5 comments about Sigma 70-300mm & 28-70mm DG Lens Set + Pro Accessory Kit for Canon EOS 50D, 40D, 30D, 20D, 5D, 1D, Digital Rebel XT, XTi, XS, & XSi SLR Cameras (Holiday Special).

1. I am very pleased with my purchase of these products, my wife is just starting out on her photography hobby and all the research I did and all the places I looked these are awesome products. Some of the accessories might be a little on the aftermarket side but for a few more bucks why not? I give this a 5 star rating as this kit is affordable and awesome for beginners. The lenses are well built and the cases are awesome.



2. I received the items in a good shape and ontime. I could not expect better service



3. I went on a vacation to Yellowstone right after i received the lenses and they allowed me to take so many more pictures than i could with my old lens. I was able to take alot of pictures of wildlife with the 70-300mm telephoto lens and i was able to fit entire landscapes easily with the 28-70mm lens. the filters that come with the package also increased the clarity and contrast of my pictures. The lens cleaning kit did not work very well and i was pretty dissatisfied with it and the tripod is ok but very cheap so it cannot support the telephoto lens. the whole package was very great for its price and i am overall pleased with it but i did not expect all of the things other than the lenses to be cheap products from wal-mart. the delivery was fast to and it came with everything thats mentioned. if you have the money and are looking for affordable and useful lenses that can handle many different situations then i defiantly recommend this kit. The lenses are not quite professional quality but they sure do get the job done. it was like christmas morning opening up all the stuff that came in the package.



4. This was my first time purchasing a professional SLR. I bought a Canon Rebel XSi (body) and was looking for a good lens. I came across this kit (which seemed to good to be true, of course). I'm usually skeptical, since I've read in ripoffreport.com about places that offer kits like these and end up scamming you.
   
   Anyway, I received it ONTIME (2days) and with everything except the SAMSONITE BAG. I was a bit worried, so I called right-away and spoke to a representative that politely explained why the SAMSONITE bag wasn't included.
   
   He said since what you are really paying for is for the lenses, all the other accessories weren't priced. They ran-out of the SAMSONITE bags and instead gave me a VIDPRO bag along with a smaller HOLSTER CAMERA CASE. They also gave me a SAMSONITE tripod, which I wasn't expecting it to be that brand.
   
   All in all, I'm very happy with the purchase, I didn't complain about the bag missing, he was very nice and said if I had any questions to call back.
   
   4 stars because they don't have it specified that the SAMSONITE bags are not offered. It is an excellent purchase to go along with just a purchase of a Canon Camera body.
   
   Hope that helps!



5. I don't know in depth of lens technology, since I am new to this field and I don't hesitate to call myself a novice user in this field. However I have been learning of late about all this stuff and reading the reviews of lens.
   
   About Sigma 70-300 DG lens - I am happy with it; I get to play around a lot connecting it to Canon 450D. Worth mentioning that I got very good portrait pictures and macros using this lense. It covers quite a good distance. Backgorund blurr effect is amazing. Quality may not be called as "Outstanding" as compared to canon telephoto lens.
   
   I will post few pictures taken by this lens.

5 comments about Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.

1. Sigma makes nice lenses, what can I say? It's been reviewed In Pop Photography. I will eventually start shooting flies' eyeballs, but it's last on my priority list.



2. If you use this lens for macro with your Canon DSLR, beware that you should not use auto-focus. I got this lens to take macro pictures of coins and small items. I found that the depth of field is so low that the coin HAS TO BE flat and the camera dead-on to the coin. Only then will you get the whole coin in focus.
   
   The depth of field is about 0.25mm. To get to the 1:1 macro mode, you have to be pretty far from the subject, say 10 inches. With the low DOF, you definitely have to use a copy stand or tripod because the slightest movement will cause the subject to be out of focus.
   
   As always, the quality with Sigma lenses is here. It is a solid piece of hardware that is well-put-together. Would I buy it again? Yes. In a heartbeat. Once I get the focus down, I'll be getting better images. I have not tried it on my copy stand yet, I hope it fits well.
   
