was sent in a quick mannner. It works well with my Cannon Rebel.



3. This is a great UV filter to protect your lens investment. I purchased one for each lens I own, and have been very happy with them. Be sure to verify the size of your lens and order the correct lens size.

5 comments about Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras.

1. I bought this lens with the hope of having a budget telephoto lens for my Nikon D100. The point is I bought a wrong lens, since it is not an "OS"(Optical Stabilizer) Sigma lens where it is a real pain to have shake-free images in high focal lenghts especially in low light conditions (ofcourse without using a tripod).
   Macro performance is good but min focusing distance of 95mm may become a problem.



2. We have used the lens and it takes great pictures. However, we were disappointed that this was not an Autofocus lens. The instructions and the box clearly show AF/MF but the lens is clearly MF only.



3. I use this lens on my Nikon D50 and it produces awesome results. I used to initially use add on macro filters on the 18-55 lens kit. Though the magnification factor was really good in this setup, the working distance was bad. I had get to as close as 1 cm to get a nice macro. Then I got this lens and boy did things change for the good. I have damn good working distance and get a magnification of 1:2, meaning 1/2 real life size which is good considering the price. I always try and use it at 300mm in macro mode and move in as close to the subject as the lens would focus. The DOF is very good for a lens like this and I get really nice blurred out backgrounds for all my macro shots. I also use this as a nice potrait lens. Dont compare it other fixed focal length 1:1 macro lenses which are far more expensive, but then hey, If I showed you a photograph clicked by this lens and told you it was clicked by a more expensive one, you would believe me. I have added some to the product images section. These were shot without a tripod.... you can get sharper ones with a tripod. This lens is more useful for macro than a telephoto lens. The focussing speed of this lens is pretty bad, but hey for this price its the best you can get for the image quality that it produces. If you are just starting off with macro or need a handy cheap medium telephoto lens, go for this.
   
   Cheers
   Hari



4. The price was low, so I thought I try it. The macro option is nice, but tele is very blurred. Not useful for quality photos. Also I don't like the enormous long nose. You do need it extended for macro. Also the button for going to macro is clumsy and to small to operate easily. Tried it on my D40, D40x and D300; all the same bad result at 300mm. Would not have bought it if I knew the quality.



5. We got a great price on this lens. The only thing that it doesn't do is auto focus which we thought it did when we purchased the lens. I would recommend this lens!

5 comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. I bought this lens for my D60. It works really well and I have no focus problem as described be others. The HSM is fast and quiet. The color is a bit cold but still nice. Highly recommended.



2. I've had this lens now for about 6 months. I don't use it all the time, but do use it frequently. On a recent vacation to Disney World I had accident with my walk-around zoom lens. Luckily I had this lens with me too and it performed like a champ. Overall on that trip I took about 1000 images with it.
   
   I like the focal range on the digital format. It gives a very similar view to what the human eye see's. For film the 50mm gave this, however the 50mm now becomes a longer field of view and that can make for some tight shooting.
   
   Biggest issue I've come across is getting greater noise wide open at high ISO's. At times, on vacation, I didn't have the opportunity to stop and set up a tripod and take a long exposure. So I had to shoot wide open at ISO 1600 (on my Nikon D50). More often than not I was able to get fast enough shutter speeds to get the images I wanted handheld.
   
   Obviously depth of field at the f/1.4 is VERY shallow. So you have to be comfortable enough with your camera to get spot on focus points. Stopped down to f/2.8-f/11, I've found this lens VERY good. I've gotten a lot of sharp images.
   
   This is a great lens for everyday candids in low light situation with or without a flash.



3. If you need an indoor lens for your d40, d40x or d60 (a lens with a build-in motor: AF-S or HSM) this is the lens for you. 30mm is the perfect focal length, 1.4 is the perfect aperture for indoor, low light use.
   
   A bit less details on the edges at large apertures, but personally i don't mind in those dark circumstances: other lenses wouldn't even be able to shoot anything acceptable at all.



4. As of this writing this is the ONLY available "normal" focal length lens of this speed available for Nikon DX DSLR's. Fortunately, the optical performance of this superfast lens is excellent. Even wide open at f1.4 the sharpness and aberration control are admirably high. For indoor available light photography this is a real gem of a lens.
   