   If you are looking for a great macro lens, look no further. However, it does NOT double as a good snapshot lens as you have to be quite far from your subject in order to fit them in the frame. With the lens that came with the camera (Canon Rebel XTi) I need to be about 50 feet from my house to get it into frame. With this lens, I need to be about 70 feet from the house to get it all in frame. Just something to think about. This is not a universal lens.



3. After researching 50mm macro's I purchased this for my son for Christmas this year. I seriously considered the Canon lens, but it requires an adapter to make it a true 1:1 macro, doubling its price. The Sigma is a 1:1 macro without an adapter, making it about half the price of the Canon. Reviews of the lens are nearly all positive, and on-line photos I've seen taken with it look very good. My son and I went to the local butterfly "zoo" to try it out the day after Christmas and the results are very good. He's VERY happy with the lens.



4. I adore this lens! it makes shooting closeups (flowers, insects and circuitry) a breeze and i get such a great shot everytime. i find myself leaving this lens in a lot as just my default, since these kinds of shots are my preference.



5. I've always like Sigma products. The macro on this lens is wonderful. I recommend it to anyone.

5 comments about Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. I bought this lens hoping it would give me the over all photo lens capability for general photography I want. This lens for the money has come close to that expectation. It is a very good lens. I have shot close to 100 photographs of people and scenes, great clarity for the price. I have no complaints so far.



2. This lens picks up where my standard 18-55mm left off. I have a Canon Digital Rebel XT. The motor of the Sigma is kind of raspy, but my ear is also closer to the motor than everybody else's. Another thing - I wish the zoom wasn't so stiff. Other than that, the lens is good value. I think an equivalent from the Canon manufacturer was in the $200 range.



3. New to photography, I decided to read a multitude of reviews on the camera itself as well as the kit lens. Like many who read the reviews, I found that near 90% of the reviews were not in the kit len's favor, and thus decided to search for a different lens to go with my canon Xti body. I debated between this lens and the 70-300, knowing that the 70-300 would be better for sports, but much less useful for those group/portrait shots. I then found this nify little lens and decided, knowing that the Xti has a 1.6x multiplier, that the equiv. of a 88-320 would be just fine compared to the 70-300. Budget was also a concern and I was able to eventually find the Sigma for under $150. This lens isn't the quietest, fasest, or sharpest lens available, but it sure does the job for shooting well lit sporting events and more than does the trick for a new photographer looking to really get started with a dSLR!



4. Given the specs on this lense, you should only expect to be able to use it at the long end of the telephoto range in good light levels.
   
   Overall - i've been absolutely satisfied for it, and can't get over the price. The only time i found myself wanting for a better lense, was an indoor graduation, low light levels, from very far away. The shots were dark, and when i slowed it down a bit to let in more light, i obviously got blurry pics.
   
   In every other situation, and in the mid telephoto ranges - the image quality has been excellent, and have not had a problem with the light.



5. This is a very nice lens - I read several reviews and decided to go for it. The colors are a bit on the warmer side (more red than reality) - but you can fix it either on the camera (by lowering saturation) or on ACDSee (reduce red color).
   
   Perhaps a bit on the soft side, but I am learning that DSLR images are great and lend themselves to sharpening with any software without much noise or artifacts. After a tad bit of sharpening, its difficult to tell the picture apart from a much more expensive lens. Very nice background blur, so portraits at the park, or garden, or the beach look fantastic.
   
   Very pleased with the lens - for $149 its an amazing product.

5 comments about Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG IF HSM Aspherical Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras.

1. I use this lens primarily for architectural work. It's rugged, fast focusing, and most important, distortion free (i.e., straight lines stay straight). Dramatic design, built for full frame use if (when) you decide it's time to go that way. It's also performed extremely well for landscapes....even some shots at weddings. My most frequently used lens. (Hint: on the APS-C format digital SLRS, you can leave the accessory ring on the lens - it provides additional flare resistance, and there is no vignetting.)



2. There's nothing else this wide for use on a full-frame 35mm camera or digital such as the Canon 5D. It's so wide on a full-frame that you can almost see behind you (well not quite, but close to 180 degree field of view). It is not a fisheye, so straight lines stay straight. There is some minor vignetting at 12mm but less than the Canon 17-40 L-lens I had at 17mm. This lens is pushing the limits of physics so it is not as sharp as some lenses but it takes in so much more of the view and provides a crisp image all the way to the corners.
   
   For use on a cropped sensor camera, such as the XT, 20D or 30D a better choice may be the Canon 10-22mm which is uber-sharp in the middle of the frame. The Canon, however, gives fuzzy images on the sides when wide open but sharpens up when stopped down to f8 or more. My third copy of the Sigma lens is less sharp than the Canon in the center of the frame but is sharper starting about halfway to the edge when both lenses are wide open. Near the edges of the frame the Canon gives a dark and mushy image when wide open at 12mm while the Sigma is only slightly less sharp than at the center - truly amazing!
   
   Unfortunately, Sigma lenses are seemingly sold "as-is" with wide sample variations. The autofocus died on my first copy of the lens after less than 30 pictures. The second copy had poor optics with soft and fuzzy pictures even when manually focused. The third copy is sharp at 12mm, even wide open, all the way to the edges, but only if manually focused. At 12mm the lens autofocuses too far away when an object is close and too close for distant objects. At 24mm it autofocuses right on but is softer than at 12mm. I've decided to keep it since it is easy to manually focus. The depth of focus is large at 12mm. For objects further than a few meters away when using 12mm just set the lens to infinity and everything from a few feet to infinity is in focus even at the edges of the frame and in the corners. The lens has a 4-year warranty so I may send it in to Sigma for calibration later.
   
   Pros: (1) Unique ultra-wide angle perspective on a full-frame camera. (2) A good copy will be optically sharp all the way across a full frame, even wide open. Further, there's virtually no purple chromatic aberation near the edges of dark objects with bright backgrounds. (3) Nice build quality with good finish and large smooth focus ring. (4) Straight lines stay straight so no defishing needed (defishing uses interpolation which lowers resolution away from the center). (5) Lens comes with a case and has a small built-in hood (serves mainly to protect the front element). (6) 4-year USA warranty if purchased from an authorized dealer like Amazon or B&H. Otherwise you get a 1-year International Warranty.
   
   Cons: (1) Wide sample variation - getting a good copy takes luck or persistence while trying multiple copies. (2) The bulbous front element (this lens is nicknamed "Popeye") is exposed and no standard filter can be used for protection so be very careful. (3) Flares easily. The sun does not need to be in the picture just anywhere not behind you. This is a result of the ultra-wide design and not a fault of Sigma. (4) Photos sometimes come out too bright, giving the appearance of low contrast. Photoshop or other software easily fixes.



3. I ordered this lens because I wanted the widest angle without getting a cropped lens (the Canon 10-22). I have had great luck with Tamron 3rd party lenses and the price was great so I thought what could be better? I should have paid more attention to what everyone else said about quality control. On the good side the wide angle is truely fantastic (can't wait to see the 10-22). Also the color responce, saturation, and contrast are absolutely stunning. Comes out right with no post production needed. Unfortunatly the good ends there. As far as sharpness, clarity, and focusing the camera is simply not usable. It is simply the worst quality lens I have eveer used. Even manually focused, stopped down, high shutter speeds, and clear skys this lens is so blurry and fuzzy you think you took it with a cheap camera phone. Not to even start about the chromatic ab., noise, and fringing. None of my images were usable at all. I decided that wasn't worth the price and I didn't want to deal with sending it back to Sigma 2-3 times like others had when I could get a Canon 10-22 for a bit more and know I will get good quality. Don't get this lense, it isn't worth the money. (If you are using a full frame camera like the 5D then it would be a shame to put such a bad lens on it. Get the Canon 10-22. Not to mention the Sigma really is huge with rather poor quality construction. The zoom and focusing ring were also almost impossible to use.