   The build quality is adequately high and the lens, while large, balances nicely on a DSLR body. The only problem here is that these lenses appear to suffer a painfully high rate of focusing errors upon purchase. My own copy front-focused quite significantly with both my D200 and D300 bodies (it was much worse with the latter). I had to send the lens to Sigma in New York for recalibration. This required a couple of weeks and the expense of mailing the lens across the country, but in the end I had a lens that functions perfectly. The apparent frequency of focusing issues with some Sigma lenses does make me a little reluctant to buy more from Sigma, frankly. But I am happy with this lens now and I use it quite frequently.



5. I've owned this lens for a few weeks now and I absolutely love it. According to test charts it front focuses a bit, but you wouldn't know it through actual use (at least I can't tell). The focusing is fast and quite. It hunts a bit in low light, but that's somewhat expected. This thing is a monster though. When using other lenses now, they just feel puny in comparison. I like the way it feels and for D40/D60/etc users, it's pretty much your only option at the moment.

5 comments about Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. Great lens, gives me more opportunities to work with light on my terms. Product arrived without delay. Great service!



2. i'm not sure if i got a good copy of this, it's my first time to use prime and a 3rd party lens, i just don't know if it's normal that the lens makes squeaking sounds when auto focusing. you can't be so sure on lenses autofocus accuracy but you can make small alterations on the focus. i haven't tested it on a real photo shoot but my first few shots were not that good because i'm used to cameras and lenses with anti-shake system, maybe after few weeks or a month i'll be able to get use to this lens. i'm thinking of bringing it to a service shop for re-chipping just to be sure that the autofocus will work properly.



3. I have tried several lenses on my rebel xt and all though I love my 50 1.4 for single portraits, this lens is amazing. Super sharp, and has replaced my tamron 17-50mm as my walk around lens. I do care that it doesn't zoom but when I have to decide sharpness over zoom, sharpness always wins.



4. I used this lens on my XTi with good results. After upgrading to a 40D, many of my shots were not focused properly. I thought it was the camera but it (apparently) was not. The lens is great from f4 to f16. But from f1.4 to f2.8 the images were not sharp. This was with careful testing using tripod, focus charts, remote shutter release, etc. It's not my failure to understand depth of field. I returned the lens.



5. After resisting buying this lens for a long time, I finally caved in after the canon 50mm f/1.8 or 1.4 was too limiting on my rebel XT. I haven't regretted the purchase. It is a tad soft at f/1.4, but not unbearable as long as you don't pixel peep (the 50mm f/1.4 was definitely sharper). My first copy was sharp with no front focusing issues. So I cannot attest to the quality issues of Sigma.
   
   I use this lens exclusively in the 1.4-2.0 range as I have the excellent Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for breathtaking shots f/2.8 and above. I only use the center focusing point on my Rebel XT and it hasn't given me any focus problems, though it is difficult to confirm the focusing using rebel xt's small viewfinder. With a thin DOF there is plenty of margin for errors, but I have managed to focus accurately most of the time. After an initial auto focus, I use the manual focus to check my focus.
   
   The only thing ugly about the images it produces is the bokeh. It produces a wierd rounded triangular bokeh, as though one side of a circle was smashed in. Never seen anything like that before. But the quality of the images is otherwise very good and well saturated and I am willing to live with the bokeh. Others may not be so forgiving.
   
   The build quality is nothing big to brag about. It has a black matte finish which seems delicate and susceptible easily to scratches or dust sticking to it. Otherwise, it feels solid and as heavy as canon L primes.
   
   With the cost of this lens, and the Tamron 17-50mm lens, I have essentially committed myself to crop cameras. It has been my experience that, for the sub 500$ lenses, crop lenses often more useful, have much better color and sharpness than any full frame lens in the same price range with some notable exceptions like the canon 50mm f/1.4 & f/1.8.

5 comments about Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.

1. This lens is very good for its price. I've been using it for portrait with good results. It has just one problem, it's noising. Also, it is $50 less compared with APO version --which is very similar--. If the noise is not problem for you and you want to get a fairly good and cheap lens, it is for you.



2. I'm not a pro or anything, but I got some really cool shots of the lunar eclipse the other night using this lens. The real test will be in Cabo this spring, but I'm thinking it'll do just fine. Not a lot of bread to put out for somebody like me that's just learning, but still gets some really awesome results.