4. I bought this lens because the Nikkor version was simply overpriced. I usually do not like Sigma products but I needed a super-wide angle lens and my choices were limited for my budget.
   
   I thought I would be settling for something less, but WOW! Actually the lens produces good images for interior architecture work. There is some color fringing but you have to magnify extremely close to see it. The aberration is what you would expect from a lens of this type. All of the above are easily corrected in Photoshop.
   
   Pro's : Sharp images, good color and quiet Auto-focus. Minimal aberrations for the money.
   
   Con's: Front element is a "popeye" which is not favorable for filters



5. I bought this lens to service a new client that does virtual tours for hotels and resorts. Their lens requirements are 18mm for full frame digital cameras and 12mm for DX chip cameras, to shoot 360 degree VRs. I didn't want to invest the 1000.00 plus dollars for another Canon lens and Canon or anyone else for that matter doesn't make a lens with this range. The Sigma would allow me to use both my 1Ds Mk II and 20D to service this client and cost me half what anything Canon provides.
   
   Having bought the lens mainly for Internet content, I wasn't going to be too critical about image quality from it, but I've been very surpised and pleased by it's performance. This lens has the least amount of barrel distortion of any wide angle zoom lens I've ever used. Even less than some primary lenses. To the point where it is essentally undetectable to the naked eye. It has less barrel distortion than my 1000.00+ 24-70mm f2.8L Canon lens! Operation is smooth, fast and constructions is first rate. I haven't done any critical sharpness comparisons yet, but I haven't noticed any problems from the images I've taken so far.
   
   The lens has a very bulbous front element, so conventional filters and lens caps won't fit. But Sigma cleverly includes a high quality adapter ring with filter threads in one end that slides over the built in lens shade on the lens. A lens cap is also included that fits on the end of the ring to protect the front element while being stored. The ring vignettes at 12mm on a full frame camera, but does not on DX chip cameras. So on those cameras, conventional thread on filters can be used with by screwing them on to the end of the adapter ring. You could do also this on full frame cameras, at longer focal lengths. A gelatin filter holder is provided on the back of the lens, but I can only imagine this being useful with film cameras.
   
   Overall, I'm very impressed and satisfied with this lens. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG AF Lens for Canon EOS / EF.

1. Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 DG Aspherical Large Aperture Zoom Lens for Nikon SLR Cameras
   
   I was looking for a zoom lens for indoor sports shots. I didn't want to pay the big bucks of $750 to $1500. The Sigma fit the bill. At 2.8 it gives enough light for a decent shutter speed. The quality appears good as well. Although I have not blown pictures to 20x24, I can not tell the difference compared to expensive lens I have rented costing ten or fifteen times more. It also works well for indoor and flash photos. For my money, it does what I need.



2. First of all you can't expect this lens to be great. It is cheap and it's build cheap. However the best way to use this lens is in manual mode because you will have to set it at a high aperture F8-F22 outdoors. Indoors you have to use the flash for the high aperture settings. If you use this lens in automatic mode in the camera, you will get a very soft image, you have to learn the manual mode to get a decent picture with this lens. View the image samples from this lens



3. This is the first of 2 Sigma lenses that I have bought. They're extremely sturdy and well built. I probably won't buy any other brand now considering the value of the product.



4. I received this lens as part of a package on eBay, along with a Canon XTi. On paper it looked to be better than the Canon kit lens.
   
   The image quality is nice although not outstanding. The real gripe I have is that the auto focus is nearly useless. Most of the time, the focus is off just enough that the photo is too soft to be usable. (By "soft", I mean "out of focus". I know the difference between soft and short DOF.)
   
   Occasionally (maybe 10% of the time) the AF will go into what I call "thrashing." It will get near the correct focus and then it will jitter back and forth focusing just a bit close then too far, never settling on anything. I'm looking to unload it on eBay, but I doubt I will get enough money to make it worth the effort.



5. Great little lens. I am really happy with Sigma.. this is my second Sigma lens.. although it isn't quite a canon it does a great job.

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

1. First, yes Sigma do have a reputation for QC issues. Mine include, as the focus locked up after about a week, requiring a trip to Sigma. Not a great start.
   
   However, since then I've been very happy with the lens. It handles great, has a reasonable range, good speed, and top quality build and optics. You really can get some great shots from this lens. If I had a chance to make the choice again, I'd still want this lens in my bag, despite the problems.



2. First I really wish people would post reviews for only Canon copies of this lens since the copies for Nikon and other bodies can not be properly compared. I purchased this lens to use as a walk around lens in place of a more expensive 24-70 L lens. No, this lens is not as well built and it is not as fast to focus as the L, but you should not expect it to either. The lens is a good value for the price you will pay, and it beats the heck out of worrying about someone stealing your L lens when you travel. I did require two copies in order to receive a "good" copy of this lens, the first copy shipped to my door had a nasty front focus issue. The company I purchased the lens from did however take the lens back and replace it with another copy that worked very well with no real issues to speak of. The pictures I obtain with this lens are very nice, and for trips and general photography will make most users very happy. If your looking for a lens to use for special events such as weddings however, this is not the lens to use. The focus is very slow compared to an L lens and sometimes has a habit of hunting a little bit. Overall though, a nice value based lens and with a 2.8 aperture hard to beat for what you pay.



3. I bought this via the below link:
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VJVHMA
   
   This is a great lens. If you research this lens, you will find that it is a "best bang for your buck" type lens.
   If your comparing this to an L lens, you will be surprised. On a crop body, its a bit long, but rarely have I had to back up too far to get the shot.
   
   I was out shooting some pictures of my kids playing ~8pm the other evening (August in Texas). I was quite happy with the pictures I shot with this lens. Even without a flash! it was not quite dark yet, and the street lamps gave off enough light.
   
   I do not consider myself a pro, or even an amateur. If your looking for a good walk around lens for a full or crop body, consider this lens. Its worth it money and quality wise.
   
   Pros: Price! Usable on a crop body, and full body so you can keep the lens if you move from crop to full.
   My copy is sharp as a tack. No back or forward focus.
   
   Cons: Some have reported that their copy was back or forward focusing. Or the zoom ring was "tight". The good news is if you buy it from an authorized dealer for Sigma (Cameta Camera in the link above is Authorized) you get the full Warranty. Send it in, and they will fix it for you. It just costs shipping.
   
   Conclusion: Its a great lens. I am loving the shots I am getting from it. All photographers are different, some do sports, some do landscapes. Some just want good HQ pics of the kids. I am all 3. This lens replaced my kit lens (Canon 18-55 NON IS). I do not miss the wide, and am loving the extra zoom. YMMV.



4. I had this lens for a few months before I acquired a Canon 24-70 f/2.8L. Let me say that this lens is much better than the Sigma 24-70 in both size, weight and image quality. It offers a constant f/2.8 aperture and focuses relatively fast for a non-HSM lens. I was more than happy with the quality of the images that this lens produces. I believe the only flaw with this lens is the fact that Sigma didn't make it a HSM version. This is a tough competitor for Canon's 24-70 but it's still in second place to the Canon. You can't beat the price for the lens either. Given the build quality, image quality and overall functionality of this lens, the price is a steal!
   
   I would definitely recommend this to anyone who asks for a budget lens like this.



5. I bought my lens from Cameta Camera and it would seem that a great number of lens people are receiving from Cameta have been having front and/or back focus issues. I used my lens for awhile in spite of its focus issues and found it to perform quite well, especially for the nice $200ish price. It's not on par with Canon L lens by any stretch of the imagination but I think this is great throw-in lens. It's very sturdily constructed and I actually prefer its lens hood to the ones Canon makes. I finally sent my lens in to Sigma a few weeks ago for servicing and it's been there since so I will update this review once I receive it back. Anyone who is looking to buy this lens or has bought it - I would highly suggest running some focus tests on the lens to see if your lens needs servicing . . .