3. For the price I have been very happy with this lens so far, although I have not had the opportunity to use the Macro feature yet. Clarity seems to be well maintained up to about 40 yards. I am looking forward to trying the Macro feature on insects this Summer, as that is the main reason I purchased the lens.



4. I am so happy I bought this lens for my Canon D400, and if you go for it, you will be too. I'll admit I was a bit skeptic because of its low price, but after playing with it for a couple of hours, I'm convinced it's simply an awesome lens for the price I paid... 'nuff said.



5. I am loving this lens, it works very well for what I am doing with it. Great nature, flower and even kid shots. On occasion the AF can be too slow for high action shots, but most of the time it's just fine. Highly recommended for any amateur getting into photography.

5 comments about Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.

1. A great macro lens for the money. Without a tripod, you'll have issues in the macro range if there isn't a strong light, but then if you were super serious about macro, you'd be using a tripod anyway.
   
   I've noticed some autofocus problems with this lens when trying to shoot stuff that is farther away. Even if you make the subject rather large in the viewfinder, often I find myself still having to use the manual focus. This adds a bit of frustration when trying to capture action from a distance.



2. I really like this lens. The only reason I gave it less than a perfect score is that it is a biot soft at the 300 end. Other than that it is great.



3. This lens is served me well with my Canon EOS 40D. The image is very faithful and sharp, and aberrations are non-visible. Despite it being such a powerful zoom, it is surprisingly light, silent and fast. The zoom ring has a substantial grip while the improved focusing ring has a crisp feel about it. The quick and precise Autofocus more than makes up for the price. Overall, a good buy and great value for money!



4. Great Telephoto lens,(for the price)
   Pros:
   Far zoom
   good price
   good quality images when there is good lighting
   
   Cons:
   horrible auto focus when zoomed in all the way. esp in low light..
   doesn't feel like its well made.. sometimes when focusing it, it feels like its going to break (though it hasn't)
   
   fine telephoto lens for the price, if you can afford more... then go for more. it is my least used lens, is fun sometimes tho and usefull



5. I've had this lens since September 2007, and have used it with a Digital Rebel XTi. I don't have any regrets about buying since I couldn't (and can't) afford either a better long telephoto lens or a better macro lens.
   
   However, it's limitations become apparent in short order. The zoom action is a little awkward...sometimes too stiff, sometimes with too much slippage. It's annoying have to manage the macro switch, which can only be engaged at certain zoom and focus ranges.
   
   This lens produces sharper photos than my previous camera, a Canon PowerShot S2 IS. However, it usually isn't quite sharp enough to take full advantage of a 10 megapixel sensor; comparing apples to oranges, it's somewhat less sharp than the 18-55mm kit lens at 18mm. Without image stabilization, it's also a tough lens to keep steady. On just about any shot except in full daylight (and sometimes even then), compromises have to be made between ISO, shutter speed (and the risk of motion blur), and aperture. Don't expect to use this lens indoors without a flash or a good tripod.
   
   All that said, it's a versatile lens in daylight, for costing what it does ($177 when I bought it). Anyone shopping for this lens should absolutely own the ($80) Canon 50mm f/1.8, if they don't have any primes in their bag.

5 comments about Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. Received this recently and really like it! Great quality and fast and quiet! Works perfectly with my Canon Digital Rebel XT.



2. This lens is very good. Wide Angle is putting it nicely. The Construction of the lens is superb and I am happy not to have wasted the money on the Canon 10-22mm for 200 more dollars.



3. This is a wonderful lens! All my photography buddies have the Canon 10-22mm, but I thought I would try out Sigma 10-20mm and I love this lens~! The lens quality is just as good as the Canon 10-22mm for about $200-$300 cheaper! Even at 100% crop, the image is still nice. Definitely worth it!



4. I got the sigma 10-20 first. It was defective with softness on left side. The replacement I got was soft on the left and the right side. I googled only to discover this was a known issue, but their still out there. If u want to take a chance and keep swapping, be my guest. But by the time your done returning, you'll probably be out of pocket in shippng charges.
   
   Sigma lens's are extremely good, i still swear by them. But this one may cost u a lot more than u think.
   
   I anted up and got the canon 10-22 and well, it's now glued to the body :)



5. this is an amazing lens, i shoot alot of live music and this is perfect. maybe a lil better f-stop would be nice. but its an amazing product for the price.. i get lots of great shots with this lens. really fun.