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

1. I used this lens for about 6 months or so with my D50. It is a nice, small lens. Decent sharpness and overall IQ. I got many good photos with it.
   
   I replaced it with the 3x more expensive Nikon VR lens only because I wanted stabilization at the long end. I still own the lens and occasionally use it on my film SLR.



2. I don't make my living as a photographer, everything's set to auto, so take this for what it's worth. I haven't tried the macro setting yet.
   95% of dealing with my camera is construction work. Visual proof of existing damage and repairs made for clients and inspectors. The Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens handles my distant, (too high), or not so easily reachable work quite well.
   On a cloudy day through the view finder, hand held, 50' up and under a shaded Victorian eave you clearly see the small and large paint blisters and cracks, (water infiltration) clearly defined indented areas where the wood rotted from the inside, (behind the painted exterior) as clear as my binoculars. No need to magnify the pics in the PC digital software. I'd bet dimes to dollars the pics would be sharper still if I'd used a tripod or pole. The AF works fine, zoom is smooth. I've read some mention of slow AF or not working at all hasn't happened with me.
   
   I'm going to buy a pole, I don't know how far we'll be from the graduation stage but I'm hoping this lens is going to take some excellent pics of my oldest who's university graduation is this spring.
   
   So far I'm very happy with this lens, as time goes on I'm sure I'll experiment with settings, subjects and distances in the future. For now what I need it for the money has been well spent. I hope the lens works well for a long time.



3. great product! and its price is equal to other lenses 70-300mm, but with an incredible macro and a good feel for the hand



4. Good value for the money; just don't expect the features or ruggedness of an expensive Nikon macro. What's primarily lacking is a tripod mount and/or VR. The occasional user who owns a sturdy tripod and a remote release can work around the missing features but some care is required inasmuch as this is a loooong lens at full extension. Optical characteristics are very good. Mechanicals are acceptable.



5. This lens in pretty good, there's no AF motor in the lens so autofocusing can be fairly loud (on my D90 anyway). Photos are very sharp, even at 300mm. Crank up your ISO and keep your shutter fast to minimize blurring since there's no vibration reduction. I was able to pull off some extremely sharp shots in late afternoon sun at 300mm while hand holding. Use a tripod or monopod whenever you can. It's not as good at macro because in order to turn the macro switch on the lens on, you have to be between 200 and 300mm, then to turn it off you have to switch your camera to manual focus turn the focus ring to infinity then you can switch it back to normal, which can be a pain if you're in a hurry. You also have to be a good five feet away for things to be in focus (and fit in the frame, a leaf almost fills the frame while I'm standing up straight and holding the camera at eye level). For this price I don't think this lens can be beaten for quality or price.

5 comments about Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. This lens does everything the manufacturer claims. It is sharp, auto focuses well and is easy to use.



2. I have had this lens for nearly two years, frequently recommending it online and too friends so I thought I would take a few minutes and write up a review here. This lens is sharp, well made and comes with a nice hood and lens pouch.
   
   The wide angle of 18 even with the 1.6x crop factor is excellent. You can get nice and close and still get your subject in the frame. This make compositions with distracting backgrounds much easier to deal with.
   
   It is fast f/2.8 is great when you need it and again another option when you want to deal with blurring out distracting backgrounds or like the shallow depth of field look you can get with an f/2.8
   
   When I first got my camera (Rebel XT) and lens I thought there was something wrong with the focusing or the lens or both. Turns out it just took some learning and practice with both. My point is some of these folks in the reviews and elsewhere that talk about focusing issues, some (not all) will find that with a little bit of patience and practice their camera "focus" problems will be gone.



3. I have been using this lens for about 3 months now and it rocks.
   build quality is great.
   Awsome sharpness and contrast.
   
   this lens stays on my camera 95% of the time.
   I would deffinatly reccomend this lens to anyone!!



4. Perhaps I was unlucky and got one of the bad ones but I found this lens completely unreliable. My first issue is the auto-focus (on canon 40D). I had more missed shots with this lens than I've ever had with any other..pretty slow AF also. I found the chromatic abberations unacceptable on a great number of shots as well. On the other hand, I took some beautiful macro shots with this lens. Particularly using live view with manual focus...fantastic. It seems that Sigma lenses are hit and miss QC wise from what I'm reading. Too bad because it really feels like a well built, quality lens. I returned mine to amazon as defective.



5. Just receive my 18-50 Lens on Sat and get to do some night landscape shoot with this lens ! the image is clear and sharp! focusing is fast with the F2.8 stop... great lens for the price!
   
   UPdate... have been using this lens for the past couple of weeks! the image is crisp and sharp! the fix F2.8 comes in handy in dark areas ! Have done some HDR shots .. Using it on a canon 40D!

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

1. I saw this lens for half the price of other short zooms at 2.8 - even half the price of the same Sigma 24-60 in other mounts like Canon or Nikon. I decided to take a chance at that price. When I started out in photography, waaay back in the late 70s, off-brand lenses were almost all terrible. The first Sigmas i ever encountered were later on in the 80s and 90s, and they were terrible. Tamrons were good - the SPs, anyway - but nearly everyone else was really bad.
   
   With that background, I have to say this is a pretty nice lense. It's sharp and contrasty - far more so than I expected. It focuses very close, as well. Paired with my K20D, it's made some great images. But it's worth noting that it front-focuses, and I had to adjust it in the K20D's focus adjustment panel - nearly as far as you *can* adjust a lens. Now it works well.
   
   It's worth noting that it misses focus a lot more often than the 18-55 kit lens does, and at distances close to infinity it will pay you to focus manually. In most shooting situations - five to fifteen feet - it performs very well, focusing fast and sharp. It's odd, though - it focusses correctly every time on my *ist DL; only on the K20D does it have a lot of trouble. The Pentax lenses focus much faster and more accurately on the K20D.
   
   In short, if you're looking for a perfect lens, keep looking; but if you want a sharp, contrasty lens that has a few minor warts but costs LITERALLY half - or less - what all the other fast short zooms cost, this is your lens!



2. I bought the 24-60mm because I wanted a fast zoom for low light work, but I dodn't want to send a arm and a leg for the pentax 16-50 f2.8 and I wanted something faster than the f4 pentaxs. SO I settled on this great litle sigma. The optics are sharp, the focus is pretty fast and relatively quiet for a body driven lens. The construction is very good and feels a good bit better than the lower tier pentaxes it competes with. It is alittle heavy but relatively light and compact compared to the pentax pro glass. The only drawback that I've found is that at f2.8 in a backlit situation the lens shows chromatic abberation and goes soft. I've only found this at f2.8 with backlit subjects, under normal conditions this problem does not exist. This is a great lens for walking around and travel. Now here is the biggie: this lens is only $199 here on amazon, compared to the competition which is in the 400+ range. SO it is quite the buy. Of course the more expensive pentax lenses are tougher and slightly sharper but the difference is so marginal that I can't see any reason why you should not get this lens. Oh and this lens will work on all your old pentax film gear too.



3. This is the second copy of this lens that I have had. The first copy was pretty worthless and sent back immediately. I was prepared for the worse after reading other reviews that had the same problems as my copy, but after using the second copy I have to say this lens rarely leaves my camera. Across frame even at f/2.8 this lens is incredibly sharp. The first copy missed focus over 50% of the time, this one rarely ever does and that's probably more of a problem of Penax (do you hear me pentax?!). I would compare it favorably to some of the pentax primes, but they are much smaller and can be faster. If you get a good copy I would put this up against some of the 2.8 pentax primes.