5 comments about Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. Super Wide Angle! Take it to the city and get amazing shots of buildings indoors and outdoors! It's also great in low light, because at 10mm focal length you can shoot handheld at 1/15th without blur. I am using it on a Nikon D80. The sharpness is outstanding, none of my Nikon lenses are better. This money was well spent!



2. While there are many good reviews on Amazon for this lens reviews on other sites aren't so consistently rosy so it was with some trepidation that I awaited delivery of this lens. I should add here that I am an enthusiastic amateur and don't claim to be the most discerning photographer around but I like to think I recognize quality when I see it.
   
   Anyway, it arrived today and first impressions are good from the feel and handling to the couple of dozen photos I've taken so far in and around the house with my Nikon D50. The build quality feels as good as my Nikon 18-200 which has been my main lens since I bought it last year to replace the kit lenses that came with my D50.
   
   Other reviews I had read mentioned the fact that the front and rear lens caps are rubbish (they are) and so I had already ordered a 77mm Nikon cap as a precaution and I'm glad I did. Also be aware that the Tiffin filters which Amazon sells are lower quality and generally not multi-coated and that can apparently lead to reflection problems with a lens as wide as this. I bought a Sigma MC UV filter accordingly.
   
   Will post again if I come across an problems down the line but otherwise it's 5 stars for now!



3. I am shocked about this lens. After many visits to the camera store, hours of internet research, and dozens of questions to professionals I bought this lens from Amazon. No local dealers bothered to carry it so once again the sale went to the internet.
   
   During my research it became obvious that one of the major limitations of many new DLSR's is a smaller overall field of view when compared to a traditional film based SLR using the same basic lens. Without going into the "why" the bottom line is my Nikon D40X's stock 18-55 cannot capture as wide a shot as I want.
   
   Terminology becomes an issue when trying to explain this lens to an amateur, or the person who might be involved with your new 500 dollar purchase. The word "wide" has new meaning these days when applied to TV's and monitors, so people are confused when you try to tell them about a lens that is "wide". This is significant because so many new D40X buyers, for example, are jumping into SLR for the first time and have no clue about lenses. These are the people who probably have no idea what they are missing.
   
   The overall focus on lenses gets further confusing for amateurs because of all the hype about "zoom", and when kits like the D40X give you an extra zoom but no wide lens. Zoom is like one of those numbers consumers make sure to ask about before they make their purchase. While zoom photography is cool, I feel the magic of wide-angle photography is a well kept secret. Consumers would be well served to be asking about "wide" instead, and start walking the camera up closer to their subject. You'll see why later.
   
   Doing research became even harder when I began to read about the Nikkor 12-24 and new 14 wide angle lenses. At $1000 and $1700 I began to feel like my dream would never come true. Then I held the new 14mm at the camera store, attached to a D60. It is a monster in every way. After looking at some dinky conversion lenses I was ready to give up. The amazing reviews of the new Nikon wide-angle lenses left me feeling it might be years away.
   
   That's when I found the Sigma 10-20, roughly 5 lenses later. The solid 5 star reviews combined with under-$500 price tag got me looking, and then the test shots. $20 of overnight shipping later I must say this is a product that should come with the camera. All new consumers should be made aware of what this thing can do. It should be bundled or at least sold beside these cameras, not the total mystery it seems to be. This wide angle lens should go into the hands of amateurs and professionals alike. It could be the factor that keeps new people into the hobby when their zoom shots are all messed up. Simply put this lens allows your camera to better match what you see with your eyes. The creative possibilities of a wider field of view should not be underestimated. It could sell more cameras, so it seems the competition should be looking up to Sigma, especially at this price tag. Have fun!



4. I bought this lens a few weeks ago and so far I'm very pleased with it's performance. The picture quality is excellent, and the handling is great. And it balances well with my Nikon D300 (although it's a bit too light to be perfect).
   
   I have to admit that I'm no expert in judging lenses, so therefore I read a lot of tests and reviews before I chose this lens. So if you are too lazy to do the same, take my word for it. This is repeatedly a test winner.
   
   If you look for a reasonably priced wide angle zoom as an addition to you standard zoom, this is a very good (the best?) choice.



5. Excellent product. Edge to edge sharpness is very good even at 10mm. Totally happy with this purchase.