4. This is probably the fastest wide zoom you'll find for 200us$
   
   It's not as sharp, wide or as fast to autofocus as the Pentax 16-50 SDM, but this will get you a long way for a lot less.



5. Pros:
   Amazing image quality
   Sharp at all apertures
   Compact for f/2.8 standard zoom (standard sigma 77mm filter ring body).
   
   Cons:
   24mm isn't wide enough sometimes.
   Mechanical operations doesn't feel too durable
   My copy had severe Front Focus that was corrected on first try by Sigma USA
   
   Who should buy this lens:
   Anyone looking for a fast standard zoom. The price is an outright bargain ($200), with optical quality equal to most factory f/2.8 zooms.
   
   Comments:
   The image quality of this lens is astounding considering the price. It will work for full frame, but is really designed for digital, and the digital benefits from the 1.5 crop factor improving edge/corner sharpness. If you are using film/full frame use the 24-70 f/2.8 instead. If your copy isn't sharp wide open, you have a focus issue, see if you can adjust the front/rear focus of the camera or send the lens to Sigma for adjustment.
   
   This lens isn't very large, same size as most of the Sigma 77mm thread size lenses. It is however dense for its size, but much more compact than the much larger 24-70mm f/2.8 that was designed to be sharp corner to corner on film.
   
   The mechanical operation of this lens doesn't feel highly durable. I already noticed it is slightly looser than when I bought it, but still smooth. It does have a zoom lock at 24mm to prevent creep while walking around. Mine takes a pretty heavy movement to make the lens creep, but it wouldn't creep at all when new.
   
   If this were a Pentax lens I would give it 4 stars because the higher price, however for a $200 lens this so far exceeds my expectations I give it 5 stars. It performs 90% as well as lenses costing 4-5 times its price. It compliments my Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 and Pentax 50-135mm f/2.8 excellently.

5 comments about Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras.

1. There are some that slam this lens and others that praise it. You have all heard the value of the 50mm 1.8 right? This Sigma lens is close to the same value as far as cost vs sharpness. It is not as fast as a 2.8 lens but it also is not as expensive. If you can afford it get a 2.8 lens but if not then this is the lens you want. It is very sharp but does become soft at outer edges



2. do a little research and don't be fooled. Sigmas are generally a hit or miss thing for the lens quality. And worse off if you travel with the camera..seals are not at all reliable. Last but not least go ito a store and compare the drive noise on this unit to any other brand...very very noise...sorry i can not recommend them. Nikon, Tamron, Tokina...I personally prefer Nikon and Tokina...good luck



3. I have compared this lens with Nikon's version of the 55-200mm, and I find the auto focus of the Sigma lens to be faster and snappier than that of the Nikon lens. Also, in terms of sharpness of image, I can't tell the difference - seems to produce every bit as sharp and clear an image as the Nikon lens does - at a significantly lower cost! A good solid value for the going price.



4. i briefly had this lens and though i traded it in, it's actually a pretty good deal for the money. anyone expecting a pro-quality lens or a 2.8 at this price is insane.
   
   the first thing you notice is that the build quality is super-plastic-y, even toy-like. that was a turn-off for me, but to get a better-made lens, you'll have to pay hundreds, if not thousands more -- the nikon 55-200 alternatives are also plastic, and sigma doesnt offer a 55-200 in an EX finish.
   
   still, the sigma 55-200 does have some advantages if you're not overly concerned with name-brand snob appeal. it autofocuses very quickly due to its short barrel and excels at tracking moving subjects handheld due to its light weight. and the optics are clearer and sharper than you would think, although there is a bit of fall-off at 200mm. this lens would obviously appeal to budget-minded shooters, but it would also be a good backup lens for travel for someone who doesnt want to drag along a lot of heavy glass. and at the price it's being offered for, you could easily buy two in case one breaks.
   
   note: unfortunately for d40 users, the sigma 55-200 has no internal motor, so your camera will not AF with it.



5. It was a Christmas present for my wife. Excellent quality.Sigma 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DC Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras